>>Hutchinson Health Nurses Vote to Join Minnesota Nurses Association
(Hutchinson, MN) — More than 120 registered nurses at Hutchinson Health have voted to join the Minnesota Nurses Association. The nurses work throughout the HealthPartners facility, including the birth center, emergency department, acute care units and medical clinics. Nurses involved in the organizing effort say unionizing will give them a greater voice in decisions involving staffing, resources and patient care.
>>Ground Search Suspended for Armed Mahnomen Shooting Suspect
(Callaway, MN) — Authorities have suspended the ground search near Callaway for a man wanted in connection with a shooting in Mahnomen County. The Becker County Sheriff’s Office and White Earth Tribal Police ended the ground operation Thursday evening after investigators exhausted available leads in the area. The broader search for 24-year-old Ryan Pacheco continues. Authorities consider Pacheco armed and dangerous and are asking people in the Callaway area to report suspicious activity. Pacheco is charged with attempted murder in an August shooting outside King’s Corner Bar. Authorities say he was on federal probation at the time for possessing a firearm following a felony conviction.
>>Demuth, Klobuchar Outline Competing Education Plans
(Undated)– Republican candidate for Governor Lisa Demuth is rolling out what she calls an “Education Comeback Plan,” emphasizing reading, math and science while calling for greater scrutiny of how schools spend taxpayer dollars and additional safety funding for public and private schools. Demuth argues Minnesota is spending more per student while academic performance has declined, and says schools need to return their focus to core subjects. DFL candidate Amy Klobuchar is also making student achievement a centerpiece of her education plan. She proposes evidence-based reading and math instruction, regular tutoring for students who fall behind, closer monitoring of attendance and required parent-teacher meetings for students struggling in reading or math. Klobuchar is also proposing a statewide ban on cellphones and other personal mobile devices in K-12 classrooms, with limited exceptions for emergencies and medical needs, along with limits on classroom screen time.
>>Concordia St. Paul Cutting Tuition by $5,500
(St. Paul, MN) — Concordia University, St. Paul is cutting undergraduate tuition by $5,500 beginning in the fall of 2027. The reduction will bring tuition for traditional undergraduate students to about $21,000 a year. University officials say the move is aimed at making the cost of college more affordable and easier for families to understand. Students will still be eligible for additional scholarships and financial aid on top of the reduced tuition. Concordia says the new rate will give the university the lowest undergraduate tuition among private colleges in Minnesota.
>>Minnesota Veterans Museum Opens Saturday
(Little Falls, MN) – Minnesota’s new Veterans Museum officially opens to the public Saturday in Little Falls. The facility showcases more than 25-thousand artifacts highlighting the service and sacrifice of Minnesota veterans dating back to statehood in 1858. Former State Representative Jerry Newton, who helped secure funding for the museum, calls it a unique tribute bringing together all branches and eras of military service under one roof. Ground was broken on the new facility in 2023, and supporters hope it becomes a destination for generations to come.
>>DNR Expects Near-Normal Fall Color Season Despite Drought
(Undated) – Despite drought conditions across parts of Minnesota this summer, the state’s fall color season is expected to be fairly typical. DNR Forest Health Specialist Brian Schwingle says widespread tree disease, insect damage, and severe weather that can diminish autumn colors have largely been absent this year. He says drought impacts will be most noticeable in already stressed areas, such as trees in yards and along roadways. Schwingle adds a warmer-than-normal September and October could delay peak colors somewhat, but overall, Minnesotans should see a pretty normal fall display.
