KNUJ » Local News

Car Hits Semi On Hwy 22

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:18:17 +0000

A Mankato man and his 8-year-old son were seriously injured Saturday morning when their car hit a semi-truck on Highway 22 in Blue Earth County. 47-year-old Lord Baji was driving a Toyota Camry northbound on 22 near the Le Sueur County border when the car hit a southbound Freightliner semi at just before 7:30am. The Camry then spun out of control and ended up in the ditch. Baji was seriously injured and was taken to the Mankato Mayo Hospital. His 8-year-old son was also hospitalized, but his injuries are non-life threatening. The driver of the semi, 46-year-old Mario Gomez of St. Paul was not injured.

Mankato Car Dealership Burglary

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:16:40 +0000

Authorities in Mankato are asking for the public’s help in solving a weekend burglary at a car dealership. The break-in at Northtown Auto on North Riverfront Drive apparently took place at some point between 10:30 Saturday night and 8:50 Sunday morning. Unknown suspects broke into the dealership and took keys to several vehicles, along with other items. Two vehicles have been reported missing as well. They included a maroon 1999 Cadillac Deville with Minnesota license plate 075-EJM and a brown 2008 Chevy Silverado with Minnesota plate XAW-562. Anyone who has seen the vehicles is asked to call 911.

New Ulm Man Back In Jail

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:15:12 +0000

A 20-year-old New Ulm man convicted of felony burglary earlier this year is back in jail on a probation violation. Matthew Russell Lindberg was found guilty of 2nd-degree burglary in March for a break-in at SSL Auto Service in New Ulm that occurred last December. Officers investigating the burglary had found a broken window at the gas station, and discovered that a number of items had been stolen. They also found foot prints in the snow at the scene of the crime that led right to Lindberg’s home. He was taken back into custody in Brown County Friday afternoon after apparently violating his probation by using a controlled substance.

Click It Or Ticket Crackdown

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:04:00 +0000

A statewide “Click it or Ticket” campaign gets underway today (MON) with extra law enforcement patrols hitting Minnesota’s roadways. The seatbelt enforcement campaign runs through June 2nd. Nearly 400 Minnesota law enforcement agencies will be increasing patrols to encourage motorists to buckle up. It’s a nationwide crackdown as well. Unbelted motorists continue to represent a significant amount of Minnesota’s traffic fatalities, especially in Greater Minnesota. In the last three years on Minnesota roads a total of 852 motorists died in car crashes, of which 361 of them, or 42%, were not buckled up.

Nursing Home Pay Raise Passed

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:02:39 +0000

The Legislature has sent Governor Dayton an $11-billion package of spending on health and assistance programs that includes a 5% pay increase for nursing home workers. The Senate passed the Democratic-crafted bill on Saturday afternoon by a 39-28 vote along party lines. The House passed the bill late Friday. It funds medical and other assistance programs that together make up nearly a third of all projected state spending in the next two years. The pay increase for nursing home workers is the first in four years. The bill also has a smaller, 1% hike for care workers for the disabled. Republicans say those workers deserve more, given that Democrats are raising more than $2-billion in new tax revenue in their budget plan. Lawmakers were busy passing budget bills over the weekend, and convene again today (MON) as they head toward tonight’s midnight deadline to adjourn the 2013 session.

2016 Constitutional Amendment Vote

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:44 +0000

Minnesota voters will decide in 2016 if the constitution should be changed to let an independent board set the pay of legislators. The state Senate voted 43-23 early today (MON) to put the proposed amendment on the statewide ballot. It follows a tighter vote in the House on an identical measure. Governors don’t have input on constitutional amendments. If adopted by voters, it would create a special council to determine lawmaker pay. Sponsors say it removes an inherent conflict of interest and takes a politically charged matter out of the Capitol. Legislators haven’t seen a pay raise since 1999, and some worry that the $31,000 salary is become a barrier for some prospective candidates given the time demands of the office. The pay council would set new salary rates once every two years.

Power Line Helicopter Work

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:55:55 +0000

Construction crews will be using helicopters to install power lines in the local area this week. The work involves the new CapX-2020 high-voltage lines that have been constructed across the state over the past year. The helicopter work this week will be centered around the Minnesota River near Redwood Falls, and is expected to get underway today (MON). Officials say there will be occasional traffic stoppages on Brown County Road 5 and Renville County Road 3 as the wire is pulled across those roads. The closures are expected to be brief. The Renville County to Scott County segment of the Cap-X lines is scheduled to be energized this summer, and the Renville to Lyon County segment early next year.

Minnesota Powerball Benefits

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:54:19 +0000

Even though Saturday’s winning Powerball ticket was sold in Florida, Minnesota did benefit from the hoopla surrounding the record $590-million lottery jackpot. State Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten says the drawing generated $8.8-million for the state, of which $4.9-million will go into the General Fund and almost $4-million to the environment. Van Petten says 2 Minnesota Powerball players won a million dollars each, and a dozen players each won $10,000. In addition, retailers in the state earned just over a million dollars on commissions by selling tickets.

Blood Drives This Week

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:46:58 +0000

American Red Cross workers will be travelling around the local area this week to collect the Gift Of Life. A Red Cross blood drive is being held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe from 2 to 6pm today (MON). On Tuesday the Bloodmobile will be stopping at the Minnesota New Country School in Henderson from 1 to 7 and Norwood Young America’s Willkommen Pavillion from Noon to 6. On Wednesday eligible donors can give blood at the New Prague Knights of Columbus facility from 1 to 7pm, and on Friday there’s a blood drive at the Brownton Community Center from 2 to 7. For more information on Giving The Gift Of Life, log on to www.redcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

St. Peter Livestock Festival

susan — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:45:27 +0000

The 6th annual Livestock Music Festival and Fundraiser and 5K Color Dash run is coming to St. Peter on Saturday, June 1st. The day’s activities begin at 9am with the Color Dash. Participants in the “World’s Brightest 5K” will begin the race with a white T-shirt, and be splashed with color every kilometer. After the race is finished, the activities move to St. Peter’s Minnesota Square Park where there will be free music from 11am to 10pm. The festival includes food vendors, a variety of ethnic items from around the world, and an all-day $5 “Kid Zone” with a petting zoo and more. All the money raised goes toward the humanitarian efforts of World Vision, a non-profit organization that purchases livestock for families in need. For more information visit www.livestockmn.org.