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Power 96 News for Tuesday July 28th, 2026.
07/28/2026
Originally slated to be complete by mid-November of 2025, the city of Albert Lea"s $12.76 million recreation facilities updates are slated to be finished at the end of this week after several schedule delays and a slight increase in cost from initially budgeted. Cathy Malakowsky, the city"s engagement and enrichment director, gave an update about the project to the Albert Lea City Council on Monday, walking through the challenges and successes with the project. Malakowsky said it has been a long and hard journey with the improvements, but once they are done there will be a lot to celebrate. The project included improvements at the city"s arena, aquatic center, theater and splash pad. Malakowsky said the main projects that have been over budget at the arena are because of work needed for additional drainage, because of the cost of the rental of a temporary chiller so that there could be one sheet of ice for the hockey and figure skating seasons during delays, and because of updates to the fire alarm system that were not budgeted.
The Albert Lea City Council gave the go-ahead Monday for a group of area residents looking to raise money for a bronze statue of rock "n" roll pioneer Eddie Cochran on the northwest corner of Marion Ross Street and Broadway. City Manager Ian Rigg said the group will be responsible for all costs, including labor and material, associated with the statue and lining up the contractors needed for the work. Cost estimates are between $95,000 and $100,000. The group is working with sculptor Chad Fisher of Fisher Sculpture, out of Pennsylvania, the same sculptor who made the sculpture of actress Marion Ross across the street. The statue of Cochran is expected to be about 7 feet tall, and will be placed on a pedestal that has granite on the top and sides. It will also have Cochran"s basic information, including his dates of birth and death and a key phrase from one of his most popular songs, “Summertime Blues.”
Austin Public Schools will ask voters to approve a $24.9 million bond referendum in November. The school board voted Monday night to place the measure on the ballot. The district says the money would fund critical facility improvements across seven schools and the swimming pool at Ellis Middle School. The proposed plan focuses on safety improvements, accessibility upgrades, water infiltration fixes, building system updates and repairs needed to keep the Ellis Middle School pool running. The district says it has spent three years working to address facility needs across all schools. Voters rejected a larger plan in November 2025 that would have completed all priority one and two updates identified in facility assessments. The new proposal targets only the highest priority needs. The district will hold informational meetings for residents to learn about the plan and ask questions. Meetings are scheduled for Sept. 23 at 6 p.m., Sept. 24 at 12:30 p.m. and Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. All meetings will take place in the Austin High School Annex Recital Hall at 205 Fourth Street Northwest. More information is available on the district's website at www.austin.k12.mn.us http://www.austin.k12.mn.us.
A Cerro Gordo County man is accused of a violent burglary. Benjamin Joseph Medlin, 37 of Mason City, is charged with second-degree burglary. He's being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $10,000 bond. Medlin was arrested for allegedly forcing his way into a home on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Mason City and assaulting a male victim inside. Law enforcement says Medlin hit the victim in the face and scratched his hand. The crime happened around 1:30 pm Saturday.
Power 96 News for Friday July 24th, 2026.
07/24/2026
Four people were hurt in a two-vehicle collision Thursday in North Iowa. It happened just before 5 pm on Interstate 35 in Worth County. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 31-year-old from Wells, Minnesota, and a 2026 Volkswagen Taos driven by a 37-year-old from Kearney, Missouri, were both northbound on I-35. As both vehicles entered a work zone near mile marker 212, the State Patrol says the Silverado started to merge and slow down and the Taos tried to pass. The Taos hit the rear driver's side bumper of the Silverado, went into the median, and rolled several times. The State Patrol says the driver of the Taos and three passengers, a six-year-old, and 13-year-old, and a 33-year old, all from Kearney, MO, were injured and taken to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center for treatment. No one in the Silverado was injured. The names and conditions of those involved have not been released. The Worth County Sheriff's Office, Forest City EMS, Northwood EMS, and MercyOne Air Med assisted with this accident.
A crash at a rural intersection Thursday morning sent one person to the hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office said the crash happened around 8:27 a.m. at the intersection of 310th Street and Eagle Avenue. Olivia Maxey-Ladson, 21 of Tacoma, Washington, was driving a 2016 Volkswagen Passat west through the intersection after stopping at a stop sign. Katlyn Vanderpool, 29 of Thompson, was driving a 2020 Ford Expedition south on Eagle Avenue and hit the rear passenger door of the Passat. Airbags went off in both cars. The Sheriff's Office says Vanderpool and her one-month-old baby were properly buckled and were not hurt in the crash. Maxey-Ladson was also wearing a seatbelt but was taken to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center to be checked out. Clear Lake Fire Medics, Fertile Fire and First Responders, Clear Lake Police Department, Worth County Sheriff's Department and Lake Towing helped at the scene.
A Kansas man is facing charges after he reportedly led authorities on a high-speed chase Wednesday, starting on Highway 218 in Steele County and ending on Interstate 35 between Clarks Grove and Geneva. Rodney Eugene Turner II, 59, of Overland Park, Kansas, is facing charges of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony, and reckless driving, a misdemeanor, tied to the incident. The criminal complaint states a Minnesota State Patrol trooper responded to a report of a vehicle with Kansas plates crossing the center line and fog line on Highway 218 near Highway 14 in Steele County. The trooper found the vehicle and began to follow it as it exited onto Highway 14 and then southbound on I-35. The vehicle was reportedly traveling at 90 mph in a 70 mph zone. The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle near mile marker 39. Court documents state the vehicle initially pulled to the shoulder and slowed before accelerating and continuing south. The trooper continued to pursue the vehicle at speeds up to 110 mph, with the vehicle weaving in and out of lanes, signaling randomly and tailgating vehicles, the complaint stated. Another trooper deployed stop sticks at mile marker 23, which hit the right side of the vehicle, and Turner was eventually stopped through a pit maneuver near mile marker 21. He was taken to the emergency room at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea before being taken to the Freeborn County jail. Turner appeared in court on the charges on Thursday. Freeborn County District Court Judge Holli Mayer set conditional bail at $25,000 with unconditional bail at $50,000. Turner is next slated to appear in court Aug. 6.
With the heavy rainstorms and flooding that has hit watersheds east of Austin over the last 2 years, the Mower Soil & Water Conversation District is reaching out to agricultural landowners and farmers in the area to deal with the erosion problem. Technical Manager Paul Hunter said the SWCD is working on 27 projects that will help with the erosion issues. He is asking to meet with the affected farmers and land owners to help prevent future problems. Land owners can contact Paul at paul@mowerdistrict.org or by calling 507-460-4576.
Power 96 News for Thursday July 23rd, 2026.
07/23/2026
An Albert Lea man charged for reportedly threatening to shoot up the emergency room at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea in February was sentenced to probation Wednesday after pleading guilty to one count of harassment. A second charge against Sky Lamont Christensen, 37, of threats of violence was dismissed. According to police, hospital employees reported that a male caller made statements threatening violence if his mother was transferred to a different facility. The call was received through a hospital switchboard, and based on Mayo Clinic Health System"s internal policies and procedures, the clinic initiated a temporary lockdown of its Albert Lea facility. Albert Lea officers investigated the threat and worked to locate the individual believed to be responsible. Christensen"s sentence also included a stayed 364-day jail term for the length of his probation. The probation will last for one year. During that time, Christensen must keep contact with his probation agent, have no threatening or assaultive behavior and notify his probation officer if he has contact with law enforcement, changes his address or phone number or is charged with a new crime.
