KTOE Noon News 7-7-25

Top Stories for Noon 7-7-25:

• Mankato Man Facing First-Degree Drug Charges After Large Meth Bust, Violent Traffic Stop

• Mankato Woman Charged in Major Methamphetamine Case Following Drug Task Force Operation

• Saint Paul Woman Uninjured in Single Vehicle Accident Saturday

• No one was injured after a large fire at a Winona manufacturing plant this morning (MON). Crews responded to the fire around midnight at Core Molding Technologies. Flames were found to have reached the roof and ductwork, but they were mostly contained. The cause is under investigation. No other information is available.
• New Prague city council members plan to consider a controversial project to build a ten-million-dollar police station. The meeting is set for tonight. Some residents are concerned that their taxes will increase to cover the cost of the project. Another issue is claims of a lack of transparency from the city on the construction. The city did not conduct a legally required public hearing before it approved the proposed plan.
• Drivers in Rochester are advised to expect delays today as construction begins on Highway 14. The Department of Transportation says the paving work will start at Highway 52 to Crossroads Drive Southwest and from 3rd Avenue Southeast to Marion Road Southeast/ 15th Avenue. Crews are expected to remove three inches of asphalt and replace it with two layers of new asphalt. Construction will last until August 4th.
• Hennepin County deputies are taking a community-first approach in the fight against fentanyl. Their new “Focus on Fentanyl” video series shares stories from impacted communities, aiming to raise awareness and build trust. The Sheriff’s Office is partnering with health experts and local leaders to ensure culturally respectful outreach. Free virtual opioid education and Narcan training are available, and participants will receive free Naloxone kits.
• It’s been one year since Nicole “Nikki” Anderson of Dakota County went missing. Nikki was last seen alive on July 6th, 2024, leaving her home in Randolph Township to walk down the driveway and check the mail. Since then, numerous extensive searches of the home, property belonging to Nikki’s ex-boyfriend, and the local area, conducted with drones and K9s, have yielded no results. Nikki’s ex-boyfriend was labeled a person of interest by deputies, but no arrests have been made. There’s a fifty-thousand-dollar reward for a tip leading to Nikki’s location or the prosecution of someone in her disappearance.