St. Paul (KMHL) - In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Governor Tim Walz announced that the state could have up to 46,800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine by next week. And in the second week, 94,800 vaccines from Moderna is expected. In total, 183,400 doses of the vaccine from both companies are expected by the end of the year. Walz stresses that the numbers for this are unconfirmed and it is based on the most recent forecast from the federal government. The vaccines will be shipped directly to key hospitals across the state and will be distributed further to clinics. [...]

The search continues for Avera to find a new regional president and CEO for the Avera Marshall Region.  Interim Regional Co-president and CEO’s Curt Hohman and Mark Vortherms say they hope to narrow down the finalists by the end of the month.  During an Avera Marshall virtual update on Thursday, Hohman and Vortherm said they had a large pool of candidates apply and interview for the position.  They now plan to narrow down the current list of candidates by next week.  The goal is to have the new CEO in place by the beginning of February.

Marshall (KMHL) - The Marshall Public School district will return to a hybrid learning system for grades Pre-K through fourth grade, and also MATEC, starting Monday December 7th.  Public health officials and the Minnesota Department of Health have worked with the district to assess the local numbers and support having grades Pre-K to fourth grade return to hybrid learning.  Safety protocols like masks and social distancing will still be in place and the schools ask that families continue to report any illness and COVID exposure to help the school keep track of the numbers.  The Marshall Middle School and Marshall High [...]

Marshall, MN (KMHL) - Even with the increase of COVID cases in Minnesota, St Mary’s School in Tracy is continuing with in-person learning into December. The education committee at St Mary’s met last week and determined that since the start of the school year in September, the attendance with students and staff had not changed due to COVID illnesses. A few students in recent weeks had quarantined from school due to exposure in the family, otherwise St Mary’s has had a 90-95% attendance rate, which has been a main factor in why they are choosing to continue to stay open. St. [...]

Worthington, MN (LEARFIELD)  --  People in southwest Minnesota will now have access to barrier-free COVID-19 testing. Starting today, Thursday, December 3rd, the Minnesota Department of Health will now have a saliva testing site open in Worthington. The Nobles County location will bring the total number of community testing sites to 22 across the state.  These testing sites are open to anyone who and believe they need to be tested for COVID.  Before Worthington’s testing site, Mankato had been the closest barrier-free COVID testing site for residents in the southwest corner of the state.

Marshall (KMHL) - While the governors Executive Order took place on Friday, November 20th mandating restaurants to move to take out only, one family owned restaurant in Lynd Minnesota, Havens Garden, is taking a stance and keeping the doors open. The restaurant’s owner, Larvita McFarquhar, a single mother of four, says the Governor is over stepping his rights and that small businesses have the right to stay open. “Governor Walz’s mandates are illegal and unconstitutional,” McFarquhar states, “We’re struggling as it is to make it, and to keep putting more demands on us that are unconstitutional, and trying to tie our [...]

(Marshall, MN) - Avera is now offering a new treatment for COVID-19 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization (EAU) for bamlanivimab, an investigational monoclonal antibody (mAB) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adult and pediatric patients.   The EAU was issued to Eli Lilly and Company.   Avera has received its first allocation of bamlanivimab and has administered the therapy to over 150 patients. The therapy, offered only through intravenous (IV) infusion, is primarily being directed to the elderly and those at high risk for future hospitalization of COVID-19. It’s approved for anyone over age 12. [...]

[ST. PAUL, MN] – At a local Saint Paul restaurant today, Governor Tim Walz announced a COVID-19 economic relief package to keep businesses afloat, support workers struggling to get by, and help Minnesota families keep food on the table. Governor Walz will work with legislators on both sides of the aisle to move forward this much-needed proposal, integrate additional proposals, and call a special session when an agreement is final.   “Our small businesses and the Minnesotans whose livelihoods depend on them are bearing a huge weight for the good of their entire community. As cases skyrocket and hospital capacity is [...]

[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced the availability of a new COVID-19 exposure notification mobile application, COVIDaware MN, which could slow the spread of COVID-19 by helping Minnesotans protect themselves and their loved ones. The voluntary, anonymous application will alert a user if another user with whom they have had close contact during the virus’ infectious period tests positive for COVID-19.   “As we see a dangerous surge in cases across the state, we need to use every tool possible to cut off the spread of the virus,” said Governor Walz. “COVIDaware MN gives our state a powerful [...]

St. PAUL (KMHL) – Gov. Tim Walz has announced a four-week dial back plan to help Minnesota control the spread of COVID-19. In an announcement he made to Minnesotans Wednesday evening, the governor said he was turning back the dial on in-person dining, youth and high school sports, gyms and other social activities.   Effective at midnight on Friday night, the Governor said new restrictions will halt all in-person dining, gyms, wedding receptions, private parties, you and adult sports, indoor entertainment, public pools/recreation centers and any social gathering with individuals of your household.   Walz said retail businesses, salons and places [...]