Drought, dry conditions expand across Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The drought and dry conditions are expanding across Minnesota.

Thursday’s update from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that 83.5 percent of Minnesota is now rated abnormally dry. It also shows an area of moderate drought now extending into east-central Minnesota including the northern Twin Cities metro area.

The only part of the state the Drought Monitor doesn’t rate as abnormally dry or worse is northeastern Minnesota, which has not been going unscathed.

The Forest Service says it sent water-dropping aircraft and a ground crew to the new 75-acre Parley Lake Fire in the Boundary Waters north of Ely on Wednesday, while smoke from a couple fires across the border in Canada is blowing into Minnesota and causing some worries for residents east of Ely and along the Gunflint Trail.

SportsPlus

News

Democratic attorneys general challenging Musk’s staff access to Americans’ sensitive personal data

Mower County

Suspect charged with starting Tuesday fire that injured 1

Brownsdale

4,000 pigs lost in late Wednesday barn fire near Brownsdale

News

Minnesota House Democratic and GOP leaders reach power-sharing agreement to end partisan stalemate

Mower County

One sent to the hospital after two-vehicle crash

Mower County

Suspect in Tuesday fire taken into custody

Brownsdale

Firefighters dispatched to small house fire Tuesday afternoon in Brownsdale

Business

Guided to Serve: For 25 years Theresa Turnbull has been a trusted soul at Comforcare

Mower County

New mobile app launches to combat food insecurity in Mower County

Mower County

Report on sanitary sewer evaluation given during City Council work session

Agriculture

Kimberly Vrieze joins membership of American Angus Association

Education

Education Briefs

News

Trump’s foreign aid freeze could prove to be a boon for the world’s authoritarian strongmen

Mower County

Austin firefighters battle southwest Austin fire, APD investigating

Mower County

Public hearing set for March 3 regarding addition to Nature Ridge Fourth development

News

Another week to be shaped by court fight over power dynamic within Minnesota Legislature

Mower County

PHOTOS: APDT hosts annual dance show

News

Democrats elect Ken Martin, the party leader in Minnesota, as national chair

Mower County

Love is in the air: Austin Area Foundation to celebrate annual For The Love of Austin

Mower County

YMCA at ACRC celebrates 5th anniversary with special event for community, members and donors

Mower County

Herald collects five awards at this year’s MNA convention

Mower County

Zonta Club of Austin offering a pair of opportunities

Mower County

State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation accepting Century Farm Applications

Mower County

In Your Community: Masons continue supporting Salvation Army food shelf