The Albert Lea Police Department is releasing information pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 244.052 and 253D regarding a Level 3 predatory offender who has relocated within the Albert Lea community. These statutes authorize law enforcement to share information about individuals required to register as predatory offenders when such information is believed to enhance public safety. Mark…

Albert Lea Police Sgt. David Miller was recently honored as “Investigator of the Year” by the Minnesota Sex Crimes Investigators Association (MNSCIA). He earned the award for his exceptional work and attention to detail when handling difficult criminal sexual conduct cases. Assistant Freeborn County Attorney Abby Ehret nominated Miller for the honor. She noted that…

The City of Albert Lea plans to apply for a $1.25 million federal grant to help remove hazardous buildings and their contents – known as the Merrick facility – at 620 Adams Ave. The city would like to gauge public support for the following three options for the site.

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council approved a preliminary tax levy of $9.8 million or 8% over 2025, but staff and city councilors will keep looking for ways to cut expenses. The council is scheduled to adopt the final levy at its Dec. 8 meeting. The proposed levy can decrease but…

On Sept. 22, 2025, at approximately 7:30 a.m., the Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office received information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding a potential threat of violence intercepted through social media monitoring. Upon receiving this information, ALPD school resource officers immediately notified, at approximately 7:45 a.m., District 241…

In disappointing news to the Albert Lea City Council on Sept. 8, the company overseeing upgrades at the City Arena – InBylt of Minneapolis – reported a delay in the new floor for the Colstrup Rink and refrigeration system for both the Nystrom and Colstrup Rinks. The new completion date for the refrigeration system and…

The Albert Lea Police Department recently promoted three officers, from left in the photo above, Nathan Idstein, Sy Vanthavong and David Miller, to the rank of sergeant. They took the oath of office and had a pinning ceremony at the Sept. 8 city council meeting, a fitting time with Patriot Day on Sept. 11. “These…