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Freeborn County community to DNR: Finish the Blazing Star State Trail

September 17, 2026

The Albert Lea City Council, Hayward City Council and Freeborn County Board all voted the week of Sept. 14 to send a joint letter that urges the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to complete the remaining half-mile gravel section of the Blazing Star State Trail. Leaders emphasize that the trail has been 20-plus years in the making with 8.1 miles completed and only 0.5 mile to the finish line. The letter reads in part: “Our communities waited more than two decades for the DNR to build the bridge over Albert Lea Lake and connect the Albert Lea and Hayward...

Albert Lea man arrested following reported stabbing

September 16, 2026

On Sept. 15, 2026, at approximately 9:11 p.m., officers with the Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) were dispatched to the 1000 block of South Broadway Avenue following a report of a possible stabbing. Initial information indicated that a man had entered a nearby business to report that a stabbing may have occurred at a nearby residence. Upon arrival, officers encountered several individuals outside the residence. Officers identified the victim and the suspect. The suspect was later identified as Tommy Lee Walker, age 64, of Albert Lea. The victim sustained a non-life-threatening stab wound to the back and was transported by...

Bridge repair underway

September 11, 2026

As contracted by the City of Albert Lea, the Front Street bridge is undergoing repairs (map below). Workers are chipping away deteriorated concrete around the bridge pilings and will then apply a high-performance epoxy coating to help prevent wave and ice damage. Look for traffic changes over the next 2-3 weeks. Follow the City of Albert Lea on Facebook for project updates.

Council to vote on joint letter to urge completion of trail

September 11, 2026

At its Sept. 14 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council will consider a resolution to send a joint letter with Freeborn County and City of Hayward calling on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to pave the remaining half-mile gravel section of the Blazing Star State Trail. The trail reached a major milestone in 2025 when the DNR connected the segments between Myre-Big Island State Park and Hayward, including the bridge over Albert Lea Lake. However, the DNR pulled the last half-mile of gravel from last year’s project, leaving a major obstacle to attracting more trail users and visitors....

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Albert Lea house fire

Albert Lea Fire Rescue (ALFR) responded to 730 Alcove St., on April 25, at 7:16 p.m. for the report of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire showing on two sides of the house. Firefighters advanced hose lines and extinguished…

Arbor Day: Lions Club and Parks Department branch out to schools

Today is Arbor Day, a time to celebrate the power of trees in providing habitat, absorbing stormwater, shading structures and people, and beautifying communities. Volunteers from the Albert Lea Lions Club, in the photo above, spent time this week preparing…

City aims to make Earth Day every day

While the United States celebrates Earth Day this week, the City of Albert Lea aims to take steps every day to conserve resources and protect the environment: The city has installed solar projects at the wastewater treatment plant and arena…

Council approves street projects, pool repairs

At its April 13 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council accepted the low bids for several street projects this season, including: Repaving sections of several streets throughout the city Reconstructing St. Mary Avenue from William Street to Clark Street Reconstructing…

City council OK design work for Senior Center move

The Albert Lea City Council voted April 13 to approve a design proposal for a new Senior Center within the Jim and Dude’s building at 1705 S.E. Broadway Ave., the former HealthReach building. The design proposal from Wold Architects and…

Songbird Trail receives $2.6 million in grants toward bridge construction

Freeborn County and the City of Albert Lea report more continued success at securing grant money to build the Songbird Trail along 15 miles of a former rail line between Albert Lea and Hartland. “Development of the Songbird Trail has…

Beat the bin: Join the movement to out-recycle trash

Freeborn County officially recycled more than it trashed last year, diverting 22,280 tons of material away from landfills. While a major win for the environment, the community still sent 18,693 tons of garbage to landfills, a number that local officials…

Albert Lea receives grant to reduce chloride pollution

The City of Albert Lea has received a Chloride Reduction Grant $500,000 from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to help a local industry switch to a water-softening system that uses less salt. Chloride is a form of salt and thus…

