Mankato is among a number of districts to move to even-year board elections in recent years.

The felony charges will be dismissed if Brandon Lee Birr successfully completes the terms of his sentence.

Felipe Ambriz Becerra allegedly told authorities he "borrowed" the pickup after his vehicle broke down. 

MANKATO — Though U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn has promised at least 21 town halls across the 21 counties that make up his southern Minnesota congressional district, critics say the Blue Earth Republican needs to be more transparent and meet with more of his constituents.

By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol

MANKATO — While Ruth Dutler was closing her Vintage Mall in the former Dutler's Bowl building a couple of weeks ago, a landmark piece of Mankato-North Mankato history disappeared from atop the business' sign.

NORTH MANKATO — The city of North Mankato is looking to get into history ... its own history.

Budgets set for Mankato and St. Peter public schools will fund a few new staff and integration initiatives, but for the most part will maintain the status quo.

MANKATO — Evelyn Adams helped plant numerous trees at area parks before her untimely death, so her friends and family gathered Monday to dedicate a tree in her honor.

Authorities still are investigating Evelyn Adams' murder.

MANKATO — A Rochester man faces burglary and gun charges after allegedly assaulting a man in a Mankato hotel room Friday morning.

Area farmers, some who are still planting soybeans, will not get a break on a Thursday deadline to apply the herbicide dicamba.

(This modified version corrects the date of a rebroadcast of an archived "Minnesota Morning" show and the relationship between Marilee Rickard and Jim Gullickson).

MANKATO — A man is accused of providing synthetic marijuana to a friend who was later hospitalized Friday.

Cotey James Bandow broke into B&J Laundromat, Southside Auto Salvage, R&R Bait and Tackle and a mobile home in New Ulm, as well as Carl's Corner Bar in Essig in August 2018

Old National

A majority of area respondents support Blue Earth County building a new Mankato-based public works facility within the next few years, according to a Free Press online question.

MANKATO — Before the Mankato air show started today, a small aircraft on the ground tipped over at the Mankato Regional Airport because of wind from another aircraft.

MANKATO — The growth in senior housing options continues to expand, with The Pillars of Mankato now open on the city's east side.

Local Indigenous group favors education over provocation

When Mankato mechanic Tony Baumann drove by the building that he would later house his automotive repair business, he didn’t think much of it, let alone its historical significance.

MANKATO — Most of the MN Air Spectacular show went on as scheduled, but as the USAF Thunderbirds were moving toward the runway the rain fell and their show was canceled.

Q: Wondering what the status is of the fire station apartments and volunteer firepersons plan?

I've considered renting out our cabin through Airbnb when we're not using it, maybe even the house at some point.

MANKATO — Winter was brutal. Go to work in the morning before the sun would even begin to rise, then come back home from the office with the sun hanging onto threads at the horizon.

A designer clothing and accessories boutique in the new Union Market raises funds for S.S. Boutique, a nonprofit that provides free apparel and home goods to families. 

NEW ULM -- Dan Backer wasn't looking to receive likes, publicity or fanfare when he decided to take a stroll down an alley off South Washington Street last week.

ArtSplash — 11 a.m.-4 p.m. today, South Central College, 1920 Lee Blvd., North Mankato.

MANKATO -- Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awarded $7,200 worth of paint from Ace Hardware to eight communities across the region through its Paint the Town Grant Program.

A fire at the Ponderosa Landfill caused a stench but no injuries or property damage.

MANKATO — To hear local lawmakers tell it, the staff and volunteers at the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota in Mankato couldn't have done more to lobby the Minnesota Legislature for continued funding.

Clay Joseph Hawn, 37, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, was northbound on the highway in a Nissan Altima when he went off the road a little after 8 a.m. Friday.

A driver did not stop after hitting a juvenile pedestrian on South Minnesota Street Thursday. 

MANKATO — Knowing how valuable a good neighbor can be, a local group wants more of them as a way to combat social isolation.

MANKATO — Older area residents who want to keep in touch with their creativity now have a new spot to meet up with their muses.

Keely Davis is recovering from brain surgery and readying for the next phase of the fight: radiation treatments. 

MANKATO — If you're one of the 30,000 to 40,000 people expected to attend the Minnesota Air Spectacular for either the Saturday or the Sunday show, you shouldn't expect to cruise right into — and especially right out of — the Mankato Regional Airport.

MANKATO — The annual Raw Fusion fashion show set a donation record this year with $40,000 to the Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund.

Local veterans and advocates are celebrating the reversal of a longstanding policy withholding Veterans Affairs benefits from certain Vietnam War vets who were exposed to the toxic herbicide Agent Orange.

MANKATO — The Greater Mankato United Way is raising the bar for its 2020 campaign.

MANKATO — In case you didn't hear or feel it, the stars of the show arrived Thursday afternoon in Mankato, getting the lay of the land at 500 mph.

UPDATE: The two suspects have been identified. One of the men turned himself in, police said Friday morning. 

MANKATO — City Center Partnership has announced projects selected for the second phase of "INFUSE: Artists on Main Street."

ST. PETER — Hy-Vee will be opening a grocery store in the former Shopko building in St. Peter.

MANKATO — Imagine a weeklong camp that includes everything from virtual reality at Microsoft to a sit-down with Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve.

MANKATO — The Minnesota River Valley — from the Highway 169 corridor to the quarries to Riverfront Drive — will be dramatically transformed in coming years if the centerpiece of Mankato's five-year strategic plan comes to fruition.