Recent content from Sean Baker
Rochester City Council incumbent challenges winning opponent's residency
Ward 4 incumbent Kelly Rae Kirkpatrick has filed a complaint alleging Andy Friederichs misled voters about his residency. Friederichs denies the charge.
Loon Liquor Co. looks to scale up production with expanded distillery in Northfield
The Minnesota microdistillery has seen sales spike since the introduction of its premixed bottled cocktails.
Rochester voters approve $194M in new funding for public schools
The district says the funding will support services for struggling students, while also boosting programs for technical and career education.
Rochester man faces felony charge over threats made at polling location
Police say the 46-year-old man was intoxicated when he made threats to shoot people at the polling site.
Shawn Fagan tapped to lead Rochester Downtown Alliance
The organization is responsible for putting on popular events like Thursdays Downtown and Social-ICE.
Fired trooper Shane Roper asks court to dismiss eight of nine charges against him
Attorneys for the former Minnesota state trooper are also asking for the trial to moved outside of Olmsted County, citing extensive local and state media coverage of the case.
Rochester lands $85 million federal grant for rapid bus system
Planning for the Link system comes as downtown Rochester prepares to undergo a massive transformation as part of Mayo Clinic's $5 billion expansion.
Rochester outpaces rest of state in job growth - by a lot
Latest numbers from DEED show the Rochester region added 7,000 new jobs in the past year, largely driven by hiring in education and health services.
Rochester parent builds AI chatbot to answer questions about school district's $19M referendum
What's at stake in the referendum? This AI chatbot may provide the fastest answers.
'You cheer for all of Rochester': Swimmers put rivalries aside as they compete among the state's best
Sophie Blixt, Madeline Gau and Julia Ogren suit up for three different high schools only minutes apart. They also are the latest in a long line of college-bound student-athletes who have trained with the Rochester Swim Club.
VP Kamala Harris campaigns in La Crosse, Wis., as election nears
Harris campaign is pushing to shore up support in the "blue wall" states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania less than a month before the Nov. 5 election.
Are Rochester's nonpartisan elections becoming a battleground for party politics?
Advocacy group Faith in Minnesota has made inroads in Rochester elections, energizing progressive supporters while raising eyebrows of the city's political establishment.
Fired trooper Shane Roper booked three months after being charged with manslaughter in Rochester crash
Roper, who is free on bail, was ordered to report for fingerprinting after the court "inadvertently neglected" to do so following his initial appearance Aug. 29.
This small-town bakery draws crowds from across the Midwest, in just three hours a week
On Saturdays, the only day the shop in Newburg, Minn., is open, crowds of people — from as far as Chicago and Minneapolis — line up outside to get a taste of Irene Fishburn's made-from-scratch French baking.
Former pastor in Winona-Rochester diocese accused of swindling parishioners out of $72,000
The diocese says the Rev. Prince Raja was asked to resign after it was discovered that he was soliciting personal loans and gifts from parishioners.
Root River's most significant restoration project takes shape in the Driftless
After years of erosion caused by a defunct dam, engineers are working to move the Root River back to its original bed.
Lights, camera, worship: Church buys shuttered Rochester movie theater for $5 million
Echo Church marked its fifth anniversary by purchasing the former Cinemagic movie theater. It plans to begin holding services there Oct. 13.
Minnesota school district's finances under scrutiny ahead of referendum
Byron Public Schools faces uphill climb as it looks to convince voters its finances are in order following a $1.5 million budget miscalculation.
State Patrol: 'No justification' for fired trooper's reckless driving that killed Owatonna teenager
Former trooper Shane Roper was fired last week for his role in a crash that killed Olivia Flores.
Rochester voters to decide on $20 million school referendum
After failing to win approval for additional funding in 2023, Rochester Public Schools hopes bigger turnout this November will help the district avoid major spending cuts.
Trooper pleads not guilty to manslaughter in death of Owatonna teen
Minnesota state trooper Shane Roper was traveling 83 mph when he drove his squad car into a busy Rochester intersection, killing 18-year-old Olivia Flores.
Owatonna couple's daughter killed in crash with trooper: 'She was supposed to come back'
Shane Roper's charges include second-degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide in the crash that left five others seriously injured.
University of Minnesota Rochester's education district plans remain years out
The Rochester campus is embracing a community campus model as it plans for the next decade of growth.
Huge housing, retail complex in the works for former IBM campus in Rochester
Site could also be used for planned $65 million regional sports complex.
Rochester food bank blames 'insurmountable need' as it discontinues service to 11 rural agencies
Channel One Regional Food Banks cites the need for more efficiency with resources as demand for food assistance continues to climb.
Demolition to begin this fall for Mayo's $5B Rochester buildout
Mayo Clinic's Ozmun complex will be torn down to make way for one of two new clinical buildings in downtown Rochester.
United Therapeutics to build $100M pig-to-human organ research center in southeast Minnesota
Announcement of the Minnesota facility comes as United seeks FDA clearance to begin clinical trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of pig-to-human organ transplants.
Embattled Rochester council member ousted in primary, blames local media
Ward 6′s Molly Dennis finished last in a four-way primary to hold onto her seat. Newcomers Dan Doering and Mark Schleusner advanced to November's general election.
With high ropes course, Winona State University adds adventure to campus life
Ropes course is latest recreational resource on campus as university positions itself as a leader in outdoor education.
Trying to reduce stigma, Mayo launches LGBTQ-focused breast cancer clinic
With Rainbows open in Rochester, Dr. Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake hopes to increase access to care and also improve care for the LGBTQ population.
Rochester's hot Marrow restaurant to reopen following crash
"Seeing those reservations coming in, with so many familiar names, we are just getting really excited to see our people again," said co-owner Sarah Schwenker.
Twin Cities' Mill Valley Kitchen expands to downtown Rochester
Restaurant will be Mike and Abby Rakun's second Mill Valley Kitchen location.
Dashcam video shows prior crashes of Minnesota trooper charged in Rochester fatal wreck
State Trooper Shane Roper faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide for his role in a May crash that killed Owatonna teen Olivia Flores.
Rochester blocks comments on city social media pages
City says the move "reduces the potential for harmful content and negative interactions" on social media.
Rochester's redesigned Peace Plaza raises accessibility concerns
Pavers on the plaza present safety risks for the city's most vulnerable visitors, disability advocates say.
Celebrity photographer and her famous actor husband call Minnesota home
Pat York's photos of Steve Martin, Liza Minnelli, Andy Warhol and other stars are on display at the Rochester Art Center.
Trooper charged in fatal Rochester crash had history of reckless driving on the job
State trooper Shane Roper was reprimanded four times in eight years for on-duty crashes before the collision that killed an Owatonna teen, records show.
Minnesota trooper charged in Rochester crash that killed 18-year-old student
Olmsted County Attorney's Office files second-degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide charges against trooper Shane Roper.
Red Wing native donates $20 million to Mayo Clinic for use of AI in early cancer detection
"People need new therapies and cures now."
Mayo Clinic to use drones to deliver prescription drugs to patients' homes
The Rochester-based health care system inks agreement with Zipline to begin offering prescription deliveries by drone beginning in 2025.
Rochester writer to open city's first Black-owned art gallery, bookstore
"Black culture is essential to American culture," says Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara.
'Nothing but grateful': In Rochester, Organ Trail donors meet boy they helped save
Along a 1,173-mile bike ride through the Midwest, Mark and Lynn Scotch bring attention to the urgent need for living organ donors.
