KAAL-TV (Austin, MN)

(ABC 6 News) – Detours are returning to I-90 near Austin as MnDOT crews get ready for a major bridge replacement project. On Friday, April 17th, crews are scheduled to begin demolishing the Highway 218 south/21st St. NE bridge over I-90 in Austin. Crews will close the bridge at noon, with demolition work starting at 7 p.m. Credit – MnDOT Motorists will use the following detours during the demolition: I-90 through traffic in each direction will travel up and down the ramps to continue.

UPDATE: One woman dead after crash on I-35 in Steele County By KAALTV Credit: Stacy Hiller (ABC 6 News) – Minnesota State Patrol is releasing more details from a deadly crash in Steele County on Wednesday night. According to MSP’s crash report, it happened at around 7:55 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15th. One person, 40-year-old Jennifer Ann Parsons from Owatonna, died in the crash. She was driving a Chevrolet Impala north on I-35 when it collided with a Ram pickup truck.

(ABC 6 News) – Minnesota’s 4-H program is getting a major boost thanks to a partnership with the Minnesota State Fair. The two are partnering to renovate the historic 4-H Building at the State Fairgrounds and to expand Minnesota’s statewide 4-H program. As of Thursday, April 16th, the campaign has already reached 60% of its $35 million goal. Renovations will include new stages for performances and speeches, updated educational spaces, a teaching kitchen, media studio, and more.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military forces struck a vessel Wednesday in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three men the Pentagon says were trafficking drugs. No U.S. personnel were harmed, the U.S. Southern Command said in a social media post. Several such strikes have been announced in recent days as the Trump administration continues its aggressive anti-cartel actions in international waters.

(ABC 6 News) – High school graduation season is here, and for a lot of families, that means buying a laptop for college. And for many students, there’s only one they want. The problem has always been the price. Apple laptops are often hundreds more than comparable Windows PCs or Chromebooks. But now, Apple is offering a lower-cost option. The question is whether it’s actually worth it. The new MacBook Neo is designed to appeal to students right away.

(ABC 6 News) – Minnesota State Patrol is investigating following a deadly crash in Steele County. According to MSP’s crash report, it happened at around 7:55 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15th. A Chevrolet Impala and a Ram pickup truck were both going north on I-35 near Somerset Township when they collided. It’s not clear at this time who was killed in the crash or the extent of any other injuries. A 40-year-old Owatonna woman was driving the Chevy, and a 33-year-old Ellendale man was driving the Ram.

Minnesota lawmakers want to put aside $100 million to help businesses recover from Operation Metro Surge. It passed the Jobs and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday. The $100 million would be in forgivable zero-percent loans, specifically for businesses that can demonstrate a loss of revenue of at least 30 percent after Dec. 1.

There’s a new push for term limits for top Minnesota lawmakers. The proposal would go to the voters in the 2026 general election. If approved, it would affect governors and lieutenant governors from that point on. Republican Rep. Jimmy Gordon is authoring this bill. It would amend the state’s constitution to “place a limit of two terms on the offices of governor and lieutenant governor beginning with candidates elected in 2026.” It is not retroactive, so past governors could still run again.

Following a relatively quiet Wednesday with occasional sunshine and comfortably mild temperatures, a beautifully bright Thursday is on the way. Temperatures will be warmer than Wednesday’s with highs reaching the mid to upper 70s Thursday afternoon. Winds remain light, skies sunny, and there will be no threat for severe weather anywhere close to home. An abrupt change is ahead Friday as a cold front sweeps across the region.

A few showers could be found this afternoon and again during the evening, mainly in Iowa and far southern Minnesota. Otherwise, we were treated to a decent amount of sunshine this morning to early afternoon in parts of southern Minnesota. Clouds hung in a bit longer in north Iowa. Temperatures were still above average around southern Minnesota and north Iowa despite clouds and rain. Here’s a look at the climate stats for Wednesday, April 15th.