Friday, March 14th, 2025

Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Daily Mankato.
Good morning, Mankato. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 14th of March.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Workers began tearing down the old Landmark Center in January and are now working on the City Center Hotel site downtown. Two hotels—a four-story Element by Westin with 126 suites and a 10-story AC by Marriott with 156 rooms—will share a lobby connected to the skywalk and are expected to be finished by 2026 at a total cost of $92.7 million. KEYC
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ New data released Thursday shows the Mankato-North Mankato area added 0.3% more nonfarm jobs (57,712 total) while manufacturing jobs fell by 1.1%—service and private service jobs increased by 0.6% and 0.7% respectively. The Department of Employment and Economic Development said local job growth lagged behind markets like Rochester as the state added the largest monthly job gain since March 2024. Mankato Free Press
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ South Central College will host a health sciences open house from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at its North Mankato campus at 1920 Lee Boulevard, where visitors can tour the campus & speak with faculty to learn about courses, applications, and financial aid. Mankato Free Press
- ➤ Annette Parker, president of South Central College, will lead a free lecture on workforce readiness on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Free Press building on South Second Street—registration is not required. Mankato Free Press
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will end two food purchase programs in the next 60 days, cutting about $12 million in funding for Minnesota schools and food banks. This move stops support for buying food from local farmers — a change that could affect student meal access. Mankato Free Press
- ➤ Federal earmark funding has been cut, affecting projects in Minnesota like Carver's levee upgrade and Mankato Regional Airport's new control tower design—both aiming to secure millions for improvements. Carver Mayor Courtney Johnson said the city will start work next year with $9 million already raised while airport officials look for other funding under the continuing resolution. Mankato Free Press
- ➤ MAPLETON—A section of Blue Earth County Road 29 about 2 miles southwest of Mapleton will close for a bridge replacement project starting Monday. The road will reopen in July, and through-traffic will follow a detour via Blue Earth County Road 7 and Highway 30. Mankato Free Press
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The Waseca boys basketball team won the Section 2AA title against Belle Plaine 76—66 on Thursday night and will play in next week’s state tournament. KEYC
- ➤ The BOLD boys basketball team clinched the Section 2A title with a big win over Madelia on Thursday night—earning a spot in this year’s state tournament. KEYC
- ➤ The Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s girls basketball team earned a 65-61 overtime win over Sacred Heart in the Class A quarterfinals— they now advance to the semifinals and will face MACCRAY Friday at 2 p.m. at Williams Arena. KEYC
- ➤ TODAY'S SPONSOR This compact, easy-to-use rangefinder is packed with features like slope adjustment, flag-lock with vibration feedback, and a USB-C rechargeable battery. Lightweight and accurate, it’s a great choice for casual or beginner golfers looking for reliable performance. The Buy
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Daily Mankato.
-
Karaoke Night Fundraiser
A Thursday night karaoke event featuring opportunities to learn about local causes including VARP, Mavathon, and CADA House.
-
Mankato's Largest Kids' Consignment Sale
The Munchkin Markets Spring Consignment Sale offers deep discounts on gently used children's clothing, toys, and gear at Country Inn & Suites in Mankato.
-
Spring Fling Craft Show
10 AM – 8 PM — River Hills Mall — Free admission — Discover a variety of handmade products and unique gifts from local vendors at this vibrant spring shopping event.
-
Spring Fling Craft Show at River Hills Mall
The Spring Fling Craft Show showcases an array of handmade products and unique gifts from local vendors over a three-day period.
-
Real Estate Meetup in Mankato
6-8 p.m. — Crooked Pint Ale House — Free entry — Discuss real estate with local experts and network with fellow investors.
-
Dual-ing Pianos with Scottie Miller & Tom Hunter
11 AM – 3 PM — Centennial Student Union — Ticket prices vary — Experience the dueling talents of acclaimed pianists Scottie Miller and Tom Hunter in an entertaining musical showdown.
-
Spring Fling Craft Show
10 a.m. – 8 p.m. — River Hills Mall — Free admission — Explore a vibrant array of handmade products, unique gifts, and local vendors at this spring shopping event.
-
Natural Healing Expo
10 AM – 4 PM — Courtyard by Marriott Hotel & Event Center — Ticket required — Explore organic approaches to healing for body, mind, and spirit at this holistic conference.
-
Spring Fling Craft Show
10 a.m. - 8 p.m. — River Hills Mall — Free admission — Discover a vibrant marketplace filled with handmade goods and local treasures this spring.
-
Maverick Conference on Financial Success
11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. — Centennial Student Union — Free entry — Learn from experts in Agribusiness and personal finance education at this informative conference.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.

A Budget-Friendly Golf Rangefinder with Premium Features
The REVASRI NK‑1000 rangefinder is a surprisingly capable option for golfers who want accuracy without spending a fortune.
Priced under $50, it includes features like slope adjustment, flag-lock with vibration feedback, and a rechargeable USB-C battery. Plus, it’s compact and lightweight, easily locks onto targets, and seamlessly switches between yards and meters. It’s a great pick for casual or new golfers looking for reliable performance at a wallet-friendly price point.
Bonus: Shop more top-rated and best-selling golf products.
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Daily Mankato.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Most smart people overrate the value of intelligence and underrate the value of consistency.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Mankato
Welcome to the Daily Mankato, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Mankato, Minnesota community. If you like the Daily Mankato, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Mankato.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Mankato and across Minnesota. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Mankato
A free Mankato community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.

© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailymankato.com/sitemap