HENDERSON — With an estimated population of nearly 1,000, Henderson is far from being considered a metropolis.

MANKATO — The Mankato YMCA is bouncing back with new programs, increasing memberships and the possibility of an east side location after being hit hard during the COVID pandemic.

MANKATO — Mike Drummer remembers a common phrase he heard as his kids were growing up: “There’s nothing to do.”

About 40 people came to speak, Craig Smith recalls, and they were all upset about the same thing: Belgrade Township’s decision to stop paying for maintenance of the Smith Spillway.

MANKATO — A nearly $1.2 million Tourtellotte Park swimming pool project tops the first round of planned spending of federal COVID-19 stimulus funds coming to the city of Mankato.

MANKATO — Since buying the Tidy Clean in Mankato this spring, Brian Comiskey has been growing the cleaning business quickly.

Fun.com has grown into the world’s largest online-only costume retailer, with an army of workers needed — particularly as Halloween approaches — to fill orders for Ghostbusters, werewolves, zombies and other costumes.

MANKATO — Minnesota State University Maverick strength and conditioning director Tom Inkrott was looking for two things in a whey protein mix that he couldn’t find available.

LAKE CRYSTAL — The long-running and family-owned James Brothers Hardware Store in Lake Crystal closed in the late 1990s, and its successor closed around 2010.

Alumacraft Boat Co. celebrated 75 years in business and said thank you to employees during an event Saturday at the St. Peter facility.

MANKATO — Another high-rise apartment building is being planned for downtown Mankato, this one on the site of the vacant bank building on Second Street between Main and Mulberry streets.

Faced with a pandemic, industry-wide pains and mandatory rules, the owners of the Hilton Garden Inn made a bit of a gamble toward the end of last year.

For 25 years Prairie Pride Farm has been a favorite for those looking for high-quality pork and free-range chicken at the Mankato Farmers’ Market. Now the family has opened a retail shop in Mankato.

MANKATO — A New York investment group that owns about 50 malls is the new owner of River Hills Mall.

It was 2014 when youth sports organizations packed the Mankato City Council chambers demanding action on outdated and crowded venues.

MANKATO — Developers are betting big on a persistent preference to live in or move to Mankato, with one proposing the creation of a new eastside subdivision for 156 single-family homes and more than 400 duplex and fourplex units and another submitting plans to add 72 three-story townhouses n…

MANKATO — Alice Carrigan was one of the first people to move into Ecumen Pathstone’s new independent living community this year.

MANKATO — The planned arrival this year of a new high-speed internet provider in Mankato fell through, but a second existing provider is now bumping up its speeds.

MANKATO — Nicole Wood fought back tears as she walked through the former Charley’s restaurant in Mankato, pointing out the shattered TV on the floor, the cooler doors ripped off, broken furniture strewn about, the room where the missing computer equipment and newly arrived liquor were stored.

Growing up, Wanda Patsche knew nothing of farming.

MANKATO — The roundabout construction that’s shut down North Riverfront Drive? It’s a month or so ahead of schedule.

The first big ag event since 2019 kicks off Aug. 3 as Farmfest returns to rural Redwood Falls.

ST. PETER — Howard Hermel built up his father’s candy and tobacco truck business, loved flying, tinkering on old tractors and cars at his farm, traveling with his wife and visiting with his World War II buddies.

MANKATO — Area job numbers grew 5.6% in June compared to a year earlier.

MANKATO — A new apartment building targeted at lower-income elderly tenants, which would be Mankato’s largest affordable senior housing project in half a century, received a boost from the City Council just before a critical financing plan was submitted to state officials.

Minnie Jackson and her homemade mini pies have quite the loyal following at the North Mankato Farmers’ Market, and yes, that’s her real first name.

MANKATO — An Indiana-based internet/cable TV provider is no longer planning to offer service throughout the city of Mankato, but Consolidated Communications is rapidly installing fiberoptic cable both here and in North Mankato.

MANKATO — Nearly $30 million in investment is planned for a pair of run-down properties, bringing 168 new apartment units and hopefully spurring additional redevelopment west of downtown Mankato and along Highway 169, according to recent applications for state assistance to clean up contamin…

For most people, a day care is an important, but temporary, part of life. Parents drop off and pick up their kids for a few years before life moves on. Usually the staff turns over frequently and many of the centers come and go.

When new apartment, townhome and rowhouse complexes open — from market rate to high-end — rooms are snapped up quickly.

A widespread rain Saturday and a little bit more since buoyed spirits of farmers, homeowners and gardeners alike. The moisture — anywhere from about a half inch to 4 inches across south-central Minnesota — has greened things up and taken the stress off corn and soybean crops.

MANKATO — A Glenwood man who credits the encouragement from Minnesota State University professors for his business success is donating $1.1 million for scholarships to current and future MSU students.

MANKATO — One benefit of the pandemic is that it compelled businesses to pay more attention to their online presence, whether they were starting with virtually none or already had a full-bodied website.

MANKATO — A worsening drought across southern Minnesota has become a big problem for growers, shortening the season for early cool-weather crops and requiring growers to ramp up irrigation — if they have it.

MANKATO — A truck sales and service center larger than Mankato’s Target store has received final zoning approval from the city, and construction is expected to begin this year.