St. Cloud Times
RIVERWALK REIMAGINED
In St. Cloud, the Mississippi River could become even more accessible if lawmakers include the city’s Riverwalk Connection project in this year’s potential bonding bill. While the bonding bill — legislation that funds infrastructure projects...
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Don Casey, former St. Cloud Times editor, dies at 91
Long-time St. Cloud Times editor Don Casey died last week; the journalist spent more than 20 years with the paper. Casey, 91, died last Thursday, Feb. 19, at his home in Sartell, according to the Minnesota Newspaper Association. The long-time editor...
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Local duo launches Futsal Collective Co.
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Two St. Cloudarea business owners recently started a new enterprise, launching a sports business in hopes of making soccer offerings more accessible in central Minnesota. Liz Meyer, of Backwards Bread Co., and Jake Hemmesch, of 320...
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ICE top of mind during community meeting
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — At least 150 people gathered in the city council chambers of the St. Cloud City Hall Wednesday evening, as local residents discussed the city’s community policing agreement. The agreement, which has been around since 2005, is a...
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Clinton depositions show changed Democratic Party
WASHINGTON – In late February 2016, Hillary Clinton cruised to an overwhelming victory in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary – an unambiguous statement of the former first lady and secretary of state’s dominance over her party as she...
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Game shop draws players from across central MN
A game shop in Paynesville has become a place where people from across central Minnesota gather to play and build connections through games. Katy Westlund, whose children run the game shop, said the idea grew out of family, connection and a belief in...
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Kimball grad Schultz to compete in Paralympics
St. Cloud’s Mike Schultz is getting ready for the 2026 Milan Paralympic Games next month, representing the United States in para snowboarding. U.S. Ski & Snowboard on Feb. 24 announced it nominated Schultz as one of the 32 ski and snowboard athletes to...
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DISCOUNT SHOP DEBUTS
This January, co-owners Kris Braegelmann and Brandon Fisher set up shop at Final Sale Liquidation Center, St. Germain Street’s newest store offering quality items at a discounted price. But the story of how the store opened for business starts with...
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Local company behind some common furniture items
Visitors to one of Sauk Rapids’ many manufacturers will be met with a small team of machinists, working in a large open space full of equipment for shaping metal, testing machines and transporting supplies. The work stations are surrounded by walls...
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New Thai restaurant opens in downtown St. Cloud
A new restaurant specializing in authentic Thai cuisine has started calling downtown St. Cloud its home. Canaan Thai Kitchen – located at 129 Seventh Ave. S. – opened its doors on Thursday, Feb. 12. Co-owner Pa Pra said there has already been a...
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‘A Paddler’s Symphony’
ASt. Cloud native has written a Northwoods-inspired symphony, titled “A Paddler’s Symphony.” h The effort is influenced by Sarah Kremer’s own experiences on canoe expeditions and by the writings of local children’s author Doug Wood. The symphony...
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Find plants, furniture, unique gifts at downtown shop
Visitors who step inside Green Thumb Etc. in downtown St. Cloud will be greeted with green walls lined with plants, upbeat music playing on a speaker, and a chair or sofa surrounded by piles of fabric. The store’s owner, Ashley Green, will come greet...
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MC’s Pub expected to open location in Elk River
ELK RIVER — A new restaurant is expected to open in Elk River next month. MC’s Pub announced it will open its doors March 1 at 13478 Business Center Drive NW in Elk River, off of Highway 10 near the Sherburne County Government Center. This will be...
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Holdingford Feed Mill catches on fire, explosions heard
Corey Schmidt Those in Holdingford Sunday night might have heard explosions. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office reports the sounds were related to a fire at the Holdingford Feed Mill. First responders were sent to the feed mill, 130 Plymouth St.,...
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Advocates ask for expanded passenger rail service
Passenger rail access in St. Cloud could resurface at the state capitol this legislative session as All Aboard Minnesota urges lawmakers to explore expanded service between the Twin Cities and Fargo. All Aboard Minnesota is asking state legislators to...
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Park expands, protecting habitat and cultural site
A Sherburne County park has recently expanded, honoring the area’s unique landscape and cultural history. A sprawling area of over 400 acres of native prairie, oak savanna and shoreline along Elk Lake is now protected after a new expansion of Two...
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Report finds microplastics in all Minnesota waterways
From a distance, Minnesota’s waterways may look peaceful and untouched, perfect for fishing, swimming or skating in the winter. However, a new report has found some of the state’s rivers and lakes may not be as pristine as they appear. A citizen...
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Report: U.S. inflation ticked down in Jan.
Inflation cooled a bit more than forecasters expected in January, with prices rising 2.4% from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Feb. 13. The report, which was delayed two days because of a brief government shutdown, revealed that inflation...
