Good morning, Mankato.

Lifelong Learners will celebrate their 30-year anniversary on Friday, June 13 with guest speaker James Fleming set to discuss the Dakota Uprising Trials.

The volunteer-run group offers coffee meetings, field trips, book groups and bird walks (and a complimentary silver membership for MSU retirees) and invites residents 50 and older to join.

Utility work for the hotel project will begin relocating electrical lines at 8 a.m. Monday to affect downtown traffic in Mankato — Walnut Street will become one-way and an alley by The Flask and The Loose Moose as well as an adjacent parking lot will be closed for the month-long project.

Early Tuesday, Mapleton police arrested 47-year-old Troy Blaine Almhjeld for the killing of his 71-year-old father at their downtown apartment—authorities responded to a report of a car off Highway 22 and signs of a struggle were found at the scene.

The Mankato school district will offer free summer meals for all youths 18 and younger starting June 9 at the Center for Learning on Map Drive and expanding to Eagle Lake Elementary, East High School, Franklin Elementary, Hoover Elementary, and Rosa Parks Elementary on June 12—approximately 50,000 meals will be served during the summer while Mankato West remains closed for construction.

Mankato East High School principal Akram Osman has been named a 2025 Bush Foundation fellow after his selection at the foundation's May Launch Retreat, and he will soon begin leadership training and mentorship—boosting his work for educational equity.

Osman, one of Minnesota's first Somali American principals, arrived here as a fifth grader in 2001.

The Mankato East softball team defeated Simley 4–1 in the Class AAA quarterfinals on June 4 — they then faced Rocori in the Class AAA semifinals later that evening.

Mankato East defeated Mankato West 9-1 in the Section 2AAA semifinal game and will face the winner of the game between Mankato West & Albert Lea in today's championship game at 10:00 a.m.

SoccerFest is in its 17th year in North Mankato and over 1,200 players from more than 100 teams will take part on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Caswell North Soccer Complex and Good Shepherd fields—hosted by Mankato United Soccer Club, the event will showcase local soccer talent.

The Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial softball team lost to Hawley 3—1 on June 4 and will play St—Agnes today at 6:30 p.m. in the consolation bracket.

The Jackson County Central softball team beat St. Agnes 10-0 in five innings in the Class AA quarterfinals and will face Hawley in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. today.

St Cloud Rox vs Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Game

6:35-8:05 p.m. — ISG Field — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an exciting baseball game between local teams under the summer sky.

Minnesota 52 Hike Challenge - National Trails Day Group Hike

10 AM – 1 PM — Minneopa State Park — $7 parking/admission — Celebrate National Trails Day with a fun group hike featuring bison education and trivia.

Alison Krauss & Union Station Concert

7:30-9:00 p.m. — Vetter Stone Amphitheater — Tickets available soon — Experience a special evening with twenty-seven-time Grammy winner Alison Krauss and her band on their first tour in a decade.

Minot Honeybees vs. Mankato Habaneros Doubleheader

5:05-8:05 p.m. — ISG Field — Ticket prices vary — Catch an exciting doubleheader featuring the Minot Honeybees taking on the Mankato Habaneros.

Badlands Big Sticks vs. Mankato MoonDogs

6:35-8:05 p.m. — ISG Field — Ticket prices vary — Catch the thrilling baseball showdown live in Mankato.

2025 American Indian Summer Camp

Jun 15-18 — Preska Residence Community — Free entry — Engage in cultural learning and college preparation activities designed for American Indian high school students.

Wausau Softball vs Mankato Habaneros

6:35-8:05 p.m. — ISG Field — Tickets available — Catch the Wausau Softball team face off against the Mankato Habaneros in a lively game at ISG Field.

Mankato Habaneros vs. Wausau Softball Match

6:35-8:05 p.m. — ISG Field — Ticket pricing varies — Catch an exciting softball showdown between the Habaneros and Wausau.

Monthly Meetup - GitOps and GitHub Actions

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Mogwai Collaborative — Free entry — Engage in hands-on workshops on web development and cybersecurity for software enthusiasts.

Eau Claire Express at Mankato MoonDogs

6:35-8:05 p.m. — ISG Field — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a thrilling baseball matchup while supporting a charitable cause.