The man who shot two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses last year will appear in federal court Thursday for sentencing - likely to life in prison. Vance Boelter pleaded guilty in June to killing former Minnesota DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and attacking DFL state Sen. John Hoffman, his wife Yvette and their daughter Hope. In sentencing memos filed earlier this week, prosecutors and Boelter"s attorneys agreed to a recommendation of two life sentences plus 40 years.
The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine will provide free health care services for people and their pets Saturday. The event, called "Pets and People Community Care," runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Hormel Institute at 801 Sixteenth Avenue Northeast. All services are free and do not require insurance. The Hormel Institute's "Wellness on Wheels" program will provide cholesterol, A1c and blood pressure checks. Other organizations will offer vision and hearing services, including glasses, food distribution and pharmacy consultations. Dogs and cats can receive brief physical exams, distemper and rabies vaccines, flea and tick prevention, and pet food. Pet exams are first-come, first-served based on pre-registration, with a limited number of walk-in appointments available. Other organizations attending include Mower County Public Health, See, Hear, Minnesota, Salvation Army, Mower County Humane Society and Zumbro Eye Care.
A North Iowa man accused of child sex crimes has pleaded not guilty. Shawn Allen O'Donnell, 55 of Thornton, is charged with second-degree sex abuse, third-degree sex abuse, and two counts of assault with attempt to commit sexual abuse. Law enforcement says between September 2022 and May 2026, O'Donnell sexually abused two underage victims. The crimes allegedly happened in Thornton, Ventura, and Crystal Lake. A trial is now scheduled to begin on August 25 in Cerro Gordo County District Court.
Power 96 News for Tuesday July 21st, 2026.
07/21/2026
The Albert Lea school board on Monday approved a service agreement with consultant finance group Baker Tilly Advisory Group as well as a contract for an interim activities director that will fill openings left by recent resignations in the district. Superintendent Steve Heil said following the resignation of former Executive Director of Finance and Operations Paul Durbahn, he sat down with a few companies that provide financial services and oversight, including Baker Tilly Advisory Group with former Albert Lea district Finance Director Lori Volz. Volz, who started with the district in 2009 as the director of finance and operations and served as deputy superintendent from October 2014 through 2016, has also worked for several other districts, including in Austin, Blue Earth and Mankato Area Public Schools. The contract equates to about $65,000 a year and is for three years, or unless terminated before that. This includes a monthly flat rate of $5,417 from July 2026 through June 30, 2027. In separate action, the board approved an interim athletic director contract with former Mayo High School Activities Director Jeff Whitney, who worked for the district for 33 years and whom the stadium there was named after. Whitney has agreed to go through June 30, including providing mentoring and background to an eventual hire. He said it is important to make sure whoever steps in is provided with the resources to continue moving positively forward.
Over 3,000 Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative members were without power Monday afternoon after a substation transformer at the company"s westside substation relayed open due to an overload. The outage affected the southwest part of Albert lea, west of Albert Lea, Emmons, Twin Lakes and east of Conger. Power was fully restored by 4:19 p.m.
A crash that killed a Mitchell County teen is sending the driver to prison. Blair Lee Hansen, 22 of St. Ansgar, has been sentenced to 11 years behind bars, with credit for time served, and ordered to pay a $1,250 fine. Hansen entered an Alford plea to charges of homicide by vehicle-reckless driving and OWI-first offense for an incident on March 1, 2025. Court documents state Hansen was driving in Worth County at more than 25 miles per hour over the speed limit when Hansen veered off 410th Street, went into the ditch, and hit a power pole. Law enforcement says it happened around 3 am about 456 feet east of Killdeer Avenue. The crash killed Hansen's 16-year-old passenger, Ayden Steele of St. Ansgar.
A man was hurt when his car and a semi-truck crashed at an intersection in Mower County. The crash happened around 2 p.m. Monday at Highway 56 and Mower County Road 5 west of Adams. Peter Gerber, 55, of Rose Creek was driving a Kia Soul east on County Road 5 when it collided with a Mack semi-truck heading north on Highway 56, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Gerber was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The semi driver, Steven Fritz, 37, of Rochester, was not hurt. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. The Mower County Sheriff's Office and Adams Ambulance helped at the scene.
Power 96 News for Wednesday July 15th, 2026.
07/15/2026
Albert Lea City Manager Ian Rigg on Tuesday asked the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners to continue work on tax-forfeited properties, citing the long-term benefits. Rigg discussed the purpose and goals of the tax-forfeited properties and the potential positives they could have for Freeborn County. The goals of buying the properties are to clean up blight and add to the tax base. Rigg said that while the county will have to put more money into the properties up front, in the long run it will end up costing the taxpayers less.
To protect public health and enhance outdoor enjoyment, the City of Albert Lea has contracted Mosquito Control of Iowa to begin weekly treatments. Weather permitting, spraying will begin at dusk on today, July 15. In case of rainy or windy weather, Thursdays will be the back-up days for the remainder of the summer. The company uses a product called Evoluer 4-4, which includes permethrin, a pesticide that is safe yet effective against mosquitoes and gnats. This product has quick knockdown, low odor, and is non-corrosive. This product is registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Department of Agriculture. To be removed from the spray area, property owners should contact Ryan Hajek, City of Albert Lea assistant public works director, at 507-377-4377.
A plea deal is struck in a Winnebago County case of child sex abuse. James Allan Schaumberg, 60 of Forest City, was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. He has now entered an Alford plea to one count of lascivious acts with a child. An Alford plea means Schaumberg is not admitting guilt, but concedes he could be convicted at trial and will accept sentencing. Schaumberg was accused of sexually abusing a child under the age of 13 between June 2014 and December 2016. His sentencing hearing is now set for August 25.
Mower County has requested a State Public Assistance Disaster Declaration following recent severe weather that caused significant damage to public infrastructure. The declaration would allow public entities, including the county, city, townships and DNR, to seek state assistance for eligible expenses. That includes debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to damaged roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities. Officials determined that the cost of recovery exceeds available local resources. State assistance is necessary to help restore essential public services while reducing the financial impact on local taxpayers. If approved by the State of Minnesota, the funding will support the county, city and townships' ongoing recovery efforts. It will help return public infrastructure to safe and usable condition as quickly as possible.
Power 96 News for Friday July 10th, 2026.
07/10/2026
Filing for the Albert Lea school board will begin on Tuesday and run through July 28. Four seats will be up for election, including seats currently held by Dave Klatt, Kim Nelson, Gary Schindler and Davy Villarreal, whose terms end in January. The board members have not publicly stated whether they intend to seek another term. People filing to run for an open school board position can do so by submitting an affidavit of candidacy to the school district clerk at the Albert Lea Area Schools district office located in the Brookside Education Center, where the affidavits are available as well. The terms are for four years, and those who file must pay a $2 fee. Candidates must be 21 years old upon assuming office, an eligible voter, a resident of the school district for at least 30 days prior to the general election and not filed for any other office at the upcoming primary or general election. They also must not have been convicted of any offense that requires them to register as a predatory offender. Those with questions regarding filing as a school board candidate can contact Executive Assistant to the Office of the Superintendent and School Board Darci Rasmussen at 379-4802. The district office is open for its summer hours from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 7 to 3 p.m. on Fridays, except for July 28, when it will be open until 5 p.m. when filing closes.