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St. Cloud’s housing market rebalances
Situated in the geographical center of the St. Cloud metro area is a beautifully maintained, classic home on the riverfront. Located at 3136 Dolores Drive and nestled on a bluff along the scenic Sauk River, this rare gem offers charm and riverfront...
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Socks in the Frying Pan returning to St. Cloud
Irish-style music is coming to central Minnesota. Socks in the Frying Pan, a multi-award-winning trio from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, plays Feb. 22 in St. Cloud. Formed in 2014, the band includes Shane Hayes on accordion, Calum Bell on fiddle and...
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Honoring fire heritage
In 1920s Sartell, Minnesota, firefighting looked a lot different than it does today. h One key difference, explained retired firefighter Dennis Molitor, is the fire department couldn’t get running water from hydrants. h “They actually drafted water...
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Several new businesses opening in Sartell in 2026
Sartell made strides to attract economic development in 2025, and many of these projects will come to fruition in 2026. These new additions range from vehicle maintaince shops to food service to lodging. In part because of these developments, Sartell...
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Is the Louis Industry expansion Paynesville’s largest?
PAYNESVILLE, Minn. — Manufacturing is at the heart of the Paynesville Industrial Park. Now, it’s not unusual to see construction workers nearby as an expansion is underway at Louis Industries Inc., adding 40,000 square feet for a total of 180,000...
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MAGA vs. Bad Bunny splits Super Bowl
Sen. Tommy Tuberville was thrilled to attend the Super Bowl in 2025 when he hitched a ride on Air Force One, joining President Donald Trump and several other Republican lawmakers for the big game. “Happy Super Bowl Sunday,” the Republican senator for...
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Stearns County’s past comes to life in new book
Staff at Stearns History Museum will soon bring decades of regional history — transportation, commerce, farming and more — into print with the publication of a new “Images of America” book. The project began when Arcadia Publishing reached out to...
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St. Cloud Sky Central Airport looks to future
Last month, Allegiant Air announced it will acquire Sun Country Airlines with a $1.5 billion merger agreement. As reported in the Times, the combined airline will operate under the Allegiant banner, serving approximately 650 routes. This deal also...
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A LATTE CHANGE
St. Joseph's The House Food and Tap includes four restaurants and a tap wall. Holly Marie Moore W h hhen The House Food and Tap’s former coffee partner Eminent Coffee Roasters made the decision to close its business, a door opened for a new chapter...
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Popular area coffee roaster closing its doors
A St. Cloud-area coffee roaster has closed after more than three years in business. Eminent Coffee said on its website, “After a great deal of reflection, we’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to close our coffee roasting business.” Last year,...
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Where to find upscale meals in St. Cloud
Mavericks Steak & Cocktails is pictured Feb. 20, 2020, in Waite Park. Teagan King The St. Cloud area offers a wide variety of eateries, with many different cuisines represented at local restaurants. Those looking for an upscale meal out in central...
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After 50 years, barber hangs up his shears
Throughout his 53-year career in a barbershop, John Parry garnered a reputation for putting smiles on his clients’ faces. During appointments, he often shared he planned to skip retirement altogether and instead keep cutting hair as long as his body...
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Journalists at state church protest arrested
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon on Jan. 29 was arrested by federal officials in Los Angeles days after a protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota, his lawyer said, as mass demonstrations over federal immigration enforcement were planned...
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Omar’s attack not the first for a Minnesota politician
Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born Democrat from Minnesota, was sprayed with an unknown substance while giving a speech Jan. 27 at an event in Minneapolis. In Minnesota, attacks on political leaders are not new – not even for Omar. Omar was sprayed with...
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‘TWO WORLDS’
When Vice President JD Vance visited Minnesota last Thursday, Jan. 22, he called the death of Renee Good, 37, “multilayered.” He said Good’s death is tragic, but so is the concern federal agents have of potentially violent encounters. “The tragedy is...
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Trump and Walz report ‘productive’ phone call
President Donald Trump and Gov. Tim Walz spoke on the phone on Monday, Jan. 26, in what they both labeled a positive call, possibly simmering the boiling tensions that arose after two fatalities at the hands of federal immigration agents in...
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Mining near Boundary Waters may soon start
A proposal to repeal a ban on mining in northeastern Minnesota’s Superior National Forest is headed to the U.S. Senate following approval in the House, reigniting a long-simmering fight between environmentalists and promining interests. The reaction...
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Klobuchar officially puts her hat in the ring
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar filed paperwork for her campaign for Minnesota governor Thursday, weeks after Gov. Tim Walz ended his campaign for a third-term amid a widening scandal of fraud in state-run social service programs. “This is a preliminary step...
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Non-profit brings Texas shelter animals to MN
Hundreds of furry friends moved to Minnesota last year through Ruff Start Rescue’s Lone Star to North Star Rescue Relief Program. Roughly 600 dogs and 110 cats were transported from shelters in Houston to homes in Minnesota, according to Meaghan...
