🌱 RPS Receives $1.9M For Mental Health Scholars + Downtown Fire

Hello, Rochester-Mason City! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter. Let's get this Wednesday started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Cloudy and not as cold. High: 43 Low: 38.
• Thursday: Occasional rain and drizzle. High: 43 Low: 26.

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

1. Rochester Public Schools (RPS) is receiving $1.9 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education to fund mental health scholars. RPS will partner with Winona State University to provide graduates with careers in the district, with the goal of increasing mental health services for students. At a press conference on Monday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar said, “I just can't think of a better place than this area for this program because of the advanced nature of Rochester's involvement in the medical field and the ability to do things of scale."(KIMT 3)
2. Derrick Days has been sentenced to 35 1/2 years in prison for second-degree murder and second-degree assault charges in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred outside a Rochester parking ramp in 2021. The incident began as an argument over a dice game and resulted in the death of 28-year-old Todd Banks Junior and critical injuries to another man. Surveillance footage showed Days firing multiple shots at the victims before fleeing the scene; he was later apprehended by police. (kdhlradio.com)
3. A fire at the intersection of Broadway Ave. South and 4th St. in downtown Rochester slowed down northbound traffic on Monday morning. The blaze caused minor damage to a building's closet; water damage was also reported on the first floor and the basement. The building was in the process of being evacuated by the time first responders arrived on the scene, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation as of Tuesday. (KROC-AM)

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Today and tomorrow in Rochester-Mason City:

Wednesday, March 15

• Wednesday Meal Nights At Peace United Church Of Christ (5:15 PM)

Thursday, March 16

• WE Forum - Panel Discussion: How To Negotiate With Confidence At Saint Mary's University - Rochester Campus (8:00 AM)
• Business After Hours At Bolton & Menk (4:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Heads up, local house hunters! Here are the latest properties for sale in and around Rochester, including two open houses this weekend. (Rochester-Mason City Patch)
• Mason City's own Northwestern Steakhouse made Mashed's list of the Best Steak Restaurants in the U.S. In the roundup, Mashed described Northwestern's offerings as "the most buttery, melt-in-your-mouth beef." (97.3 KKRC)
• The Rochester-based Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) has announced its Softball Athletes of the Week for Mar. 6-12. Congrats to Taylor Shepard, Zakia Herron, and Emma Hurd! (MCAC)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be in your inbox 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.