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Proven leaders take helm of Albert Lea public safety

June 30, 2025For immediate release:Media contacts: Police Chief Darren Hanson at 507-377-5669 or DHanson@ci.albertlea.mn.us Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske at 507-377-4311 or jlaskowske@ci.albertlea.mn.us Proven leaders take helm of Albert Lea public safety With Albert Lea Public Safety Director JD Carlson retiring, the City of Albert Lea announces a series of leadership changes within its police and fire departments, effective today, June 30. The city promoted Deputy Police Chief Darren Hanson to police chief. Hanson began his career with the Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) in 1995. He earned a promotion to lieutenant in 2007 and then to deputy chief in 2018....

Spraying for mosquito control starts this week in Albert Lea

For immediate release June 24, 2025Contact: Ryan Hajek, City of Albert Lea assistant public works director, at 507-377-4310 or rhajek@ci.albertlea.mn.us Spraying for mosquito control starts this week in Albert Lea For public health and enjoyment, weekly spraying for mosquito control will start at dusk today, June 24, in Albert Lea, weather permitting. Mosquito Control of Iowa will provide the spraying service, as contracted by the City of Albert Lea. In case of rainy or windy weather, Wednesdays will be the back-up days for the remainder of the summer. The company uses a product called Evoluer 4-4, which includes permethrin, a...

Join the Jamboree July 3-6!

Albert Lea will kick off its Independence Day celebration on Wednesday, July 3, with the annual parade from the fairgrounds to Central Park at 6 p.m. Thursdays on Fountain will present Melissa Schulz Music at 7:30 p.m. at Fountain Lake Park. July Fourth is packed with a car show downtown from 1 - 4 p.m. and the Bayside Ski Club show in Edgewater Bay at 1 p.m. The 112 on Broadway will hold a street dance at 7:30 p.m. while the Community Band will start its annual concert at 8 p.m. at Fountain Lake Park. Fireworks will light up the...

Map and images showing parks, trails, and fun spots in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

City website: Same address, new features

The City of Albert Lea launched its new website today that is more accessible and offers more features. While the address - – remains the same, the site looks more vibrant and is easier to navigate. The revamped site offers several new features: Accessibility tools such as bigger text and contrast controls for browsers with visual impairments A directory of parks, trails and fun spots Translation into other languages such as Spanish A staff directory News and spotlights to highlight city services and events Historical timelines for Albert Lea city government, Police Department and Fire Rescue Online submissions for...

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An image shows an adult and a young child walking away from the camera, their legs and feet visible. The adult is on the right, wearing dark pants and white sneakers with blue accents. The child is on the left, wearing light-colored pants with patterns and pink shoes. The ground is a light-colored asphalt or paved surface, with sunlight creating shadows. Below them, a dark blue banner reads

Blue Zones Albert Lea invites families to take a Sunday stroll

For immediate releaseJuly 11, 2025Media contact: Cathy Malakowsky, Blue Zones Albert Lea project lead, at 507-377-4316 or cmalakowsky@ci.albertlea.mn.us Blue Zones Albert Lea invites families to take a Sunday stroll Connecting people and reinforcing healthy habits are two goals of joining…

Albert Lea house fire

For immediate releaseJuly 1, 2025Contact for fire operations: Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske at 507-377-4311 or jlaskowske@ci.albertlea.mn.usContact for fire investigation during business hours: Albert Lea Fire Rescue at 507-377-4341 Albert Lea House Fire Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 940 Jefferson…

Council extending special housing permit

At its meeting Monday, the Albert Lea City Council voted to approve extending a permit for temporary worker housing in an industrial building. Habben Properties first applied for the interim use permit in 2023 to convert part of an industrial…

ALBERT LEA GARAGE FIRE

For immediate releaseJune 20, 2025Contact for fire operations: Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske at 507-377-4311 or jlaskowske@ci.albertlea.mn.usContact for fire investigation during business hours: Albert Lea Fire Rescue at 507-377-4341 Albert Lea Garage Fire Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 1019…

City extending Eberhart Street

As part of preparing the Blazing Star Landing for development, the City of Albert Lea has contracted Jensen Excavating and Trucking to extend Eberhart Street by 370 feet. The $802,000 project includes underground water and sewer services along with a…

A high-angle close-up shot shows a diverse group of hands, belonging to approximately ten individuals, stacked on top of one another in a gesture of unity or teamwork. The hands vary in skin tone, ranging from light to dark, emphasizing diversity.

Human Rights Commission back in action

After taking a pause since the pandemic, the Albert Lea Human Rights Commission is back in action. The city reactivated this volunteer board at the request of several residents. Mayor Rich Murray recently appointed these seven members after receiving applications…

Children play on a slip and slide with water spraying around them on a grassy lawn, with houses and trees visible in the background.

Recreation offers free park activities for grade-schoolers

The Albert Lea Recreation Department will bring fun to neighborhood parks this summer, starting Monday, June 2. Free activities will be available for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade from Monday – Thursday at several parks: Mondays and…

An aerial view of a long, modern apartment building with a dark gray roof and multi-toned gray siding, surrounded by a parking lot with cars, and bare trees in a winter landscape.

New Era for Blazing Star Landing

By using state grants to help with cleanup costs, the City of Albert Lea continues to develop the Blazing Star Landing 1 parcel at a time. The city initially sought development of the entire 35-acre site as a whole, but…

A row of apartments with individual wooden decks overlooks a body of water and a grassy area. The apartment building is two stories high, with light grey siding on the upper level and a darker grey siding below. Each apartment has a sliding glass door leading to a private deck with a wooden railing. Some apartments also have air conditioning units mounted below the windows. In the background, across the water, there are trees and some buildings, possibly part of a town or industrial area. The sky is blue with a few clouds.