The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners during its workshop on Tuesday decided to table updates to the boardroom and chambers to accommodate interactive technology capabilities, stating it was not fiscally responsible. They will look at making the updates in the future.
At its meeting on Monday, the Albert Lea City Council will vote on whether to approve a conditional use permit for Kwik Trip at 906 W. Front St. to remodel and expand its convenience store. The project would include an expansion of almost 2,000 square feet on the back side of the store to improve fueling operations, food preparation, service areas and restrooms. After holding a public hearing June 9, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval as long as Kwik Trip consolidates its three lots, adds landscaping, and screens equipment and dumpsters.
Freeborn County Emergency Management is requesting people with damages due to flooding this week fill out an online survey to help the county better understand the extent of damages to the county. The survey can be found at https://tinyurl.com/FreebornCoSurvey.
Power 96 News for Friday June 12th, 2026.
06/12/2026
St. John's Lutheran Community has sold Knutson Place, its independent and assisted living facility at 901 Luther Place in Albert Lea, to Perennia Senior Living. Knutson Place will continue operating as a senior living community under Perennia's ownership. St. John's says the sale allows it to focus all its resources on its Fountain Lake location, where it offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. St. John's Lutheran Community has served older adults and families in the region for more than 60 years. The organization's campus at Fountain Lake provides specialized memory care and skilled nursing, which Knutson Place does not offer.
An Albert Lea man was arrested Wednesday night after police received a report of a male yelling and gunshots in the area of Euclid Avenue. Police responded to the area at about 9:45 p.m., and arrested Brian McCormick, 27, of Albert Lea, who was carrying a handgun and a fixed-blade knife, according to police. During the investigation, officers determined McCormick was under the influence of alcohol while carrying a firearm. An evidentiary test recorded a .22 breath alcohol concentration. McCormick was arrested for carrying a firearm while under the influence, a misdemeanor, and transported to the Freeborn County jail. No injuries were reported, and the investigation remains active regarding the reported gunshots.
A former Mower County care coordinator faces seven felony theft charges for allegedly stealing more than $185,000 from Medicaid. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit charged Jessica Jean Arneson with the offenses. Between May 2020 and August 2023, Arneson worked as a care coordinator for the Mower County Department of Health and Human Services in Austin, providing case management for qualified Medicaid recipients in Southeastern Minnesota. An investigation by the MFCU allegedly found that Arneson billed for services that did not occur and that lacked any supporting documentation. Investigators say Arneson's billings were significantly higher than other care coordinators with similar caseloads while lacking this supporting documentation. The case is investigated by Ellison's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's State Fraud Unit. Ellison's MFCU is prosecuting it.
Dan Buettner, founder of Blue Zones, and Ellen Kehr, long-time project lead for Blue Zones Albert Lea, will serve as co-grand marshals for the July 3 parade in Albert Lea. The local Chamber of Commerce announced the decision as the city celebrates 10 years as the first certified Blue Zones community in the United States. The Chamber chose "Red, White, and Blue Zones" as this year's parade theme. After the successful pilot project in 2009, Albert Lea became the first certified community in 2016.
Power 96 News for Tuesday June 9th, 2026.
06/09/2026
The Albert Lea City Council gave notice to the state on Monday that its half-cent local option sales tax will soon reach its $30 million maximum collected and will end Sept. 30 as required by state sales tax provisions. The tax has been in place for 20 years, raising money for water quality improvements through the Shell Rock River Watershed District. City Manager Ian Rigg said under state law, the city is required to take a 12-month moratorium on the sales tax if it is requesting a change in its sales tax instead of a straight extension. That gap will now be longer without the approval of the Legislature during its recent legislative session to let voters decide whether to continue with the tax. Instead of money only for the watershed district, the city asked for up to $40 million in sales tax dollars to go toward water quality improvement projects, as well as other capital projects with regional benefit, including the Songbird Trail from Albert Lea to Hartland, the expansion of the Albert Lea Public Library, the expansion and improvement of Snyder Field Complex and the construction of the Miracle Field at Edgewater Park.The ballot question had to be approved by the Legislature before voters can decide whether to move forward with the tax; however, no local sales tax requests were approved this session. Given the timing, the city and Shell Rock River Watershed District will now have to wait until the 2028 election potentially to hold the vote. Rigg said the watershed will reach the $30 million of sales tax collected in July or August, and any funds received prior to Sept. 30 over the $30 million will be retained by the city and placed in the city"s general fund.
Tensions rose again at a Twin Lakes City Council meeting as a push to discuss City Clerk and Treasurer Keith Haskell"s potential dismissal in closed session failed. The request for a closed session came up after Haskell was arrested twice in May for violating a restraining order. Residents also questioned Haskell"s appointment and raised concerns about communication and transparency at City Hall. Some community members said it has not had a public comment period for 10 months, making it harder to question city leaders. The meeting also included allegations against Councilwoman Linda Visk over claims of inappropriate behavior while part of the council.City officials said the claims are being looked into by the city attorney, but residents said the attorney told them nothing had been received.
An Owatonna woman charged with stealing several thousand dollars from Thompson Sanitation when she worked there as an administrative assistant pleaded guilty last week in Freeborn County District Court as part of a plea agreement. Kari Van Ravenhorst, 44, pleaded guilty to three counts of felony theft and one count of check forgery in the case. She initially also faced four counts of willfully attempting to evade or defeat a tax law. The plea petition called for paying about $84,000 in restitution. Jail time will be open for argument at sentencing, as will whether she should receive a stay of execution or imposition. Court documents state the owner and staff of the company discovered check forgeries at the business after Van Ravenhorst quit in 2024. After looking into it further, they determined there were issues regarding the account dating back to when Van Ravenhorst started with the company, including overpayment on checks, taxes that weren"t being deducted properly and that voided checks in the system still cleared the business account. Van Ravenhorst is slated to be sentenced Aug. 26. Van Ravenhorst and her husband, Timothy Van Ravenhorst, also face civil litigation tied to the theft, and a pre-trial is slated in that case for Nov. 10.
A plea deal has been reached over a crash that killed a Mitchell County teen. An Alford plea has been entered by Blair Lee Hansen, 21 of St. Ansgar, to charges of homicide by vehicle-reckless driving and OWI-first offense. Law enforcement says Hansen was driving more than 25 miles per hour over the speed limit when Hansen veered off 410th Street in Worth County on March 1, 2025, went into the ditch, and hit a power pole. Court documents state it happened around 3 am about 456 feet east of Killdeer Avenue. Hansen was injured in the crash but his 16-year-old passenger, Ayden Steele of St. Ansgar, died. Online court records do not list a sentencing date for Hansen. An Alford plea means Hansen is not admitting guilt, but concedes he could be convicted at trial and will accept sentencing.
Power 96 News for Monday June 8th, 2026.
