Good morning, Mankato.

Cannoli, a 2 yr old shorthair who just finished raising four kittens, is now ready for adoption — she is friendly and adapts well with other pets.

Interested adopters can call BENCHS for more details.

The local chapter of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association is hosting its 'Welcome Home Veterans' event at Blue Earth County Fairgrounds this Labor Day weekend (tickets are $20) with music, comedy, and classes on CPR, wood and metalworking scheduled for Saturday; proceeds support veteran care.

Family-owned The Dam Store in Mankato will begin new late-night hours on Oct.

1 — operating until 3 a.m. on Thurs, Fri, and Sat — while continuing regular daytime service from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mankato woman Wren Zwaschka will compete in the Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant on Sept.

19 at the New Prague Park Ballroom. She will showcase her Czech heritage through CPR talent, kroj modeling, and interviews + national contest preparation in August 2027.

AAA reported record high fuel prices ahead of Labor Day weekend, with diesel in Mankato reaching $5.83 and gas at $3.86.

Volk Transfer warned that rising shipping costs could further increase trucking expenses in the area.

Students returning to Gustavus Adolphus College this fall discovered a redesigned Jackson Campus Center that now houses an expanded Courtyard Café featuring varied seating around a double-sided fireplace (inspired by Swedish coffee shops), as the former post office has relocated.

Mankato superintendent Paul Peterson will outline his goals for the upcoming school year at a school board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Mankato Room, focusing on future-focused secondary experiences, multi-year budget planning, and strategies to strengthen community trust in MAPS.

The new Hiniker Parkway reconstruction in Mankato is complete, providing an alternate route for local businesses before next year’s Highway 169 project begins.

The work also upgraded the Hiniker Pond parking lot & installed new sewer and lighting systems with final touches due in the coming weeks.

MSU students donated blood Tuesday during an American Red Cross drive as repeat donor Carolina Figueroa and first-timers stepped up to help boost supply ahead of the holiday weekend (the organization noted more campus visits are planned this fall).

Families getting ready for school are encouraged to adopt nutrition habits such as including more leafy greens, berries and fatty fish (key parts of the MIND diet) to support brain health and focus.

These small changes could help improve concentration and overall well-being as school resumes.

Due to high heat on Friday, Mankato Area Public Schools delayed East and West high football game kickoffs to 8 p.m. with gates opening at 7 p.m. local + cooler conditions expected later.

Local high school football games concluded on Friday with Owatonna beating East 37-29, West winning at Mahtomedi 31-28, LCWM defeating St. James Area 48-6, Lakeview besting Madelia 38-0, Cleveland beating USC 39-14, Waseca edging St. Peter 41-24, Nrheg overcoming St. Clair-Loyola 28-14, and Fillmore Central defeating JWP 48-28.