A water main break has forced Rochester school officials to close Harriet Bishop Elementary School today.
The school, at 406 36th Ave. N.W., has approximately 950 students in K-5.
Rochester, MN's local news source.
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February 24, 2010
February 23, 2010
Broken water main causing ice on Elton Hills Drive NW
Rochester city crews were just called to water main break on Elton Hills Drive with reports of ice building up on busy east-west roadway in north Rochester.
A sanding truck was sent to the area. It’s reported between Viking Drive and West River Parkway.
February 19, 2010
Reid will back public option if GOP barrier fails
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will support allowing the government to sell insurance in competition with private industry if the White House and Democratic leaders push a health care bill with no Republican backing. Many conservatives and some moderates oppose the so-called public option. It’s in the House bill, but not the Senate version. The White House is trying to reconcile the two bills before Thursday’s bipartisan summit.
Reid’s office said today he will work with the White House and Democratic lawmakers to try to craft a public option that can overcome obstacles such as a bill-killing GOP filibuster. Some congressional Democrats say they doubt the White House would include a public option in the proposal it will unveil Monday.
‘America’s Most Wanted’ to air segment on Blooming Prairie wife-beater
“America’s Most Wanted” this weekend will televise a report on a convicted wife-beater with anti-government sentiments from southeastern Minnesota who has been on the run for more than 10 years.
Dale Batt, 47, has been a fugitive since 2000, when he was convicted of third-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm after assaulting his then-wife. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but was granted a stay of imposition as long as he complied with terms of probation and treatment. He never complied.
The “America’s Most Wanted” segment is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday on Fox.
Anonymous tips to “America’s Most Wanted” can be called in to 1-800-CRIME-TV.
America’s Most Wanted to air segment on Blooming Prairie wife-beater
Rural bankers say lack of hiring is hurting economy
OMAHA, Neb. — Rural bankers believe that a hiring drought, fear of anemic commodity prices and concern over the high cost of farming are hurting the Midwest’s rural economy, according to survey results released Friday.
Bankers from 11 Midwest and Plains states who participated in the Rural Mainstreet survey were asked to identify the biggest economic challenge to the region’s economy in 2010. More than a third — 38 percent — said they expect a lack of new hiring by businesses to be the most significant hurdle.
About 30 percent said weak commodity prices will be the largest problem, while 16 percent cited expectations of high input prices to farm, such as for fertilizer, animal feed and fuel.
The survey’s overall index for February declined to 36.6, compared with 41 in January. It was the index’s first decline in six months.
The index ranges between 0 and 100. A score below 50 suggests the economy will contract in the next few months; above 50 indicates the economy will expand.
The index has remained below 50 for 24 consecutive months.
Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
Newborn boy dies after dog bite
Associated Press
INDEPENDENCE, Minn. — A newborn boy has died after he was bitten by a dog at home in Hennepin County.
West Hennepin Public Safety said in a statement Friday that the 10-day-old child was in his car seat on a bed in a bedroom at his home in Independence when he was bitten by the family’s Siberian Husky on Thursday afternoon. First responders tried to revive the baby, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office declined to immediately identify the child.
MPCA issues air pollution alert for Rochester
MPCA press release:
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air pollution health advisory for the Twin Cities and Rochester for Friday, Feb. 19, and an air pollution health alert for the same areas on Saturday, Feb. 20.
The MPCA issues an air pollution health alert when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds or is expected to exceed 101, the level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. An air pollution health advisory is issued when the AQI is expected to exceed 90.
An overnight temperature inversion, which traps pollutants near the surface, coupled with light to calm winds, which limit pollutant dispersion, is causing fine particle concentrations to build to levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups in Rochester and the Twin Cities. As calm conditions persist into Saturday, fine particle levels are expected to continue to increase. Increased wind speeds from the north on Sunday are expected to improve pollutant dispersion, leading to high-moderate AQI levels on Sunday and low-moderate AQI levels on Monday, Feb. 22. Air quality is expected to improve to good AQI conditions by Tuesday, Feb. 23.
Those with respiratory or cardiovascular problems, young children, the elderly and individuals who participate in activities that require heavy exertion are the most sensitive to elevated levels of air pollution. Since fine particles can be drawn deeply into the lungs, it is a good idea to reduce or postpone activities that lead to deep or accelerated breathing. Exposure to high levels of fine particles may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue, even after air quality has improved. If you experience these symptoms, contact your physician. Even individuals that are otherwise healthy may experience health effects when air pollution increases.
Everyone can take steps to reduce contributions to local air pollution. Reducing motor vehicle emissions by carpooling, combining trips, avoiding idling, and using alternate transportation all help. During poor air quality events, people should also postpone burning wood and reduce their energy consumption.
For hourly air quality updates, visit the MPCA AQI Web site at http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/.
February 14, 2010
MnDOT advises no travel in south-central, southwestern MN
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is advising no travel in south-central and southwestern Minnesota after dark tonight due to blowing snow.
The advisory includes the western half of the Interstate 90 corridor. MnDOT officials say blowing snow, with wind gusts reaching 30 to 40 mph, tonight is causing poor visibility.
MnDOT plows have been out since noon today in south-central and southwestern Minnesota but are having trouble keeping up, and drivers are starting to see some drifting.
February 12, 2010
Collision on U.S. 14 involved Kasson police officer
KASSON — A semi and car collided on U.S. 14 at Dodge Country Road 9 near Kasson this morning.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, dense fog was covering the area when the accident occurred, and a Kasson Police officer was struck while on scene. The report is not clear on whether or not the officer was in a squad car or on foot.
A secondary crash also occurred after the initial crash at 8:22 a.m.
At least one person was injured, but no further information has been released by the State Patrol.
U.S. 14 lanes re-opened after crash
KASSON — A crash involving a semi closed lanes on U.S. 14 at Dodge County Road 9 between Kasson and Dodge Center for about an hour on Friday morning.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, one eastbound lane and one westbound lane were closed.
The crash occurred before 9 a.m. today.
For updated information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.
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