MARSHALL – Families in the Marshall area will have the opportunity to explore a variety of youth sports and activities at the Youth Sports & Activity Expo on March 22, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Red Baron Arena & Expo.  The event will feature interactive booths from local sports clubs, recreational leagues, and community organizations. Children can participate in different activities, while parents can gather information from program representatives about available opportunities.  A range of organizations, including the Marshall Girls Basketball Association, SMSU Football, Marshall Rugby, and Pheasants Forever, will be present. Admission is free. 

MARSHALL – The Marshall Sunrise Rotary Club has contributed $25,000 to the Marshall Area YMCA’s Capital Campaign, using funds from the Ted Rowe Charitable Trust. The donation will support facility improvements, including new carpet, additional storage, and upgraded seating in the YMCA meeting room. In recognition of the contribution, the YMCA will rename the meeting space the Ted Rowe Meeting Room. The room has been the site of the Sunrise Rotary’s weekly meetings for years. Capital Campaign Committee member Ron Halgerson accepted the donation from Sunrise Rotary President David Haen, acknowledging the club’s support of the YMCA. Ted Rowe, who passed [...]

SAINT PAUL, MN -- A new bill in the Minnesota House expands access to critical training for those pursuing careers in the skilled trades. Sponsored by Burnsville DFL Rep. Kaela Berg, the legislation would allocate $400,000 from the Workforce Development Fund in both 2026 and 2027 to support the Building Strong Communities (BSC) program. “Minnesota's Union apprenticeship programs are the gold standard for structured earn-while-you-learn training with an outstanding track record of getting people into careers in the trades. Collectively, the trades and their employers spend $40 million on these programs without public funding,” said Berg. BSC prepares participants for apprenticeships [...]

SAINT PAUL, MN -- A bill moving through the Minnesota House seeks to create a new scholarship program to make higher education more accessible. Authored by New Hope DFL Representative Cedrick Frazier, the legislation proposes increasing the expense allowance for the State Grant Program from 115% to 121% of federal poverty guidelines. “Together, these initiatives remove financial barriers, support student success and strengthen the future of higher education in Minnesota. By investing in students today, the state is laying the foundation for stronger, more prosperous future for all Minnesotans,” Frazier said. However, the bill faces financial hurdles, as the Office of [...]

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Aimee Bock, founder of Feeding Our Future, and her accomplice, Salim Said, are in custody awaiting sentencing after being convicted on multiple federal charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy, and bribery. The duo played central roles in a massive scheme that defrauded the government of $250 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds intended to feed children in Minnesota. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson stated that Bock was the mastermind of the fraud: "She signed every single fraudulent claim that was submitted to the state of Minnesota. She cut every single check, all 240 million dollars worth of checks to [...]

OLIVIA, MN– A 75-year-old woman was seriously injured after her UTV overturned in rural Renville County on March 18.  The Renville County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 5:02 PM, reporting the crash along the 32000 block of 720th Avenue, about seven miles northwest of Morton in Henryville Township.  Emergency responders found the driver, Edna M. Wertish of rural Morton, pinned inside the 2010 Polaris Ranger. Bystanders were providing care until she was extricated and transported by ambulance to CentraCare-Redwood Hospital. She was later transferred to a trauma center for further treatment.  Authorities determined Wertish had been traveling eastbound when [...]

BLOOMINGTON, MN — Minnesota Republican state senator Jason Eichorn is facing mounting calls to resign from both parties following his arrest for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution.  According to the Bloomington Police Department, Eichorn, 40, of Grand Rapids, was taken into custody without incident Monday evening after communicating online with an undercover detective posing as a 17-year-old girl. He was booked into the Hennepin County Jail and, as of Tuesday evening, was awaiting formal charges.  Eichorn, currently serving his third term in the state senate after first being elected in 2016, has not issued a public statement, nor has his [...]

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will distribute up to $10 billion to farmers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. Administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the program provides financial support to help offset increased input costs and declining commodity prices. “Producers are facing higher costs and market uncertainty, and the Trump Administration is ensuring they get the support they need without delay,” said Rollins. “USDA has prioritized streamlining the process and accelerating these payments ahead of schedule.” Authorized by the American Relief Act [...]

MARSHALL – The United Community Action Partnership is set to host the March for Meals campaign today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The live radio broadcast, airing on KMHL Radio, aims to raise $50,000 to combat food insecurity. The event will feature local organizations, businesses, and service clubs, all sharing their support for the cause on air. Community volunteers will also speak about their experiences, highlighting the importance of giving back. Every $1 donation provides three meals to those in need, and the Greater Minnesota Council of Churches will match all contributions, maximizing the impact. Residents can tune in or [...]

MARSHALL – Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach has announced her campaign for another term representing Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District. Fischbach, first elected in 2020, won re-election in 2024 with over 70% of the vote.  In her announcement, Fischbach highlighted her policy priorities, including reducing federal spending, rolling back regulations, and advocating for rural communities. She credited the current political landscape in Washington for advancing these goals.  “It is a new day in Washington, D.C., with President Trump in the White House and Republican majorities in Congress,” Fischbach said. “Voters have given us the opportunity to do what’s needed to save our great nation.”  [...]