MILROY, Minn.—The American Red Cross is hosting a community blood drive today, Monday, Oct. 27, at Milroy School, 103 Prospect Street, from 2 to 7 p.m.  Donors can give a standard whole blood donation or a Power Red donation, which collects red blood cells while returning most plasma and platelets to the donor. Power Red donors must meet specific eligibility requirements and have type A negative, B negative, or O blood.  Anyone age 17 or older — or 16 with parental consent — in good health and weighing at least 110 pounds is eligible to donate.  As an added incentive, those [...]

MARSHALL, Minn.—The Marshall City Council will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, October 28 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.  The meeting will begin with the recognition of Quentin Brunsvold, followed by a public hearing on vacating a right-of-way along 500 Pleasant Street in Eastman’s Addition.  Among the consent items, the council will consider approving snow removal service contracts for the Tall Grass Liquor and MERIT Center, two raffle permits for local organizations, and authorization to apply for a Polling Place Accessibility Grant. Other items include approval to serve alcohol at the Red Baron Arena for a December hockey event, and authorization to declare [...]

ST PAUL, Minn.—Governor Tim Walz will visit a food shelf in Eagan today to announce $4 million in one-time emergency funding to support food shelves and Tribal nations across Minnesota. The funding comes as a federal government shutdown threatens grocery benefits for 440,000 Minnesotans who rely on programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP).  Joining Walz at the event will be The Open Door Executive Director Jason Viana, The Food Group’s Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement Rachel Holmes, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown, and Children’s Cabinet Executive [...]

MARSHALL, Minn.—Marshall’s Assistant City Engineer Eric Hanson provided updates on ongoing and future infrastructure projects in the city. Hanson said the city’s largest project this year, the Hill/Charles/Minnesota project, is mostly complete but awaiting warmer weather for site restoration. “We got a little site restoration left to do there,” he said. “That would typically be a project that's rather visible.” Another high-profile project is the MnDOT Trunk Highway 19 reconstruction. Hanson noted, “The downside of fall construction is shorter days, colder weather delays, how quickly you can get that concrete placed and get it open to traffic.” Other current projects include [...]

MARSHALL, Minn.—The Southwest Minnesota Orchestra will present “Fate and the Faustian Bargain” on Sunday, October 26 at 4 p.m. at the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts in Marshall. Led by pianist and conductor Dr. Daniel Rieppel, the program explores the sacrifices artists make for creative greatness through works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Brahms. The concert features Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, with Rieppel performing his own cadenzas, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for students.

MARSHALL, Minn.—Marshall Public Schools officials say they will ask voters on Nov. 4, 2025, to approve a 10-year operating levy for the district. An operating levy is a local property tax used to fund day-to-day school needs such as teacher salaries, classroom materials, technology and utilities. According to the district’s website, the proposed levy would raise about $2 million per year (approximately $765 per student) for the schools’ general fund. The district notes this is roughly a 5% boost to its budget and would allow it to preserve existing programs and staffing – for example, keeping all current teachers, support staff [...]

Food bank officials are warning that Minnesota’s food shelves could face a severe strain if the federal government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits are delayed next month. Zach Rodvold of Second Harvest Heartland said the situation was already critical before the shutdown. “We’re already seeing lines out the door at food shelves. They’re running out of food in some places and in some cases because there is not enough to meet today’s demand. If we’re in an extended shutdown and adding tens or hundreds of thousands more people to the lines, it’s gonna create a catastrophe,” Rodvold said. Approximately 450,000 Minnesotans [...]

LYND — The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding Orion Charwood, who was last seen in the City of Lynd on October 16.  Charwood is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 220 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black “Ice Nine Kills” t-shirt.  Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office at 507-537-7666. 

MARSHALL, Minn.—United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) has awarded $12,000 in emergency relief grants to residents impacted by the July 18 flooding.  The grants, ranging from $500 to $2,000, were distributed based on each applicant’s damage, insurance coverage, and financial need, with a focus on those within the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) demographic.  Funding for the program included a $5,000 donation from Leading Edge Credit Union, additional support from the UWSWMN Board of Directors, and contributions from local donors. A panel of board and community members reviewed applications and determined awards.  The relief effort aligns with UWSWMN’s new focus [...]