10/10/2008 - STATE TAX COLLECTIONS CONTINUE TO TOP PROJECTIONS
Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS
The quarterly economic update from the Minnesota Finance Department says there is little doubt the U.S. economy is in a recession, but state tax collections continued to top expectations over the past three months. The report shows overall tax collections totaled almost $3.85 billion dollars for July, August, and September. That's about $58-million dollars, or 1.7-percent, above what was projected when the 2008 State Legislature adjourned in May. Sales tax revenues came in below estimates, while income tax and corporate tax payments were higher. The Finance Department report says most economic forecasters are predicting the downturn will be more painful than the recession that occurred following the 9-11 attacks and the slowdown in the early 1990s, but the current consensus is that conditions will not be as difficult as those experienced in the early 1980s, when unemployment topped 10-percent for 10 consecutive months. The next state revenue forecast is not due out until December, but some state officials are already speculating that it will project a billion dollar budget deficit for the next biennium.
10/10/2008 - WOMAN INJURED IN SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT DIES
It's not yet known if Wabasha County authorities will be filing charges in connection with the death of a 43-year-old Wabasha woman. Lisa Gerken died on Monday at Saint Mary's Hospital, where she had been in a coma since suffering severe injuries in an incident on September 15th that was termed "suspicious." Agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Apprehension were called in to help with the investigation, but officials have to publicly discuss the case.
10/10/2008 - 5TH DEFENDANT IN DOVER HOME INVASION CASE PLEADS GUILTY
Kim David KROC-AM NEWS
A Rochester teenage today pleaded guilty to 4 counts of aggravated robbery for his involvement in a violent home invasion near Dover earlier this year. 19-year old Kyle Williams was the last of the 5 young people charged in the case to enter a plea. Another of the defendants was given a 5 1/2 year prison sentence earlier this week. Williams is also facing a similar prison term when he returns to court for sentencing in December. The group barged into a home and threatened the 4 occupants with a gun, bats and a knife. They made off with a TV set and other items.
10/10/2008 - WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER INCIDENT OUTSIDE ROCHESTER BAR
Kim David KROC-AM NEWS
A Rochester woman was arrested early this morning after striking 2 people with her car and crashing into a parked vehicle. The incident happened in the parking lot of the Aquarius Club around 1:30. Police say the woman got into a dispute with some other women outside the club. She then went to her car, began driving around the parking lot and suddenly swerved at the group. She ran over the foot of a bouncer and grazed another person before hitting the parked car. The bouncer and other person refused medical attention. The woman is facing felony assault and other charges.
10/10/2008 - HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECEIVES FIRST REPORTS OF THE FLU
Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS
It appears the flu season is already underway in Minnesota. The State Health Department has not confirmed any influenza cases through laboratory tests, but officials say the department has received a few reports of positive results from rapid tests for the flu from around the state. Without laboratory confirmed results, officials are not able to determine if the flu strains are well matched to this season's vaccine.
10/10/2008 - NEW STATE FORECAST DUE TODAY
Minnesota News Network
All signs point to grim news when the State of Minnesota releases its quarterly economic update later today. State Economist Tom Stinson says the dramatic decline in the stock market, a higher unemployment rate and the tightening of the credit market is causing problems throughout the state's economy. Officials won't have a full view of how the state budget is faring until the complete forecast comes out in December. Governor Pawlenty and lawmakers are already warning of difficult budget choices in next year's legislative session. Earlier projections indicated the state budget was facing a $1-billion shortfall.
10/10/2008 - ANOTHER SLOW MONTH FOR HOMEBUILDERS
Kim David/KROC AM News
The Rochester Building Safety Department approved 28 permits for new single family homes during September, yet another slow month for local builders. That's the same number as the August figure and raises the year-to-date total to 241, or about 100 fewer than for the same period a year ago. The number of all construction-related permits issued through September has gone over the 2000 mark, about 270 fewer than a year ago for the same period.
