Gov. Tim Walz joined other state and local officials in Mankato Monday to break ground on a new regional headquarters and crime lab for the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The facility will be located near the Blue Earth County Justice Center, and it will serve much of southern Minnesota, improving forensic testing and evidence analysis response times. It will also serve as a regional training hub for the state and local police departments. It’s expected to be operational by early 2027.

“This is all part of making sure we’re able to process those crime scenes, get the evidence necessary, make sure it goes to the courts, and we’re able to make sure that safety is the top priority,” Walz said. “So, [I'm] just incredibly grateful that this entire facility, with the new public safet

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