KTOE Noon News 7-28-25

Top Stories for Noon 7-28-25:

• A bicyclist from Winona is hospitalized in La Crosse, Wisconsin, after being hit by a vehicle on Highway 61. The Minnesota State Patrol says 67-year-old Scott Sabotta was struck by a northbound car while riding Sunday in Winona. Sabotta was taken to Gunderson Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The report says he was not wearing a helmet, and alcohol wasn’t involved. The 30-year-old woman driving the car wasn’t hurt.
• A man who pleaded guilty to a deadly drunk driving crash into a crowded restaurant patio in St. Louis Park is scheduled to be sentenced today. Steven Bailey faces up to 30 years in prison. The collision killed two people and injured dozens of others last September at the Park Tavern. Investigators say Bailey’s blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit at the time of the crash. The sentencing hearing is set for 1 p.m. at the Hennepin County Courthouse.
• A citizen-run sting operation is credited with nabbing a Minnesota man accused of trading inappropriate photos of children with others through a dating app. Jason Dalbec has been charged with 10 counts of possessing child pornography depicting minors younger than 14 years old. Authorities seized photo images from the defendant’s Cokato home that showed girls who appeared to be no older than 13 and as young as five. Bikers Against Predators, which is an Indiana-based nonprofit, contacted the Wright County Sheriff’s Office about Dalbec on July 19th. The suspect remains behind bars on 125 thousand dollars bail and is expected back in court on August 4th.
• A recent cyberattack has compromised personal data belonging to thousands of customers of Minnesota-based Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. Hackers gained access to a third-party cloud-based customer management system used by the company on July 16th. Officials say the breach exposed sensitive information tied to a large portion of Allianz Life’s 1.4 million U.S. customers, as well as financial professionals and some employees. The incident is limited to Allianz Life operations in the United States and remains under investigation.
• Minnesota has begun issuing the nation’s first advance Child Tax Credit payments, according to Revenue Commissioner Paul Marquardt. More than 17,000 families opted to receive part of their 2025 credit in three installments—July, September, and November—with an average payment of $446. Marquardt says, “It creates more financial flexibility for families,” Marquardt said. “School supply expenses are coming up. There might be a car repair, there might be bills to pay.” Since launching in 2023, Minnesota’s Child Tax Credit has delivered over $1 billion to families statewide.

• Mankato Area Foundation receives $30,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and Pioneer Bank through the Member Impact Fund

• Resurfacing project on Highway 15 in Fairmont begins August 4

  MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation will begin a three-week resurfacing project on Highway 15 in Fairmont starting August 4. The project will improve the road surface on Highway 15 in Fairmont between 10th Street and Goemann Road. Work will take place under traffic and a detour will not be required. Motorists, however, should expect lane closures and turn-lane restrictions.
  Drivers are asked to slow down in the work zone, watch for flaggers, and be alert for workers and equipment. The project is expected to be complete in late-August. Construction activities are weather dependent and subject to change. The resurfacing project will provide a smoother and safer road surface for motorists. For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
• People in Minnesota are receiving fake messages from “Minnesota Department of Vehicle Administration (DMV)” about outstanding traffic tickets and fines that need to be paid.
  That agency does not exist — and those fines likely don’t either.
  The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) and our Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division will never send a text asking for money or saying money is due.
  Stay safe by following these tips:

  • Always review the sender; the exact name matters.

  • Don’t respond to this scam or open links.

  • Delete the message.