06/08/2026
An Oakdale man was charged in Freeborn County District Court last week after authorities conducted a search warrant at the storage units in Hayward tied to a narcotics trafficking investigation. The search yielded about 830 grams of methamphetamine, along with smaller amounts of cocaine, mushrooms, cannabis and fentanyl. Various firearms and cash were also seized. Howard Allen Herold, 50, faces one count of first-degree methamphetamine possession in connection to the case. Court documents stated officers conducted the search the morning of May 30 after obtaining a vehicle tracker to Herold"s vehicle during the investigation. The vehicle tracker stopped at the storage units on multiple dates including the morning of May 30 from 1:05 a.m. to 1:41 a.m. A Minnesota State Patrol trooper that day pulled over a vehicle Herold was reportedly driving from the area of the storage units, and a search of the vehicle yielded about 16 grams of meth, according to the report. Court documents state the storage unit also contained multiple items of mail addressed to Herald in Oakdale, along with an identification for him with an Illinois address. Herold is next slated to appear in court July 2.
A 79-year-old Glenville man has been charged with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct after he allegedly slapped a 17-year-old waitress on the buttocks at an Albert Lea restaurant last month. Stanley Bernard Bremseth is slated to make his first appearance in court on the charge on June 25. Court documents state Albert Lea police were dispatched to a report of a sexual assault on May 24 that occurred at 2306 E. Main St. An officer met with the teenager and her mother, and the girl told police she had been working as a waitress at the restaurant and had returned Bremseth"s wallet when he slapped her on the buttocks. The incident was reportedly witnessed by another customer, and the officer also reportedly viewed video footage of the incident. Bremseth reportedly admitted to the officer that he had slapped the girl on the buttocks.
A 75-year-old man faces a murder charge after a woman was found dead at a Mason City home on June 6. Mason City Police were called to 628 3rd Street Northeast around 10:38 a.m. for a welfare check on a woman. When officers arrived, they found her unresponsive and medics determined she had died. Police said the woman did not die from natural causes. Her identity has not been released. About 40 minutes later, officers pulled over a car in the 400 block of 7th Street Southwest. They detained the driver, Steven Stotts, who lives at the same address where the woman was found. Stotts was later charged with first-degree murder. He is being held at the Cerro Gordo County Jail. Police said there is no ongoing threat to the community. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636. More information will be released next week.
Motorists traveling on Interstate 35 southbound and northbound bridges over Albert Lea Lake should be alert for crews making repairs beginning June 15, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Repairs on the I-35 bridges include pile wrapping. Pile wrapping seals, protects, and extends bridges lifespan. The work is expected to be completed by October 2026 Shoulder closures will occur during the work. MnDOT advises that motorists always be attentive, drive with caution and slow down in work zones. A MnDOT bridge painting project will be near this work site, so motorists may encounter two works zones and should be alert for workers and the work zone speed limits.
Power 96 News for Friday June 5th, 2026.
06/05/2026
District 23A Rep. Peggy Bennett"s governor"s race came to a swift end at 5 p.m. Tuesday when her lieutenant governor pick, reportedly Rep. Elliott Engen, R-Lino Lakes, dropped out of the race. Left without a running mate, she was forced to end her campaign. Four hours before the deadline. Bennett received notice that her political partner had dropped out through text message. She said the situation highlighted the dysfunction within the Minnesota state government. She still plans on retiring this year, bringing an end to her political career. Bennett and Engen planned to announce their running at the 2026 state Republican Party convention during a 15-minute long speaking segment. Bennett"s speech was supposed to be preceded by a seven-minute long video. Bennett said Republican Party Chair Alex Plechash wouldn"t allow her to play the video, so she decided to pack up. Bennett and Engen made the decision to announce their candidacy while filing. Bennett was in St. Paul when she received the text message from Engen. In her last months in office, Bennett will focus work on her constituents. She said some residents struggled receiving checks from the Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which began this year. After retirement, she said she will maintain involvement in her church ministries and help the homeless. She would like to focus some of her time writing a historical fiction book based on the Revolutionary War.
Incumbent 4th Ward Councilor Reid Olson withdrew his candidacy Thursday for reelection to the Albert Lea City Council. Olson said on Monday when he filed for the seat, he had not heard of anyone interested in the position and felt a responsibility to his constituents to continue representing them. Other candidates filing were Charles Alkula and Joey Neely. Olson said he believes the other candidates are qualified for the position, and he doesn't think there is a need for the city to incur the expense of a primary election. He welcomed the candidates to reach out if they have questions and wished them the best in the election ahead.
Power 96 News for Thursday June 4th, 2026.
06/04/2026
An Albert Lea man appeared in Freeborn County District Court on Wednesday on charges for allegedly head-butting and threatening a woman with a knife outside an Albert Lea bar on Sunday before reportedly threatening to stab another man who came to her aid. Brandon Michael Anderson, 35, was charged with one count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of third-degree assault toward the woman and one count of second-degree assault tied to the man. Court documents state the incident reportedly happened outside Harold"s Bar on Sunday. Officers spoke to the woman in the parking lot, who had a portion of her face covered in blood and blood on her hands. She told officers she thought her nose was broken and that her former boyfriend kept texting her, wanting her to get a new license plate for his motorcycle because he didn"t have a license. When she came out of the bar and tried getting into her vehicle, Anderson was reportedly in the parking lot waiting for her in a blue minivan. She said she was sitting in her car when Anderson reportedly opened the driver"s side door, reached across her and pushed the button to shut off the vehicle. The woman reportedly got out of the vehicle, and Anderson allegedly pulled out a knife and head-butted her, court records state. She told police he gestured his arm forward as if he was flipping the knife open. She was eventually transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea by private vehicle. The woman suffered a broken nose and bruising to her face and told police she feared for her life and thought Anderson was going to kill her. She stated Anderson had put her in the hospital previously in March or April when he reportedly punched her in the back of the head and gave her a concussion. Anderson was arrested Monday at his workplace. He told police the woman starting pushing him and then head-butted him. He also denied any weapons being involved. In court on Wednesday, Freeborn County District Court Judge Christy Hormann set Anderson"s bail at $50,000 with conditions and $100,000 without conditions. His next court appearance is June 11.
One person was injured after a shooting at a Mason City gas station Wednesday night. According to Mason City Police Chief Mike McKelvey, some men got into an argument outside of the South Federal Kwik Star near a gas pump. The argument then escalated to gunfire, McKelvey said. One person was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The people involved were taken into custody by Mason City police and the Iowa State Patrol. The Kwik Star has been cordoned off to process the area. The investigation is in its early stages, and police say more information will be released Thursday.
The Pelican Breeze II will be part of this year's revived event now called the Eddie Cochran Rod & Custom Festival. The cruise boat will be in full '50s mode for the specialty cruise at 10 a.m. on June 13 prior to the big events happening downtown at noon. The two-hour cruise will feature '50s music and crew dressed in the theme as passengers cruise Albert Lea Lake. This new cruise has been added to the regular Friday 6 p.m. cruise and the regular 1 p.m. Sunday cruise. To reserve seats, go to Pelicanbreeze.org, show up 30 minutes before the boat leaves the dock, or call 507-383-7273.
Power 96 News for Wednesday June 3rd, 2026.
