KTOE Noon News 4-17-25
Top Stories for Noon 4-17-25
- Northbound Highway 169 entrance ramp to eastbound Highway 14 in Mankato closed April 21
-
MAPS School Board to Honor Outstanding Seniors at Special Recognition Ceremony
- Nonpublic schools in Minnesota may lose state funding due to Governor Tim Walz’s proposed budget. The governor intends to cut $109 million over the next two years to prioritize public schools. This reduction could eliminate essential services at nonpublic schools, including busing, textbooks, nursing support for immunizations, and basic guidance counseling. Governor Walz’s proposal is supported by Senate Democrats and the state’s major teachers’ union, Education Minnesota. The legislature’s deadline is May 19 to pass a budget during the regular session.
- The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and local officials continue to investigate the mobile home fire that occurred Wednesday morning in Jordan, where two people died. The victims are women, but their names haven’t been released. Firefighters found a man outside the burning mobile home, and he was hospitalized in serious condition. No word yet on what caused the fire.
- Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, Minnesota employers added 10,700 jobs in March. Eight out of the 11 supersectors experienced job growth, with particularly strong advancements in the construction sector. Over the past year, Minnesota has added a total of 37,581 jobs, surpassing the national growth rate. It’s important to note that recent federal announcements regarding mass layoffs have not yet been reflected in this data. Currently, the state’s unemployment rate is 3.1%, compared to the national rate of 4.2%.
- Target C-E-O Brian Cornell is reportedly meeting with civil rights leader the Reverend Al Sharpton this week in New York City. It comes as the Minnesota-based retailer faces a customer boycott and criticism for rolling back some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Sharpton has not called for a boycott of Target but has supported customers who stopped shopping at other retailers that scaled back D-E-I initiatives.
- American Red Cross Seeking Blood Donors during National Volunteer Month