10/10/2008 - KIDS ACCIDENTALLY START FIRE
Kim David/KROC AM News
A barn at a rural Olmsted County farm caught fire yesterday. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Department says the fire at the John and Dawn Keller farm located northeast of Stewartville was reported around 5:15. A spokesman says young kids playing with fire accidentally started the blaze. Some hay caught fire and the flames spread to the barn and a shed. Damage was estimated at $20,000.
10/10/2008 - AUTISTIC ROCH TEEN FOUND
Kim David/KROC AM News
The Rochester Police Department says a missing autistic teenager has been located and is home with his family. The family of 15-year old Brandon Earl reported him missing last night when he failed to return home.
10/10/2008 - LAUNDRY ROOM FIRE AT ROCH HOTEL
Kim David/KROC AM News
Some guests at a Rochester hotel were forced to get out of their rooms early this morning because of a fire. It was reported around 1:30 this morning at the Best Western Soldiers Field hotel located in the 400 block of 6th street southwest. The fire broke out in the hotel laundry room and Battalion Chief Steve Belau says the automatic sprinkler system prevented the flames from spreading. He says cleaning rags in a laundry basket started the fire. Damage is estimated at between $10,000 and $20,000. No injuries were reported and the displaced guests were able to return to their rooms.
10/10/2008 - BRIDGE COLLAPSE SURVIVOR SENT TO PRISON
Minnesota News Network
A man from northwest Wisconsin man who survived last year's collapse of the 35W bridge has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison. 27-year-old Michael Stoner and his fiancé were rushing to a Minneapolis hospital to see the woman's two-year-old daughter when the bridge fell. Authorities say Stoner abused the toddler and he was the reason she was in the hospital. The girl suffered injuries that have left her physically disabled. Stoner apologized before he was sentenced yesterday but still maintains the girl accidentally fell down the stairs.
10/09/2008 - MINNESOTAN BACK IN SPACE
Minnesota News Network
A Minnesota native is back in the spotlight after becoming the first Minnesota woman to walk in space. Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper is scheduled to return in November as a mission specialist on space shuttle Endeavour. The shuttle will deliver equipment to the International Space Station so that more crew members can live there.
10/09/2008 - ROLLOVER VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
John Russell - KROC News
The victims have been identified in yesterday morning's deadly semi-truck crash along I-90 in Winona County. The State Patrol reports 53-year old Millard Norman and his 32-year old wife Anna, both of Nielsville, Wisconsin, were killed when the truck they were in went through a guardrail and down an embankment. The crash occurred about 7:30 near Nodine.
10/09/2008 - MISSING HIKERS FOUND
John Russell - KROC News
Indications are that the air search and rescue for two Duluth women lost on a hiking trip in the BWCA has been succesful. 23 year old Grace Knezevich and 42 year old Maria Jacenko have apparently been spotted by a helicopter this afternoon. They were no shows at their pick up point on Monday after a weekend hike on the Kekekabic Trail between Ely and the Gunflint Trail. No word yet on injuries or the reason they were delayed.
10/09/2008 - MICHELLE OBAMA COMING TO ROCH
Kim David/KROC AM News
The Barack Obama campaign has confirmed the wife of the presidential candidate is scheduled to visit Rochester Monday. At this point, the campaign will only say Michelle Obama will attend a campaign event Monday morning in the Rochester area. Yesterday, city officials were contacted by the Obama campaign about a possible visit to Rochester Monday. More information is expected to be released tomorrow.
John McCain is scheduled to visit Minnesota tomorrow, attending a rally in Lakeville.
The presidential election is less than a month away away and the latest Rasmussen Reports poll shows little change in Barack Obama's lead over John McCain in Minnesota. Obama is up 52 to 45-percent, with McCain edging up one point in the past month. The telephone results also show Democrats have an 84 1/2-percent chance of winning Minnesota's 10 electoral votes this year.