06/03/2026
Three more people filed for the Albert Lea City Council on the final two days of the filing period. Tiffany Fearing filed against incumbent Mayor Rich Murray, for Mayor. In ward 2, Former Marion Ross Performing Arts Center building manager John Caucutt filed against incumbent Councilor Larry Baker, and incumbent Reid Olson has challengers in Joey Neely and Charles Alkula who filed for the 4th Ward seat.
A violent robbery in Mason City has resulted in a plea deal. Deaundra Dewayne Thomas 31 of Mason City, was arrested on January 28 Law enforcement says Thomas, armed with a handgun, went to a home in the 200 block of 4th Street NW in Mason City at around 1:17 am. Court documents state Thomas took money from the male victim's pockets and then struck him multiple times in the face with the handgun. Officers say the assault caused the victim to bleed from the mouth Thomas has now pleaded guilty to willful injury with bodily injury. He will be sentenced for July 6.
Power 96 News for Tuesday June 2nd, 2026.
06/02/2026
A Twin Lakes city council meeting was canceled, leaving residents without answers just days after the city clerk was arrested twice in two weeks. City Clerk Keith Haskell faces harassment charges following two separate arrests within a two-week span. The scheduled council meeting was called off without explanation. A council member says she tried to reach the mayor but said she has not been able to get in touch with him after the cancellation. Residents say they have not been able to give public comment at city council meetings for about 11 months. The council member and a community member said there has been no transparency given to residents. "They won't even communicate with me and I'm on the council," said city council member Sandy Sletten. "So they're not communicating with the citizens. They're not truthful. We know they have lied to us on several different occasions." The meeting is said to be postponed to next week. This comes as discussions of dissolving the city continue. That will be voted on in November.
The Albert Lea school board voted 4-3 Monday against hiring high school teacher Max Jeffrey as the district"s new activities director, citing a need for more experience for the individual who takes on the role. The decision comes as the district looks to replace former Activities Director Dave Langerud, who resigned from the position and will be returning to the St. Cloud area. Board members Kim Nelson, Angie Hoffman, Mary Jo Dorman and Dave Klatt voted against the hiring agreement, while board members Neal Skaar, Gary Schindler and Davy Villarreal voted in favor. With the vote, Superintendent Steve Heil said the position would be reposted again Tuesday, and also noted he would connect with the district's legal counsel.
Bridge painting on Interstate 35 in Albert Lea will close the Blazing Star State Bike Trail and cause a lane closure beginning today, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The bike path under the I-35 bridges will be closed through late-July. The I-35 bridges carry northbound and southbound traffic over railroad tracks and the trail south of Exit 11. On the northbound side, there will be a lane closure starting Tuesday. Motorists should always be prepared to encounter traffic changes when approaching work zones, including lane closures, lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, slow-moving heavy equipment and slow or stopped traffic.
Black bear sightings were reported in Mower County over the weekend, and on Monday, Freeborn County received its first sighting as well. The Freeborn County Sheriff"s Office received a report of a bear at 6:53 p.m. Monday at 21656 880th Ave. in Oakland. Bear sightings were also logged in that area on a page operated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, where people can go to report bear sightings outside of the animal"s primary range.
Minnesota"s black bear range has been slowly expanding southward and westward. On Tuesday morning, a post was circulating on Facebook that a bear was also spotted in the Glenville area. The Freeborn County Sheriff"s Office advises the public to not try to get too close to bears and to leave them alone. “It"s a wild animal,” Chief Deputy Tim Bennett said. “Stay away from it, leave it alone. If it"s damaging your property, call the DNR or us right away, and we"ll contact the DNR.”
Power 96 News for Thursday May 28th, 2026.
05/28/2026
Austin Police have arrested the driver who hit a 10-year-old child on a bicycle and then left the scene Tuesday afternoon. Officers responded to the 1300 block of Fourth Avenue Southeast around 3:38 p.m. for a hit and run crash. The driver, who was in a dark-colored car, left the scene before police arrived. The child was seriously injured in the crash. Officers and the Austin Fire Department gave medical care before Mayo Clinic Ambulance took over treatment and transported the victim. Police believed the car had front-end damage on the passenger side. The Minnesota State Patrol is helping with the investigation. Police later found the suspect and car. The suspect is in custody, according to a press release. No further information is expected to be released due to the ongoing criminal case.
Minnesota native and football legend John Madden could have a post office in Austin named in his honor. Congressman Brad Finstad has introduced legislation to rename the Austin Post Office after Madden. The Hall of Fame coach, broadcaster and namesake of the “Madden NFL” video game franchise was born in Austin.
It's prison for one burglar and probation for another in Hancock County. Tracy Marie Siverly, 43 of Mason City, entered a guilty plea to first-degree theft and Jeremy Nicholas Mulford, 44 of Mason City, pleaded guilty plea to third-degree burglary. Siverly and Mulford were convicted of stealing a work truck and multiple tools from Prairie Energy in Garner and multiple items from a construction trailer at IMT Transport in Garner. Both thefts occurred on November 30, 2025. Court documents state the items stolen from Prairie Energy had an estimated value of $50,088. Mulford has now been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Siverly has been given five years of supervised probation.
A juvenile boy was arrested over the weekend after police say he robbed two people at gunpoint in northwest Austin. Officers responded to the 1200 block of Fifth Street Northwest just before 12:30 am Saturday for a report of a possible assault. When they arrived, they found a teenage girl and an adult man who had been robbed, according to the Austin Police Department. Both victims were taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. Police say they found the suspect, a juvenile male from Austin, a couple blocks from the scene shortly after the robbery. He was arrested without incident and taken to a juvenile detention facility. Officers used a K-9 from Freeborn County to help locate the gun. The boy is being charged with multiple counts of second-degree assault and simple robbery.
Power 96 News for Thursday May 28th, 2026.
05/28/2026
Austin Police have arrested the driver who hit a 10-year-old child on a bicycle and then left the scene Tuesday afternoon. Officers responded to the 1300 block of Fourth Avenue Southeast around 3:38 p.m. for a hit and run crash. The driver, who was in a dark-colored car, left the scene before police arrived. The child was seriously injured in the crash. Officers and the Austin Fire Department gave medical care before Mayo Clinic Ambulance took over treatment and transported the victim. Police believed the car had front-end damage on the passenger side. The Minnesota State Patrol is helping with the investigation. Police later found the suspect and car. The suspect is in custody, according to a press release. No further information is expected to be released due to the ongoing criminal case.
Minnesota native and football legend John Madden could have a post office in Austin named in his honor. Congressman Brad Finstad has introduced legislation to rename the Austin Post Office after Madden. The Hall of Fame coach, broadcaster and namesake of the “Madden NFL” video game franchise was born in Austin.
It's prison for one burglar and probation for another in Hancock County. Tracy Marie Siverly, 43 of Mason City, entered a guilty plea to first-degree theft and Jeremy Nicholas Mulford, 44 of Mason City, pleaded guilty plea to third-degree burglary. Siverly and Mulford were convicted of stealing a work truck and multiple tools from Prairie Energy in Garner and multiple items from a construction trailer at IMT Transport in Garner. Both thefts occurred on November 30, 2025. Court documents state the items stolen from Prairie Energy had an estimated value of $50,088. Mulford has now been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Siverly has been given five years of supervised probation.
