GreenSeam and Minnesota State University of Mankato, along with our partners and collaborators, is seeking a glimpse of how businesses, organizations, and leaders view the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture in Minnesota in 2023 and beyond. We have developed the State of Ag survey to study ways to better understand, serve, and support the workforce, businesses, organizations, and the communities we call home. In this study, you will be asked to complete an online State of Ag survey.   “The State of Ag survey is a valuable tool for gaining insight into the current state of agriculture in Minnesota. By asking [...]

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(Ely, MN)  --  An 18-year-old man from Ely has been found guilty of second-degree attempted murder after prosecutors say he stabbed his 13-year-old brother more than 13 times in October 2020 and left him to bleed out near a gully.  Michael Haapala told authorities he invited his younger brother to go for a walk around 2 a-m and brought along a kitchen knife.  Investigators say the knife was later found freshly washed in his closet along with shoes still wet with what appeared to be blood.  Haapala waived a jury trial and a judge issued the guilty ruling Tuesday.

(Red Wing, MN) --  A Red Wing area woman is facing up to 27 years in prison for the death of her infant son nearly two decades ago.  Goodhue County prosecutors say 50-year-old Jennifer Matter pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of the baby boy found along the shore of Lake Pepin in December of 2003. Matter admitted to placing the newborn near the water without clothes or a blanket and driving away with no intention of coming back.  Authorities say D-N-A testing showed Matter is also the mother of a baby girl recovered from the Mississippi River in 1999 near [...]

(St. Paul, MN) --  Governor Tim Walz unveils his bonding recommendations for state public works projects later this morning (11am) but lawmakers are already arguing over the number.  Lead Senate Democrat Sandy Pappas says, do the 1.5-billion-dollar package that didn't pass last year, then a second bill looking at the governor's recommendations -- but pay for with the budget surplus, rather than borrowing.  Lead Senate Republican Karin (CAR-in) Housley says she hopes Democrats will work with Republicans instead of "just pushing through a cash bill".

(Worthington, MN) --  Increasingly firm statements from Sanford President and C-E-O Bill Gassen last night (Wed) in Worthington about a proposed merger with the Fairview Health System -- which the University of Minnesota officials are resisting because Fairview owns their teaching hospital on the Minneapolis campus.  Sanford's Gassen says "University leaders have said publicly that this merger cannot move forward without the University.  With all due respect, yes it can.  Nothing -- and I repeat, nothing -- will change for the University of Minnesota as a result of this merger."   University of Minnesota Physicians C-E-O Bevan Yueh (BEV-un HEW) responded [...]

(St. Paul, MN)  --  The USDA is unveiling new rules to prevent organic food crime, and two Minnesota farmers are partly responsible.  The department has tightened restrictions to prevent farmers from selling non-organic crops as organic.  This comes after Cottonwood County farmer James Wolf was indicted by the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota for allegedly making 46-million dollars off an organic fraud scheme from 2014 to 2021.  Wolf pled not guilty.  His alleged conspirator Adam Clifford Olson is expected to plead not guilty during his first court appearance tomorrow.

(St. Paul, MN)  --  Hamline University professors call on President Fayneese Miller to resign amidst an international controversy over academic freedom and students religious rights. Miller fired Dr. Erika Lopez Prater, who showed a painting of the Prophet Muhammad, leading to backlash from Muslim students. Students stand with Miller, while many faculty members stand with Lopez Prater.

Forecasters are warning of hazardous weather coming to central and southern Minnesota this weekend.  The National Weather Service says colder air will move into the area Friday night, with temperatures below zero in the overnight hours.  Cloudy conditions are expected both Saturday and Sunday, and temperatures will be in the single digits during the day.  The service added wind chills will be in the region of negative 20 to negative 30 next week.