Crowds flock to Apache Mall in Rochester for Black Friday

ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Salvation Army is hosting a "coats for kids" distribution Thursday to help outfit students that are struggling to access warm clothing. Each year, adult coat drives are held before winter, but this event will cater to young students who may not have access to clean, warm outdoor clothing at their homes.

Tuesday was officially move-out day for those left at Bob's Trailer Court in Rochester. Concerns for the well-being of those remaining there have been growing over the past couple of months, leading to authorities going there to help residents move out. Back in November, access to water was cut off...

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A task force is being formed to identify the long term issues confronting downtown Rochester after the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic was a disrupter to many aspects of our national, state, and local economies. How and where people work, shop, and participate in activities has changed,” says Mayor Kim Norton. “While downtown Rochester has and will change, there are several opportunities in how we can strengthen and become a more resilient downtown. And we must do this work together.”

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A Minneapolis man arrested for a Rochester mugging is pleading not guilty. Brandon Vandell Carmichael, 41, is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and simple robbery, both felonies. The Rochester Police Department says a man reported being robbed on the afternoon of January 4 in at the...

ROCHESTER, Minn.-Gifts through January 31st totaled more than $1,000,000 for the Rochester Salvation Army's 2022 "Red Kettle Campaign." The Rochester Salvation Army says a total of $1,050,000 were raised during this year's campaign. This was the Rochester Salvation Army's 126th "Red Kettle Season." Money donated helps support the Rochester Salvation Army's efforts all year long.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – The 2022 Red Kettle Campaign raised $1,050,000 for The Salvation Army of Rochester. Donations included year-end gifts through January 31. “The Salvation Army is in the business of providing hope,” says Major Cornell Voeller, Corps Officer of The Salvation Army in Rochester. “From healthcare and housing, to our feeding and youth programs, we want to thank everyone in and around Rochester who contributed through donations and volunteer support to these services for our neighbors in need.”

ROCHESTER, Minn.-The NAACP Rochester Branch held a vigil to honor Tyre Nichols at the Rochester Civic Theatre tonight. Walé Elegbede, the president of the branch, read a eulogy for Tyre Nichols. After that, Barbara Jordan, the secretary of the branch, said the names of people who lost their lives due to police violence. After each name, Elegbede led the audience in saying "we are done dying" before ringing a chime as audience members shined the lights on their phones. Audience members would later have the chance to share why they came to the vigil. Jordan said events like this make an important statement to the rest of the community.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A savage beating results in probation for a Stewartville man. Mohamed Ismail Mohamed, 22, was sentenced Monday to five years of supervised probation, 30 hours of community work service, and must pay $3,438.50 in restitution. Mohamed pleaded guilty to third-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm for...

WASHINGTON DC - Rochester will share in $1.6 million in federal funding to help Greater Minnesota communities deal with homelessness. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith say this first-of-its-kind package is targeted at addressing unsheltered homelessness and homelessness in rural communities. “All Minnesotans deserve to have a stable roof...

A nice, mild stretch of weather is in the forecast for the next several days across parts of the Upper Midwest. High temperatures are expected to be in the 20s and 30s, which will be about 5-15 degrees above average, depending upon the day. For Rochester, MN, the average high...

ROCHESTER, Minn. - Three men from St. Paul were taken into custody and released after a series of catalytic converter thefts. They happened on Saturday and began when a woman, 27, was at work at Good Dog Camp when she discovered a converter was stolen from her 2008 Toyota Prius.

ROCHESTER, Minn. - More drug overdoses have been reported in Olmsted County, and Narcan was used in both instances to revive the person. One was reported Friday night in the 1200 block of Marion Rd. SE. when a 38-year-old man was found unconscious in a vehicle. Two doses of Narcan...

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A not guilty plea is entered over a deadly collision in Rochester. Deng Tong Kwel, 21 of Rochester, is now scheduled to stand trial starting July 31 on one count of criminal vehicular homicide. Kwel is accused of driving at a high rate of speed on...

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A new groundwater protection and soil health program is starting in Olmsted County. The Olmsted County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), with support from the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners, created the groundwater protection and soil health initiative with $3 million allotted through American Rescue Plan Act funds. Organizers say farmers can use cost-share through this program to integrate small grains or alternative crops into their traditional cropping systems, expand haying and grazing acres, and plant cover crops.

ROCHESTER, Minn. - City council voted in unanimous approval of a "gap analysis" plan to gather data and community input to determine the needs of a proposed regional sports and recreation complex in Rochester. The new complex would be funded by city sales taxes, but Minnesota legislators and Rochester voters...

MOWER COUNTY, Minn. - Three people were injured early Tuesday following a single-vehicle crash on Interstate-90. The Minnesota State Patrol said a 2016 Acura driven by Devon Lee, 20, of Albert Lea, crashed near milemarker 179 at 12:02 a.m. Lee, Gavin Lawson, 19, of Albert Lea, and a 17-year-old all...

ROCHESTER, Minn. - Drug overdoses are continuing to be on the rise amid the ongoing opioid epidemic, and some of these overdoses are starting to appear in younger crowds. Fentanyl is still public enemy number one when it comes to illicit drugs on the street - a synthetic opioid that is one hundred times stronger than morphine.

AUSTIN, Minn. – A Mower County woman is facing felony charges for allegedly attacking her boyfriend with a knife and a chair. Nikki Rae Heitland, 35 of Grand Meadow, is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and third-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm. The Grand Meadow Police...

ROCHESTER, Minn.-The Rochester Public School Board unanimously approved a plan to cut around $14 million dollars from its 2023-2024 budget Tuesday night. Superintendent Kent Pekel said state and federal funding shortfalls, as well as a lag in student enrollment is the reason the cuts are needed. The district's Chief Administrative...