The Fairmont City Council on Monday reviewed a feasibility study for a proposed municipal cannabis retail store that projects about $2.4 million in annual sales if the store opens in 2027. Andrew Livingston, with Vincente, the consulting firm hired by the city, said the study looked at market trends, customer demand, c...

Students at Blue Earth Area Middle School will spend Wednesday giving back to communities across Faribault County during the school's annual Service Day. Middle school students and eighth graders will travel to parks, towns and community site throughout the county to complete a variety of service projects. Morning Mee...

Minnesota Farmers continued to make strong planting progress during the past week, according to the latest USDA Crop Progress report released Monday. Corn planting in Minnesota reached 68% complete as of Sunday, ahead of the five year average of 55%. Corn emergence was reported at 10%, slightly below the average pace ...

The Faribault County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about scam letters that appear to come from the Internal Revenue Service. Authorities say the letter claim the recipient is owed a tax refund and request personal information. Officials stress these messages are fraudulent. The Sheriff's Office reminds residen...

The Fairmont County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday morning and approved a roughly $34,000 bid from Coxworth Water Conditioning to replace a water softener system at the Law Enforcement Center. The current system lasted about 15 years, wells beyond its expected lifespan. The board also approved about $74,000 in ...

The City of Wells is weighing whether to repair or replace its aging City Hall, as decades of wear begin to take a toll on the 65 year old building. City officials say the list of issues has been growing for some time. Among the concerns, a leaking roof and sewage system, frequent flooding in a former basement dance st...

No turkeys were killed in a barn fire near Mapleton Wednesday morning. Officials in Blue Earth County say the building is part of a Jennie-O operation and was empty at the time as workers were awaiting a shipment of birds. No injuries were reported. Authorities say the barn is a total loss after flames quickly spread ...

State Rep. Bjorn Olson is being recognized as one of the most effective minority party legislators in the State House. Olson, who represents District 22A covering Blue Earth, Faribault, Martin and Watonwan counties, ranked first among House Republicans for the 2023-2024 legislative session, according to a new analysis ...

Early planting progress across the Midwest is showing a mixed but generally steady start, according to the latest report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. In Minnesota, corn planting reached 42% complete as of April 26th. That's well ahead of both last year's 19% and the five year average of 24%, sign...

Charges have been filed against the man accused in the shooting of a Mankato man on Sunday. Forty four year old Joseph Bulfer, of Fairmont, is charged with one count of 2nd degree murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of assault and three counts of burglary. Court documents say Bulfer broke into the home of...

Farmers will have more time and more money through a federal disaster relief program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the sign up deadline for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, or SDRP, from April 20th to August 12th. Faribault County FSA Executive Director Nicki Miranowski says an addition pay...

Newly released figures from the Faribault County Recorder's Office show a decline in births and marriages, along with an increase in deaths, in March 2026, compared with the same month last year. According to the monthly Vital Statistics Report, four births were recorded in March, down from nine in March 2025. Meanwhil...

The detour for the Highway 22 and Highway 109 construction project in Wells will begin tomorrow, weather permitting, as crew start work on the 2026-27 improvement project, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The 2026-27 improvement project includes pavement and utility improvements, upgraded bicycl...

A semi rollover north of Delavan led to a highway shutdown and an air ambulance response Thursday. Emergency crews were dispatched to the intersection of 430th Avenue and 235th Street after a called reported a semi had rolled over and was leaking an unknown substance. A hazmat unit from Minnesota Lake was paged to ass...

The Faribault County Board of Commissioners approved a new department head hire, a business license and discussed updates within the County Recorder's office at its meeting on Tuesday. Commissioners approved the hiring of Mike McCoy as Central Services HR Director following a recruitment process that drew 12 applicants...