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Council to vote on borrowing for street projects, site cleanup

August 22, 2025

The Albert Lea City Council will consider borrowing $2 million via bonding to finance several projects at its meeting Monday. The projects include $875,000 for cleaning up contaminated soil at the Blazing Star Land for development and $435,000 for extending Eberhart Street into the Blazing Star Landing. The rest is for various street projects started in 2025 and paving the city-owned parking lot on William Street behind the Freeborn Bank Building, now Events at the Broadway, at 201 S. Broadway Ave. For details and other agenda items, visit the city website, watch the meeting on ALTV or attend in person...

On the agenda: Changes to city charter

August 22, 2025

At its meeting Monday, the Albert Lea City Council consider three changes to the city charter as recommended by the Charter Commission (photo above). The first change addresses filling vacancies on the council: If a councilor resigns, the council would appoint a replacement until voters choose a new councilor in the next general election instead of holding a special election. This change would prevent the cost of a special election and allow for filling the vacancy sooner. The second change addresses a process: Only the mayor, with the city clerk attesting, would need to sign resolutions and ordinances instead of...

A gray and white dog with pointy ears sits outdoors, mouth open and tongue out, against a blurred background of green and yellow.

National Dog Day: Celebrate with a walk

August 21, 2025

In honor of National Dog Day on Aug. 26, Albert Lea presents a handy map of pet waste disposal stations. While providing pooches the joy of walking, running and exploring, please be sure to clean up after them for the benefit of everyone enjoying local trails, walkways and parks. Albert Lea offers 20 stations throughout the community for free pet waste bags and disposal. See the map and full list for details.

City seeks comments on environmental assessment worksheet for building demolition

August 18, 2025

The City of Albert Lea is proposing the demolition of the former Broadway Theater building at 338 Broadway Ave. South after engineers assessed its condition as structurally deficient, unsafe, and uninhabitable. The city recently acquired the vacant building to facilitate its removal this fall. Built in 1902, the former Broadway Theater spans almost 9,000 square feet at the corner of Broadway Avenue and College Street. The building ceased being a movie theater in the 1990s. Since then, various owners have changed the exterior and interior, including removing the theaters on the first and second levels. The building is a poor...

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Council approves 2 cannabis registrations

August 12, 2025

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council approved two of three cannabis retailer registrations on its agenda: Christopher Gracia of New Mexico, doing business as Matchbox Farms, plans to open a retail business at 2316 Hendrickson Road.…

Check out the cutest art show in town

August 12, 2025

Community members have created beautiful 3x3-inch canvases for the Albert Lea Public Library’s Tiny Art Show. Check out the exhibit now through Sunday, Aug. 17, in the Fiction and Children's Libraries at 211 E. Clark St.

Library program: Real-world research behind fictional stories

August 12, 2025

The Albert Lea Public Library invites the public to Bring Your Own Lunch and Learn on Thursday, Aug. 14, with the program, “Research and Writing” presented by author Christopher Valen. Valen, a Minnesota native, is the award-winning author of 10…

Albert Lea House Fire

August 09, 2025

Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 702 St. Thomas Ave. on Friday, Aug. 8, at 11:30 p.m. for the report of a bedroom on fire. Fire crews and law enforcement responded and found a single-story home with fire coming out the…

A group of nine people are seated at a curved wooden table facing an audience in a meeting room. There are five men and one woman on the left side of the table, and two men and one woman on the right side. They are all looking towards the center, where there is a podium.

IN THE WEEK-LEA: City Council News and More

August 08, 2025

In the Aug. 8, 2025, edition of the Week-Lea: Registering cannabis retailers Council to vote on removing hazardous structure, final rule changes and more Project updates: Minor street repairs underway Library program: Real-world research behind fictional stories. Read all this…

Look for Blue Zones at Wind Down Wednesday

August 06, 2025

Look for the Blue Zones Albert Lea Project at Wind Down Wednesday on Aug. 13, from noon – 8 p.m., in the historic downtown. Blue Zones is partnering with other groups to talk about all modes of transportation, including walking…

A group of law enforcement and forensic professionals gathered around a long table, wearing gloves and examining various containers and substances. The woman in the foreground on the left, with dyed hair and a fishnet sleeve, holds up a clear cylindrical container. The woman on the right, wearing glasses and a green shirt, uses a small brush to manipulate a substance. A man in a blue polo shirt and a woman in a grey t-shirt look on attentively. In the background, other participants are visible. The setting appears to be a training or workshop environment.

Step into a police officer’s shoes: ALPD Citizens Academy

August 06, 2025

The Albert Lea Police Department invites residents to participate in its upcoming Citizens Academy program, offering an inside look into the daily operations of local law enforcement. Participants meet once a week, learning in-depth information on the department’s policies and…

Vehicle pursuit

On July 30, 2025, at approximately 3:40 p.m., an Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) officer was dispatched to a residence to take a report of a 2015 Honda Civic stolen earlier in the morning from the home. Prior to that…

A group of four seniors, two men and two women, are gathered around a table indoors. In the foreground, a woman with short brown hair and a tie-dye shirt smiles at the camera, holding a tissue. To her right, a man in a red and white plaid shirt also smiles at the camera. In the background, another woman in a green shirt stands behind them, looking forward with a slight smile. Further back and out of focus, a fourth woman in a yellow and white checkered shirt is partially visible.

