🌱 Patch AM: Stewartville, MN High School Shooting: Victim Still Critical, Shooter Identified

Good morning Rochester! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Stewartville school shooting leaves student critical, former student dead
• Why did Mayor Norton halt Rochester’s new regional sports complex plans?
• How dangerous is the newly flagged contamination site on Broadway North?

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Rochester? Post it to Rochester photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 39 and low of 21 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mainly cloudy, temps: high: 35, low: 32.
• Thursday: A little snow; breezy, colder, with a high of 38 and low of -4 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

• Stewartville, MN High School Shooting: Victim Still Critical, Shooter Identified (patch.com) — Rochester-area residents are reeling after a shooting in the Stewartville High School parking lot left a student wrestler in critical but stable condition and a 19-year-old former student dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. Olmsted County authorities say the investigation is ongoing, families are cooperating, and support is being offered throughout the Stewartville school community just south of Rochester.
   

• Rochester Mayor Kim Norton has vetoed recent city council plans for the new sports complex (krocnews.com) — Rochester Mayor Kim Norton has vetoed two key City Council actions tied to the planned Rochester Regional Sports Complex, including a major construction contract and an operator agreement. She cites concerns about project scope, location, infrastructure costs, and whether voters were fully informed before approving $65 million in sales tax funding, setting up an override vote on January 5, 2026.
   

• MPCA adds Rochester site to Permanent List of Priorities (kaaltv.com) — State environmental officials have added a contaminated Rochester site at Dison’s Cleaners on Broadway Avenue North to Minnesota’s Permanent List of Priorities, citing high levels of PCE in soil vapors. The MPCA has installed a vapor mitigation system, is assessing health and environmental risks, and is inviting public comments on the plan through January 15, 2026.
   

📸 Around Rochester

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🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• SAIL – St. Charles
  St. Charles City Hall , 830 Whitewater Ave , St Charles
  4:00 pm
• Pine Island Panthers vs Austin and Waseca
  Pine Island Public School (5 - 12) , 223 1st Ave SE #7518 , Pine Island
  5:00 pm
• vs. Cannon Falls
  Stewartville High School , 440 6th Ave SW , Stewartville
  5:45 pm
• BMS winter Band concert
  Byron Middle School Byron, MN 55920
  6:00 pm
• 7-8 Band Concert
  K-M High School - PAC101 Minnesota Wi-Fi Performing Arts Center
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Family Storytime
  Plainview Public Library , 345 1st Ave NW , Plainview
  10:30 am
• Central Livestock Association
  Central Livestock Association , 44326 County 6 Blvd , Zumbrota
  2:00 pm
• 5-8 Choir Concert
  K-M High School - PAC101 Minnesota Wi-Fi Performing Arts Center
  6:00 pm
• Airport Advisory Board
  Dodge Center Community Center , 35 E Main St , Dodge Center
  6:30 pm
• 9-12 Choir Concert
  K-M High School - PAC101 Minnesota Wi-Fi Performing Arts Center
  8:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Choir Concert
  Stewartville Middle Stewartville, MN 55976
  7:00 pm

Friday December 19

• SAIL – Chatfield
  Groen Park , 3rd St SW , Chatfield
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I’m not from here and have family coming to visit.
  Where do you take your kids sledding around here. They’re pretty young so it doesn’t have to be anything crazy. (Nextdoor East Side Pioneers)
• I honestly believe there is no such thing as "too busy".
  Rather, it is a matter of prioritizing tasks...doing what is most important first. As we approach the holidays, what do you hold most worthy and… (Nextdoor Northwest Rochester)

• Molly Maid posted a job opening for House Cleaner / Housekeeper / Maid Hiring Now in Rochester. Apply here.
• TradeJobsWorkforce posted a job opening for Costco Forklift Operator in Rochester. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Rochester here.

🗞 Nearby News

Byron

• Byron's BrrrFest rolls on despite extreme cold (kaaltv.com)
• Wrestling results for Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 (postbulletin.com)
• Ice Safety Tips From Meeker County After Lake Francis ATV Incident (krocnews.com)

Stewartville

• More than $40,000 raised for families affected by Stewartville shooting (inforum.com)
• Stewartville students return to school with mental health support after shooting (kttc.com)
• Minnesota high school boys basketball state poll: Week 3 (startribune.com)

Ok Rochester! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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