On Feb. 12, 2026, at approximately 9:29 a.m., the Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) assisted the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) Fugitive Apprehension Unit in locating and apprehending a wanted supervised releasee. The fugitive was a passenger in a vehicle being followed by Minnesota DOC agents. ALPD initiated a traffic stop near Fountain Street and…

The Albert Lea City Council will vote Monday on appointing a resident of Ward 3 to serve on the council for the remainder of 2026. After receiving many applications and interviewing six candidates, Mayor Rich Murray is recommending Ted Herman, a former school resources officer with the Albert Lea Police Department. Herman also served as…

Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 923 Lakewood Ave. on Monday, Feb. 2, at 3:41 a.m. for the report of a space heater on fire. Fire crews arrived on scene and found the resident had extinguished the fire by unplugging the space heater and pouring a cup of water on it. Both residents received smoke inhalation and…

Six residents of Ward 3 have applied for the Albert Lea City Council seat recently vacated by Jason Howland: Scott Christensen, David Enser, Nicholas Hanke, Elizabeth Harty, Ted Herman and Todd Utpadel. Mayor Rich Murray is interviewing the candidates before making a selection. Under city ordinance, he may appoint a Ward 3 resident to serve…

The Albert Lea City Council recently accepted feasibility reports for the following street projects and set public hearings on the project for its Feb. 23 meeting. These projects aim to improve ride quality, enhance safety and update aging infrastructure throughout Albert Lea. The Engineering Department will hold neighborhood meetings on the projects to provide information…

Freeborn County and the City of Albert Lea are inviting residents and visitors to take a short online survey by Feb. 13 about the proposed Songbird Trail to help guide future planning, improvements, and decision-making related to the trail. Access the survey by going to https://hdr.jotform.com/253483965770066. The proposed 50-mile regional trail would support walking, biking…

The Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) invites community members to go behind the badge during its upcoming 8-week Citizens Academy. The program, which began in 2001, is designed to provide residents with a transparent, hands-on look at the policies, challenges and daily operations of local law enforcement. Classes will meet Monday evenings March 16 through…

At approximately 3:25 p.m. today, Jan. 22, officers from the Albert Lea Police Department located a vehicle and individuals matching the description from a Keeping Our Police Safe (KOPS) alert issued by the Apple Valley Police Department. A KOPS alert is a law enforcement broadcast used to notify agencies of officer safety concerns, unusual circumstances,…

The Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) assisted in a recent AMBER Alert issued by the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office for a missing 7-year-old child named Brynlee Nelson The child was reported missing after last being seen at approximately 3:55 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, near the 26000 block of 13th Street West in Zimmerman, Minn.…

The Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) is aware of recent federal immigration enforcement activity in the area and wants to clarify its role. ALPD enforces Minnesota state law and City of Albert Lea ordinances. Officers do not enforce federal immigration law and do not participate in federal immigration operations. Those responsibilities rest solely with federal…