>>Flooding Prompts Road Closures in South Central and Southwest Minnesota

(Mankato, MN) — Several roads are closed in southcentral and southwestern Minnesota after heavy rains and flooding. MnDOT says westbound Interstate 90 from Worthington to Luverne is closed, and eastbound I-90 from Luverne to Adrian is shut down. Highway 91 is closed north of Adrian, Highway 75 is temporarily closed from Luverne to the Iowa border, Highway 13 is closed south of Waseca, and Highway 19 is closed east of Henderson. MnDOT officials say crews are monitoring the flooded highways and will open them as soon as they are safe.

>>MnDOT Closes Stillwater Lift Bridge Due to Flood Concerns

(Stillwater, MN) — The Stillwater Lift Bridge closed today (Fri) due to rising levels on the St. Croix River and more rain in the forecast. MnDOT blocked access to both sides of the bridge, preventing pedestrians and bicycle traffic from crossing the span. Crews are placing ballasts on the stationary ends of the bridge to weigh it down to prevent possible movement from flood waters. The bridge will be lowered once the high levels recede, and the regular lift schedule will resume.

>>Medical Examiner Rules Death of 3-Month-Old Boy in White Bear Lake a Homicide

(White Bear Lake, MN) — The death of a three-month-old boy in White Bear Lake in March is being investigated as a homicide. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office says Jackson Forester died in the hospital of complications of bilateral subdural hemorrhages or bleeding on the brain. Forester was being treated at U of M Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital for internal head injuries caused by severe shaking. The White Bear Lake Police Department says there haven’t been arrests in the reported child abuse case, but the boy’s death is still under investigation.

>>May Jobs Report

(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s labor force participation rate remained at 68.0% in May, one of the highest in the country, according to numbers released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota’s unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a percent to 2.8%, which denotes a small loosening of the state’s extremely tight labor market. Nationally, the unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.0%, and the labor force participation rate fell two-tenths of a percentage point to 62.5% over the month.

>>US Forest Service Returning Nearly 12K Acres To Leech Lake Ojibwe Tribe

(Cass Lake, MN) — The U.S. government is returning nearly 12 thousand acres of land to a northern Minnesota Native American tribe. On Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service signed the paperwork to transfer land in the Chippewa National Forest to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. The tribe worked with the forest service to identify land that could be given over without impacting private property ownership in the area. A ceremony to commemorate the transfer is scheduled for July 17th.

>>Minnesota State Week Begins Monday

(Undated) — Students are encouraged to apply to the 33 colleges and universities that comprise the Minnesota State system. Minnesota State Week begins Monday, with application fees for each college waived through Friday. Schools also schedule on-campus and virtual visits for potential students throughout the week. More information about the participating colleges and universities is available on the Minnesota State website.

>>Miss Minnesota Pageant Finals Tonight At Treasure Island Resort

(Welch, MN) — Nineteen contestants are vying for Miss Minnesota. The preliminary events were held Wednesday and Thursday at the Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Welch, and the finals are scheduled for tonight. Angelina Amerigo was crowned Miss Minnesota last year. The winner will compete in the Miss America pageant.

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