Development Increases Value

The League of Minnesota Cities recently highlighted the Front Street Apartments project in its magazine that focuses on housing initiatives across the state. The city supported this private development of 48 rental units by using $944,000 in state funding toward…

Five children in swimsuits and goggles jump into an outdoor swimming pool, mid-air, with greenery and a fence in the background.

Before jumping in, take steps for swimming pool safety

With Memorial Day on May 26 kicking off summer, the Albert Lea Inspection Department urges residents to take safety steps when setting up swimming pools in their yards this season. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that…

A firefighter organizes gear inside the open back compartment of an emergency response vehicle.

Fire Rescue starts Help Connect program

Albert Lea Fire Rescue recently started a program to connect residents with resources to follow up on 911 calls.

Construction land with heavy machinery including an excavator and a roller, under a cloudy sky

Construction starting on oat-processing business, may impact traffic on 14th Street

Green Acres Milling plans to start building its oat-processing facility on 14th Street in Albert Lea on Monday, April 28, weather permitting. This activity may impact traffic on 14th Street in the Jobs Industrial Park on the city’s south side.…

An image shows an adult and a young child walking away from the camera, their legs and feet visible. The adult is on the right, wearing dark pants and white sneakers with blue accents. The child is on the left, wearing light-colored pants with patterns and pink shoes. The ground is a light-colored asphalt or paved surface, with sunlight creating shadows. Below them, a dark blue banner reads

Blue Zones Albert Lea invites families to take a Sunday stroll

For immediate releaseJuly 11, 2025Media contact: Cathy Malakowsky, Blue Zones Albert Lea project lead, at 507-377-4316 or cmalakowsky@ci.albertlea.mn.us Blue Zones Albert Lea invites families to take a Sunday stroll Connecting people and reinforcing healthy habits are two goals of joining…

Albert Lea house fire

For immediate releaseJuly 1, 2025Contact for fire operations: Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske at 507-377-4311 or jlaskowske@ci.albertlea.mn.usContact for fire investigation during business hours: Albert Lea Fire Rescue at 507-377-4341 Albert Lea House Fire Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 940 Jefferson…

Council extending special housing permit

At its meeting Monday, the Albert Lea City Council voted to approve extending a permit for temporary worker housing in an industrial building. Habben Properties first applied for the interim use permit in 2023 to convert part of an industrial…

ALBERT LEA GARAGE FIRE

For immediate releaseJune 20, 2025Contact for fire operations: Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske at 507-377-4311 or jlaskowske@ci.albertlea.mn.usContact for fire investigation during business hours: Albert Lea Fire Rescue at 507-377-4341 Albert Lea Garage Fire Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 1019…

City extending Eberhart Street

As part of preparing the Blazing Star Landing for development, the City of Albert Lea has contracted Jensen Excavating and Trucking to extend Eberhart Street by 370 feet. The $802,000 project includes underground water and sewer services along with a…

A high-angle close-up shot shows a diverse group of hands, belonging to approximately ten individuals, stacked on top of one another in a gesture of unity or teamwork. The hands vary in skin tone, ranging from light to dark, emphasizing diversity.

Human Rights Commission back in action

After taking a pause since the pandemic, the Albert Lea Human Rights Commission is back in action. The city reactivated this volunteer board at the request of several residents. Mayor Rich Murray recently appointed these seven members after receiving applications…

Children play on a slip and slide with water spraying around them on a grassy lawn, with houses and trees visible in the background.

Recreation offers free park activities for grade-schoolers

The Albert Lea Recreation Department will bring fun to neighborhood parks this summer, starting Monday, June 2. Free activities will be available for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade from Monday – Thursday at several parks: Mondays and…

An aerial view of a long, modern apartment building with a dark gray roof and multi-toned gray siding, surrounded by a parking lot with cars, and bare trees in a winter landscape.

New Era for Blazing Star Landing

By using state grants to help with cleanup costs, the City of Albert Lea continues to develop the Blazing Star Landing 1 parcel at a time. The city initially sought development of the entire 35-acre site as a whole, but…

A row of apartments with individual wooden decks overlooks a body of water and a grassy area. The apartment building is two stories high, with light grey siding on the upper level and a darker grey siding below. Each apartment has a sliding glass door leading to a private deck with a wooden railing. Some apartments also have air conditioning units mounted below the windows. In the background, across the water, there are trees and some buildings, possibly part of a town or industrial area. The sky is blue with a few clouds.

Development Increases Value

The League of Minnesota Cities recently highlighted the Front Street Apartments project in its magazine that focuses on housing initiatives across the state. The city supported this private development of 48 rental units by using $944,000 in state funding toward…

Five children in swimsuits and goggles jump into an outdoor swimming pool, mid-air, with greenery and a fence in the background.

Before jumping in, take steps for swimming pool safety

With Memorial Day on May 26 kicking off summer, the Albert Lea Inspection Department urges residents to take safety steps when setting up swimming pools in their yards this season. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that…

A firefighter organizes gear inside the open back compartment of an emergency response vehicle.

Fire Rescue starts Help Connect program

Albert Lea Fire Rescue recently started a program to connect residents with resources to follow up on 911 calls.

Construction land with heavy machinery including an excavator and a roller, under a cloudy sky

Construction starting on oat-processing business, may impact traffic on 14th Street

Green Acres Milling plans to start building its oat-processing facility on 14th Street in Albert Lea on Monday, April 28, weather permitting. This activity may impact traffic on 14th Street in the Jobs Industrial Park on the city’s south side.…

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