Thursday, April 17th, 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 Thursday, the 17th of April.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society at BENCHS now has 64 cats and 45 extra surrenders, nearly reaching its legal capacity of 80 cats—up from 30 on this date last year. Executive director Dede Barton is working to secure an in-house veterinarian and corporate sponsorship to cut costs while quickly placing cats in new homes—hoping the community will support the shelter’s efforts. Mankato Free Press
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ Walter DTJ Green, 26, of Chaska, was charged after a traffic stop in Le Sueur County led officers to find bags of marijuana, a pill bottle with cocaine and a handgun modified with a switch to work fully-automatic; he now faces felonies for machine gun possession, ineligible firearm possession and controlled substance possession. Mankato Free Press
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Programs focusing on Indigenous astronomy will be offered tomorrow as part of Earth Month at Minnesota State University in Mankato. A traveling planetarium show will run from noon to 3 p.m. at Schellberg gymnasium and Bell Museum will host free activities at Jeffers Petroglyphs near Comfrey from 4 to 10 p.m.—a guided tour of Native American rock carvings is planned from 7 to 9 p.m. if weather permits. Mankato Free Press
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Mankato East High School Planetarium will host a free show on April 23 and April 25—offering visitors a look at the Lyrid meteor shower and cosmic connections between Orion and ancient Egyptian pyramids. KEYC
- ➤ Students at Bridges Community School in North Mankato created a mural for Autism Acceptance Month by decorating slips of paper that were joined into one artwork representing the entire student body. School staff said the project focused on including every student—especially those in special education—to show that working together makes a stronger community. KEYC
- ➤ Ritu Raju was named the next president at South Central College in North Mankato by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees, replacing Annette Parker. She will begin her term on July 1 — and she brings over 20 years of higher education experience including her role as president of Gateway Technical College. Mankato Free Press
- ➤ Minnesota State University will host historian Jonathan Soucek for the William E. Lass Memorial Lecture at 4 p.m. Monday in Ostrander Auditorium—located in the Centennial Student Union—where he will discuss connections between the Minnesota DFL Party and the civil rights movement; a reception will follow the free lecture. Mankato Free Press
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The Mankato West boys tennis team defeated Mankato East 7-0 Wednesday night in a shutout match. The win gave West a strong finish in the game as both teams look to build momentum for upcoming contests. KEYC
- ➤ Mankato East senior Jackson Henkels signed his National Letter of Intent on April 16th to join Minnesota State's track and field program—he will now begin his collegiate career. 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.
-
Cinderella
12:59 p.m. — Minnesota State University Theatre & Dance — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magic of Cinderella with beloved songs and a timeless story of hope.
-
Bunny Breakfast Buffet
7 a.m. – 2 p.m. — Hilltop Hy-Vee Grocery Store — Kids eat free with adult entree — Enjoy a themed breakfast with an egg hunt and crafts on Easter Saturday.
-
Bar Bingo
6 PM — Fraternal Order of Eagles — Free entry — Enjoy an evening of bingo with friends in a community atmosphere.
-
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Evening — Minnesota State University Theatre & Dance — Ticket prices Vary — Experience all 37 of Shakespeare's plays in a hilarious and fast-paced production.
-
Power to Choose: K-12 Education Expo
5-7:30 p.m. — Mankato Family YMCA — Free entry — Discover educational options in the greater Mankato area and engage with local representatives.
-
Loyola-Cleveland Invitational
Starting all day — Myers Field House — Check website for entry fees — Compete in a vibrant track and field atmosphere.
-
Trivia Night at Pub 500
7:30-10:00 p.m. — Pub 500 — $2 grab bottles and tap specials — Test your trivia skills while enjoying tasty deals on drinks.
-
Turn Turn Turn
8-9 p.m. — Hooligans — Ticket info not specified — Enjoy harmonies of 60s and 70s country, folk, and pop with this original Americana band.
-
AKDC Scorpio Rising Tour - Mankato Show
7-8 p.m. — Carnegie Art Center — Suggested donation — Experience a blend of heavy metal and jazz fusion with Aaron Kerr’s Dissonant Creatures' album release tour.
-
Women of Kato Series 4 Featuring Local Musicians
5-8 p.m. — NaKato Bar & Grill — Free entry — Enjoy acoustic performances from four talented women artists in a collaborative music series.
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
Energy and persistence conquer all things.
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