News

Agriculture

United States Prevails in USMCA Dispute on Biotech Corn

USDA December 20, 2024

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2024 – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today announced that the United States has prevailed in its dispute under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) challenging certain Mexican biotechnology measures concerning genetically engineered (GE) corn. The USMCA panel agreed with the United States on all seven legal claims, finding that Mexico’s measures are not based on science and undermine the market access that Mexico agreed to provide in the USMCA.

Originally reported by the USDA.

Business

Power Pair: ‘The Laundry Guy’ and the music critic

Minnesota Public Radio December 20, 2024

What do you get when a music critic shares a home with a laundry and cleaning expert?

Some cool playlists for cleaning house, for sure.

Ross Raihala became the Pioneer Press pop music critic in 2004, just a year before he met his longtime partner Patric Richardson. Over the two last decades, Richardson went on to open a vintage designer clothing store and become the go-to expert for laundry dilemmas and stubborn stains.

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Monday, a conversation with the couple who can turn house cleaning into a disco party. Raihala and Richardson talk about their careers, how they met and how they support each other.

Guests:

Ross Raihala joined the Pioneer Press as pop music critic in 2004, after stints at The Forum in Fargo, N.D., and The Olympian in Olympia, Wash. He covers local and national music as well as some theater and other arts and entertainment topics.
Patric Richardson is the owner of Mona Williams, a shop at the Mall of America that specializes in vintage designer clothing. He was the host of “The Laundry Guy” on HGTV and is the author of “Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore” and “House Love: A Joyful Guide to Cleaning. Organizing, and Loving the Home You’re In.”

Do you know a Power Pair?

We’d love to hear your ideas for 2025. We’re talking with prominent Minnesotans who you may know of separately but who reveal something new when we sit them down together. Maybe they’re married or siblings or best friends. They could be business partners or a parent/adult child dynamic duo.

Click here to suggest a Power Pair.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Agriculture

USDA Announces Final $300 Million in Automatic Assistance for Distressed Farm Loan Borrowers

USDA December 20, 2024

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the final approximately $300 million in assistance to distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers under Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act. Over the past two years, USDA acted swiftly to assist distressed borrowers in retaining their land and continuing their agricultural operations. Since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law in August 2022, USDA has provided approximately $2.5 billion in assistance to more than 47,800 distressed borrowers.

Originally reported by the USDA.

Agriculture

USDA Seeks Nominations for Membership on Food Safety Advisory Committee

USDA December 20, 2024

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is soliciting nominations for membership to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF).

Originally reported by the USDA.

Local News

12 Days of Christmas News

KLFD December 20, 2024

APRIL

The “12 Days of Christmas News” series continues today on KLFD with a look back at the top local news stories from the month of April. The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an attempted abduction on April 3rd in Ellsworth Township.

The attempted abduction occurred as a 13-year-old was at the end of a driveway in the area of County-State-Aid-Highways 9 and 33. The victim reported that a man in a red Ford truck made the attempted abduction, but the victim was able to escape.

The Litchfield City Council approved of a 60-unit apartment complex at the address of 415 South Ramsey Avenue last April. The Council was also negotiating the possible purchase of the Golf Club restaurant at that time with Colin & Drea Kuechle.

The Chamber Serving the Meeker County Area presented its President’s Award last April to Randy Quitney – the long-time KLFD announcer and sports director who had retired at the end of March. The Chamber’s small business of the year award went to the Red Goat of Watkins, and the large business of the year award went to Central Counties Cooperative.

Also last April, the Litchfield Community Youth Theatre presented “The Spongebob Musical – Youth Edition,” Dean Urdahl’s film “Assault on Fort Ridgely” was released, and the final edition the Litchfield Independent Review was published – after 148 years in business.

MARCH

The “12 Days of Christmas News” series continues today on KLFD with a look back at the top local news stories from the month of March. A couple of retirements were announced last March.

Long-time KLFD announcer and sports director Randy Quitney retired from broadcasting on March 29th. State Representative Dean Urdahl announced last March that he would be retiring from the Minnesota House of Representatives after serving 22 years. He will be officially retired next month when his 11th term ends.

