Daily
Rochester
Friday, December 19th, 2025
Good morning, Rochester. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 19th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Mayo Clinic invites staff, patients, local students, and community members to name 13 cranes used in its construction projects as part of the Name the Crane campaign. Submissions are accepted until Jan. 30, and community voting on finalists will occur in early 2026 with winners revealed in spring 2026. KIMT
- ➤ At Beetle's Bar & Grill on Thursday, a Tip-A-Cop fundraiser raised money for Special Olympics Minnesota as Olmsted County Sheriff's deputies and Rochester Flyers athletes served diners. The event offered three meal choices and collected tips to support over 300 local athletes. KTTC
ACCIDENTS NEWS
- ➤ Former Rochester Grizzlies hockey player Gavin Black suffered a severe on-ice accident in Poland on Dec. 13, sustaining a concussion, skull fracture and internal bleeding while his family started a GoFundMe to help with his recovery and travel expenses. KIMT
- ➤ A young Rochester family left their Homestead Village Lane apartment after an accidental cooking fire damaged their home Friday evening—now staying with relatives as they plan to rebuild their lives. KTTC
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Menards has agreed to pay $4.25 million to settle claims over deceptive rebate practices (involving 10 states including Minnesota) as customers now have one year to submit rebate forms and the company plans to offer a secure online option. KROC-AM
- ➤ Tickled Pink Makers Market opened its second store at Apache Mall a few weeks ago in Rochester. The venue, giving 65 crafters a chance to show diverse handmade items, is preparing for holiday demand — restocking new products every other day and allowing room for 15 more artists. KIMT
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The 5th annual Tuba Christmas concert will take place Saturday, Dec. 20 at Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester to support The Landing, a nonprofit operating a day shelter for those experiencing homelessness. More than 70 tuba and euphonium musicians will perform beginning at noon (donations will be accepted). KTTC
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ At the Fuel Stop on 205 6th St SW, a Rochester ticket won 200,000 dollars by matching four white balls and the Powerball with Power Play added in Wednesday's drawing, while no one matched the jackpot numbers, pushing the jackpot to an estimated 1.5 billion dollars for Saturday, Dec. 20. KROC-AM
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ A new state law changes break requirements for every workplace starting January 1, 2026. Employers must allow employees a 15-minute break every four hours and pay for breaks under 20 minutes, affecting more than 560,000 businesses statewide. KROC-AM
- ➤ The TSA warns Minnesotans traveling this holiday season against using free USB chargers (risking malware) or public WiFi for sensitive transactions, advising travelers to use their own power bricks and secure connections when passing through airport security tomorrow and beyond. KROC-AM
- ➤ Rochester Public Utilities approved a $33.2 million investment in a planned 345 kV transmission line from Mankato to the Mississippi River to ease grid congestion as part of a partnership with Xcel Energy and local agencies; construction will begin next year and finish in 2028. KROC-AM
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ An investigation by the Minnesota Department of Health found a medication error at Rochester Rehabilitation and Living Center that led to a resident's hospitalization for heart failure — the error occurred after a pharmacy sent the wrong prednisone dosage and wasn’t detected until 13 doses had been given. KTTC
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WFPB Holiday Potluck
6-8 p.m. — 1800 High Pointe Ln NW, Rochester, MN — Cost info not listed — Celebrate the holidays with delicious whole food plant-based dishes and community connections.
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World Juniors Hockey Pre-Tournament Series
7-10 p.m. — Rochester Recreation Center — Cost info not provided — Witness young hockey talents battle it out in exhibition games featuring Denmark, Switzerland, and Sweden.
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New Year's Eve Celebration
5:30-7:30 p.m. & 8:00-10:00 p.m. — Bleu Duck Kitchen & Oyster Bar — $125 per person — Celebrate the arrival of 2026 with an elegant four-course dining experience.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.
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