City seeking proposals for Senior Center

The City of Albert Lea is conducting a holistic evaluation of its Senior Center, including its location at Skyline Plaza, 1739 W. Main St., Albert Lea, MN. The city convened a team of several community partners to conduct the evaluation,…

A group of nine people are seated at a curved wooden table facing an audience in a meeting room. There are five men and one woman on the left side of the table, and two men and one woman on the right side. They are all looking towards the center, where there is a podium.

Update on cannabis registration

The first local registration for a cannabis retailer came before the Albert Lea City Council for approval at its July 28 meeting. Jacob Schlichter of Albert Lea, owner of The Smoking Tree, received a cannabis microbusiness license from the Minnesota…

Get active and social with Thursday walking group

Blue Zones Albert Lea invites residents of all ages to join a group that will walk from Eastgate Park to Fountain Lake Park for the free concert series, Thursdays on Fountain. Participants will meet at Eastgate Park, 1108 Eastgate Road,…

Albert Lea set to register first cannabis retailer

The City of Albert Lea is set to register its first cannabis retailer. Jacob Schlichter of Albert Lea, owner of The Smoking Tree, received a cannabis microbusiness license from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management on July 17 and completed…

Council approves 2 cannabis registrations

August 12, 2025

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council approved two of three cannabis retailer registrations on its agenda: Christopher Gracia of New Mexico, doing business as Matchbox Farms, plans to open a retail business at 2316 Hendrickson Road.…

Check out the cutest art show in town

August 12, 2025

Community members have created beautiful 3x3-inch canvases for the Albert Lea Public Library’s Tiny Art Show. Check out the exhibit now through Sunday, Aug. 17, in the Fiction and Children's Libraries at 211 E. Clark St.

Library program: Real-world research behind fictional stories

August 12, 2025

The Albert Lea Public Library invites the public to Bring Your Own Lunch and Learn on Thursday, Aug. 14, with the program, “Research and Writing” presented by author Christopher Valen. Valen, a Minnesota native, is the award-winning author of 10…

Albert Lea House Fire

August 09, 2025

Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 702 St. Thomas Ave. on Friday, Aug. 8, at 11:30 p.m. for the report of a bedroom on fire. Fire crews and law enforcement responded and found a single-story home with fire coming out the…

A group of nine people are seated at a curved wooden table facing an audience in a meeting room. There are five men and one woman on the left side of the table, and two men and one woman on the right side. They are all looking towards the center, where there is a podium.

IN THE WEEK-LEA: City Council News and More

August 08, 2025

In the Aug. 8, 2025, edition of the Week-Lea: Registering cannabis retailers Council to vote on removing hazardous structure, final rule changes and more Project updates: Minor street repairs underway Library program: Real-world research behind fictional stories. Read all this…

Look for Blue Zones at Wind Down Wednesday

August 06, 2025

Look for the Blue Zones Albert Lea Project at Wind Down Wednesday on Aug. 13, from noon – 8 p.m., in the historic downtown. Blue Zones is partnering with other groups to talk about all modes of transportation, including walking…

A group of law enforcement and forensic professionals gathered around a long table, wearing gloves and examining various containers and substances. The woman in the foreground on the left, with dyed hair and a fishnet sleeve, holds up a clear cylindrical container. The woman on the right, wearing glasses and a green shirt, uses a small brush to manipulate a substance. A man in a blue polo shirt and a woman in a grey t-shirt look on attentively. In the background, other participants are visible. The setting appears to be a training or workshop environment.

Step into a police officer’s shoes: ALPD Citizens Academy

August 06, 2025

The Albert Lea Police Department invites residents to participate in its upcoming Citizens Academy program, offering an inside look into the daily operations of local law enforcement. Participants meet once a week, learning in-depth information on the department’s policies and…

Vehicle pursuit

On July 30, 2025, at approximately 3:40 p.m., an Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) officer was dispatched to a residence to take a report of a 2015 Honda Civic stolen earlier in the morning from the home. Prior to that…

A group of four seniors, two men and two women, are gathered around a table indoors. In the foreground, a woman with short brown hair and a tie-dye shirt smiles at the camera, holding a tissue. To her right, a man in a red and white plaid shirt also smiles at the camera. In the background, another woman in a green shirt stands behind them, looking forward with a slight smile. Further back and out of focus, a fourth woman in a yellow and white checkered shirt is partially visible.

City seeking proposals for Senior Center

The City of Albert Lea is conducting a holistic evaluation of its Senior Center, including its location at Skyline Plaza, 1739 W. Main St., Albert Lea, MN. The city convened a team of several community partners to conduct the evaluation,…

A group of nine people are seated at a curved wooden table facing an audience in a meeting room. There are five men and one woman on the left side of the table, and two men and one woman on the right side. They are all looking towards the center, where there is a podium.

Update on cannabis registration

The first local registration for a cannabis retailer came before the Albert Lea City Council for approval at its July 28 meeting. Jacob Schlichter of Albert Lea, owner of The Smoking Tree, received a cannabis microbusiness license from the Minnesota…

Get active and social with Thursday walking group

Blue Zones Albert Lea invites residents of all ages to join a group that will walk from Eastgate Park to Fountain Lake Park for the free concert series, Thursdays on Fountain. Participants will meet at Eastgate Park, 1108 Eastgate Road,…

Albert Lea set to register first cannabis retailer

The City of Albert Lea is set to register its first cannabis retailer. Jacob Schlichter of Albert Lea, owner of The Smoking Tree, received a cannabis microbusiness license from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management on July 17 and completed…

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