Mary Ellen Wells, who had been serving as interim CEO at Meeker Memorial Hospital, was named as CEO last March. Sparboe Farms became part of Opal Foods of Missouri last March. Litchfield native, 1991 Litchfield High School graduate, Stuart Groskreutz – son of Bob & Arlene – a reporter/photographer/editor with the Stillwater Gazette, received the Minnesota State High School League 2024 Outstanding Media Service Award in the print division on March 23rd during the State Boys Basketball Tournament.

Also last March – after a nearly snowless winter – a snowstorm which stretched from March 24th to the 26th, dumped nearly 2 feet of snow over parts of Central Minnesota. 26-year-old Miranda Castro of Litchfield was involved in a crash with a semi during that storm on March 25th on Highway 12 between Litchfield and Grove City and was killed.

FEBRUARY

The “12 Days of Christmas News” series continues on KLFD today with a look back at the top local news stories from the month of February. The Litchfield School Board selected Susan Burris as the new superintendent last February to replace the retiring Beckie Simenson – beginning July 1st.

The Meeker County Board of Commissioners approved of a moratorium for up to one year on a 4-to-1 vote (with Julie Bredeson opposed) on solar energy farms and wind energy conversion systems last February. Ridgewater College received a one-million dollar donation last February from the estate of the late Ray Johnson – owner of JMD Manufacturing of Willmar – to be used for scholarships for students in manufacturing programs.

The Wintercade Ice Fishing Contest was held in Litchfield on February 10th – at the Fire/Rescue Hall parking lot – due to unsafe ice conditions on Lake Ripley. Patrick Riley of Litchfield won the grand prize – a Bobcat UTV, and the event raised $19,000 which was donated to community organizations.

Litchfield native Evonne Young Fix was one of the honorees for the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Minnesota on February 7th. Eden Valley-Watkins senior Madison Price took first place in February at the District-7 American Legion oratorical contest in Willmar and advanced to the state competition in Anoka.

Also last February, Litchfield Community Theatre presented the play “Murder on the Orient Express,” and the 52nd annual Peanut Butter & Milk Festival took place with nine residents of Hartford, Alabama visiting Meeker County. There was no snow, so one of the traditional events – ski day at Powder Ridge – had to be cancelled as it was raining the day of the event, February 8th.

JANUARY

The “12 Days of Christmas News” series begins today on KLFD with a look back at the top local news stories from the month of January. Two juvenile brothers from New London died as the result of a January crash involving their UTV and a pick-up on Highway 9 by Sunburg.

15-year-old Will Dahl and his brothers – 11-year-old Harrison and 10-year-old Drew – were in the UTV driven by Will and were struck by a pick-up as they crossed Highway 9. The brothers were air-lifted to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. Will died on January 9th and Harrison died a week later. Drew recovered from his injuries and was released from the hospital. A double funeral was held for Will and Harrison Dahl on January 22nd at Peace Lutheran Church in New London.

35-year-old Bryan William Demarais made his first appearance in Meeker County District Court on January 2nd and was charged with 2nd Degree Murder and two counts of child endangerment after shooting his wife – 29-year-old Kayla – numerous times at their home in Dassel Township on December 28th.

A fatal crash occurred in Stearns County on January 22nd. 41-year-old Cassie Mithaugen of Belgrade died in a head-on collision on Highway 55 in Crow Lake Township and a 3-year-old girl in her vehicle received non-life-threatening injuries. On January 29th, 75-year-old Michael Yanacheak of Willmar died after he was hit with a taser as he approached officers with a knife as they were attempting to evict him from his apartment after a court order.

The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office responded to Lake Jennie in Collinwood Township on January 25th when two anglers went through the ice in the same area of the lake. 64-year-old Steven Huebner of Hutchinson and 18-year-old Josiah Smock of Dassel were able to make it to shore, and deputies rescued a juvenile male the same evening who was lost in fog on the lake.

Also last January, the Meeker County Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance prohibiting the use of cannabis and cannabis-derived products in public places throughout the county; and the Litchfield School Board narrowed a list of 14 applicants for the superintendent position to 6.