@ap.news FILE - Incumbent Governor Tim Walz debates gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen in the third and final gubernatorial debate at the Fitzgerald Theater, Oct. 28, 2022, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Nicole Neri, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz used the backdrop of a gleaming new high school to call on the Legislature in his State of the State speech to enact new gun control measures to make schools and communities safer. He also touted the achievements of last year’s legislative session. Walz went to Owatonna High School on Tuesday night to highlight how the southern Minnesota comm ..read more

Police car with emergency siren at night. 3D rendered illustration. Three people were injured when a semi and a van collided near Janesville Monday afternoon. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the Freightliner semi was southbound on Waseca Township Rd 33, and the Ford Econoline van was eastbound on Highway 14 when the vehicles collided in Alton Township, around noon. Stan Robert McCarty, 58, of Owatonna was a passenger in the van.  McCarty was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester with non-life threatening injuries. It’s unknown if he was wearing a seat belt. The van dri ..read more

Walmart stores in Mankato & Waseca will get an extensive remodel this year, similar to this sample photo from Walmart Corporate Walmart stores in Waseca and Mankato are getting an extensive remodel. Construction at both locations is expected to begin soon and should be completed this spring. Josh Havens, Walmart Corporate Director of Global Communications says both stores will be redesigned to deliver a more modern shopping experience. Customers can expect to see a new look on the interior and exterior of the stores, with new paint and flooring, modernized restrooms, brighter lighting, an ..read more

Photo & Video: MN Crime Two drivers were injured in a fiery semi vs car crash on Highway 14 in Steele County Tuesday. The Minnesota State Patrol says a Chevy Impala driven by Kirk Bradley Ruzek, 55, of Owatonna was southbound on 44th Ave, and an International semi was eastbound on Highway 14 in Havana Township, when the vehicles collided in the intersection at about 5:30 a.m. Watch the video from MN Crime: Ruzek and the semi driver, 63-year-old Michael Joseph Vogel of Madison Lake were both transported to a healthcare facility in Owatonna for treatment of non-life threatening injuries ..read more

Lavant Shaw mugshot, Martin County Jail Matthew Mohamed Davis, Steele County Jail A second person has been arrested in connection with a July shooting in rural Truman. Matthew Mohamed Davis, 21, of Owatonna, was apprehended in Steele County and transported back to Martin County, according to a release from the sheriff’s office. The other suspect, 18-year-old Lavant Marques Shaw, of Owatonna, was charged on July 19.  He’s currently in custody in Steele County on separate charges.  Four people were injured in the July 3 shooting at a party that drew hundreds of people from dozens of ci ..read more

Lavant Shaw mugshot, Martin County Jail The suspect in a shooting earlier this month in rural Truman has been arrested. Lavant Marques Shaw, 18, of Owatonna, was taken into custody without incident, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.  Shaw is held on potential charges of 2nd-degree attempted murder, 2nd-degree assault, and dangerous weapons. Investigators say on July 3 there was a large gathering of people at a farm site in rural Martin County, which was shared on social media.  The party drew hundreds of people from dozens of Minnesota cities, including Eden Prairie ..read more

Samatha Miller, Go Fund Me This photo provided by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, in South Carolina, shows Jamie Lee Komoroski, on April 29, 2023. Komoroski is charged with reckless vehicular homicide and three counts of driving under the influence causing death. (Charleston County Sheriff’s Office via AP) FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (AP) — A bride leaving her wedding reception was killed when a woman driving under the influence and well over twice the speed limit slammed into the back of a golf cart on a South Carolina beach road, authorities said. Data retrieved from Jamie Lee Komoroski’s rent ..read more

Minnesota State Patrol An Owatonna man was killed in a crash on Highway 218 in Steele County Tuesday. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened near Owatonna just before 7 a.m. when a northbound Jeep Cherokee and a southbound Toyota Corolla collided. The Corolla driver, Terry Jon Pelovsky, 59, was transported to Owatonna Hospital where he died from his injuries. Becky Linn Schwering, 58, of Claremont, was driving the Jeep.  Schwering was transported to Owatonna Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A patrol crash report says both drivers were wearing seat belts and alcoh ..read more

Nicollet County Government Center Police are looking for an Owatonna man accused of attempted rape and kidnapping. Adam John Techau, 38, was charged Tuesday in Nicollet County Court with 11 felony counts of 1st & 2nd-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and burglary. A criminal complaint says the victim, who knew Techau from work, agreed to let him sleep on her couch when he arrived at her home the night of Jan 28 and told her he was having relationship issues. Court documents say the victim was sleeping when Techau came into her bedroom and began maki ..read more

A Waseca woman was injured Thursday morning in a single-vehicle rollover on Highway 14 east of Owatonna. Alexis Herrera, 22, was transported to Owatonna Hospital after her pickup, which was westbound, entered the median and rolled several times just east of 64th Ave in Havana Township. Herrera suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash, which happened just before 8 a.m.   ..read more