🌱 Olmstead County Ends COVID-19 Emergency + House Fire And Fire Ban

Hello, hello! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through everything you need to know about what's happening in Rochester-Mason City.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Warmer with clouds and sun. High: 64 Low: 45.
• Thursday: A couple of p.m. t-showers. High: 72 Low: 53.

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

1. The Olmsted County commissioners have ended the local COVID-19 public health emergency, citing the county's high vaccination rate and low COVID transmission. The emergency was declared on Mar. 17, 2020, with expedited powers to aid in the response to the pandemic, and the county reported a total of 53,570 cases throughout the pandemic, lower than the statewide rates. The end of the emergency does not mean the end of COVID-19 work, and Olmsted County Public Health Director Denise Daniels said that the county will continue to monitor and have surveillance systems in place. (Post Bulletin)
2. Eight massage parlors in Rochester have been put on probation as part of a new inspection program aimed at tackling human trafficking. The initiative has raised concerns from some council members and massage professionals who believe that it is unfair to immigrant owners. The inspections found that some of the businesses failed largely for sanitary issues, while some were found to have full kitchens and living quarters, which are signs that workers may potentially be sex trafficking victims. (Star Tribune)
3. A garage in Rochester caught fire on Tuesday afternoon, with the Rochester Fire Department responding to the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but no injuries were reported, and the fire did not spread to surrounding homes. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has warned of very high fire danger in the area and prohibited open burning in Olmsted County. (Post Bulletin)

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Today in Rochester-Mason City:

Wednesday, May 3

• Cat Yoga And Adoption At Paws And Claws Humane Society (5:00 PM)
• Bleu Duck Truck At Little Thistle (4:00 PM)

Thursday, May 4

• Riverside Central Elementary Family Engagement Event At Riverside Central Elementary School (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Registration has been extended until 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 5 for The Spring Classic, a one mile, 5k, and 15k race. The event is hosted by Rochester Montessori School. If you previously signed up for the race, note the location has changed to Slatterly Park. (All Events)
• H&M, a clothing store located at Apache Mall in Rochester, will permanently close on Jun. 3. H&M has six stores in Minnesota, and the other five locations will remain open. This news comes after H&M closed 240 retail stores worldwide last year. (Post Bulletin)
• Looking for a new home? Check out these new listings in and around Rochester-Mason City. These homes range from $189,000 to $345,000. (Patch)

That's it for today! See you all soon for another 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.