Rochester reporter | Rochester

Trey Mewes is a reporter based in Rochester for the Star Tribune. Sign up to receive the Rochester Now newsletter.

Trey Mewes joined the Star Tribune in 2022 as our Rochester correspondent. He has spent more than 10 years reporting on southern Minnesota, first at the Austin Daily Herald, and more recently at the Mankato Free Press. He is a 2010 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, with a double major in journalism and history. He is a Minnesota native who grew up in the southern part of the Cities. He enjoys hiking, pop culture, video games and basketball.


At St. Olaf College, talking about death is on this 'cafe' menu

College officials are embracing a student-led effort to ponder one of life's biggest mysteries.


This retired journalist changed professional wrestling from Mankato

Norm Kietzer was a pioneer in professional wrestling journalism for 40 years.


These Rochester teens wanted to help families like theirs. Now Congress is recognizing their new app.

Century and John Marshall high schoolers created a resources app for area Muslims.


Albert Lea passes $10M referendum to fund hockey, swimming and the arts

Residents voted 3-to-1 in favor of infrastructure improvements.


Dog breeders accused of starving German shepherds won't get them back

A Fillmore County judge on Monday ruled against returning the dogs to the LeRoy breeders


Southeast Minnesotans worry over state water pollution response

Four months after promises to help, Minnesota has yet to deliver clean drinking water to people most in danger. Moreover, some residents worry about how seriously the state will treat nitrate pollution in the future.


How did Faribault become home to Minnesota's deaf and blind academies?

These southeast Minnesota institutions date back to the earliest days of statehood.


President of divided Rochester council won't run for re-election

After one term, Brooke Carlson declines to run again.


Wisconsin man's body pulled from Zumbro River near Rochester

James Steiner, 62, was found in a submerged truck in the river.


Pigs' blood leaked from Hormel plant into storm water system in Austin, Minn.

Officials say the debris, released by faulty equipment at a pork processing plant, overwhelmed the city's system for several days.