Category Archives: Local News

Minnesota Adds More Jobs from December to January

Minnesota gained 3,000 jobs from December to January, meaning the state has seen job growth for nine out of the past 12 months, according to the numbers released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Average hourly wages for all private sector workers in Minnesota increased 56 cents to $37.46 in January…read more »

Easton Telephone Company Awarded DEED Grant for Broadband Expansion

Governor Tim Walz announced over $50 million in grants to expand broadband access to an estimated 8,900 homes and businesses throughout Minnesota on Tuesday. The Easton Telephone Company is one of twenty four broadband expansion projects that will receive grants from the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Office of Broadband Development, helping deploy new…read more »

Fairmont Police Urges the Public to be on the Lookout for Counterfeit $100 Bills

The Fairmont Police Department and surrounding agencies have seen an uptick in counterfeit money, specifically counterfeit $100 bills.  The counterfeit $100 bills seem to be a 1981 series with the serial number: G20133266A. There are a number of ways to spot counterfeit currency, but not all counterfeits are blatantly obvious.  As a rule of thumb,…read more »

USDA Offers Tips to Farmers Worried About a Potential Lack of Moisture

The USDA – Midwest Climate Hub says there is important weather information for farmers in Minnesota and Iowa to keep in mind going into the growing season this April. Due to the above average temperatures this winter, which in Minnesota was one of the warmest on record according to the National Weather Service, the soil…read more »

Fire Crews Continue to Monitor Area Following Sunday Wildfire Near Waseca

Around noon on Sunday crews responded to a reported wildfire new Blowers Park. The Waseca Fire Department reports that between 1500 and 1700 acres of land burned after what the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office believes to be a manmade brushfire on a nearby private property rekindled Sunday morning. The fire department reports three injuries from…read more »

Value of Corn and Soybean Production in MN & Iowa Falls in 2023

The production of Minnesota’s field and miscellaneous crops was valued at $14.0 billion in 2023, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Values 2023 Summary.  This was down 17% from 2022. The value of corn for grain production totaled $7.19 billion, down 22% from the previous year.  Minnesota’s corn price averaged $4.75…read more »