WASECA —Standing out from the crowd and offering a unique product for everyday use is usually a good recipe for thriving businesses; and Jon Lucca offers a product that can’t be found anywhere else.

The Free Press

MANKATO — Rice Companies is planning a $6 million facility in Eastwood Industrial Park, across from the Walmart distribution center.

MANKATO — Clifton Larson Allen employees in Mankato were excited to be able to work in the office again.

MANKATO — Joe Domeier vividly remembers the first time he sheared a sheep over 15 years ago, and it wasn’t pretty.

The Free Press and MPR News

St. Peter Public Library

When Tim Stenzel went looking for a new boat last fall, he found a lot of people had the same idea. Boat showrooms were looking fairly bare.

“Americans are eating healthier” has been the story line of recent years.

Q: Dear Ask Us Guy: Just south of Mankato between the Red Jacket Trail and Mount Kato is an area used for parking during the ski season and especially during the State Mountain Bike Championships. After every significant rain, Indian Creek overflows its banks and creates a rushing river of water and mud and cuts what is essentially a new stream bed across this area. Then city of Mankato crews show up with dozers, backhoes, dump trucks, etc., and they dig and grade and haul for several days to repair all the damage done by the flooding water.

MANKATO — An upcoming blood donation drive will honor health workers for their hard work caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While everyone in the room watched her, Aggie Morgan was flying high this week thanks to a virtual reality experience set up by her oncology nurse.

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Secondary Advances to State Competition

A while ago, Mark and I and our younger son, Hank, decided it would be fun to have an occasional family movie night where we took turns picking out movies to watch together. One week it’s our turn to choose a movie and the next it’s Hank.

MANKATO — Kenzie Brezinka scrapped her initial graduation plans because of the pandemic.

To see the Mankato Area 77 Lancers in action is to see an exercise in discipline.

WASECA — A 37-year-old man is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting three girls he knows in Waseca County.

The Free Press

Question: What is being done about distracted driving? It seems like it is getting worse.

The Free Press and MPR News

In a wetland area a few miles west of St. Peter, ducks bobbed on a recent day on the water’s surface. Mallards and blue-winged teal took flight as an eagle swooped into the group in search of a meal.

MANKATO — The decision by the School Sisters of Notre Dame to sell its property on Good Counsel Hill has created challenges for nonprofits now housed on the campus.

MANKATO — A teenager allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill Mankato police officers.

MANKATO — City staff removed stickers promoting neo-Nazism from traffic light poles in Mankato.

MANKATO — City staff is removing stickers promoting neo-Nazism from traffic light poles in Mankato.

MANKATO — A Le Center man was injured in a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon just north of Mankato.

MAPLETON — Four law enforcement officers were recognized by a state policing organization for their non-lethal response to a hostage situation in Mapleton in 2019.

NORTH MANKATO — For the second year in a row North Mankato’s Fun Days has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW ULM — The longtime mayor of New Ulm is retiring due to health issues and an appointee will take his place.

MANKATO — New COVID-19 case totals leveled out in south-central Minnesota this week.

MANKATO — “Everybody has a Donny story,” said Leroy McClelland, describing the legacy of his South Bend Township neighbor.

MANKATO — COVID-19 positivity rates remained concerningly high in south-central Minnesota and statewide this week.

MANKATO — Coronavirus cases and quarantines are up again among Mankato Area Public Schools students and staff.

ST. JAMES — The city of St. James has suspended its eviction of the Watonwan County Humane Society and will consider selling the city property to the organization.

MANKATO — The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office is warning of imposter phone calls.

The Free Press and MPR News

MANKATO — Two clients of the South Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center, located at Minnesota State University, were selected to receive Launch Minnesota innovation grants.

MANKATO — A group of business students at Minnesota State University has been adding to book learning by building their own company.

Chad Larsen has voted for Mike Hastings for president in the last two elections.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities through April 30:

Hillstrom Museum of Art, Gustavus Adolphus College — “From These Hands: Fiber Art and Poetry by Gwen Westerman” through April 18 at C. Charles Jackson Campus Center (lower level); reservations for visiting the museum may be made by emailing a request to: hillstrom@gustavus.edu.

Today

NEW ULM — A high homeless woman allegedly assaulted two Brown County law enforcement officers as they took her to detox.

MANKATO — Loyola Catholic School is purchasing its campus and athletic fields on Good Counsel Hill from the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

It’s clear the Minnesota Legislature is looking to make a large investment on broadband this year. What’s not so clear is how lawmakers plan to do it, or where the money’s going to come from.

MANKATO — A $7.2 million makeover of Riverfront Drive through Old Town has been denied federal funding, although city officials may still decide to move forward with the project.