🌱 Highway 65 Lane Closure + Pushback Against Proposed Health Bill

Hello all. Nicole Fallon-Peek here with your fresh copy of the Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter, filled with all the things you need to know about what's going on locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: A stray t-storm; not as warm. High: 67 Low: 52.
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a shower. High: 72 Low: 55.

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Here are the top three stories today in Rochester-Mason City:

1. A lane closure on Highway 65 in Mason City between north 15 and 17 streets starts today. The closure is expected to last until May 31. The city is urging people to avoid the area and go around the construction if possible. If you must travel through the construction zone, there is a 10-foot width limit in effect and are asking drivers to use extra caution when traveling through the construction. (KIMT 3)
2. Rochester lawmakers are responding to Mayo Clinic's opposition to parts of the proposed Omnibus Health and Human Services bill, which Mayo says could jeopardize planned investments worth billions of dollars. The bill includes staffing level limits and penalties for hospitals exceeding spending growth limits, which Mayo claims would affect patient care. The legislative session is set to end on May 22, and lawmakers are working on reconciling the two versions of the bill that have passed the Senate and House. (KROC-AM)
3. A sentencing hearing is set for a Rochester man convicted of murdering an 18-year-old Mikayal Gordon in an apartment complex. Ty'Jhuan Anderson, 23, admitted to second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and illegal possession of a firearm on Apr. 21 to avoid trial. The shooting happened after a confrontation between Anderson and Gordon in the hallway when Anderson shot him. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jul. 3 and will serve 17.5 years. (KROC-AM)

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Today and tomorrow in Rochester-Mason City:

Monday, May 8

• Mother's Day Sale: Castle Quilters and Pottery - 125 LIVE (8:00 AM)
• Wacky Bowl - 125 LIVE (4:30 PM)

Tuesday, May 9

• Date Night - Bleu Duck Kitchen (5:00 PM)
• Thesis Karaoke Project - Thesis Beer Project (8:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• The Mason City Municipal Airport is having a Fly-In Breakfast! The breakfast will take place on May 20 where you will be able to eat yummy food, check out all the cool planes, and even take a ride in one! (City of Mason City - Government via Facebook)
• Today is the day that you can learn about what it takes to be a storm spotter! The National Weather Service - Des Moines is holding a course tonight at 6:30 p.m. at NIACC. Registration is not required. (City of Mason City - Government via Facebook)
• It's National Nurses Week and the City of Rochester would like to thank local nurses. Nurses have such a positive impact on the lives of their patients and their community; this week is all about recognizing their everyday efforts to help care for and save the lives of their patients. (City of Rochester, MN Government via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday! I'll catch up with you bright and early soon with a new update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.