GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Two people were displaced after a house fire Wednesday night in Granite Falls.  The Granite Falls Fire Department was called to the 500 block of Prentice Street at about 9:25 p.m. Firefighters found no one inside the single-family home, but a pet was initially reported missing.  One person suffered a minor injury while attempting to put out the fire before firefighters arrived. The home is currently uninhabitable, and a neighbor was also displaced.  Several agencies assisted with the fire.  The fire remains under investigation. 

MARSHALL, Minn. — Marshall residents are being encouraged to participate in a community-wide fire safety drill Sunday, October 4 at 7 p.m., as Fire Prevention Week gets underway. Fire Prevention Week runs October 4-10 this year and is organized by the National Fire Protection Association. The 2026 theme is “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging is a Superpower,” with a focus on safely charging devices powered by lithium-ion batteries. The local drill will give households an opportunity to practice an E.D.I.T.H. plan, or Exit Drills In The Home. Residents should identify two ways out of their home and choose a safe [...]

MARSHALL, Minn. — Southwest Minnesota State University’s Homecoming celebration continues this weekend with a full schedule of events on campus and in downtown Marshall.  Saturday’s events begin with the 5K and 10K race at 8 a.m., followed by Saturday Morning Mustang at 9 a.m. at Varsity Pub Extra Innings. Alumni reunions, a women’s swim and dive alumni meet and social work reunion are also scheduled Saturday morning.  The Homecoming Parade begins at noon, followed by tailgating and Game Day Roundup from 1 to 3 p.m. The SMSU Mustangs football team hosts the University of Minnesota Duluth at 3 p.m. at the [...]

REDWOOD COUNTY, Minn. — A 16-year-old male was seriously injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash Thursday evening in rural Redwood County. The Redwood County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened around 6:01 p.m. near the intersection of County State Aid Highway 15 and Justice Avenue. A 2001 Ford Ranger entered the south ditch and tipped onto its driver’s side, trapping the driver inside. The teen was extricated from the vehicle and transported to CentraCare-Redwood Hospital before being flown by North Memorial Air Care to North Memorial Hospital for further treatment. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor. The crash [...]

MARSHALL, Minn. — David Jones was formally inaugurated as the 11th president of Southwest Minnesota State University Thursday afternoon, with university officials, students, faculty, staff, community leaders, alumni, family and friends gathering on campus for the ceremony. Jones has served as SMSU’s interim president since 2025 and was named the university’s permanent president in February. He previously held leadership positions at the College of William and Mary, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Alabama. Before coming to SMSU, he served as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Minnesota State University Mankato. The [...]

REDWOOD COUNTY, Minn. — Two people were injured in a two-vehicle collision on Wednesday morning between Milroy and Lucan in Redwood County. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, on Wednesday morning at around 7:54, a 1997 Chevy GMT 400 was traveling westbound on Highway 68 and a 2012 Lexus hatchback was traveling northbound on County Road 5 when the vehicles collided.  The driver of the Chevy, 18-year-old Lilli Jade Voneschen of Arlington, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Tracy hospital.  The driver of the Lexus, 26-year-old Xia Xiong of Walnut Grove, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the [...]

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says a settlement with pesticide manufacturer Corteva could help lower costs for farmers. The agreement resolves allegations that Corteva used a loyalty program to discourage distributors from selling lower-cost generic pesticides after patents expired. Under the settlement, Corteva will end the program, face 10 years of compliance oversight and pay Minnesota $1.25 million. State and federal officials say the changes could improve access to lower-cost pesticide products. A separate antitrust case involving pesticide manufacturer Syngenta remains ongoing. 

MARSHALL, Minn. — The Lyon County Museum in Marshall will host a presentation Tuesday evening exploring the early history of a Catholic parish in Ghent.  Dr. Anita Gaul will present “Living (and Fighting) Together in the Bishop’s Colony: St. Eloi’s First Thirty Years” at 6:30 p.m. at the museum, 301 West Lyon Street.  The program will examine the history of St. Eloi parish and the conflicts between Flemish and French-Canadian Catholics as they worked to establish a church in Ghent. Gaul will also discuss why the two ethnic groups ultimately continued worshipping together in the same parish.  Gaul teaches at Minnesota [...]

NEW ULM, Minn. — A vehicle pursuit that began in Lyon County Friday morning ended with the suspected driver being arrested in New Ulm later that night. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy attempted to stop a 2021 black Jeep Gladiator on Highway 23 around 11 a.m. The suspected driver, 30-year-old Chase David Frieze, had an arrest warrant out of Meeker County. The Jeep accelerated and fled after the deputy activated emergency lights. Lyon County deputies pursued the vehicle for about 27 miles before ending the pursuit because of concerns for the safety of the public, deputies and people [...]

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Fall colors are beginning to appear across Minnesota, with reds, oranges and yellows becoming more noticeable in northern parts of the state. The DNR says the season is developing more slowly in northern Minnesota than it did last year. Colors typically peak in the north before moving south through October. The DNR recommends checking its Fall Color Finder for current conditions before planning a leaf-viewing trip.