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Austin Daily Herald
Judy Garland’s hometown is raising funds to purchase stolen ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota hometown of Judy Garland, the actress who wore a pair of ruby slippers in “The Wizard of Oz,” is raising money to purchase the prized footwear after it was stolen from a local museum and then later turned over to an auction company. Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where the […] The post Judy Garland’s hometown is raising funds to purchase stolen ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Historic Superior lighthouse sold at auction 5 years ago is available once again
By Dan Kraker A historic Lake Superior lighthouse that a Californian won at auction five years ago with dreams of converting it into a quiet getaway — and possibly even a vacation rental — is now being offered for free to a government agency or nonprofit that agrees to maintain it. The 56-foot-tall structure stands […] The post Historic Superior lighthouse sold at auction 5 years ago is available once again appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
NY prosecutors urge judge to keep gag order blocking Trump from criticizing jurors
NEW YORK — Prosecutors on Friday urged the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case to uphold provisions of a gag order that bar him from criticizing jurors and court staff, while agreeing to lift a restriction on his public statements about trial witnesses. In court papers filed Friday, prosecutors with the Manhattan district […] The post NY prosecutors urge judge to keep gag order blocking Trump from criticizing jurors appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Humane Society recommends tips for keeping your pet safe during hot weather
As Minnesotans deal with the heat and humidity this summer, Animal Humane Society is sharing tips for keeping your pets safe, cool, and comfortable: On hot days, leave your pet inside with the air conditioning on. If you are outside with your dog, ensure they have access to plenty of shade and fresh water in […] The post Humane Society recommends tips for keeping your pet safe during hot weather appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Convictions: June 10-17
— Marni Linette Rhyan, 53, Albert Lea, was sentenced to two years supervised probation and fined $100 for felony fourth degree assault of a peace officer – throw, transfers bodily fluids or feces at or onto an officer. She must follow several conditions. She was also sentenced to two years supervised probation for felony fifth […] The post Convictions: June 10-17 appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
FEMA is ready for an extreme hurricane and wildfire season, but money is a concern, Mayorkas says
WASHINGTON — The head of the Homeland Security Department said Friday that the agency tasked with responding to disasters across the country is prepared as it goes into what is expected to be an intense hurricane and wildfire season but he’s concerned about looming budget shortfalls. As parts of the U.S. are sweltering under potentially […] The post FEMA is ready for an extreme hurricane and wildfire season, but money is a concern, Mayorkas says appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
The Supreme Court upholds a gun control law intended to protect domestic violence victims
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal gun control law that is intended to protect victims of domestic violence. In their first Second Amendment case since they expanded gun rights in 2022, the justices ruled 8-1 in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away […] The post The Supreme Court upholds a gun control law intended to protect domestic violence victims appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
UPDATE: Flood watch, flood warning put into effect for Cedar River, Turtle Creek
With serious amounts of rain having fallen already and more expected to fall into the weekend, the National Weather Service has installed a flood watch and flood warning for the Cedar River in Austin and near Lansing and Turtle Creek. The watch was placed into effect at 7 a.m. and is expected to stretch through […] The post UPDATE: Flood watch, flood warning put into effect for Cedar River, Turtle Creek appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Heavy rains and climate change troubling for agriculture industry, emerging BIPOC farmers
By Gracie Stockton and Cathy Wurzer After two years of drought-dried fields, Minnesota farmers are facing the opposite problem — extremely soggy soil and flooding following several inches of rainfall that washed out roads and continue to push up river levels this week. “All I’ll say is uffdah,” Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said. “A […] The post Heavy rains and climate change troubling for agriculture industry, emerging BIPOC farmers appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Update: Austin motorcyclist identified in fatal Blooming Prairie crash
The Austin man killed in a two-vehicle crash in Blooming Prairie Thursday morning has been identified. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 57-year-old Darren Samuel Thomas, was killed when the Honda motorcycle he was riding collided with a Saturn L300 driven by Mya Anne Gaul, 21, of Montgomery, Minnesota a little before noon Thursday. Both […] The post Update: Austin motorcyclist identified in fatal Blooming Prairie crash appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Donald Sutherland, the towering actor whose career spanned ‘M.A.S.H.’ to ‘Hunger Games,’ dies at 88
