The Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office is the fiscal host of the Child and Family Advocacy Center (CFAC), currently supported by grant funds from the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs. The CFAC, located within the Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato, will transition to a non-profit organization in the near future. The CFAC provides a safe, neutral, child-friendly environment for children who experience trauma and violence. The attorney's office says, "We feel all who experience trauma and abuse have a right to be safe, to seek justice, and to heal. To help further the mission, the CFAC has recently received additional funding [...]

Battle of the Books Registration Open until May 29th at noon Sign up for this year’s teen Battle of the Books on Saturday, August 3rd at 10am at the Saint Peter Community Center. Join a team and battle it out with trivia questions about four pre-selected books. Compete against teams from other area libraries for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card for each person on your team. Each participant will receive all four books to read over the summer in preparation. Call or stop into the library with any questions or to register. 3-D Printing Game Launch Party Monday, May [...]

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently awarded 20,000 children’s books valued at $363,400 to 49 organizations through its Early Childhood Literacy Grant Program. This grant supports early literacy efforts that enhance school readiness for children birth to age five by providing children with books.   The books were awarded in partnership with Capstone and ABDO, Mankato-based publishers of children’s books and digital products and services. In 2002, Capstone helped launch the BookStart program, working with SMIF to distribute thousands of books to children in the region over a period of 15 years. In 2018, the Early Childhood Literacy Grant was formed as a new collaborative effort [...]

 The Minnesota Department of Transportation urges anglers to plan ahead and use caution while driving through highway work zones on the way to their favorite fishing spots this weekend. Motorists may encounter lane closures and detours because of transportation projects that are underway this construction season. Some areas of the state are also experiencing flooding. MnDOT recommends that motorists prepare for slower moving traffic, think about alternate routes, and visit www.511mn.org to get information about road construction projects and traffic impacts. Note: Expect heavier traffic in and around Albert Lea where the governor’s annual fishing opener will occur on area lakes May [...]

Minnesota State University, Mankato will award 2,304 degrees at the end of the spring 2019 semester, with approximately 1,700 students participating in three graduation ceremonies on campus Saturday, May 11 in Taylor Center’s Bresnan Arena. Students in the colleges of Arts & Humanities and Science, Engineering & Technology will take part in the 9 a.m. ceremony; those in the colleges of Allied Health & Nursing and Education will participate in the noon event; and students in the colleges of Business and Social & Behavioral Sciences will be graduated in the 3 p.m. ceremony. Candidates for graduate degrees will graduate with the college of their affiliation. Advanced [...]

Hundreds of Minnesota students will join schools from around the country to celebrate National Bike to School Day on May 8. Nearly 200 schools are expected to register statewide for students to ride or walk to school along with parents, teachers, community partners and elected officials. For a complete list go to www.walkbiketoschool.org. Bike to School Day is part of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program, which focuses on getting more students walking and bicycling to school. This nationwide bike-focused celebration for students happens each year during May and builds on the popularity and success of Walk to [...]

Guilty of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter -- the jury's verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor in the fatal shooting of Justine Damond. Her father reportedly wept when the verdict was read and the father of the defendant covered his face with his hands. A third-degree murder conviction carries a sentence of up to 25 years. Noor was found not guilty of 2nd-degree murder. He is set to be sentenced on June 7th. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says the jury got it right. He does say, however, the investigation into the shooting was rocky in [...]

Flood preparedness is a year-round effort for city of Mankato staff. City staff inspect the river wall and supporting pumping stations and monitor the river level on an as-needed basis. Once the river reaches high water levels, 24-hour dike walks are done to ensure continued safety for the public. City of Mankato staff also closely observes any areas where there is standing water. When property or safety issues cause concern, respective areas are closed. Citizens are asked to call 507-387-8660 (24-hour service) if they see standing water. Mankato has more than 10,000 sandbags available. City staff monitors if sandbags need to [...]

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Skin cancer, including melanoma, is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Melanoma incidence rates in Minnesota have doubled since 1988 for both males and females, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Ingrid Polcari with the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center and Medical School answers questions about skin cancer risk factors, treatment options and preventative measures people can take against skin cancer. Q: What is skin cancer? Dr. Polcari: Skin cancers are cancerous growths on the skin. Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are the most common types and are often [...]