KTOE Noon News 9-3-25

Top Stories for Noon 9-3-25:

• The results are in from the Minnesota House of Representatives’ State Fair poll. The survey finds 79 percent of fairgoers support banning guns inside the State Capitol, while 17 percent oppose it. Sixty-six percent of people think undocumented residents should have access to state programs, but 27 percent support prohibition. Voters are divided on starting school before Labor Day. Nearly 40 percent want the class to begin before the first Monday in September, 36 percent oppose an early start, and 24 percent are undecided. The 12-question poll was taken by 9,945 fairgoers this year.
• The final numbers are in for the Minnesota State Fair and it was another successful 12-day run. The attendance totaled 1,940,869, making it the fifth largest Minnesota State Fair in history. The final day on Labor Day brought in more than 150,000 fairgoers. C-E-O Renee Alexander said, “Over the 12 days, the weather created a beautiful backdrop for people to share traditions, discover new favorites and celebrate the spirit of our state.” Another big number: the agricultural and creative competitions drew more than 35,000 entries this year.
• A “pretty active” severe weather season is winding down in Minnesota. Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay says the preliminary total shows 54 tornadoes across the state this summer. He says all of them were of the weaker variety and no strong, destructive tornadoes were reported. The biggest storm was the June blowdown in the Bemidji area that took out millions of trees. Boulay says the summer of 2025 will be remembered for above normal temperatures and precipitation, and the Canadian wildfire smoke.
• Vice President JD Vance and the second lady are expected to visit Minneapolis today. They’re expected to pay their respects to the victims of last week’s deadly shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church. The vice president and his wife are scheduled to appear in private meetings with family members of those who were shot last Wednesday. Two children were killed and 21 others were wounded.
• Owatonna Police Chief Jeff Mundale is urging residents to lock their vehicles and remove valuables after a string of car thefts over Labor Day weekend. Police say four vehicles were reported stolen, with multiple cases of tampering and thefts from cars also under investigation. All four stolen vehicles have since been recovered and returned to their owners. Two juveniles were arrested in connection with the thefts. One, already arrested for vehicle theft earlier in August, was caught after abandoning a stolen vehicle following a short pursuit. The other was found nearby with keys to another stolen car. One juvenile is now being held at a secured detention center. Chief Mundale is reminding residents that simple precautions—like locking doors and keeping keys out of vehicles—can go a long way in preventing future thefts. The investigation is ongoing.
• On 08/31/2025 around 7:50 p.m. The Sibley County Sheriff’s Office responded to a motorcycle accident near the intersection of 361st Avenue and 250th Street in Arlington Township. The operator of the motorcycle, Russell Kroehler (35), of rural Henderson, MN, was traveling southbound on 361st Avenue when he exited the roadway on a curve, entering a field, and was ejected from his motorcycle. Kroehler was airlifted from the scene to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment. Assisting Agencies: Arlington Ambulance, Arlington Fire Department, Mayo Mankato AirCare, Afterburner Towing.
• A nine-year conservation project on Seven Mile Creek, between St. Peter and Nicollet, has officially wrapped up. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Nicollet County Soil and Water Conservation District, and local landowners partnered to replace a failing low-head dam with natural rock arch rapids. Funded with $490,000 from Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund, the project improves fish passage, water quality, and stream habitat, while also removing a safety hazard. Experts say low-head dams, commonly built in the 1950s, often blocked native fish while allowing invasive carp to thrive. They also required costly maintenance and posed drowning risks. The new rock arch rapids mimic natural conditions using boulders arranged to stabilize the stream and restore natural flow. The project began planning in 2016, secured funding in 2021, and was completed this summer. Property owners Steve and Betsy Bolint say they’re thrilled with the results, calling it better for the creek, the wildlife, and the community. For more on the DNR’s stream restoration work, visit mndnr.gov/eco/streamhab.