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New law protects online ticket purchases

MINNESOTA — New Minnesota laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2025 include added protection for online ticket purchases. The Ticketing Fairness Act requires “all-in pricing” to ensure concert and other event ticket buyers know the total ticket cost up front; ensure buyers receive proof of purchase and refund policy details within 24 hours and ban deceptive advertising and speculative pricing. If a reseller uses a “bot” or other technology to buy more tickets than allowed, the law gives the Department of Commerce power to demand the reseller disclose how it was able to accomplish the ...

New name, same mission

SLEEPY EYE — Leading a motorized support team, four horseback riders rode in the ditch on the east side of State Highway 4 south of Sleepy Eye Monday. After taking a year off, the reconciliation and healing ride began a week and half earlier in Fort Thompson, S.D. on Dec. 10 en route to ...

Pertussis cases on the rise in Minnesota

NEW ULM — As cold weather and another holiday season approaches, include more indoor activities allow viruses to pass from person to person more easily. Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough, is on the rise in Minnesota, according to Brown County Public Health Director Jaimee Brand. The number of reported cases this year in Minnesota — 2,814 — is the highest number of reported cases since 2012. Cases are beginning to show up in rural counties. There is one reported case in Brown, Watonwan and Cottonwood Counties as of Thursday, Dec. 19, according to the Minnesota Department of ...

Heartland Corn Products receives $1M clean energy grant

WINTHROP — The hum of machinery could be heard as semi trucks continuously rolled into and out of the Heartland Corn Products ethanol plant site Wednesday. Heartland Corn Products (HCP) of Winthrop recently was recently awarded a $1 million rural Minnesota Renewable Energy for America ...

Public health outdoor workstation purchase OK’d

NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of an outdoor public health workstation using a $6,853 Statewide Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) grant Tuesday. Brown County Commissioner Brian Braun seconded a motion by Commissioner Dave Borchert approving the purchase. He said his support comes from previous experience with outdoor work when he worked at Koozie Group in Sleepy Eye. “Anytime we had an opportunity to have a meeting outside, I appreciated it as a bright spot in the day. I think it goes a long way in keeping our employees happy,” said ...

‘Good base of ice’ forming

BROWN COUNTY — The recent cold temperatures may not feel so good outside, but one good thing about it for fishing is ice is forming on lakes and rivers. Sleepy Eye Sportsmans Club member Lynn Krenz estimated Sleepy Eye Lake ice depth at 7 or 8 inches. “It’s probably gaining up to an ...