After taking a pause since the pandemic, the Albert Lea Human Rights Commission is back in action. The city reactivated this volunteer board at the request of several residents. Mayor Rich Murray recently appointed these seven members after receiving applications from 14 residents: The commission met June 12 and elected Alkula as chair with Evenson…

The Albert Lea Recreation Department will bring fun to neighborhood parks this summer, starting Monday, June 2. Free activities will be available for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade from Monday – Thursday at several parks: Children may drop in anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and they may participate in any…

By using state grants to help with cleanup costs, the City of Albert Lea continues to develop the Blazing Star Landing 1 parcel at a time. The city initially sought development of the entire 35-acre site as a whole, but soil contamination proved to be too big a barrier. The soil contamination resulted from a…

The League of Minnesota Cities recently highlighted the Front Street Apartments project in its magazine that focuses on housing initiatives across the state. The city supported this private development of 48 rental units by using $944,000 in state funding toward $1.26 million in costs for cleaning up contaminated soil at the 3.4-acre site. The city…

With Memorial Day on May 26 kicking off summer, the Albert Lea Inspection Department urges residents to take safety steps when setting up swimming pools in their yards this season. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning, through preventable, is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years…

The Minnesota Housing Agency recently selected a project in Albert Lea for $15.1 million in funding from state and federal programs. The funding will go toward a private developer’s plan to build 60 apartments at the Blazing Star Landing for low- to moderate-income residents. The new apartment building is estimated to cost $24 million to…

The Albert Lea Public Library now offers a mail service for homebound residents in Freeborn County.

Albert Lea Fire Rescue recently started a program to connect residents with resources to follow up on 911 calls.

Green Acres Milling plans to start building its oat-processing facility on 14th Street in Albert Lea on Monday, April 28, weather permitting. This activity may impact traffic on 14th Street in the Jobs Industrial Park on the city’s south side. During the project’s first phase, Jensen Excavating will move soil from a site on the…

The Albert Lea City Council approved a development agreement with Green Acres Milling of Latimer, Iowa, at its Nov. 12, 2024 meeting. The city will provide tax increment financing of $741,600 total for the development. The oat-milling company is building a processing facility in the Jobs Industrial Park that will create 12 jobs with an…