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Minnesotans start strike to protest surge by ICE
MINNEAPOLIS – Scores of businesses across Minnesota were closing up for the day on Jan. 23 in what religious leaders and labor unions described as a general strike to protest President Donald Trump’s deployment of thousands of immigration enforcement...
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From local schools to the Red Carpet, rappers perform
St. Cloud rapper A$H WAV prepares for a high-energy show at the Red Carpet’s Keller Bar Saturday, Jan. 24. The 22-year-old headliner, whose name is Ashton Petschen, will also highlight his duo, Cold Blooded, bringing on fellow rapper Chris Harris,...
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‘The power of play’
The Great River Children’s Museum has hit six months since it opened in St. Cloud and is now preparing for its first full year in business. 2025 was full of important milestones, CEO Cassie Miles said, and 2026 will be a year focused on growth and...
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MOVING FORWARD New pizza and hot food arrive at St. Cloud Pilot Travel Center
The Pilot Travel Center in St. Cloud near Interstate 94 completed a $1.8 million remodel, bringing more food options to those passing by the Granite City. Store manager Brandon Walker told the St. Cloud Times the entire store at 4231 Clearwater Road,...
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Fresh batch of flavors
In 2025, St. Joseph welcomed several new restaurants under one roof. The House Food and Tap food hall opened in St. Joseph in March and has since seen many visitors eager to try its wide variety of cuisines and and expansive tap wall. The food hall...
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Could more cuts be on the horizon for St. Cloud State?
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — A new leader takes the reins at St. Cloud State University. Gregory Tomso, Ph.D., arrived on campus Monday, Jan. 5, beginning his tenure as president at a consequential moment for the institution, as the prospect of additional cuts...
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St. Cloud Farmers Market returns for winter markets
ST. CLOUD — Farmers market season has returned in St. Cloud through a new setup during the winter months. The St. Cloud Area Farmers Market will be hosting biweekly Saturday farmers markets at B-Side Indie Music Cafe in downtown St. Cloud this winter,...
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ICE OPERATION SPARKS TENSION
A group of at least 65 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents gathered shortly before noon Jan. 12 near the intersection of Third Street North and 33rd Avenue North in St. Cloud. Agents reportedly tried to detain one individual near Star Market,...
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‘A positive impact on our community’
Heading into 2026, a central Minnesota women’s clothing boutique is continuing to grow. Dibbydabbles Designs and Finds, a clothing boutique created by Maple Lake resident Peggy Weber, has launched an expanded operation at Copper Pony in Sauk Rapids in...
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Furor continues over ICE shootings
Tensions remained high Jan. 9 after shootings involving immigration agents in Minneapolis and in Portland, Oregon, drew protesters to the streets and deepened fractures between federal and state officials. In Portland, a U.S. Border Patrol officer...
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St. Cloud Times’ 2025 top 12 most read stories
2025 had many new policies, businesses, crime and events take place in the St. Cloud area. The St. Cloud Times news staff was there to cover it. The Times’ top 12 most read stories of the past year brought a mix of fun, seriousness and...
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2 restaurants leaving St. Joseph’s The House
After a successful first year in business, St. Joseph’s The House Food and Tap is gearing up for several changes into the new year. Two of the new food hall’s restaurants, Eminent Coffee Roasters and Birdie’s Pizza and Garden Bar, will be leaving The...
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Roots Salon opens doors in Waite Park
A new salon hosting local stylists, dirty sodas and a cozy atmosphere has come to Waite Park. Hair Stylist Emma Enstad opened Roots Salon in early December, bringing to life her dream of owning her own salon after several years working in the...
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PROGRESS
St. Cloud welcomed several major development projects to the area in 2025. h The area’s biggest projects of the year spanned areas from health care to manufacturing and commercial space, excluding restaurants and housing, bringing in tens of millions...
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Mamdani promises new era for NYC
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Jan. 1 inauguration and block party reflected a diverse city looking to make good on the 34-year-old democratic socialist’s promises to address affordability. On a freezing New Year’s Day, the Democratic mayor took...
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Mint marking 250 with special coins
The U.S. Mint is issuing special circulating coins to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Quarters, dimes and nickels minted during 2026 will bear special designs or markings reflecting milestones...
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Former White House chief usher is ultimate insider
WASHINGTON – He watched President Bill Clinton go over homework with his daughter Chelsea at the White House kitchen table. He’s witnessed President Jimmy Carter pluck a longstemmed rose from the Rose Garden for his wife Rosalynn on his way back from...
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10 area New Year’s Eve events
As the new year approaches, St. Cloud-area residents have many ways to celebrate on New Year’s Eve. St. Cloud’s bars, bowling alleys, concert venues and other local spots are hosting a mix of events to ring in the New Year. Country Lights...
