Recent content from Trey Mewes
Judge, congregation show mercy to troubled woman who set fire to Rochester church
She avoids prison for the 2022 blaze at Peace United Church that caused nearly $5 million in damages.
Downtown investment in Rochester up, almost all of it from Mayo Clinic
Non-Mayo private investment in 2024 was just over $9 million, the lowest since the city started Destination Medical Center.
Popular Olmsted Co. farm program could reduce water pollution, if officials can agree how to pay for it
The county's program has wide support to help clean up nitrate pollution in southeast Minnesota, but questions remain over how it gets funded.
From fashion to farmstead, Olmsted County looks to breathe life into history
The History Center of Olmsted County held a fashion show exploring the 1700s and 1800s last weekend, a taste of interactive projects the nonprofit is planning.
Twin Cities families are on the move elsewhere, so greater Minnesota had better get recruiting
Migration is becoming more of a factor than births and deaths in how communities grow, according to a new report.
Rochester's rapid bus line project faces delays after project bids come in over budget
City officials say the latest round of bids on the project would have added about $30 million in construction costs.
A decades-old dump with more than 80,000 tires is finally getting cleaned up
Olmsted County officials earlier this month hired contractors to remove thousands of tires from a site northeast of Rochester.
Historical society in southern Minnesota removes live grenades from collection
The St. Paul police bomb squad helped remove three grenades from the History Center of Freeborn County in Albert Lea.
In Rochester, federal freeze hurts food access for the needy
Food shelves and other nonprofits say funding freezes and grant cutoffs from federal sources are hurting efforts to get enough produce and other goods to residents.
A letter to the editor and a message in a bottle led to 40 years together
Stephen MacLennan proposed to his late wife, Mai, after declaring his love in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune in 1983.
Two restaurant workers detained as ICE descends on Rochester
Nupa restaurant says it has closed one of its locations indefinitely after two of its workers were picked up by ICE agents on Wednesday.
Fastenal founder, Winona philanthropist Bob Kierlin dies
Kierlin was notoriously frugal, but generous with the community, helping found and fund Winona's Minnesota Marine Art Museum.
Council casts doubt on Rochester's Peace Plaza paver plan
A majority of the Rochester City Council appears to favor smoothing over the uneven sidewalk pavers that make up an art installation.
Getting around downtown Rochester will get ugly this summer, city warns
Rochester officials are partnering with Mayo Clinic and other organizations to help people navigate road and path closures as construction starts on major downtown projects.
![The Ear of Corn Water Tower, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, Rochester, Minn. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/LM3OIIL5TEGRYOK3Z7BKT3J63A.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Olmsted County may sell part of Rochester's Ear of Corn water tower site
County officials again exploring potential bids to sell 11 acres of land just blocks from downtown.
Rochester approves $65M sports complex site amid funding, amenity concerns
The City Council supported buying land in southeast Rochester, but disagreements cropped up over what goes into the complex first.
Rochester TV station will keep meteorologists after parent company backs off layoff plan
Allen Media Group appears to reverse its decision to create a national weather hub with The Weather Channel.
Environmentalists sue to keep momentum on nitrate pollution solutions
Concerned over federal cutbacks, groups filed suit, urging state agencies to reopen their nitrate pollution standards and ensure the court enforces progress.
Family of man who died in Olmsted County jail files suit in federal court over his death
The lawsuit alleges Olmsted County deputies and a nurse didn't provide proper care to Melvin Bush, 59, who died in March 2023.
Who pays to fix Rochester's historic buildings? Council, mayor disagree.
The City Council overrode a mayoral veto of a Destination Medical Center grant.
'Iconic' 1929 Minnesota theater gets long awaited 21st-century upgrades
Austin's Paramount Theatre, built in 1929, will be renovated over the next eight months to meet technological and accessibility needs.
Rochester to honor first woman elected in the area with statue
A statue of Amelia Witherstine is planned for downtown later this year as part of a project to honor women's contributions to the city's public life.
Rochester to focus on youth issues in 2025
Mayor Kim Norton calls on local officials to support child care, mental health and youth groups as city begins expansion projects.
