News recap | Police chief candidate loses appeal

The search for Rochester’s next police chief has been narrowed down to two candidates.

This week, the Rochester Police Civil Service Commission rejected an appeal from one of the candidates — Dallas Police Lt. Roy Alston — who had been named a finalist for the position.

Alston failed to list a reprimand on his application for the job.

He told the commission the incident happened over 12 years ago when he was taking caring of a sick relative at home and fell asleep on-duty from exhaustion.

Alston said he never meant to deceive anyone — and that his former supervisor has been later terminated for creating a hostile work environment.

Ultimately, however, the commission voted 2-1 to remove him from consideration for the job.

Mayor Brede now has to choose between the two remaining candidates — Minneapolis Metro Transit Police Captain James Franklin and Prior Lake Police Chief Mark Elliot.

[More coverage on this here and here]

Seven file for mayor's race

Former State Representative Kim Norton leads a field of 7 candidates vying for the position of Rochester mayor. 

This week three new candidates entered the field ahead of Tuesday’s filing deadline. They are seeking to replace longtime Mayor Ardell Brede, who is retiring at the end of the year.

In addition to mayor, there are three city council races on the ballot this year.

The only incumbent running for re-election is Ward 3 Council Member Nick Campion. He faces a challenge from political newcomer Arlo Kroening.

[Full list of city candidates can be found here]

UMR adding space in Discovery Square

University of Minnesota Rochester has signed a lease to become an anchor tenant of Destination Medical Center's first Discovery Square building.

The university will utilize around 9,400 square feet of space for classroom and lab space.

UMR will join Mayo Clinic as an anchor tenant of One Discovery Square, the name given to the building now under construction at the corner of 4th Street SW and 2nd Avenue SW.

The 90,000 square-foot building aims to serve as a catalyst for Discovery Square, a 16-block area that Mayo and local officials want to develop as a life science research campus.

[Our full story here]