Watertown Fire Rescue responded to an oven fire on the 3400 block of 16th Avenue Southwest on Wednesday evening.

• Response: Crews arrived at 7:45 PM to find the home filling with smoke and an active fire inside the oven.

• Action: The fire was quickly extinguished using a portable fire extinguisher, and a ventilation fan was used to clear the smoke.

• Safety Discovery: During a routine check, responders found the home had no functioning smoke detectors. Before leaving, the crew installed two new detectors for the family.

• Outcome: No injuries were reported.

A new report from Creighton University analyzed the relationship between state taxation and population migration.

• The Trend: While Americans historically move to lower-tax states, data from 2023–2024 shows South Dakota lost residents despite its low-tax reputation.

• The Analysis: The study found that "net attractor" states often have lower income and property taxes but higher sales taxes.

• Recommendation: Analysts suggest states could improve resident retention and GDP growth by shifting the tax burden away from individual and corporate income toward sales tax.

The Watertown Arrows baseball team earned a road split in a doubleheader against Aberdeen at Fossum Field.

• Game 1: The Arrows won 7–5. Pitcher Bastian Raybine struck out eight batters, and Marcus Pitkin led the offense with three runs.

• Game 2: Aberdeen surged with a six-run third inning, leading to an 8–5 loss for the Arrows.

• Season Standing: The Arrows are now 6–4 and return home this Saturday for Hall of Fame weekend against Brandon Valley.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a massive $100 million settlement with The Kroger Company over alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.

• The Issue: Kroger allegedly failed to manage and repair leaks of ozone-depleting refrigerants between 2014 and 2023.

• The Penalty: Kroger will pay a $2.5 million civil penalty and spend an estimated $100 million over the next three years to repair, retrofit, or replace 600 large commercial refrigeration systems.

Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment against three individuals—Christopher Dayana and Paige Astroyushko—for the assault of journalist Savanna Hernandez.

• The Incident: The assault occurred during an anti-ICE protest at a federal building in St. Paul on April 11.

• Charges: The defendants are accused of willfully injuring and intimidating Hernandez, a contributor for Turning Point USA.

• Investigation: The case involved the FBI, DHS, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.