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…