On Jan. 3, 2026, at approximately 10:54 p.m., the Albert Lea Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the area of the 100 block of South Second Avenue. Officers learned that two individuals inside a vehicle were shot at by an unknown suspect. No injuries were reported as a result of the…

Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 17826 760th Ave on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 8:08 p.m. for the report of an attic fire. Fire crews responded and found a 2-story home with smoke coming from the eaves.  Access was made to the attic space and the fire was extinguished.  Crews remained on scene for 2 hours…

Local residents can directly influence city policies, planning, and programs by volunteering for an Albert Lea board or commission. The City of Albert Lea has several openings on boards that advise the city council on various decisions, helping shape outcomes that affect daily life, from parks and recreation to zoning issues and the airport. In…

Albert Lea needs 300 more units to meet local housing needs. Both the north and south industrial parks are nearly out of space for additional businesses. Several properties throughout the city are in poor condition and need either removal or rehabbing. These are some of the issues that the Planning Commission will advise the Albert…

Freeborn County recycled more than 14,000 tons of material last year, an increase over the previous year. The City of Albert Lea and Freeborn County encourage residents to keep up the good work and recycle even more, especially during the holidays, when the average Minnesotan throws away 25% more stuff. Freeborn County generated 24,000 tons…

With both the south and north industrial parks in Albert Lea both nearly full, local leaders are taking steps to attract more businesses and the jobs that come with them. The south industrial park has few open properties for new or expanding businesses. The city originally zoned the area in the 1950s as a mix of…

At its Dec. 8 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council decided to phase in higher fees for on-sale liquor licenses. The decision came after hearing from business owners at a Nov. 24 public hearing. The fee increase will be the first in 21 years. Since then, the costs of overseeing the licenses, including annual compliance…

The Albert Lea City Council lowered its property tax levy for 2026 by more than $200,000, from $9.5 million proposed in September to $9.3 million. While still proposing a levy increase, it would be lower than first proposed, from 8.0% to 5.3%. The council lowered the levy from the original proposal because the final numbers…

At its Dec. 8 meeting, the Albert Lea Council approved a Capital Improvement Plan that outlines major projects over the next 5 years. The council adopts a Capital Improvement Plan every year, which helps identify needs, allocate resources and set priorities for improving infrastructure and capital purchases. The plan includes the following projects for 2026.…

To plan for expanding the Jobs Industrial Park, the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency (ALEDA) is requesting the Albert Lea City Council rezone 12 acres from residential to industrial. ALEDA owns the land at 11th Street and Viking Avenue, along with industrial land immediately to the south. The Planning Commission held a public hearing Dec.…