Daily
Rochester
Friday, September 19th, 2025
Good morning, Rochester. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 19th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Residents in Rochester held a vigil at Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial on Thursday to honor late conservative activist Charlie Kirk — the service offered a moment to reflect on ending violence through dialogue and love. KTTC
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ SPARK Children’s Museum unveiled its new exhibit—SPARKY’s Garage—where children act as junior mechanics to explore STEM ideas by working on a kid-sized SUV and role-playing at a service counter. Sponsored by Rochester Chevrolet, the exhibit is open during regular museum hours. KIMT
- ➤ Lawmakers visited Pine Farms in northeast Rochester—where the farm grows African culinary staples, Swiss chard, peppers, and tomatoes and is testing a trial run of rice while raising 30 goats popular with children. Grower Gilbert Obiero said the organic, pesticide-free operation gives immigrant farmers a taste of home and shares their culture with local buyers. KIMT
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Rochester farmers from Farmland Produce Cooperative face challenges entering the agriculture industry due to limited markets and restricted access to land—financial issues and strict rules hinder their growth. They asked local lawmakers and governments to ease grant processes and support beginner farmers by making it easier to use available land and connect with the community. KTTC
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ The U.S. Department of Education denied Rochester Public Schools’ appeal to reinstate a $1.9 million mental health training grant, saying the program conflicts with current federal policies — the move marks a setback for the district’s efforts to increase a diverse workforce in mental health services. Superintendent Kent Pekel stated the program had aimed to better match student needs with trained professionals. KROC-AM
- ➤ On Thursday morning, four local school districts—Byron, Hayfield, Kasson-Mantorville, and Triton—entered soft lockdown after law enforcement advised extra caution following reports of concerning behavior. Byron canceled afternoon preschool classes at 11:20 a.m. and locked down its high school at 9:20 a.m., while Hayfield and Triton began their measures at about 10:05 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., and authorities confirmed there was no direct threat to student safety. KTTC
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Minnesota Department of Revenue warns Minnesotans that scam texts asking for personal and financial details are not genuine — recipients should report these messages as junk and contact their bank if they shared any information. KTTC
- ➤ Rochester Public Utilities General Manager Tim McCollough explained on his radio show how the MISO network powers our homes and businesses—he said the utility and city plan to raise electric rates by 6% each year for the next five years to cover rising costs from higher demand and renewable energy investments. KROC
- ➤ The Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee visited Rochester on Sept. 17 as part of a 12-community tour showcasing bonding projects for 2026. The city highlighted a $2.3 million redesign of Civic Center Drive and Broadway Avenue for traffic and pedestrian improvements and a $9 million sewer renovation for new housing—Assistant City Administrator Ryan Yetzer noted that local projects face challenges from limited regional collaboration. KIMT
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Champions of Wellness Healthcare Summit 2025
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Special hotel rates apply — Leaders in healthcare explore systemic well-being and clinician wellness.
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October Rochester Minnesota Female Entrepreneurs Meet-Up
2:30-3:30 p.m. — Collider Foundation — Free entry — Join fellow female entrepreneurs for bookkeeping tips and valuable networking.
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OpenShift Fundamentals Training
Oct 6-8 — Huntington Learning Center Rochester — Check online for pricing — Dive into the essentials of OpenShift with hands-on Linux training for software development.
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World Ballet Company - The Great Gatsby
7:00-8:30 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the glitz and glamor of the Roaring Twenties through a Broadway-style ballet adaptation of Fitzgerald’s classic.
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Blippi: Join the Band Tour
2-3:30 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Ticket required for entry — Experience a lively music performance with Blippi, Meekah, and friends for the whole family.
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Fall Ball Family Festival
2-6 p.m. — Camp Victory — $5 per person or $25 per family — Enjoy activities like pumpkin painting, mini ziplining, and apple cider at this family-friendly festival.
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Girl Named Tom Concert
7-9:30 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the award-winning harmony of the sibling trio who captured hearts on The Voice.
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