By Rich Larson, News Director
Three Links Care Center in Northfield is experiencing a Covid-19 outbreak.
According to a letter posted on their website and signed by Three Links CEO Mark Anderson 20 residents and 8 staff members have tested positive for Covid-19 between October 20 and noon yesterday. Of the 20 cases among residents, 8 tested positive between noon Thursday and noon on Friday. Three Links operates a number of living and care facilities. While the letter was not specific in where the outbreak has occurred, a note posted to the website stated that as of this last night, there were no positive cases of COVID-19 at Cottage East, Cottage West, Cottage on Forest, Millstream Commons and The Villages of Lonsdale.
Three Links management has not yet responded to questions sent from the KYMN newsroom.
Appeals court strikes down Minnesota ballot grace period
Yesterday, we told you that the state of Minnesota would continue to accept absentee ballots for seven days after the 
election as long as they were postmarked no later than November 3rd. But last night, the Federal 8th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the grace period, and ruled that, in order to be counted, all ballots must be turned in on or before election day. Drop off locations will close at 3 pm and ballots will be accepted by mail delivery until 8PM on Tuesday.
In their decision, the 8th Circuit Court said that Secretary of State Steve Simon acted without authority when he extended the deadline to receive ballots, due to the large number of people voting absentee this year. As the Constitution grants the authority for conducting a presidential election to the state legislature, and not to the Secretary of State, The Court’s majority decision read, in part that “However well-intentioned and appropriate in the context of a pandemic during a presidential election… there is no pandemic exception to the Constitution.”
In response, Secretary Simon said the court’s decision is a “tremendous and unnecessary disruption to Minnesota’s election.” He urged all those who have not turned in their ballots to deliver them to their county offices rather than put them in the mail.
Jury trials to resume in Rice County
Jury trials are scheduled to resume at the Rice County courthouse on Monday. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the 
county shut down jury trials last spring, but found a solution to the problem of distancing in a courtroom in an unused space that was just added to the Government Services Building, next door to the county courthouse.
Rice County attorney John Fossum said there was unused space from an addition put on the building last year that was big enough to be used as a socially distanced courtroom.
“They built a jury box that can accommodate up to fifteen jurists, six feet apart,” he said. “A new bench has been installed, and there is room enough there for all those people.”
However, Fossum said, there is only enough room for all those people. “A Unique feature of this is only the people involved in the trial will be allowed in the courtroom. We’ll have a deputy outside, and we’ll have a deputy inside, and we’ll be screening people on their way in. But only the witnesses and the participants can be in the courtroom.” As the Constitution guarantees the right to a public trial, the proceedings will be broadcast to closed circuit monitors in Courtroom 2 in the county courthouse.
County Attorney Fossum’s entire conversation with Jeff Johnson can be found HERE.
KYMN election guide ready to roll on election night
And KYMN is set to be your best source for coverage and results on election night. Our Political Correspondent Logan Wells has worked tirelessly on
the KYMN election guide, offering information on the candidates for local office, including Mayor, City Council and the School Board. Not only did Logan design the guide and build it, but he is also regularly updating it with any new information as it becomes available. For those still doing the necessary research on all of the local candidates, everything you need to know is presented on one easily manageable and maneuverable website.
On election night, we will track the progress of each race as precincts report in. When winners are declared, KYMN will be the first source to bring you that news. We have also joined with Real Clear Politics to bring you updates and insight into the national races. Everything the concerned voter is looking for, and probably a little more, is all right there.
The KYMN Election Guide button can be found in the top left corner of our homepage at kymnradio.net.
