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…

At its meeting Monday, the Albert Lea City Council consider three changes to the city charter as recommended by the Charter Commission (photo above). For details, see the agenda packet on the city website. The Aug. 25 work session starts at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting at 7 p.m. Both are open to the…

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 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…

Work is scheduled to begin the week of Aug. 18 on Southeast Marshall Street. The project includes replacing the culvert between Blake Avenue and Interstate 35. Traffic will detour to East Main Street while this work is taking place. In other project updates, work will continue the week of Aug. 18 on Betha Larson Lane…

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council approved two of three cannabis retailer registrations on its agenda: Christopher Gracia of Matchbox Farms, plans to open a retail business at 2316 Hendrickson Road. Cristina Aranguiz of Black Husky, plans to open a retail business at 2706 Ekko Ave. The council took no action…

Community members have created beautiful 3×3-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.

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 front side of the home. The residents were outside with a few pets. Fire crews were…

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 and biking, along with local health concerns. Partners include the Freeborn County Trail Association, Albert…