A juvenile boy was arrested over the weekend after police say he robbed two people at gunpoint in northwest Austin. Officers responded to the 1200 block of Fifth Street Northwest just before 12:30 am Saturday for a report of a possible assault. When they arrived, they found a teenage girl and an adult man who had been robbed, according to the Austin Police Department. Both victims were taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. Police say they found the suspect, a juvenile male from Austin, a couple blocks from the scene shortly after the robbery. He was arrested without incident and taken to a juvenile detention facility. Officers used a K-9 from Freeborn County to help locate the gun. The boy is being charged with multiple counts of second-degree assault and simple robbery.
Power 96 News for Wednesday May 27th, 2026.
05/27/2026
After considering lifting the limits on dogs and cats in the city, the Albert Lea City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday to allow residents up to four animals of any combination, while approving other updates to the city"s animal ordinance. The ordinance now also includes cats at large instead of just dogs. Owners cannot let dogs or cats roam freely off of their property and must always have their pets under their physical control. The ordinance also bans unmanaged outdoor feeding stations. The city has said the rule would not stop people from helping stray or feral animals, it would require them to coordinate with a management program like trap-neuter-return, with the ultimately goal being to humanely reduce the stray population rather than unintentionally feeding and growing breeding colonies. The ordinance also prohibits commercial kennels in the city and allows officers to inspect properties if they receive complaints.
The bank fraud suspect allegedly tied to fraudulent withdrawals across southern Minnesota is not believed to be local. The Blue Earth County Sheriff"s Office made that announcement Monday, adding they"re making efforts to confirm the person"s identity as the investigation continues. The sheriff"s office added additional information will be released when its available. Last week authorities asked for help identifying a woman they believed was connected to fraudulent bank withdrawals in southern Minnesota. The sheriff"s office says personal information belonging to other people was used at local banks between May 7 and May 13 to withdraw money from existing home equity lines of credit. The activity happened in Waldorf, St. Peter, Eagle Lake, Hutchinson and Rochester, with losses topping $30,000. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Blue Earth County Sheriff"s Office at (507) 304-4863 or local law enforcement. Anonymous reports can also be submitted through Crimestoppers mn.org.
A Decorah woman charged with lacing a pan of lasagna with a controlled substance to cause a miscarriage pled guilty on Tuesday. Amber Snow pled guilty to all seven counts she was facing in the case. Including child endangerment, attempted nonconsensual termination of a pregnancy, delivering a controlled substance, and conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony. According to the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office, Snow delivered the lasagna to another family in December 2025. They found it contained oxycodone, which is a Schedule II narcotic. Snow was sentenced on Tuesday. Matthew Uthoff was also arrested and charged in the case. He pled not guilty in April. His trial is expected to begin June 10th.
A LeRoy man was transported to the hospital Saturday night following a collision with a deer in rural Mower County. Corey David Winkels, 41, was taken to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester for non-life threatening injuries when his motorcycle struck the deer that was coming out of the ditch. The crash took place at 9:15 p.m. on Highway 56 at 740th Avenue in Lodi Township, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The Mower County Sheriff"s Office, Rose Creek Fire Department, LeRoy Ambulance and Mayo One helicopter all responded.
Power 96 News for Tuesday May 26th, 2026.
05/26/2026
Contractors will begin installing solar panels on City Hall on Tuesday. Crews will stage equipment and materials in the parking area in front of the old fire station doors on Fountain Street. On Thursday, a crane will arrive on-site to lift equipment to the roof. Crews will also park a scissor lift at the front of the building, which will block the left-hand entrance door for the duration of the project. The city expects the installation to take seven to 10 days. The city of Albert Lea advises the public to exercise caution when entering City Hall. The public library will remain accessible throughout the project. The city of Albert Lea received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce "Solar on Public Buildings Program" to install solar power arrays on four city-owned facilities: City Hall, Fire Station, Main Lift Station, and City Garage.
A Cerro Gordo County man has been jailed for possession of child pornography. Law enforcement says it executed a search warrant on December 18, 2025, at the home of Johnathon Neal Glawe, 31 of Mason City. Investigators say they found images of females as young as four to six years old engaged in sexual activity. Glawe was arrested on Friday and booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail on 10 counts of possession of a depiction of a minor in a sex act. He is being held on $25,000 cash only bond.
The Albert Lea City Council will consider a memorandum of agreement for the Songbird Trail on Tuesday evening. The resolution allows the city manager to sign an agreement with Freeborn and Waseca counties to plan, build and maintain the Songbird Trail. The city must sign this agreement to get a regional trail designation. This new agreement replaces a 2014 joint agreement between the city and the county. The council will also consider a resolution authorizing city staff to apply for, accept and sign a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The grant will fund a DWI/Traffic Safety Officer position for fiscal year 2027. This officer will focus entirely on traffic safety. If the state stops funding this grant in the future, the Police Department will eliminate the position through attrition by not replacing officers who retire or resign. The City Council will discuss whether to publish a public notice on June 22 to formally create an Economic Development Authority. By forming this authority, the city does not commit to a specific tax levy, dedicate staff or finalize a structure yet. City staff say the authority would handle specific economic development projects that the current Port Authority and Housing and Redevelopment Authority do not have the legal power to manage. While state laws give all three agencies overlapping powers, the city retains the right to assign specific duties and authority to whichever agency fits best. The City Council is holding the first reading of an ordinance to update Chapter 8 on animal control. The council tabled this item at the May 11 meeting to gather public input and get more data on pet complaints from the Police Department. The new ordinance removes the strict limit on how many pets a resident can own. Instead, it gives animal control officers the authority to step in if a pet owner creates a public nuisance or safety risk.
Power 96 News for Friday May 22nd, 2026.
05/22/2026
The extension of Albert Lea"s existing half-cent local option sales tax will not come before voters this fall as the measure was not included in the tax bill approved during the legislative session. The ballot question had to be approved by the Legislature before voters can decide whether to move forward with the extension of the tax. Shell Rock River Watershed District Administrator Andy Henschel said with the renewal not going before voters in the fall, it will slow down some of the organization"s projects. While there is funding in place for the current projects, the tax will need to be renewed in the next two years if the community wants the Watershed District to continue moving forward with its long-term project plans.
Two traffic ramps and a bridge on westbound Interstate 90 in Austin are set to open Friday afternoon. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says construction crews will open the westbound I-90 off-ramp at Fourth Street Northwest, the on-ramp at Sixth Street Northeast and the Cedar River bridge. Traffic will also move back into regular lanes. The left lanes of eastbound and westbound traffic will be closed, but the right lanes will be open in each direction to allow for exits and merging onto the highway. MnDOT says the openings come after crews finished work on the westbound I-90 bridge over the Cedar River. The work zone had kept the ramps closed for worker and motorist safety. The project is in its third year and involves replacing or repairing bridges at six sites along I-90 in Austin. The Highway 218 north bridge at 14th Street Northwest and the Highway 218 south bridge at 21st Street Northeast are both being replaced. Detours are in place for traffic affected by the work. The project is expected to be completed in the fall.
A Mower County man is going to prison for child pornography. Jason Dean Vandeweerd, 41 of Austin, was convicted on three counts of possession of pornographic work involving a minor under 14. The Austin Police Department says a tip from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation led to an investigation that found thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material in Vandeweerd's home. Vandeweerd has been sentenced to five years and seven months behind bars, with credit for 256 days already served, followed by 15 years of conditional release.
