MANKATO, MN – Throughout the month of February, the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota will be  helping My Place to raise money for its expansion project.   Proceeds from the Museum's DipJar ($10 per dip) will go to My Place.   Visitors to the CMSM can make their donation via the DipJar at the welcome desk.  Museum CEO Louise Dickmeyer says the connection between the Museum and MY Place is about helping the  younger generation in our community continue to learn and grow.  “Like the Museum, MY Place offers a safe place for kids to learn and grow by providing life-enhancing programs  and [...]

The Blue Earth County Historical Society and Mankato Area Public Schools are offering public tours of Lincoln Community Center to celebrate the 100 years of Lincoln. These free, self-guided tours will be held on the second Wednesday of each month February - May from 2-4 p.m. The public can join the tour by meeting at the Visitor Information desk on the first floor at the 110 Fulton Street entrance. The next tour is on February 8, 2023. You can also check out the History Center's exhibit “Celebrating 100 Years of Lincoln School” now on display.

The Blue Earth County Historical Society invites the public to the History Center to view the documentary MLK 11.12.61 on Saturday, February 4 at 11 a.m.   Recounts Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life, his visit to Mankato in 1961 and his legacy in Mankato and beyond. On Nov. 12, 1961, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Mankato, Minnesota. While here, he gave two sermons at Centenary United Methodist Church and a speech at Mankato High School

The Kiwanis Holiday Lights Board of Directors is pleased to announce that $77,000 will be donated to the 67 non-profit organizations that assisted with the event this past year. “Year 10 was very successful in our eyes, even with us having to close 2 nights because of weather,” said Scott Wojcik, Kiwanis Holiday Lights President. “The generosity of the visitors to Kiwanis Holiday Lights never ceases to amaze us.” Wojcik added. Additional statistics include: •             Over 175,000 people attended the free event in 2022 •             The event remains completely volunteer-driven •             All set-up was completed over 10 days during the five weekends prior to [...]

(St. Paul, MN)  --  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing increases in the costs consumers pay for fishing licenses, boat registrations, and park passes.  DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen says extra money is needed to build and repair infrastructure.  The department is also requesting 265 million dollars out of the projected budget surplus to put toward infrastructure.  Governor Walz says he's including about 110-million in this year's budget for , but officials say more is needed to protect the state's wildlife.

Follow-up media release pertaining to the three JV overdoses on 01/31/2023.  Two of the three juvenile victims were released from the hospital leaving one in critical condition at this time.  31-year-old Patrick Orerigho Isiakpere Jr., 26-year-old Damarcus Deontay Holloway, and 35-year-old Tia Renee Schwichtenberg, all from the Mankato area, were arrested in connection to the three juvenile teen overdoses.  Isiakpere who has similar charges of firearms possession and sale of a controlled substance stemming from a prior investigation conducted by MRVDTF was recently released on 12/06/2022. Holloway was also just released from jail on 01/23/2023 and has prior convictions for ineligible [...]

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(Mankato, MN) --   Two teens are hospitalized in Mankato after apparently overdosing on Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl.  The Mankato Department of Public Safety says officers were called to three possible overdoses Tuesday involving juveniles.  Narcan was administered to two of the teens and they were taken to the hospital.  The third teen did not require hospitalization.  Investigators warn that counterfeit pills containing fentanyl can be life-threatening and two milligrams is considered a lethal dose.

(Washington, DC) --  Republican leaders could hold a vote today (Wednesday) to remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  A few G-O-P members oppose the effort,  but House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday that he has the votes to do it.  McCarthy has accused Omar of making anti-Semitic remarks and criticizing Israel.   The Minnesota Democrat and Somali-American says the push to remove her from the committee is "motivated by bigotry."  Ousting Omar would require a  majority vote of the full House of Representatives.

(St. Paul, MN) --  There's speculation about possible legal challenges now that Governor Tim Walz signed a bill putting the "fundamental right" to abortion in Minnesota law.  Attorney General Keith Ellison says, "this is a very solid piece of legislation.  It is the law of the land but if anybody, anywhere, tries to challenge it, we will swing into action to defend it."  Ellison adds that he doesn't expect any "substantial, meaningful challenge." D-F-L lawmakers passed the Protect Reproductive Options Act in response to the U-S Supreme Court taking away a woman's federal right to an abortion last summer.