Woman allegedly drew $360K of her late mother's Social Security since 1999
Federal documents allege she collected monthly retirement payments for 25 years after her mother died.
Former Congressman Tim Penny to retire from southern Minnesota nonprofit
Penny plans to transition away from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation over the next few months as its board picks a new CEO.
In Rochester, locals fret over housing shortage, high rents and expected population boom
Developers say current applicants make too much money for apartments they promised to keep affordable.
Rochester, Olmsted tussle over who has final say on undeveloped land
The Olmsted County Board earlier this month did away with a 2022 rule change that gave cities and townships power over plans for future development outside their boundaries.
A small Minnesota city rolled out the red carpet for jobs in cannabis growing
An entrepreneur wants to put up to $10 million toward a new kind of ag business, transforming a former Green Giant cannery to grow cannabis.
Adam Fravel gets life in prison for murder of Winona's Madeline Kingsbury
He was convicted last month of four counts of murder for killing Kingsbury, the mother of his young children, and hiding her body in a rural area.
After problems with health care access, Albert Lea residents are getting a better ride
A local transit company is expanding free medical shuttle services to Freeborn County.
In southern Minnesota, cities debate whether passenger rail is a costly endeavor or 'wave of the future'
Communities across the state are reviewing their transportation options as MnDOT officials update the rail policy plan.
Rochester adjusts future growth plans as it faces rapid expansion
City officials plan to update housing, transportation and comprehensive development goals in the wake of a recent growth boom.
Murder some crows? Rochester seeks remedy for downtown menace
City officials plan to cull the crow population after more than a decade of nonlethal attempts to disperse them from downtown.
A Winona professor dreams of new ways to observe the stars
Astronomer Adam Beardsley recently received $500,000 to design a radio observatory in the Winona area.
Oronoco, Minn., delays, then certifies election results after tension and distrust
The Oronoco City Council certified local election winners Friday after council members recessed on Wednesday over when an incoming candidate could start his term.
Late gun safety activist's message lives on in billboard in southern Minnesota
Jon Frasz died in January, but his friends honored his dedication with a billboard in Faribault.
Ex-boyfriend guilty on all four counts in murder of Madeline Kingsbury of Winona
After 10 hours of deliberations, a jury found Adam Fravel guilty of killing the 26-year-old mother of two, whose disappearance sparked nationwide interest.
Emotional day in court as murder trial over Madeline Kingsbury goes to jury
Deliberations began Wednesday afternoon on whether Adam Fravel is guilty of killing his ex-girlfriend.
Randy Schubring wins Rochester City Council president seat
Schubring defeated Ward 5′s Shaun Palmer to take the council's only at-large seat.
GOP's Finstad wins another term representing southern Minnesota's First District
Finstad fended off a challenge from Rochester lawyer Bohman if he wants a second term in Congress.
Defense rests in Madeline Kingsbury murder trial; Adam Fravel declines to testify
Closing arguments will be made next week in the killing of the young mother from Winona.
Friends of slain Winona woman detail alleged abuse at murder trial
Several friends and sorority sisters of Madeline Kingsbury say they saw bruises on her body and incidents where her ex-boyfriend hit or pushed her.
Madeline Kingsbury was frantic after alleged choking by her ex, her parents testify
They said she often complained about ex-boyfriend Adam Fravel.
Rochester's Mayo Civic Center switches operators, affecting almost 150 jobs
The switch will happen in January, though Experience Rochester promises "a seamless transition" as staff remain in place.
Winona-area House seat — one of the last DFL rural holdouts — could be key to legislative control
Rep. Gene Pelowski retired from the Legislature earlier this year, creating a must-win seat for DFLer Sarah Kruger and Republican Aaron Repinski.
Spurned lover or 'revisionist history'? Trial starts in Madeline Kingsbury's killing.
The Winona woman's ex-boyfriend and the father of her children, Adam Fravel, faces four murder charges in a Mankato courtroom.
Red Wing School Board member accused of shoplifting from Target
Rachel Marshall Schoenfelder allegedly stole just over $500 in goods from March to July 2024.
Rochester punts cannabis business regulation to Olmsted County
The city is taking advantage of a recent ruling allowing communities to delegate local authority over the cannabis industry to counties.