The founder of Feeding Our Future was sentenced to over 41 years(500 months) for her role in the sprawling fraud scheme. Aimee Bock, 45, was convicted on all counts following a more than six-week federal jury trial last year. Prosecutors have described Bock as the “ringleader” of the scheme to defraud the Federal Child Nutrition Program out of roughly $250 million - the largest pandemic-related fraud scheme in the country, according to prosecutors. At least 79 people have been charged in connection to the Feeding Our Future scheme. More than 60 have been convicted, so far.
Power 96 News for Thursday May 21st, 2026.
05/21/2026
Freeborn County Sheriff Ryan Shea and Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray, along with a handful of other incumbents on the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners and Albert Lea City Council, have filed for reelection as of Wednesday. The filing period opened Tuesday for city, county and state offices and will run through June 2. As of Wednesday, current 2nd Ward Councilor Larry Baker and 3rd Ward Councilor Ted Herman filed for reelection to the council. On the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners, the 2nd and 4th District seats are up for vote, along with the sheriff and county attorney. As of Wednesday, incumbent 2nd District Commissioner Dawn Kaasa filed for reelection, along with 4th District Commissioner Chris Shoff. County Attorney David Walker also filed for another term, and in the race for sheriff, only Shea has filed thus far.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday issued a disaster proclamation for Emmet, Hancock, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Winnebago, Woodbury and Worth counties in response to severe weather that occurred on May 15 and continues. Reynolds" proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program for those counties. The proclamation is effective immediately and will remain in effect for 30 days unless terminated or extended.
A sentence has been handed down for a 2021 theft in Freeborn County. Devon Henry smith, 49 of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to felony theft. He was accused of stealing $4,000 from the register at Walgreen's in Albert Lea on October 21, 2021, and leading the Albert Lea Police Department on a chase that ended when a police squad car blocked Smith's vehicle on Front Street. Investigators say Walgreen's employees noticed Smith entered the store with a Walgreens' lanyard and asked for $1,490 to be placed on a rechargeable gift card. An employee says they noticed the photo on the lanyard did not match Smith and halted the transaction. Court documents say Smith then grabbed the gift cards and fled. Smith has now been sentenced to one year of supervised probation.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has released more information about a man found dead back in April. The medical examiner has ruled the cause of death for 50-year-old Martin Pedelty was atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease complicated by methamphetamine use. The death was accidental. Mason City Police found Pedelty lying in a yard next to a bicycle near 6th Pl. SE and S. Jersey Ave. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Power 96 News for Wednesday may 20th, 2026.
05/20/2026
Freeborn County Sheriff Ryan Shea has filed for reelection. Shea announced on Tuesday that he plans to seek another four-year term. He has served Freeborn County for the past three and a half years, focusing on integrity, compassion and professionalism. Shea said he is proud of the relationships built within the community. He looks forward to continuing his service if reelected.
After a wave of severe weather swept through north Iowa on Sunday, Cerro Gordo and Worth counties are asking residents who were impacted by the storms to submit damage reports. Officials in both counties say they are looking to compile data for their records for damage assessments, and they are looking for people who experienced damage to their home, vehicle, farm buildings, and trees to submit reports.
Power 96 News for Tuesday May 19th, 2026.
05/19/2026
A guilty plea is entered over the embezzling of thousands of dollars from the Mohawk Trap Team. Dion James Cody, 43 of Mason City, was charged with first-degree theft and has now pleaded guilty to second-degree theft. Law enforcement says Cody "exercised exclusive control" over the Mowhawk Trap Team's finances between April 2021 and August 2025 and stole over $10,000 in team funds. Investigators say financial records and Venmo data show "numerous non-team-related purchases, ATM withdrawals, and other payments unrelated to team operations." A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 29.
Filings open today for five of the seven seats on the Albert Lea City Council. The following seats are open: Mayor and Ward 2, 4 and 6 city council seats. These seats are for four-year terms. Voters will also elect a representative for Ward 3 to serve the remaining two years of the four-year term. This seat became vacant following Jason Howland"s resignation; Ted Herman currently holds the position by mayoral appointment until the end of 2026.
An Ellendale woman has been charged with allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from an Owatonna church where she worked as the financial coordinator. Vanessa Ann Stoltz, 40, faces one count of theft by swindle and one count of theft and will make her first appearance on the charges July 20. Court documents state Stoltz was hired as a part-time employee for Associated Church, working 20 to 35 hours per week, earning $20 to $21 an hour. She was reportedly the only person in charge of payroll and held access to the financial management software used by the church. The court complaint states church leaders contacted law enforcement after the church got locked out of the software and observed that in 2024 and 2025 Stoltz had reportedly paid herself almost $450,000, which equated to $350,000 over her allotted pay for that two-year period. In late summer 2025, the church received letters from the Internal Revenue Service, stating it had not paid payroll taxes. The church leaders told police they did not receive a clear answer from Stoltz on why that bill was never paid, and the last contact they had with her was Nov. 10, 2025. Court documents state Stoltz was the only employee that received overpayment. The payments were made via direct deposit to an account at Owatonna Community Bank. After receiving a subpoena for her banking records, authorities found that after the overpayment was received into her account each month, funds were typically spent on things such as Amazon, credit cards, Sono Bello treatments, clothing and food delivery services. Arrangements were made for her to provide the detective with the statements, but as of Feb. 10, the detective had not received any statements or had any additional correspondence from her.
Jason Baskin, an Austin city council member who has served since 2019, announced Tuesday he is running for reelection. Baskin represents Ward 2, which covers the southwest part of the city. Baskin is the President of the Austin Port Authority, and the Board of Directors for the Development Corporation of Austin (DCA), and is a member of APEX Austin, according to his announcement.
Power 96 News for Monday May 18th, 2026.
05/18/2026
An Albert Lea home was damaged by fire Sunday morning, according to a press release from Albert Lea Fire Rescue. The release stated firefighters responded at 12:52 a.m. Sunday to 1700 Eberhart St. for the report of the fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found a small fire in the kitchen on top of the stove and nearby cupboards. The residents were all out of the home. Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire and kept the damage to the immediate area. The damage was all to contents and is estimated at $6,000. Albert Lea Fire Rescue investigated the fire and determined the cause to be accidental. Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service and Albert Lea Police Department assisted at the scene. Albert Lea Fire Rescue reminds residents to keep stove areas clear of items and to aim for at least a two-foot buffer.
The Albert Lea School Board will meet Monday evening at the Brookside Educational Center Board Room.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals says the City of Albert Lea was wrong to deny a cannabis license to Jacob Schlichter. The City of Albert Lea argued the denial fell under its "inherent police power to regulate businesses posing public safety risks" and compared it to the city's authority to make decisions on issuing liquor licenses. The Court of Appeals rejected that argument, however, pointing out that Minnesota law grants communities broad powers to regulate liquor licenses but the same does not extend to cannabis licenses. As part of his lawsuit, Schlichter asked the Court of Appeals to issue him a cannabis license to operate in Albert Lea. The Court declined to do so and stated it had no opinion on whether Schlichter would be entitled to a cannabis license under Albert Lea's current ordinance, which was changed after Schlichter's initial denial.
