Good morning, Rochester.

United Way of Southeast Minnesota met its Running Start for School drive goal by providing more than 3,600 local students with school supplies before the September 5 deadline.

The drive partnered with over 50 schools and organizations across Olmsted, Dodge, Fillmore — Winona counties.

The Olmsted County Attorney’s Office charged siblings Ayan Abdiweli Othowaa and Abdirahman Omar Yusuf with felony theft conspiracy — they are accused of faking a racist playground incident that spurred a $300,000 fundraiser for a child’s family and will appear in court next year.

Olmsted County Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against two Rochester siblings—20-year-old Abdirahman Omar Yusuf and 23-year-old Ayan Abdiweli Othowaa—for allegedly planning to steal $300,000 from a NAACP fundraiser set up for the family of an eight-year-old autistic boy who was targeted with racist slurs at Soldiers Field Park.

A 75-year-old Rochester man pleaded guilty to neglect in connection with the homicide of his 93-year-old wife—whose body was found in her bathtub on May 8—and was sentenced to up to three years and five months in prison.

Wednesday’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church left students and parents with deep trauma — local therapist Pati Hruby and pastor John Sauer stressed that honest conversation and spiritual support are key to healing.

UMR is set to welcome nearly 400 new students on September 2—up over 80% from last year—in which almost half are first-generation college students and over 84% come from Minnesota.

The students will train for healthcare jobs in the community as programs like Raptor Ready Week help them adjust to college.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation said Highway 14 resurfacing is complete and the road is now fully open for traffic—work that began on May 5 included repairs to sidewalks, crosswalk improvements and new pedestrian ramps.

Olmsted County is moving its board and committee meetings to a new location at 2100 Campus Drive Southeast starting September 2 due to upgrades at the Government Center—improving technology and accessibility.

The Physical Development Committee will meet at 8 a.m. on that day and residents can also join virtually.

Thursday, Mayo Clinic installed two heavy proton beam gantry cylinders—each weighing about 15—16 tons—into the Andersen Building to expand its Proton Beam Therapy Program.

The upgrade helps doctors target tumors more precisely and will raise annual patient treatments from 1,300 to 2,200 as the Andersen Building nears completion in 2027.

Create Your Own Ceramic Cup

2-4 p.m. — Art Heads Emporium — Registration required — Craft your own unique ceramic cup with expert guidance in a friendly downtown atmosphere.

Rochester Female Entrepreneurs Networking Meet-Up

2:30-3:30 p.m. — Collider Foundation — Free entry — Connect and grow your network with local women entrepreneurs in a supportive setting.

The Parsonage Discussion

7 p.m. — History Center of Olmsted County — $5 for non-members, Free for members — Delve into the history of The Parsonage and its impact on the community's growth and preservation efforts.

Mike Oregano Live

7-10 p.m. — Forager Brewery — Check venue for entry cost — Experience the unique sounds of a Jazz/Rock one-man band act.

Linux Fundamentals GL120 Training Course

Mon, Sep 22–Fri, Sep 26 — Northrop Community Education — Variable pricing — Comprehensive training class covering foundational Linux concepts and tools for aspiring IT professionals.

2025 NF Symposium

8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — Mayo Clinic — Registration required — Engage with experts at a hybrid symposium focused on neurofibromatosis.