Rochester News

Stay informed about Rochester MN news with local stories, breaking news and more from MPR News, your hub for the latest updates in Rochester, Austin, Winona and across southeast Minnesota.

Outdoor School program gets kids out of classrooms and into the wild for learning, healing
A new grant program approved by state legislators last year is helping more Minnesota students get out of the classroom and into the wild to study science and nature up close and in person. For one group of kids from a St. Paul Spanish immersion school, the trip to the outdoors couldn’t have come at a better time.
Rural hospitals worry about the future of an obscure discount drug program they rely on
Multiple rural, critical access hospital leaders say that, while imperfect, 340B has become a lifeline. These facilities serve a large percentage of patients on Medicaid and Medicare, which pay low reimbursements to hospitals, making it difficult for them to break even.
Peregrine falcons at Mayo Clinic: How the world-renowned hospital came to raise birds of prey
For almost four decades, Mayo Clinic has raised peregrine falcons as part of a national recovery effort to save what had been an endangered species. Now, the peregrine falcon program is a beloved part of the world-renowned hospital's offerings.
More Minnesota communities consider banning fruity vapes as Trump’s FDA loosens restrictions
Over a quarter of Minnesotans live in cities or counties that have restricted the sale of some flavored tobacco and nicotine products. Communities are taking action, arguing cotton candy, mango and other sweet flavored vapes are targeting kids. Despite this push at the local level, the FDA announced this month that it will allow a vape company to sell new fruit-flavored e-cigarettes.
Rochester mayoral race getting crowded as NAACP’s Elegbede enters
The field of candidates vying for the top office in the city of Rochester is getting crowded. The latest to enter is the local NAACP president, bringing the number of announced candidates to seven.
Rochester's DMC gives UMR $3 million for new class and lab space to train future workforce
The University of Minnesota Rochester wants to build a new, $10 million lab and classroom space near Mayo Clinic to train Rochester's future workforce. The school says it would be a win for the growing university and the city. The board overseeing the Destination Medical Center project is committing $3 million to it.