KTOE Noon News 9-18-25

Top Stories for Noon 9-18-25:

• Minnesota employers added nearly 6,000 new jobs in August, continuing a steady upward trend in the state’s labor market. DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek says Minnesota’s job growth is outpacing the national average. “Since last August, Minnesota has added 39,000 jobs, and that is a 1.3% increase, which compares well to the U.S. rate over the same time frame of 0.8%.” The state’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly—rising one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.6%, still well below the national rate of 4.3%. Minnesota’s labor force participation rate also remains strong at 68.1%, compared to 62.3% nationally. Commissioner Varilek says the August numbers reflect a resilient economy. “Good month with strong job growth and a growing labor force outpacing national trends. We continue to monitor for changes in this picture due to the uncertainty coming out of Washington. But we’re pleased with Minnesota’s economic resilience.”

• Minnesota State Mankato’s 2025 Homecoming Week Begins Monday, Sept. 22

• St. Cloud State University has been ranked the top nursing school in Minnesota by a group called “Registered Nursing dot org.” The rankings were based on three years of analysis of passing rates for the exams, which assess a student’s competency and the requirements for a nursing license. St. Cloud Students had a 96 percent pass rate over those three years. The study looked at 40 schools in Minnesota.
• Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is no longer facing censure from the Republican majority in the U-S House. Four G-O-P members voted against reprimanding the Minnesota Democrat for alleged criticism of Charlie Kirk. The House voted 214-213 to reject a resolution that would have removed Omar from her committee assignments. Omar thanked her colleagues for “having my back and not furthering lies on the House floor.”
• A student at East Ridge High School in Woodbury is in trouble for bringing a knife to school. The school went into a brief lockdown on Wednesday after the student’s knife was confiscated, and no guns were found. A Woodbury Police K-9 searched the school during the lockdown. South Washington County Schools said the staff and a school resource officer seized a seven-inch knife from a backpack. No word on whether the student is being charged with a crime.