A surveillance program established by the State of Minnesota has detected the bird flu virus in milk from a central Minnesota dairy herd. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has been conducting testing of raw cow milk samples collected from the state's approximately 1600 dairy farms on a monthly basis in response to the spread of the highly pathogenic avian flu in domestic and wild bird flocks. The US Agriculture Department's national laboratory confirmed a positive test result from a dairy herd in Stearns County last Friday. The herd has been placed in quarantine until continued testing shows that the cows are no longer infected by the H5N1. State officials also stress that there is no concern for the safety of the public milk supply because all milk sold in stores is required to be pasteurized to kill any bacteria or viruses. “While under quarantine, the herd will be able to apply for movement permits for animals and animal products such as waste milk and manure. Milk sold for pasteurization does not need a permit and is allowed to go to processing to facilitate business while keeping the risk of the spread of disease low,” said State Veterinarian, Dr. Brian Hoefs. “Our surveillance and response approach to H5N1 is a team effort to ensure we’re covering all angles where it’s detected and limiting its ability to spread.” The Minnesota Department of Health says the risk to the public from the bird flu virus remains low at this time although people who work with or have direct contact with infected animals or their environment are at the most risk for becoming ill.
An Underwood, Minnesota teacher is facing charges after deputies were called to an area hospital for a report of an assault. Jason Rogers is charged with one count of malicious punishment of a child. He faces one year in prison if convicted. Deputies were called to Lake Region Hospital in early February for a report of an assault that occurred at the Underwood School in Otter Tail County. A sixth-grade student reported he was laying on his stomach during a lockdown drill when his teacher, Rogers, stepped on his back with both feet. Court records indicate Rogers weighs more than 350 pounds. Deputies went to the school the following day, and Rogers told them students were to sit against a wall for the lockdown drill. However, some students laid down on their stomach. According to court records, Rogers said he told the students he could step on them in their current position and they needed to take it seriously. Rogers said he placed his foot on the kid’s lower back and stepped on him. He said he heard the kid yell and got off to ask if he was ok, according to court papers. Court documents say Rogers later admitted to stepping on two other students. He’s due in court on April 8, 2025 for an initial appearance.
For the first time in over a month, the national average price of gasoline has risen, driven by the final step in the transition to summer gasoline across much of the country. Gas Buddy says the increase has nothing to do with politics or tariffs, which remain paused for now, but instead is the result of the season, and is something that happens almost every year. Average gasoline prices in Minnesota have risen 14.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.10 per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 6.3 cents per gallon, averaging $3.08 per gallon. The national average price of diesel has decreased 0.9 cents in the last week and stands at $3.54 per gallon.
Six fire departments in central Minnesota battled a shed fire for more than six hours on Saturday. The Meeker County Sheriff's Office got a call at around 3:40 p.m. Saturday for a fire in the 61000 block of County Road 18 in Greenleaf Township. The location is south of Litchfield. Deputies arrived to find a shed full of hay bales fully engulfed. The shed is owned by Kaping Farms and is considered a total loss. Fire departments from Litchfield, Grove City, Cosmos, Dassel, Lake Lillian, and Hutchinson battled the flames. No one was hurt in the fire and authorities believe a brush fire worked its way to the shed, causing it to go up in flames.
If your non-profit group or organization has an event coming up that you would like publicized, send the information to KEYL/KXDL PO Box 187 Long Prairie, MN 56347 or you can drop it off Monday thr...
If your non-profit group or organization has an event coming up that you would like publicized, send the information to KEYL/KXDL PO Box 187 Long Prairie, MN 56347 or you can drop it off Monday thr...