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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.

As Rochester’s chess scene grows, one high school team is eyeing another statewide title

As Rochester’s chess scene grows, one high school team is eyeing another statewide title

Over the last two decades, Rochester's youth chess scene has grown, with the city's high school teams earning champion status at eight statewide tournaments. One of them, Century High School, is hoping to repeat as a state champion in 2026.
by Catharine Richert

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Social worker shares resources for families affected by Stewartville shooting

Social worker shares resources for families affected by Stewartville shooting

Heather Geerts, director of clinical services at Zumbro Valley Health Services, joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition Tuesday to talk about supporting the Stewartville community in the wake of a tragedy.
by Cathy Wurzer and Gracie Stockton

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‘Total sadness’: Stewartville High School shooting leaves community grieving

‘Total sadness’: Stewartville High School shooting leaves community grieving

The small town of Stewartville in southeast Minnesota is grieving but trying to pull together in the aftermath of a shooting outside of the high school that left one student in critical condition and the alleged shooter dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
by Molly Castle Work and David Schaper

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Police identify gunman as former Stewartville student as classes resume after Friday shooting

Police identify gunman as former Stewartville student as classes resume after Friday shooting

Classes started late on Monday morning at schools in Stewartville, a community south of Rochester, as authorities continued to investigate a shooting early Friday that left a student critically injured and the suspected gunman dead.
by MPR News Staff

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Shooting in Stewartville school parking lot leaves one dead, student in critical condition

Shooting in Stewartville school parking lot leaves one dead, student in critical condition

An early morning shooting in the parking lot of Stewartville High School in southeast Minnesota left one student in critical condition and a man dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office.
by MPR News Staff

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Community sounds alarm after apparent ICE arrest in Rochester

Community sounds alarm after apparent ICE arrest in Rochester

An apparent arrest of a Rochester man has stirred fear in the Somali community as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s recent surge of arrests expands beyond the Twin Cities.
by Molly Castle Work

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Minnesotans rally, mobilize in solidarity with Somali Americans after Trump’s xenophobic rant

Minnesotans rally, mobilize in solidarity with Somali Americans after Trump’s xenophobic rant

The Muslim Coalition of ISAIAH will host a community gathering and potluck in northwest Rochester on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 3 to 4 p.m. at 125 LIVE River Rooms on Elton Hill Drive, celebrating and honoring Somali culture and contributions.
by Hannah Yang

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Snow continues across southern Minnesota during busy holiday travel weekend

Snow continues across southern Minnesota during busy holiday travel weekend

Forecasters say Saturday will a difficult travel day across southern Minnesota, especially in the afternoon — and that people traveling home from Thanksgiving gatherings may want to wait until Sunday, to give snowplows a chance to clear roads.
by Andrew Krueger

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Rochester hopes to grow economy beyond Mayo in the next decade

Rochester hopes to grow economy beyond Mayo in the next decade

Rochester’s Destination Medical Center is the state’s largest economic development project in history. At 10 years old, it has accomplished some of its goals. In the next decade, local leaders said diversifying Rochester’s economy will be a focus.
by Catharine Richert

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State auditor finds Byron schools improperly documented credit card purchases amid financial crisis

State auditor finds Byron schools improperly documented credit card purchases amid financial crisis

A state review shows that Byron Public Schools failed to provide proper credit card documentation for $60,000 in purchases in 2023 and 2024. It's the latest in a series of financial missteps in the southeastern Minnesota district.
by Catharine Richert

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