NEW YORK — Donald Sutherland, the Canadian actor whose wry, arrestingly off-kilter screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games,” has died. He was 88. Sutherland died Thursday in Miami after a long illness, according to a statement from Creative Artists Agency, which represented him. Kiefer Sutherland […] The post Donald Sutherland, the towering actor whose career spanned ‘M.A.S.H.’ to ‘Hunger Games,’ dies at 88 appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Institute, Mower County Public Health team up for new Wellness on Wheels program
Wellness on Wheels, a new program offered by The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, and Mower County Public Health, will visit Grand Meadow on Tuesday, June 25, from 2–5 p.m at Grand Meadow School, located at 710 4th Ave. NE. The event will share vital health information and resources, as well as free health screenings […] The post Institute, Mower County Public Health team up for new Wellness on Wheels program appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Riverland invites community members to input sessions for strategic planning
Riverland Community College is excited to announce a series of 60-minute public listening sessions in Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna. These sessions are a crucial part of our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan development, and we are eager to gather input from community members. The purpose of the sessions is to gather community ideas and feedback to […] The post Riverland invites community members to input sessions for strategic planning appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Historical Society featuring a history of the rail
The Mower County Historical Society will host its next Lunchbox History event at noon on Thursday June 27, in the Pioneer Building with local historian, educator, and author Dean Ulland as he explores the railroad coming to Mower County. Ulland will discuss how the early days of the railroad transformed “From Trails to Rails 1854-1867.” […] The post Historical Society featuring a history of the rail appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Minnesota State recognizes leaders with emeritus status including former RCC president
The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has recognized Adenuga Atetwologun, Anne Blackhurst, and Richard Rush with the title of President Emeritus, and Devinder Malhotra with the title of Chancellor Emeritus. Atewologun served as president of Riverland Community College from 2013 until his retirement in 2023. During his presidency, Riverland undertook […] The post Minnesota State recognizes leaders with emeritus status including former RCC president appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
South Dakota man injured in crash on I-90 Tuesday night
A Brandon, South Dakota man was injured late Tuesday night after the semi he was driving was involved in a single-vehicle crash near Oakland. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Robert Steven Fleming, 58, was traveling eastbound on Interstate 90 when his semi left the roadway at around 9 p.m. Road conditions were listed as […] The post South Dakota man injured in crash on I-90 Tuesday night appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Training programs a big step toward filling a need for water, wastewater operators
Southern Minnesota and local officials, along with elected officials, took a victory lap Monday afternoon to further hype the benefits that two new training programs for water and wastewater operators will offer. In the 2024 session, the Legislature appropriated $350,000 over the course of three years to create a program through Riverland Community College to […] The post Training programs a big step toward filling a need for water, wastewater operators appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Daunting task lays ahead for City’s 2025 budget, operating levy
The Austin City Council on Monday night took its first steps toward setting 2025’s budget and operating levy during its work session. While a fair share of the discussion was formulaic in terms of what council members can expect of the process and deadlines, there were initial discussions about what council members hoped to focus […] The post Daunting task lays ahead for City’s 2025 budget, operating levy appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Chop, Oman to now be tried separately in drive-by shooting case
The remaining two suspects charged in the drive-by shooting death of Gumdel Nygare Gilo, will now be tried separately. Court documents were filed earlier this month, public defenders for the two defendants entered a motion to sever the cases. The two were originally to both be tried July 8-19. No new trial dates have been […] The post Chop, Oman to now be tried separately in drive-by shooting case appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
Peak alerts issued through tonight
Austin Utilities has issued a peak alert for today and ranging through to 8 p.m. tonight. Customers are asked to reduce energy during that time. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will reach into the upper 80s with high humidity. The post Peak alerts issued through tonight appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.
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