Murder trial for ex-boyfriend of Madeline Kingsbury starts this week
Adam Fravel faces first-degree murder charges in the death of Winona woman Madeline Kingsbury.
Rochester man dies in SE. Minnesota after motorcycle veers off road
The State Patrol says alcohol was a factor in Ross Anthony Stensrud's death
In Tim Walz's home city, opposing groups watch him debate on the national stage
Parties in Mankato highlight chasm over how Minnesotans view Walz.
What's in Rochester's Destination Medical Center budget for 2025?
A bus rapid transit line and sewer work for several projects takes up most of the group's annual funding.
Rochester's Destination Medical Center rejects funding for proposed apartment projects
Developer R&R Properties of Mankato plans to rework project to meet DMC guidelines.
Mayo Clinic's $5B Rochester expansion clears first major hurdle with city
The Rochester City Council on Monday signed off on the 363-page environmental review while Mayo plans to begin demolishing buildings this fall.
For small Minnesota cities, embracing Pride celebrations can come with tough community conversations
Plainview held its first Pride event in mid-September even as organizers faced online threats and criticism from some in the community who disagree with LGBTQ displays.
Olmsted County looks at $7 million levy increase for 2025
The county has yet to calculate specific impacts to homeowners.
Southern Minnesota city's souped up food project aims to end hunger in the area
Austin nonprofits are teaming up with Hormel to improve food access and create a blueprint for other communities.
Rochester could get new 14-story building that includes student housing downtown
The proposed 175,000-square foot building could provide more than 200 housing units for area college students.
An Owatonna librarian's mission: Documenting the history of the Ku Klux Klan in Minnesota
"People don't want to believe that it happened here," Nancy Vaillancourt says. "I want people to know the truth. I want them to know it did happen."
A Rochester man threatened to kill people online. An appeals court overturned his conviction.
Kyle Ketterling made social media posts threatening to kill Muslims, Democrats, government officials and police.
Blue Earth County to remove Rapidan Dam
County commissioners vote to tear down the dam near Mankato that failed during major flooding in June.
Rochester proposes a 21% increase in city spending next year, major tax hike
City officials say the $120M in increased spending comes from more staffing needs, larger contract gains for police and firefighters.
Ex-boyfriend's trial in Madeline Kingsbury killing gets new venue, start date
Adam Fravel is charged in Winona County with the murder of Madeline Kingsbury, with whom he shared two children. A judge ruled on Wednesday that the trial will start Oct. 7 in Blue Earth County.
Rochester to allow golf carts on city streets
Golf carts will be permitted on roadways with speed limits of 25 mph or less.
Rochester's controversial council member faces 3 challengers in primary next week
Molly Dennis seeks re-election while suing the city of Rochester amid continuing tensions with her colleagues.
'Just got the tingles': Mankato, where Tim Walz taught and coached, reacts to his political ascent
"We in Mankato knew he was a good guy, because our kids told us."
Austin pushes to create whitewater rapids in the middle of town on the Cedar River
"Everybody couldn't understand how we could do this in a flat county, but some city officials got it."
YMCA closing Rochester child care center at the end of August
Local YMCA officials say rising costs, staffing issues led to center's shuttering.
Rochester tween training for Pokemon World Championships in Honolulu
Elliot McPike heads back to the Pokemon World Championships in the next few weeks to challenge the video game's elite players.
Rochester leans toward limiting cannabis business licenses
Council members say Minnesota's third-largest city should set license limits at state minimum
Years in the making, Rochester closing in on site for $65M regional sports complex
City officials expect to finalize a location for the complex by the end of summer.
After months of turmoil, Rochester schools adopt guidelines supporting trans students
District officials came under fire for a rule requiring staff to report students' transgender identity to parents, but only if they asked.
Rochester wants to use $4M in sales taxes on major housing development
City looks to boost Prairie Ridge housing project in NW Rochester
Winona auto parts plant starts to close later this month; 117 employees to be laid off
BCS Access Business Systems will start the first round of layoffs July 26.
High-speed chase in southern Minnesota leads to 10-hour standoff, recovery of child in Austin
Austin police persuaded the suspect to surrender.
