Minnesota's minimum wage will rise by 2.6% on January 1st, 2025, reaching $11.13 per hour. Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach noted that this increase follows a recent law change, which eliminates reduced minimum wages for small employers, youth under 18, and J-1 visa workers. “Those minimum wage workers that are working in the state are able to help keep up with inflation to really better provide for themselves and their families,” Blissenbach said. Workers who don’t see the updated wage or are currently underpaid—$8.85 for small employers and $10.85 for large employers—are encouraged to report it to the [...]

Secretary of State Steve Simon has launched the "Here We Vote" campaign to reclaim Minnesota's top spot in U.S. voter turnout. "Three out of the last four we were number one, however, in the last election, Maine...was number-one in the country," Simon said. The campaign features public service announcements, online toolkits, and resources available at mnvotes.gov, where voters can find their polling place, register to vote, order a ballot, and learn about candidates. Early voting in Minnesota starts on September 20th, among the earliest in the nation.

With nearly 85% of American beef processed by just four companies, livestock producers are increasingly driven to the polls. Vice President Kamala Harris recently pledged to support small businesses and challenge industry oligopolies. Matthew Sheets of the Minneapolis nonprofit Land Stewardship Project emphasized the need for a dual approach: "It needs to be a two-pronged approach of taking on the large interests that are consolidating this industry and harming everybody that is attached to it and supporting the small to mid-sized operators and the people that are farming in a regenerative way." A proposed rule under the 1921 Packers and Stockyards [...]

The Donald Trump campaign announced that former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will moderate his town hall meeting on Thursday night in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Gabbard, who was an early contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, left the Democratic Party two years ago over disagreements on foreign policy and social issues. She endorsed Trump earlier this month. The move mirrors tactics used by Democrats at their recent convention, where ex-Republicans endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, will campaign in Green Bay on Wednesday, while Harris and Walz kick off a bus tour in Georgia.

Severe thunderstorms swept through central and southern Minnesota on Monday night, bringing damaging winds and hail. Wind gusts reached 65 mph in Silver Lake, 63 mph in Eden Prairie, and 62 mph near Willmar. Hail measuring 1.75 inches fell in Lester Prairie and Parkers Prairie, while funnel clouds were reported near Essig and Kerkhoven. The storms caused widespread wind damage, toppling trees in Waconia, Isanti, and North Branch. Nearly 100,000 Xcel Energy customers lost power, and the Happy Together Grandstand concert at the State Fair was canceled.

PIPESTONE -- A Marshall woman was injured after her vehicle collided with a semi on Monday in Pipestone County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 2:52 Monday afternoon, a 2008 International semi and trailer was traveling northbound on US Highway 75 and a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am was traveling eastbound on 111th Street when they collided in the intersection.  The driver of the Pontiac, 18-year-old Laura Marie Meulebroeck of Marshall, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Pipestone hospital. The report notes Meulebroeck was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash.  The driver of [...]

MARSHALL -- The Lyon County Museum in Marshall will host a free event titled "Saving Your Stuff" on Tuesday, August 27, at 6:30 PM. The presentation, led by Megan Brakob Narvey, Outreach Conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society, will cover the "ten agents of deterioration" and offer guidance on how to preserve and protect valued items. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session and receive recommendations for additional resources. Megan Brakob Narvey brings extensive experience to the event, having worked as an Objects Conservator at various institutions, including the Western Archaeological Conservation Center in Arizona and the [...]

As the U.S. ranks 43rd globally for gender equality, Minnesota stands out domestically, ranking third for its earnings gap, according to a new report by personal finance website WalletHub. The rankings, part of WalletHub's 2024 Best and Worst States for Women’s Equality, are based on 17 key metrics, including income disparity, educational attainment, and representation in state legislatures. Analyst Chip Lupo noted that Minnesota's political representation is balanced, with equal shares of men and women in the U.S. House of Representatives and two female U.S. Senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. August 26th marks Women’s Equality Day, celebrating the 1920 adoption [...]

Minnesota livestock groups are teaming up with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to address the growing issue of deer depredation on crops. Jake Thompson, president of the State Cattlemen’s Association, highlighted the impact deer are having on yields: "To the point where you have areas, fields that are seeing APH’s (average production history) starting to drop just because they haven’t been able to get a yield because of the deer. You go up by me in northern Minnesota, it’s more winter time, spring time feed depredation problems." DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen acknowledged the complexity of the problem and emphasized the [...]

FALCON HEIGHTS -- The Minnesota State Fair enters its fifth day under an excessive heat warning for southern Minnesota, with temperatures expected to soar. Fair spokesperson Maria Hayden noted that despite the heat, the first four days saw record-breaking attendance: "We've had a really exciting start to the fair. So, we set our record attendance for opening day on Thursday, August 22nd, and then set our record attendance for our first Friday as well. It's been a really great time. We've had a lot of people coming out here super excited to try the new foods." As the fair continues, Hayden [...]