KTOE Noon News 7-14-25

Top Stories for Noon 7-14-25:

• North Mankato Police Respond to Vehicle Rollover in Residential Neighborhood

• True Transit Offers Free Rides to Local County Fairs

• Seal coats on several highways in South Central Minnesota begin July 21

• A state study shows that a Minnesota prison labor program allowed private companies to profit from low-cost prison labor. The Office of the Legislative Auditor reported last month that Minncor Industries did not account for all of its costs when adding up the rates it charged private firms. The cost would normally be covered through wage deductions from workers. But the study found that Minncor did not cover those deductions in its contracts with two private companies. They charged millions less than it should have. The gap led to an indirect taxpayer-funded subsidy.
• Just after 10 p.m. Friday, Otter Tail County Dispatch received a report of a large fire. Crews arrived to find an abandoned outbuilding fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters from the Otter Tail and New York Mills departments responded and extinguished the blaze. Officials say the property owner had been burning a brush pile nearby when the fire spread to the building. No injuries were reported, but the structure has been declared a total loss.
• Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis is going solar. Tomorrow, Cooperative Energy Futures and Allina Health will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new solar garden on top of Abbott Northwestern’s Purple Parking Ramp. The solar garden will serve more than 180 local households, with 55 percent of the power allocated to low and moderate-income subscribers. Organizers say that, in addition to saving money on electricity, the rooftop setup will also provide shade for cars and will reduce the need for snow removal in the winter.
• The Minnesota State Fair is hiring for the 2025 Great Minnesota Get-Together, running August 21st through September 1st. About 3,000 fair-time positions are available, including ticket sellers, custodians, and parking attendants. Most jobs require no prior experience and are open to individuals aged 16 years and older. Applicants can visit the Employment Center at 1640 Como Ave., or attend the Job Fair on Wednesday, July 23rd. Free parking is available, and the site is accessible by Metro Transit. To speed up the process, job seekers are encouraged to register online at mnstatefair.org/employment.

• Public Input Wanted as Blue Earth County Updates Hazard Mitigation Plan