News release from MnDOT: I-90 ramp closures in Austin begin June 19 ROCHESTER, Minn. – Motorists will encounter ramp closures along the Interstate 90 corridor in Austin beginning Wednesday, June 19, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The ramp... Continue reading

At least according to this news release -- we're reported on this ordinance and need to update: 13 June 2013 For immediate release Ordinance Banning Frac Sand Mining Along the Mississippi River Moves Forward to the Pepin County Board Contact:... Continue reading

News release from MnDOT: Highway 42 closed in Olmsted County June 18 ROCHESTER, Minn. — Motorists traveling on Highway 42 near Eyota will encounter a detour Tuesday, June 18, as crews pave the highway. Motorists will detour using Highway 14,... Continue reading

The Leftover Cuties, who will be performing in Rochester at Thursdays on First & 3rd on July 18, released a new single, "One Heart" this week. If you're a fan of Jolie Holland or Zooey Deschanel, you'll want to check this out. — Jeff Pieters Continue reading

I was revisiting the Common Cents website that was used to promote Rochester's half-cent local option sales tax extension last year, and note the more modest description of Destination Medical Center's ambitions: $20,000,000 for the Destination Medical Community (DMC). This... Continue reading

According to Newsday, the companywide layoffs at IBM are estimated at about 2 percent to get to the $1 billion figure previously announced for payroll savings. IBM, the Armonk-based computer giant, began cutting U.S. jobs Wednesday as part of a... Continue reading

Layoffs have been reported at IBM facilities nationwide and in Canada today, and at least one long-time IBM Rochester employee told the Post-Bulletin this morning that layoffs are under way here as well. The employee, who asked that his name... Continue reading

There aren't many yellow high-rise buildings in the world. And Rochester won't be adding one to their thin ranks, despite what it might have looked like on a recent Post-Bulletin front page, where plans were unveiled for a 25-story office, hotel and apartment complex called Broadway at Center. So where are the yellow buildings? One's in Kazakhstan. Serbia. Toronto. Vegas. Lower Manhattan. Arguably, Minneapolis. (Wells-Fargo building, anyone?) — Jeff Pieters Continue reading

Eyota EDA director Cathy Enerson and MnDOT spokeswoman Kristin Kammueller will join us at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at D-E High School for a one-hour, informal talk about economic development and other issues in the news in that area, including highway... Continue reading

(From Furst Draft blog) Here are links to stories making the rounds in other IBM markets: North Carolina http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2013/06/is-ibm-making-more-layoffs.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+industry_7+%28Industry+Technology%29 http://blogs.newsobserver.com/business/layoffs-reported-at-ibm Vermont http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2013/06/is-ibm-making-more-layoffs.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+industry_7+%28Industry+Technology%29 http://7d.blogs.com/offmessage/2013/06/shumlin-says-ibm-layoffs-will-affect-vermont.html http://www.wcax.com/story/22569760/ibm-layoffs-have-begun#.UbiEZWFwHYE.twitter http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/viewart/20130612/BUSINESS/306120009/Shumlin-responds-to-nationwide-IBM-layoffs-to-impact-Essex-facility New York http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20130612/BUSINESS01/130612009 Continue reading

Here are links to stories making the rounds in other IBM markets: North Carolina http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2013/06/is-ibm-making-more-layoffs.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+industry_7+%28Industry+Technology%29 http://blogs.newsobserver.com/business/layoffs-reported-at-ibm Vermont http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2013/06/is-ibm-making-more-layoffs.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+industry_7+%28Industry+Technology%29 http://7d.blogs.com/offmessage/2013/06/shumlin-says-ibm-layoffs-will-affect-vermont.html http://www.wcax.com/story/22569760/ibm-layoffs-have-begun#.UbiEZWFwHYE.twitter http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/viewart/20130612/BUSINESS/306120009/Shumlin-responds-to-nationwide-IBM-layoffs-to-impact-Essex-facility New York http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20130612/BUSINESS01/130612009 Continue reading

According to the Alliance@IBM website, layoffs have been announced today at IBM facilities in Essex Junction and Burlington, Vt., Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Austin, Texas; Littleton and Cambridge, Mass.; Ottawa, Canada, and elsewhere -- presumably Rochester? Still awaiting information from sources. Continue reading

Incident report from RFD: Time and date of Incident: June 11, 2013, 2222 hours. Incident Address: 4551 College View Road SE Situation Found: Assisted law enforcement in finding an elderly woman who was lost in a wooded area. Woman was... Continue reading

We're taking our Post-Bulletin Dialogues show on the road again next week, to excellent Eyota, where we'll talk about economic development, the future of U.S. 14 and the intersection with Minnesota Highway 42, frac sand and other issues. We'll meet... Continue reading

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has affirmed the state Public Utilities Commission's decision on the CapX power line route through Oronoco Township. The court ruled that, "In sum, the MPUC did not err in permitting members of the public to... Continue reading

Some items from tomorrow's column -- no extra charge: I gaze into my crystal ball Two items that may foretell the future: Devoted Answer Man reader Daniel Gaz says he heard from a reliable source that Whole Foods Market, which... Continue reading

Dream come true for those who can't wait for a 65th Street interchange: Highway 52 lane restrictions in Rochester begin June 5 ROCHESTER, Minn. – Highway 52 southbound will be reduced to one lane between 55th Street Northwest and 75th... Continue reading

The PedalPub bike is in Rochester and ready to tap into the party market here. The 16-person, pedal-powered vehicle can be rented by groups for two-hour outings. People can bring beer, wine, hard cider and food to consume on the... Continue reading

When a flower flourishes beyond what its location can support, gardeners often take cuttings from it to plant in new areas. That's a pretty accurate description of what Tina Ridler is doing with her new spin-off of the Med City's... Continue reading

News release from Winona State: DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FRAC-SAND MINING TO BE SHOWN JUNE 11 AT WINONA STATE A documentary film about the impact of frac-sand mining on rural communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin will be shown at 7 p.m. on... Continue reading

There's an interesting piece on Slate regarding Hormel Foods Corp. and its business practices, including its treatment of animals -- not exactly a mainstream news story, but more like a can of Spam, full of interesting and tasty tidbits held... Continue reading

We're headed out to cover a fire in Dodge Center, McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing building 9, dispatchers are calling for additional fire crews and EMS support. Continue reading

On the K-M website: Good afternoon, K-M Parents, Students, and staff! This is Karlyn Brewington, superintendent's secretary, informing you that due to continued loss of power in the elementary and community ed buildings, we unfortunately will have to cancel school... Continue reading

News release: We would like to announce an upcoming event. This Rock n Roll Show will be featuring Connie Valens, sister of the famous Ritchie Valens, and Denny and the DC Drifters, directly from the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake,... Continue reading

An item for Monday's After Deadline column: It was deja vu all over again for some people in the room as the new Broadway at Center project was announced Friday morning in downtown Rochester. Going back to the Time Square... Continue reading