Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 2046 Paradise Road West on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 3:18 a.m. for the report of an attached garage on fire. Fire crews responded and found a 3-stall attached garage with a pile of material burning in the garage. The fire had not impinged on the building and firefighters extinguished it…

It takes only 1 teaspoon of salt to pollute 5 gallons of water – forever! Protect local lakes by using de-icer the smart way: For more tips, visit the Smart Salting website.

Albert Lea Police Officer Andrew Thorson took the oath of office at the Nov. 24 city council meeting. He began working for the Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) in July and recently finished field training. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Criminal Justice from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn., and has experience…

The City of Albert Lea has decreased expenses for 2026 and lowered its proposed tax levy by $153,000. While still proposing a levy increase, it would be lower than first proposed, from 8.00% to 6.25%, as presented at the Nov. 24 city council work session. The impact to individual homeowners depends on the property valuation…

The Albert Lea community favors either a mixed use of business and greenspace or a full trailhead for a proposed park on Adams Avenue, according to input received from surveys and comments on the project. The City of Albert Lea is applying for a federal grant to clean up a contaminated industrial site at 620…

Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 1525 Elm St. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 6:31 p.m. for the report of a garage on fire. Fire crews responded and found a 2-stall detached garage fully involved in fire. The fire was beginning to impinge on the home and everyone was evacuated. Fire crews were able to gain control of…

Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 2301 East Main St. (Ramada Inn) on Monday, Nov. 10, at 11:30 a.m. for the report of a fire. Fire crews found smoke and fire coming from the first floor of the 3-story east wing of the hotel. Maintenance personnel and guests of the hotel had been trying to use extinguishers…

On Nov. 8, 2025, at approximately 2:46 p.m., Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) officers were dispatched to a report of a two-vehicle crash with multiple injuries near the intersection of County Road 46 and 775th Avenue.  A 2012 Chevy Express G1500 van driven by 32-year-old Anna Christine Lindell of Albert Lea had been traveling westbound…

The Albert Lea Public Library invites the public to Bring Your Own Lunch and Learn on Thursday, Nov. 13, with the program, “Pollinator Plantings” presented by Caitlin Olson, a coach with the Lawns to Legumes program of the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. The City of Albert Lea recently changed its tall grass…

The Albert Lea City Council will vote Monday on an agreement with a private developer to build workforce housing on a city-owned vacant lot at 610 E. Fourth St. The city acquired the property through tax forfeiture and removed a house on the lot due its hazardous condition in 2022. Earlier this year, the council…