MARSHALL — Southwest Minnesota State University and several southwest Minnesota communities are set to receive funding through Minnesota’s newly approved $1.2 billion bonding bill. SMSU was awarded $1.2 million for facilities projects involving locker rooms, the gymnasium and the university’s athletics dome structure. University officials said the funding will support long-needed updates to athletic facilities. The bonding bill also includes infrastructure funding for several area communities. Ghent will receive $3 million for water infrastructure improvements, while Russell was awarded $1 million for the next phase of its water and sewer system upgrades. Lake Benton will receive $863,000 for public infrastructure projects. [...]

WALNUT GROVE — Students at Westbrook-Walnut Grove Elementary are celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with patriotic projects, activities and a community parade this week.  On Thursday, kindergarten through sixth grade students will march in a 250th anniversary parade starting at 2 p.m. at the elementary school and traveling down Main Street in Walnut Grove. A short musical program will follow, and the public is invited to attend.  Students have spent the spring learning about American history and creating patriotic art, decorations and quilts. Staff said younger students will ride in decorated wagons pulled by older siblings during the parade, with teachers and community members [...]

MINNEAPOLIS — The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has charged an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in connection with the January shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis in north Minneapolis.  According to prosecutors, ICE agent Christian Castro, 52, faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime stemming from the Jan. 14 incident.  The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office alleged Castro fired his weapon through the front door of a home after several people ran inside. Prosecutors said the bullet struck Sosa-Celis in the leg before lodging in the wall of a child’s bedroom.  The charges state Castro was standing [...]

MARSHALL — Candidate filing opened May 19 in Minnesota for federal, state, county and some local offices, with filing running through June 2 for races that hold primary elections.  In southwest Minnesota, voters will see several open legislative races this fall after multiple longtime lawmakers announced they will not seek re-election, including representatives Chris Swedzinski, Steve Torkelson and Joe Schomacker, along with senators Gary Dahms and Bill Weber.  Lyon County offices on the ballot include county commissioner seats in Districts 1 and 3, along with the offices of sheriff and county attorney. Soil and Water Supervisor seats in Districts 2 and 4 will also be up [...]

GARVIN, Minn. — The Garvin Fire Department will hold a Car and Bike Show on Saturday, May 16, at 331 Sherman St. in Garvin.  The event starts at 10 a.m., with lineup at 9 a.m. and awards at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $20.  Activities will include raffles, fire truck rides for kids, bouncy houses, face painting, arts and crafts and a fire department demonstration. Lunch featuring pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, sides and drinks will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a free-will donation.  Raffle tickets are $100, with prizes of $7,500, $2,500 and $1,000. Winners will be drawn Aug. 1 at [...]

LYND, Minn. — Residents packed the gym at Lynd Public School Monday night as community members pressed school leaders for answers about the district’s financial situation, staffing decisions and proposed budget cuts. During a public forum ahead of the regular school board meeting, about nine speakers addressed the board under a three-minute time limit. Concerns centered on transparency, communication with families and recent personnel actions involving Principal Jason Swenson and school nurse Bev Seehusen, who were placed on administrative leave in April during what the district described as an ongoing investigation. The district announced last month that it is facing financial [...]

LAKE WILSON, Minn. — A Wabasso man is in critical condition after a motorcycle crash on Saturday in Murray County. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, at 4:47 Saturday afternoon, a 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling northbound on State Highway 91 in Cameron Township, north of Lake Wilson, when the driver lost control and crashed.  The driver of the motorcycle, 46-year-old Burnard Lee Jr. Ours of Wabasso, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Murray County Hospital. The State Patrol said he was not wearing a helmet, and alcohol was suspected in the incident.  Assistance was provided by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Wilson Fire Department, [...]

TRACY, Minn. — Sanford Health is hosting a Wellness Week (May 10-16) at Sanford Tracy Medical Center and Clinic with health screenings, education, and community events.  Heart and vascular screenings for adults 40 and older will be held Wednesday, May 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Screenings cost $25 each or $50 for both. Appointments can be scheduled at (605) 312-2150, with walk-ins welcome.  A free pharmacist consultation event is set for Thursday, May 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are available by calling (507) 629-8400.  Sanford will also host a free community picnic May 14 from 5 [...]

The Lyon County Historical Society has launched a new online database dedicated to Lyon County veterans. Called “Find Your Veteran,” the searchable database is available through the museum’s website. Developed by Creature Works, the platform is designed to preserve and share the stories of  veterans and their military service. Users can search the database by veteran name, service branch, military era, or community. More than 1,100 Lyon County veterans are currently included in the database. People interested in adding names or updating existing veteran entries can contact the museum at 507-537-6580, email director@lyoncomuseum.org, or visit Lyon County Museum Veteran Page to complete a contact [...]

Redwood County, Minn. — A Morton man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he failed to comply with predatory offender registration requirements. According to a criminal complaint, 35-year-old Dylan Andrew Karns is accused of not updating his registration and abandoning his listed address. Karns is required to register due to a prior criminal sexual conduct adjudication. The Redwood County Sheriff’s Office conducted a compliance check on March 27 at a residence along the 40100 block of Dakota Trail in Morton. The homeowner told deputies Karns had been asked to leave the residence in January 2026 after briefly returning following [...]