Mankato Free Press

The Free Press is a daily newspaper based in Mankato, Minnesota.

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St. Peter nearly became Minnesota’s capital; Frentz authors bill to make it the honorary capital

1 day ago | mankatofreepress.com | Anika Besst

ST. PETER — Minnesota history is filled with stories of political chicanery, backroom deals and other unpleasantness. For sheer chutzpah, however, it’s hard to beat the tale of how land speculators in 1857 nearly got lawmakers to move the capital to St. Peter. “People are familiar with bits and pieces of the story.
Diaries of Civil War soldier provide insight to events of the time

5 days ago | mankatofreepress.com | Michael Lagerquist

Jonathan W. White was in California on another book project when he happened across the diaries of George Buswell. In the online catalog it said Buswell had served in Memphis, which he was researching. “I started reading through them, and I got to the part about the (Dec. 26, 1862) execution in Mankato,” he said via Zoom.
Amazon delivery hub going up in North Mankato's industrial park

5 days ago | mankatofreepress.com | Tim Krohn

NORTH MANKATO — If you think you get things pretty quickly from Amazon now, the deliveries in the Mankato region could be even a little faster in the future. Amazon is building a delivery center in the Northport Industrial Center, located along Carlson Drive, south of Palmer Bus and Blue Star Power. “They call it a ‘last-mile’ center,” said North Mankato Community Development Director Mike Fischer.
Heilman: It's best to keep turkeys wild

5 days ago | mankatofreepress.com | Roy Heilman

“You can come shoot one out of my yard. We have loads of ‘em!”There isn’t a turkey hunter alive who hasn’t heard some version of this dubious invitation. It’s usually issued from someone who lives in town, and believes it would be easy because “turkeys are so dumb.” Those turkeys are obviously accustomed to seeing people routinely, and unconcerned about people, cars, and even pets. Conversely, there isn’t a turkey hunter alive who doesn’t know how wary and skittish turkeys are in the wild.
CityArt sculptures come down, new ones arriving May 17

5 days ago | mankatofreepress.com | Tim Krohn

MANKATO — Crews of Mankato and North Mankato employees and a contingent of volunteers made quick work of grinding off welds and removing bolts from bases to deinstall 32 sculptures Saturday morning. On May 17 another 32 pieces will be installed for the upcoming CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour. “We have a 20-foot shark coming. We’re working on how to get that here,” said Amy Klugherz, chair of the sculpture tour.
Minnesota government workers live with uncertainty as federal government slashes aid to states

5 days ago | mankatofreepress.com | Briana Bierschbach

In the two weeks since she got a layoff notice from the Minnesota Department of Health, Amy Saupe has been contingency planning with her family while frantically trying to wrap up projects connected to a 14-year career in the prevention of foodborne illnesses. On Monday, her initial layoff will be rescinded after the department said it made errors in the first round of notices. But there’s still uncertainty: The same day she could get a new layoff notice — or find out her job is now secure.
Mankato boys lacrosse comes from behind to win | Local Sports | mankatofreepress.com

6 days ago | mankatofreepress.com | Jim Rueda

The Mankato boys lacrosse team went into comeback mode in the second-half Friday, erasing a three-goal halftime deficit to down Minneapolis 8-6 at Thomas O. Anderson Field.
Unchartered waters: Kato Public Charter School to close its doors in June

6 days ago | mankatofreepress.com | Robb Murray

Sarah Sifers’s son was struggling. A junior high school student in the Mankato Area Public Schools, he was missing so much school he was in danger of being labeled a chronic truant. His mental health was suffering. He was on an Individualized Education Program. “He was so anxious. He couldn’t order food in a restaurant, wouldn’t talk in school or in classes. He was so depressed,” Sifers says.
Trump policies top talking points at legislative town halls

1 week ago | mankatofreepress.com | Dana Ferguson |Dan Kraker

Many Minnesota lawmakers used this week to reconnect with constituents who filled in-person town halls to express displeasure and some support for their representatives in contentious times. Once the Easter and Passover recess has ended, a divided Minnesota Legislature will put together a budget with a modest surplus expected but a $6 billion shortfall anticipated for the following two-year budget.
Tariffs and farms: A delicate situation

1 week ago | mankatofreepress.com | Lori Sturdevant

Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish got my attention when he told me that President Donald Trump’s tariff policy could push Minnesota into a new farm crisis, one that could do more damage than the 1980s version. I remember that farm crisis — and if you were of sentient age in Minnesota in the 1980s, you do too. The pain of lost farms, dashed dreams and depleted communities caused by a crash in commodity and land prices was felt well beyond farm country — and would be again.