>>Osceola Bridge Closure Begins November 16
(Roseville,MN) – Drivers traveling between Wisconsin and Minnesota will soon need to find another route. The Highway 243 Osceola Bridge over the St. Croix River will close beginning November 16th for a major replacement project. The bridge, which connects Polk County to eastern Minnesota, is expected to remain closed for about a year while crews remove the existing 1953 structure and begin construction on a new bridge. Traffic will be detoured through Taylors Falls using Highways 95, 8 and 35. River access for recreational users will remain open during construction.
>>CenterPoint Seeks Gas System Upgrades
(Undated) – CenterPoint Energy is asking Minnesota regulators to approve a three-year investment plan aimed at improving the safety and reliability of its natural gas system. The proposal includes replacing aging pipelines, installing more than 360-thousand advanced gas meters, and expanding the use of high-tech leak detection equipment. If approved, the plan would raise the average residential bill by about seven to eight dollars a month starting in 2027. CenterPoint says the upgrades will help maintain reliable service during extreme winter weather and periods of high demand.
>>Federal Officials Highlight Minnesota Fraud Cases
(St. Cloud, MN) – Top Trump administration officials were in St. Cloud Friday highlighting efforts to crack down on fraud involving public assistance programs. Federal authorities announced new charges against four people accused of stealing millions of dollars from Medicaid and other state-funded programs serving seniors, people with disabilities and children with autism. FBI Director Kash Patel says investigators executed 17 search warrants this week. The announcement comes just days before Tuesday’s midterm election, as fraud in Minnesota remains a major political issue.
>>Feeding Our Future Defendant Sentenced in Juror Bribery Scheme
(St. Paul) – A defendant acquitted in the first Feeding Our Future trial is headed to federal prison for trying to bribe a juror. 44-year-old Said Farah was sentenced Friday in St. Paul to six-and-a-half years behind bars for his role in a scheme that offered a juror $120,000 in cash to vote for acquittal. The juror immediately reported the bribe to authorities. Federal Judge Eric Tostrud praised the juror’s actions, calling her a hero and saying jury bribery threatens the integrity of the justice system.
>>Federal Funding Awarded for Port of Red Wing Upgrades
(Red Wing, MN) – A southeastern Minnesota river port is getting a major infrastructure upgrade. More than 10 million dollars in federal funding has been awarded to improve systems at the Port of Red Wing. The project will replace aging barge-loading equipment and other critical infrastructure used to move grain along the Mississippi River. Officials say the improvements will boost safety, increase efficiency and help farmers get crops to market more quickly. The Port of Red Wing serves more than 1,200 farmers and ships hundreds of grain barges each year.
>>DNR Advisory Committee Seeks Public Input
(Undated) – Minnesotans interested in hunting, fishing and wildlife management are invited to weigh in on the Department of Natural Resources’ priorities for next year. The Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee will hold an online public meeting on December 2nd to gather ideas for its 2027 policy recommendations. Committee members advise the Legislature and DNR on issues ranging from season setting to habitat management. Officials say public feedback will help shape the panel’s work in the year ahead.
>>Hormel Announces Annual Hometown Turkey Takeover in Austin
(Austin, MN) — Hormel Foods and Jennie-O will distribute 10-thousand turkey breasts during their annual Hometown Turkey Takeover November 14th at the Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin. The drive-through giveaway begins at 9 a.m. and will continue while supplies last. More than seven-thousand turkey breasts are expected to go directly to area families, with nearly three-thousand more donated to local organizations fighting food insecurity. Each household can receive two frozen turkey breasts, with no registration or identification required.
>>Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday: Fire Marshal Urges Minnesotans to Check Alarms
(St. Paul, MN) — As Daylight Saving Time comes to an end Sunday, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. State Fire Marshal Dan Krier (Cryer) recommends changing batteries, testing alarms and checking their manufacture dates. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Krier says working alarms provide an important early warning as Minnesota continues to see a troubling trend in fire-related deaths.
>>AAA Urges Extra Caution This Halloween
(Undated) — With Halloween falling on a Saturday, Triple-A is urging extra caution on the roads. More trick-or-treaters, weekend traffic and partygoers could create added dangers. Safe Kids Worldwide reports children are more than twice as likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle on Halloween than any other day. Drivers are urged to slow down in neighborhoods, avoid distractions and watch for pedestrians. Families should also make sure children are visible and wear helmets when riding bikes or scooters.
