The Minnesota Health Department reports one of the two people who contracted Legionnaires Disease at a Maple Grove assisted living home has died. The other resident from SilverCreek on Main has been released from the hospital. Epidemiologist Kathy Como-Sabetti says elderly people and smokers are more prone to Legionnaires Disease. The outbreak in Maple Grove, which is isolated, comes about a year after an outbreak in Hopkins which affected 24 people and resulted in one death.
Staying hydrated is key, as most of the lower half of Minnesota is under a heat advisory through this afternoon. Heat indices are approaching 100 this afternoon while temperatures soar into the low 90’s from Willmar, St. Cloud and Hinckley southward. Forecasters say things will cool off a bit by 7pm.
The National Weather Service has determined damage done early Wednesday morning in the Sunburg area was the result of a tornado. Survey teams were dispatched to the area immeadiately, and preliminary results indicate the area was hit by an EF-1 tornado, which can generate winds from 86 to 110 miles an hour. Straight line winds also caused extensive damage in the Belgrade and Melrose areas.
Minnesota Valley Broadcasting and Radio Mankato CEO John Linder died this morning at the age of 63 after a nine-month, hard-fought battle with cancer. The Linder family has been in the radio business in Mankato since 1950. John spent his entire career in the business and leaves a legacy in broadcasting not just in Mankato but across the Midwest. Linder had interest in several radio groups, including locally owned and operated Radio Mankato. (Home to KTOE, Minnesota 93, Hot 96-7, Oldies 100-point-5, KRRW, KXLP, and The Fan) A celebration of Linder’s life will be announced soon.
A 15-year old girl who was last seen at her school in eastern Pennsylvania on Monday, has been found in Minnesota. Philadelphia-area detectives received a tip that Victoria Grimaldi was on her way to visit a friend in the Twin Cities area. Thursday afternoon, Grimaldi was found safe by North St. Paul police and the BCA.
One in five Minnesotans, including children, suffer from a mental illness. Sue Abderholden with NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) says the good news is the stigma surrounding mental illness continues to fade. NAMI Minnesota is holding a 5K walk in Minneapolis tomorrow (SAT) to raise awareness. Around five-thousand people from around the state are expected to attend.