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Soda shop brings signature drinks to local mall in 2026
A new local spot for sodas and other sweet drinks is coming to St. Cloud in 2026. Schmidty’s Soda Shop, based in Alexandria, is opening its second location in St. Cloud in January, the soda shop announced in early December. Owner Jessica Schmidt...
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PARTY LIKE IT’S 1929
Hidden around St. Cloud are several historic vestiges of the area’s Prohibition era, where Stearns County families turned to moonshine to make a living and the area’s residents socialized over alcohol in secret. h Today, central Minnesota is home to...
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‘DEEP CONNECTION’
The places Indigenous peoples call home have intertwined with their ways of life for millennia. Their stories, foodways and cultures relate directly to their homelands. Lands, waters, plants and animals, the creatures that inhabit the waters below and...
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Festival to return with comedy, fireworks
ST. CLOUD — One of St. Cloud’s prominent winter events is returning to downtown St. Cloud next month. The Bold and Bright Festival will take place Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, with a mix of returning favorite activities and new events. “There’s a lot to...
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Penny presses aren’t going away
Robert Hoff was amazed the first time he saw a coin press machine in action in the 1970s. Hoff was in his twenties when a person passed him while carrying the machine and watched as they pressed pennies for a quarter a piece. That moment created a...
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LGBTQ+ community center finds home downtown
ST. CLOUD — Seal Dwyer Counseling is expanding to bring an LGBTQ+ community center back to downtown St. Cloud. The move comes after St. Cloud’s previous LGBTQ+ community center, Rainbow Wellness Collective, closed in June 2024. Seal Dwyer, who owns...
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Shop Nordic goods at Ingebretsen’s
AScandinavian shop that specializes in goods and food is not too far of a drive for St. Cloud shoppers. Ingebretsen’s in Minneapolis fulfills a holiday tradition for many. Julie Ingebretsen runs the family business and keeps the store’s name the same...
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‘Bigger and better’
Waite Park concert venue The Ledge Amphitheater brought in major sales and visitors in 2025, and it also has big plans for the upcoming 2026 concert season. h The 2025 season at The Ledge Amphitheater saw 62,000 visitors and generated an estimated $6...
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Brown shooting suspect found dead
PROVIDENCE, RI – Though the suspect connected to the deadly Brown University attack and the fatal shooting of an MIT professor was found dead in New Hampshire, the questions and fallout have only begun. Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez...
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Five unique businesses to visit in Cold Spring
COLD SPRING — Cold Spring, located about a 25-minute drive from St. Cloud, offers a small-town feel with several local businesses. The town is home to a mix of shops that have been go-to spots for decades and newer businesses that have opened in...
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New St. Cloud eatery
A new restaurant is coming to south St. Cloud this month, focused on diner comfort food. Dhaba 94 American Diner will soft open at the former Burger King space at 4325 Clearwater Road on Dec. 22, combining American diner favorites with Indian...
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Salon focused on hair removal opens downtown
A new salon to help patients with hair removal has opened in downtown St. Cloud this fall. St. Cloud residents Alice Valentine and Sofia Martin opened Valentines Salon in September, bringing a new hair removal option to central Minnesota. So far, the...
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Celebrating 80 years of sweet treats in 2026
COLD SPRING — Visitors at Cold Spring Bakery are greeted by the sweet scent of baked goods and shelves stacked with cookies, donuts, cakes and other sweet treats. The downtown Cold Spring staple has brought treats to central Minnesotans for decades,...
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Pop-up holiday market opens in St. Joseph
Anew shop hosting locally-made goods has temporarily opened in downtown St. Joseph. h Avon Hills Folk School has launched a pop-up store in St. Joseph for the holiday shopping season, and it will be open through Dec. 21. h The market features a wide...
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House panel Democrats release Epstein photos
WASHINGTON – House Democrats received another trove of 95,000 pictures from accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s estate and released 19 images Dec. 12 that show Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton and other high-profile figures. It was not...
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Life, loss and laughter collide in ‘Dinner for One’
MINNEAPOLIS – In 2022, Christina Baldwin decided to tour the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. On a TV in one of the rooms, an 18-minute physical comedy sketch was playing on loop. The 1963 German TV skit depicts a butler named James going...
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WinterWalk Festival draws large crowds
Minnesotans filled the streets in downtown St. Joseph Dec. 5, braving the cold to visit local businesses, restaurants and Christmas events. The 2025 JoeTown WinterWalk Festival offered visitors a chance to celebrate the holiday season while enjoying...
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Celebrate the holidays with tours, tea at Foley Mansion
This holiday season, the Foley Mansion offers a unique destination for creating memories. The home is fully decorated for Christmas through Jan. 31, giving visitors a chance to see the mansion’s blend of historic charm and festive spirit. The...
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