Foundation seeks applications

OWATONNA — Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is seeking applications for the second round of its Rural Entrepreneurial Venture program, which supports long-term economic growth.

Three communities will be selected for a three-year program. Communities with populations of 5,000 or fewer in SMIF’s 20-county region are eligible to apply.

The REV program aims to help rural communities create more vibrant economies by finding and supporting local entrepreneurs, from business startups to existing businesses that want to grow.

The foundation invites all interested communities to join it for an informational webinar at noon July 21.

Applications are due Sept, 1. The three REV communities will be announced in November and will begin work in January. For more information, visit smifoundation.org/rev or contact Pam Bishop at pamb@smifoundation.org or (507) 214-7013.

Highway 15 access at Fairmont open

MANKATO — Motorists are advised that the eastbound Interstate 90 ramps to Highway 15 at Fairmont opened Wednesday. The ramps have been closed since June 19 to allow for concrete paving.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reports that the westbound lanes are currently carrying eastbound and westbound traffic, as I-90 is being resurfaced. The project should be complete in October.

The 2019-20 project includes resurfacing the 16 miles of both westbound (2019) and eastbound (2020) interstate lanes with concrete for a long-term fix, as well as making improvements at bridges, culverts and drainage pipes. The project also includes adding interchange lighting at county roads 53 and 1.

More information and maps of the traffic impacts can be found at www.mndot.gov/d7/projects/i90fairmontblueearth

1 killed, 5 wounded in shootings

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Another night of gun violence in Minneapolis has left one man dead and at least five others wounded in four shootings across the city.

Homicide detectives worked late into the night Tuesday to find the person who fired multiple shots into a car outside River of Life Lutheran Church on the city’s north side. Two men in the car, both in their 20s, were struck. One died and the other was injured.

The shooting was one of at least four across the city Tuesday. No arrests have been made.

Through Sunday, 222 people had been shot in Minneapolis, a roughly 60% increase compared to the same time period in 2019, according to police spokesman Garrett Parten.