KTOE Noon News 8-4-25

Top Stories for Noon 8-4-25:

• Temporary closure of westbound Highway 14 near Janesville begins August 11

• Nicollet County Hosting Project Community Connect on August 12th

• Motorcyclist Seriously Injured in Vernon Center Township Crash

• Governor Tim Walz will be leading a trade mission to Switzerland and Germany. The trip is planned for November 15th through the 21st. The governor’s delegation will travel to major business centers: Zurich, Düsseldorf, and Berlin. The mission of the trip will focus on growing the state’s exports of goods and services, showcasing Minnesota as a top destination for business investment, and strengthening existing ties. Germany is Minnesota’s 8th largest export market, and Switzerland is 22nd.
• A new national survey ranks Minneapolis and St. Paul among the tougher markets for first-time home buyers. WalletHub’s study of three hundred U.S. cities placed Minneapolis at 178 and St. Paul at 210. The rankings were based on factors like home affordability, real estate market health, and quality of life. Palm Bay, Florida, topped the list as the best city for first-time buyers, while Berkeley, California, ranked last.
• Minnesota is on a top ten list that involves deadly falls of people aged 65 and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rates the state with the second-highest rate behind Wisconsin. The study shows deadly falls are twice the national average and rising. Close to 142 Minnesota seniors per one hundred thousand died from injuries after a fall in 2021. In Wisconsin, the count was just under 177. State health leaders and aging advocates say the increasing death toll is taking place while the senior population is growing. One official says the remedy is to increase the budget for prevention efforts.
• A Minnesota legislator plans to introduce a bill in the next legislative session that creates an independent office of inspector general. State Senator Heather Gustafson’s legislation passed in the 2025 session with 60 votes in the Senate, but the measure died in the House without a floor vote. The Vadnais Heights DFLer says taxpayers need the inspector general to oversee and investigate all state agencies because taxpayers have plenty at stake. Gustafson added that new fraud measures have been implemented, but also said an independent inspector general would have the authority to go even further.
• Rochester residents may be paying more for water service. The city’s Public Utility Board is expected to increase costs by nine percent for 2026 and 2027. Utility officials say the price hike is a result of an increase in customers and the city’s use of water for its projects. Rochester power bills may also increase by six percent. Those concerned with the utility increases can share their thoughts with the RPU at its next regular meeting on August 26th.