A traffic stop in the rural Swea City area resulted in the arrests of two Winnebago County residents on drug charges. 56-year-old Jeffrey Michael Cable of Thompson, and 38-year-old Ashley Ann Haar of Thompson were taken into custody after police found meth and drug paraphenelia in the vehicle. Online court records show Cable is scheduled … Read more
Washington (CNN) – Roughly 44 million people will have to restart making payments on their federal student loans, when the pause on federal student loan payments expires later this year. The education secretary announced Tuesday that the one-time student loan forgiveness program is being reviewed by the Supreme Court, and payments are set to resume … Read more
MASON CITY, Iowa – A trial date has been set for this summer for a North Iowa woman charged in an undercover drug trafficking investigation. Lisa Ann Smith, of Mason City, has pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges after a search of her home on April 20 in the 700 block of Eisenhower … Read more
MANTORVILLE, Minn. – An Austin man accused of pulling a knife on people and resisting arrest in Dodge County has accepted a plea deal. Jeremiah Phelps has pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, stemming from the January 8 incident at the Oaks Country Club in Hayfield, in which Phelps allegedly threatened a man with a knife, … Read more
WELLS, Minn. – A popular video store in Wells caught fire Wednesday. The Wells Fire Department responded to the city’s downtown area and found the fire inside the upper level of the Wells Family Video building on S Broadway which is a residence. Everyone who lived upstairs was able to get out safely, according to … Read more
Albert Lea is again hosting the National Glider championships. About 20 to 25 teams are expected to participate. This is the 30th year Albert Lea has hosted the event, the airport manager said. The competition kicks off this Saturday and runs through May 27. That means that there will be over 100 people in town … Read more
A project on Washington in Albert Lea aims to bring new life to the communtiy. During open houses this weekend, organizers will share their vision for Washington Avenue, with the first of what they’ve called BRICK + MORTAR Market, which will open in June and feature products made by local artisans, a press release states. … Read more
A local longtime grocrey co-op is bidding customers adieu, after financial struggles. The board and members of Wintergreen Foods Co-op voted recently to close the store after years of lagging sales due to changing shopping habits, a press release from the co-op stated. Officials said the co-op was no longer able to continue operations without … Read more
A new internet provider is coming to the Albert Lea area. GigFire (formerly LTD Broadband), is bringing a 7,800 passing fiber network, according to the company, which boasts, fiber optic networks will provide a faster more reliable high-speed internet, compared to cable networks that can have limited upload speeds. The company started their fiber optic … Read more
Buckham Memorial Library has partnered with KultureCity to become Sensory Inclusive. Staff will be trained annually on how to recognize patrons with sensory issues, including those with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions, and how to handle a sensory overload situation. KultureCity Sensory Bags, equipped with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards, weighted … Read more