>>Mankato to Become Home of New Regional Crime Lab and Law Enforcement Facility
(Mankato, MN) — A major investment in public safety is coming to southern Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz and state officials broke ground Monday on a new regional law enforcement facility and crime lab in Mankato. The facility is designed to speed up investigations and reduce the need for law enforcement to travel to the Twin Cities for forensic analysis. Governor Walz says the lab will be able to process up to 6,000 cases and 12,000 pieces of evidence annually. “It will allow law enforcement not to have to take time away to drive evidence up to the Twin Cities to have that evidence processed,” Walz said. “So we can get what we need to process crime scenes.” The project is funded through the bonding bill passed during the last special legislative session. Once completed, the facility will bring 50 new agents and forensic scientists to the region. Construction is underway, and the facility is expected to open in March 2027.
>>600 Allina Doctors, Health Workers Prepare for Strike
(Minneapolis) – Six hundred doctors, physicians’ assistants, and nurse practitioners are prepared to go out on strike against Allina Health tomorrow (WED). The union representing the doctors and medical professionals believes this will be the largest strike of its kind in U.S. history. The two sides held a final bargaining session on Tuesday without coming up with an agreement. The strike will be a one-day Unfair Labor Practice strike with picketing outside metro clinics and a rally held at Allina’s headquarters in Minneapolis. The union is seeking more safety on the job and improved patient care.
>>Litchfield Man Headed to Prison for Several Violent Offenses
(Litchfield, MN) — The sentence is two decades in prison for a Litchfield man convicted of several violent offenses. Twenty-seven-year-old Trey Ertl was arrested for beating a man with a baseball bat during a robbery in Litchfield in March of last year, and three months later was arrested for beating and stabbing a man he was helping rob near Litchfield after showing him a camper for sale. Then he was charged with beating a fellow inmate in the Meeker County Jail this past February. On Monday, Judge Stephanie Beckman gave Ertl a 240-month sentence on a second-degree attempted murder conviction for the camper robbery, and lesser sentences for the other convictions.
>>MNsure Open Enrollment Underway
(St. Paul, MN) — It’s that time of year again, open enrollment is here. This is your opportunity to sign up for health insurance, renew your current plan, or make changes to better suit your needs. MNsure CEO Libby Caulum(Column) says it’s still uncertain whether Congress will extend the enhanced premium tax credits. However, she emphasizes that even if those credits expire, Minnesotans will still be eligible for significant savings:
“On average, eligible households will save $600.00 per month in 2026. That’s over $7000 annually. Minnesotans can check for savings by using our online shop and compare tool. This is a fast and convenient way for consumers to understand their coverage options and see what financial help they may qualify for”. More information can be found at mnsure.org.
>>Coca-Cola Releases Holiday Flavor
(Atlanta, GA) — The first Coca-Cola holiday flavor in five years is hitting store shelves now. The soda company says Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla is “a festive twist on the classic taste that delivers comfort, refreshment, and seasonal joy.” The flavor is described as “a delicious taste of Coca-Cola infused with smooth, creamy vanilla flavors.” It will be available in both regular and zero-sugar versions.
>>Gopher Women’s Hoops Hosts North Dakota in Season Opener
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Golden Gopher women’s basketball team opens the regular season tonight at the Barn against North Dakota. This is the third year at Minnesota for head coach Dawn Plitzuweit (PLITZ’-uh-white). Her Gophers went 25-and-11 last season and won the 20205 W-B-I-T Championship. One-thousand-point scorer Amaya Battle of Hopkins returns to Williams Arena for her senior season. U-N-D had a 12-and-19 record last season.
