KTOE Noon News 7-17-25
Top Stories for Noon 7-17-25:
- Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office Hosts Active Violence/Active Shooter Training for Area First Responders
- Minnesota’s job market held steady in June, with little change across key employment indicators. According to the Department of Employment and Economic Development, the state lost about 800 jobs last month—essentially flat—and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. More than 2,100 Minnesotans joined the labor force, continuing a strong trend of growth in 10 of the past 12 months. The labor force participation rate also held steady at 68.2 percent. Both figures continue to outpace national averages. The U.S. unemployment rate sits at 4.1 percent, with a labor force participation rate of 62.3 percent.
- There’s some good news on the drought front in Minnesota. The latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows conditions are slowly improving across the state. Right now, 26 percent of Minnesota is considered Abnormally Dry—that’s down from 37 percent just last week. Moderate Drought conditions have also eased slightly, now affecting just four percent of the state. And Severe Drought? That’s been cut in half, down to just one percent. The driest area remains in northwestern Minnesota. And there could be more help on the way. The National Weather Service predicts another round of showers and thunderstorms will move through parts of the state tomorrow.(Fri)
- Former Minnesota State Senator Scott Jensen will be running for governor once again. The Chaska doctor announced today that he will join the race after losing to Tim Walz in 2022 by less than eight percentage points. Jensen told the Star Tribune that he wants to bring Minnesota back to the days when communities were safe and schools were strong. The Republican joins candidate Kendall Qualls, an Army veteran and former health care executive. Meanwhile, Walz has yet to announce whether he’ll seek a third term.
