Daily
Mankato
Thursday, April 2nd, 2026
Good morning, Mankato. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 2nd of April.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Jesus Food & Kids Against Hunger celebrated getting its first permanent location in 10 years when it opened a 5,000 sqft downtown space on Feb. 28. The nonprofit now can pack food any time, helping serve children in need (a goal it has long pursued). Mankato Free Press
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Lager’s of St. Peter is closing its longtime location and merging operations with Lager’s of Mankato to streamline service for local customers; the change follows over 60 years in St. Peter and will help meet customer needs. KEYC
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ On March 15, 2026, social media misled locals when a Facebook post announced that all members of The Gillyweeds (a fictional band created for an alternate reality game) had died in a plane crash, and Todd Pitman said future stories will be clearly labeled as fiction. Mankato Free Press
- ➤ Beth Fisher and Cheryl Casteen showcase dozens of eco-art pieces from diverse artists at Carnegie Art Center in Mankato. The exhibit runs through Saturday and concludes at 4 p.m. with a reception featuring poetry + music. Mankato Free Press
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ New Horizon Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting at 227 East Main St. today at 10 a.m., introducing 148 child care slots. The family-owned company — led by CEO Chad Dunkley — bought the historic property from Cultivate Mankato and plans to expand services while working with city officials on parking solutions. Mankato Free Press
- ➤ Central High School’s experiential education program continues to grow; now offering courses such as embroidery and manicures alongside traditional woodworking, PC building + gardening, and school beautification projects, the program helps students earn graduation credits and career skills while also training new cohorts. KEYC
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The detour for Highway 22 between Mankato and St. Peter is set to resume April 15 as crews start the final year of the two-year project, according to MnDOT. A construction open house is scheduled Tuesday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at 2151 Bassett Drive. Mankato Free Press
- ➤ Mankato Department of Public Safety and Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office joined forces with Towards Zero Death to launch Distracted Driving Month starting Wednesday, April 1—extra patrols along Highway 169 and teen driver workshops are planned to curb distracted driving. KEYC
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Free Oral Cancer Screenings in Mankato & Rochester
In honor of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, Southeastern Minnesota Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery will offer free oral cancer screenings on April 16 from 2 pm to 4 pm at: 2519 Commerce Drive NW, Suite 110, Rochester, Minn., 55901; and 1410 Madison Avenue, Mankato, Minn., 56001. To participate, arrive at one of the clinics during the designated times and ask for a free cancer screening.
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Toy Stories on Ice
7-9 p.m. — All Seasons Arena — $10 adult, $5 youth/senior/student — Experience a charming retelling of Toy Story featuring local skaters portraying beloved characters.
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Toy Stories on Ice – 51st Annual Ice Show
7-9 p.m. — All Seasons Arena — $10 adult, $5 youth/senior/student — Experience the beloved characters of Toy Story brought to life through local figure skating talents.
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Micro Wrestling Federation Show
7-10 p.m. — Kato Ballroom — All-ages show — Experience thrilling micro wrestling action with body slams, brawls, and the chance to meet the wrestlers post-event.
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.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Reading changes your mind, applying changes your life.
~ James Clear
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