A man is suspected of driving under the influence after his car went into the ditch and rolled over, just before 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash occurred while a car was traveling north on Interstate 35 in Steele County. The driver, who was identified as 36-year-old Joshua Lee from Owatonna, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time. Lee was taken to the Owatonna Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Along with the Minnesota State Patrol, the ambulance service, and fire department from Ellendale also responded to the scene, as well as the Steele County Sheriff"s Office.
Power 96 News for Friday May 15th, 2026.
05/15/2026
Albert Lea residents can begin filing for five of seven City Council seats starting May 19. The open positions include mayor and the Ward 2, 4 and 6 council seats, currently held by Rich Murray, Larry Baker, Reid Olson and Brian Andersen. All four seats carry four-year terms. Voters will also elect someone to represent Ward 3 for the remaining two years of a four-year term. Jason Howland resigned from that seat, and Ted Herman now holds the position by mayoral appointment through the end of 2026. Mayoral candidates can live anywhere in Albert Lea since the position represents the entire community. Council candidates must live within their ward boundaries for at least 30 days before the general election.Minnesota law requires candidates to be eligible to vote in the state, be at least 21 years old when taking office and not file for another office in the same election cycle. A ward map is available on the city's website. To file, candidates need to complete an affidavit of candidacy and pay a $25 fee at the City Clerk's office on the top floor of City Hall at 221 E. Clark Street. The Secretary of State's Office is encouraging candidates to type their affidavits to prevent misspellings on ballots. Residents can use a free public computer at the Albert Lea Public Library to complete filing documents. Printing costs 25 cents per page in color, and the library only accepts cash. Filing closes at 5 p.m. on June 2. The primary election is Aug. 11, and the general election is Nov. 3.
Two vehicles collided at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street Friday morning near the tent for the Buckets on Broadway fundraiser. No one was injured.
A group of students at Southwest Middle School on Thursday buried a time capsule in the courtyard of the school that was filled with items representing life in 2026 that they hope will be unearthed in 50 years. The time capsule, which was made up of three pieces of PVC pipe about 2 feet long decorated in patriotic colors, was filled with everything from books and pens, to fliers, the daily bell schedule, a map of the school, a calculator, mechanical pencils, a homework pass and the gym teacher"s whistle, among others. It also included items representing society in 2026, including a phone charger and computer mouse, an American flag, 50 pennies made in 2025 (the last year pennies were made), a copy of the U.S. Constitution, a copy of the Albert Lea Tribune newspaper and a $5 gift certificate to Jake"s Pizza. They also included a video made by some of the students that interviewed teachers and students. A student put glue on each end of PVC pipe before placing caps on them to seal them. The capsule is a few feet away from the flag pole and was marked with a rock.
Freeborn County Sheriff"s Office deputies arrested Keith Douglas Haskell, 63, of Mankato for violation of a harassment restraining order after receiving a report at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday of an alleged violation. Haskell, the city clerk-treasurer of Twin Lakes, appeared in Freeborn County District Court on Thursday on a misdemeanor charge of violating a harassment restraining order. District Court Judge Christy Hormann released him on his own recognizance after Haskell agreed to remain law-abiding, not contact the alleged victims in the case, make all future court appearances and others conditions. He applied for and was granted a public defender. Haskell is next slated to appear in court on the charge June 10.
Power 96 News for Thursday May 14th, 2026.
05/14/2026
An Albert Lea man was charged last Friday in Freeborn County District Court with possession of child sexual abuse material after an investigation involving a cybertip made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Court documents allege Jeremiah Jo Weitzel, 46, uploaded two files involving girls ranging in age from an infant to 10 years old being sexually assaulted by adult men. The files were reportedly uploaded to a Google Photos account in January and February, and Google made the tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent was made aware of the tip in mid-April. The second file was a video that was 8 1/2 minutes that depicted hundreds of different child sexual abuse material video clips, court documents stated. Authorities traced the count to Weitzel after a subpoena was sent to Google. Google had disabled the account after it flagged the video that was uploaded in February. Weitzel has prior convictions for possessing a pornographic work in 2013 and two predatory offender registration violations, one in 2024 and the other in 2025. In court Friday, District Court Judge Christy Hormann set bail at $100,000 with conditions and $200,000 without conditions. Conditions included no contact with people under 18, no social media or internet, no possession of dangerous weapons or firearms and n alcohol or substance abuse use or possession, among others. He is next slated to appear in court on the charges on May 20.
The third annual Mental Health Awareness 5K Glow Run will be Friday at Hammer Athletic Complex. People are encouraged to wear their brightest glow gear. Proceeds will help support mental health needs for Albert Lea Area Schools students. Cost to participate is $15 for students and $25 for adults.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the recipients of the County Agricultural Inspector Grant for fiscal year 2026. All 47 counties that applied for grant money qualified and will be awarded $10,300 each. The money will be used by county agricultural inspectors to carry out duties under the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law. The inspectors perform vital tasks that protect the environment from noxious weeds, according to a press release. The funds will be used for local noxious weed detection, management and enforcement efforts. These grants were made possible with a $500,000 appropriation made by the Minnesota Legislature. Included in the counties receiving funding this year are Mower, Steele and Waseca counties.
The 2026 Patriot Tour kicks off Friday night at the Glenville American Legion. Events start at 5 and include live bands and food. The official launch will be Saturday morning at Bergdale Harley Davidson with a ceremony at 10am.
Power 96 News for Wednesday May 13th, 2026.
05/13/2026
Police say the body of a missing teen has been found. Christian Gary, 16 of Rochester, left his home in the 2000 block of 5 Avenue SW at around 7 pm on May 10. The Rochester Police Department (RPD) says Gary left for a ride on the e-bike and did not return. RPD says Gary's body was located near Bamber Valley Road SW and Salem Road SW on Tuesday evening. Police say they are working with the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner to confirm a cause of death. RPD says there is no known threat to the public and it extends "heartfelt sympathies to the family and all those affected by this loss."
The Albert Lea Farmers Market will kick off its new season Wednesday in the North Broadway parking lot with several new vendors slated to begin selling goods. The market will be open Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The Albert Lea Farmers Market has been a local tradition for over 45 years, selling fresh fruits and vegetables, canned goods, baked goods and craft items.
A St. Ansgar man facing two counts of homicide by vehicle from fatal crash that occurred in Worth County back in March 2025 has filed to change his plea, according to court documents.Blair Lee Hansen, 21, was charged with one count of Homicide by Vehicle - OWI and one count of Homicide by Vehicle - Reckless Driving for the crash that killed a 16-year-old boy, Ayden Steele. Hansen was also severely injured in the crash, and investigators found beer cans throughout the vehicle. At this time, court documents do not make it clear what the plea is being changed to.
The Southbridge Theater is reopening after renovations with a celebration on May 16. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m., followed by special showings of the 1985 classic "Footloose" at noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The theater is located in the Southbridge Mall in downtown Mason City. The reopening pays tribute to the theater's history, as "Footloose" was one of the first films shown when the theater originally opened as Cinema V on May 23, 1985. Concessions will be available, and movie tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the event. Tickets are free in advance with registration or $5 at the door.