Nation of Patriots Tour May 16 in Albert Lea

ANNOUNCED AT MARCH 23 CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Glenville American Legion Post 264 makes history this May as the first Minnesota post to launch the Nation of Patriots motorcycle tour. This 115-day journey carries a single American flag through all 50…

Albert Lea to celebrate 10 years of Blue Zones with community walk

Blue Zones Albert Lea invites local residents to keep stepping toward a longer, healthier life with a community walk on Saturday, April 18, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Marion Ross Theater, 147 N. Broadway Ave., Albert Lea. After a…

Assault arrest

On March 21, 2026, at approximately 5:08 p.m., Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) officers were dispatched to a residence on Broadway Avenue South for a reported assault. Initial reports indicated that a 77-year-old resident was bleeding from the head after…

Board of Appeals seeks volunteer

The Albert Lea Board of Appeals, photo above, plays an important role in reviewing requests for zoning variances, which are exceptions to rules that guide land use and development, including building height, size and setbacks. These rules are designed to…

Albert Lea house fire

Albert Lea Fire Rescue (ALFR) responded to 730 Alcove St., on April 25, at 7:16 p.m. for the report of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire showing on two sides of the house. Firefighters advanced hose lines and extinguished…

Arbor Day: Lions Club and Parks Department branch out to schools

Today is Arbor Day, a time to celebrate the power of trees in providing habitat, absorbing stormwater, shading structures and people, and beautifying communities. Volunteers from the Albert Lea Lions Club, in the photo above, spent time this week preparing…

City aims to make Earth Day every day

While the United States celebrates Earth Day this week, the City of Albert Lea aims to take steps every day to conserve resources and protect the environment: The city has installed solar projects at the wastewater treatment plant and arena…

Council approves street projects, pool repairs

At its April 13 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council accepted the low bids for several street projects this season, including: Repaving sections of several streets throughout the city Reconstructing St. Mary Avenue from William Street to Clark Street Reconstructing…

City council OK design work for Senior Center move

The Albert Lea City Council voted April 13 to approve a design proposal for a new Senior Center within the Jim and Dude’s building at 1705 S.E. Broadway Ave., the former HealthReach building. The design proposal from Wold Architects and…

Songbird Trail receives $2.6 million in grants toward bridge construction

Freeborn County and the City of Albert Lea report more continued success at securing grant money to build the Songbird Trail along 15 miles of a former rail line between Albert Lea and Hartland. “Development of the Songbird Trail has…

Beat the bin: Join the movement to out-recycle trash

Freeborn County officially recycled more than it trashed last year, diverting 22,280 tons of material away from landfills. While a major win for the environment, the community still sent 18,693 tons of garbage to landfills, a number that local officials…

Albert Lea receives grant to reduce chloride pollution

The City of Albert Lea has received a Chloride Reduction Grant $500,000 from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to help a local industry switch to a water-softening system that uses less salt. Chloride is a form of salt and thus…

Nation of Patriots Tour May 16 in Albert Lea

ANNOUNCED AT MARCH 23 CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Glenville American Legion Post 264 makes history this May as the first Minnesota post to launch the Nation of Patriots motorcycle tour. This 115-day journey carries a single American flag through all 50…

Albert Lea to celebrate 10 years of Blue Zones with community walk

Blue Zones Albert Lea invites local residents to keep stepping toward a longer, healthier life with a community walk on Saturday, April 18, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Marion Ross Theater, 147 N. Broadway Ave., Albert Lea. After a…

Assault arrest

On March 21, 2026, at approximately 5:08 p.m., Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) officers were dispatched to a residence on Broadway Avenue South for a reported assault. Initial reports indicated that a 77-year-old resident was bleeding from the head after…

Board of Appeals seeks volunteer

The Albert Lea Board of Appeals, photo above, plays an important role in reviewing requests for zoning variances, which are exceptions to rules that guide land use and development, including building height, size and setbacks. These rules are designed to…

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