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Update: Road closed in Otsego due to ‘slope failure’; short-term fix forthcoming
Update: The Wright County Highway Department announced Friday, July 19, that the segment of County State Aid Highway 36 (53rd Street NE), between the intersections of Quilley Avenue NE and Rachele Avenue NE in Otsego will continue to be closed for approximately two more weeks while county staff construct a short-term fix. The start date of the work is pending approval of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The closure...
Wright County is awarded $5,000 grant
The Wright County Health and Human Services Special Needs Fund received a $5,000 grant from Wright County Area United Way. The grant will help replenish the Special Needs Fund which helps fulfill the needs of individuals and families when they have exhausted all other resources (county, community, and volunteer organizations). The lack of such resources motivated the agency to develop this fund. When the Special Needs Fund was able to assist a family with a utility bill, the mother of four children, three of whom have special needs, stated, “It helped me a lot. We went through a financial situation which caused more financial situations to come along with it. I can’t thank them enough for helping. Wright County Health and Human Services thanked Wright County Area United Way for the grant and its support of the program which provides quality assistance to the residents of Wright County.
Train derails in Sherburne County
BIG LAKE, Minn. — Roads are closed in Big Lake on Saturday after a train derailed near 197th Avenue and County Road 14. According to the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, a BNSF train carrying consumer goods derailed around 3:15 a.m., impacting 15 rail cars. Police said no injuries were...
IT outages felt across Twin Cities
MINNEAPOLIS — Computer systems across the globe are limping back into action after the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike pushed an update overnight that caused a huge number of Microsoft PCs to malfunction. Its repercussions could be felt for weeks and it now ranks as the largest IT outage in history.
MN poised to complete one of nation’s largest solar farms after permit vote
Construction could begin in Minnesota later this year in the final phase of one of the nation’s largest solar energy developments, after state regulators greenlighted a key permit. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved the site permit requested by Xcel Energy. The utility is moving forward with...
Construction of Massive Solar Farm in Becker Clears Another Major Hurdle
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission recently approved the site permit, requested by Xcel Energy, for one of the nation’s largest solar energy developments in the community of Becker. PUC Chair Katie Sieben says construction for two additional solar arrays had already been approved, starting last year, but there’s significance...
Central Minnesota Veterans to Receive Benefits Assistance at PACT Act Claims Clinic in St. Cloud
If you've served your country through thick and thin, here's something relevant to your interests. Veterans from Central Minnesota, along with the survivors of those who served during the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and post-9/11 conflicts, can get essential information on their healthcare and compensation benefits this August 17, as reported by Wright County Minnesota. Specifically, for those who've been exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their service, a PACT Act claims clinic is opening its doors to provide the answers you need.
Otsego EDA will host hearing related to proposed fire department facility
The Otsego Economic Development Authority is proposing to issue lease revenue bonds to finance a new fire and emergency services building on city-owned land in Otsego. To do so, the EDA must establish the Economic Development District No. 2 for the area on which the facility is proposed to be built. To establish the district, the EDA must first hold a public hearing, which is set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 22, at the Otsego Prairie Center, 8899 Nashua Avenue NE, Otsego. For more information, go to https://www.ci.otsego.mn.us/160/Emergency-Services.
Ukrainian medical student training with U of M to bring help back to home country
MINNETONKA, Minn. — The University of Minnesota is helping train a Ukrainian medical student so she can go back to her country and assist in the war effort. Lisa Ishchenko is in the U.S. for the first time – away from her family, away from her life as a medical student, away from the war that still makes itself known daily in her home country of Ukraine."One of the biggest children's hospitals, not only in Ukraine but all of Europe, was destroyed by Russian rockets," Ishchenko said. "It's awful because I knew people who were working there and now many colleagues...
Road work underway across region
Like clockwork every summer, Minnesota cities rush to repair and improve their roads– Orono, Long Lake, and Maple Plain are no exception. Orono is busy with its 2024 Street Improvements Project, which included milling, reclaiming, and paving Orchard Park Road, Willow Drive between Fox Street and Brown Road, Partenwood Road, and Partenwood Lane. Per Orono’s website, contractors JMH Asphalt Corp finished tolerancing the week of July 8 before paving each...
Westonka Rotary gets visit from district governor
The Rotary Club of Mound-Westonka officially kicked off its 2024-2025 calendar year at its July 2 meeting. The club has been busy lately– helping to sponsor Mound’s ongoing Music in the Park every first Thursday, helping fund the recently completed Eli Hart Memorial Playground and the Eli Hart Foundation, and awarding scholarships to three Mound-Westonka students. They’re looking forward to helping the surrounding community assemble at the Spirit of the Lakes festival July 18-20. ...
Bittman shares state of school district with School Board
by Jim Boyle Editor The Elk River Area School District this past school year saw boundless successes, conflicting viewpoints and crises that school officials have handled in model fashion. That was the message from Superintendent Dan Bittman delivered during a 9 a.m. meeting of the District 728 School Board on Wednesday, July 17, at the...
Three-year I-94 Gap Project construction begins July 22
The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced that the start of the three-year expansion of Interstate 94 between Albertville and Monticello, known as the I-94 Gap Project, will begin on July 22. During construction this year crews will prepare the work zone, which includes temporary lane widening and median crossovers. Motorists will encounter periodic lane closures on both directions of I-94 through fall 2024. The lane closures will occur during off-peak hours, mainly overnights. ...
Aug. 9 deadline for Star News subscription nears
Local community newspaper and its online content will no longer be free We have reached the halfway point of our education campaign going from a free newspaper to one that will soon require a paid subscription. It is a good time to pause and thank all of you who have chosen to subscribe. We appreciate all your support and truly value each of you as loyal readers. We also wanted...
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