MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about lots of groundbreakings, an Alexandria woman excited to turn 102 on 10-2, and Kalon Prep students doing their part to give to their community.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from October 1 and October 3 below:

October 1, 2025

'Loving on' the community - Feeding the 5001 event gifts Alexandria

New name, new look for Runestone Community Center in Alexandria

Ceremony breaks ground for Alexandria College's new transportation building

Alexandria Airport named 'premiere location' to support electric-powered airplanes

Alexandria woman turns 102 on 10-2

Football: Osakis cruises to Homecoming night victory over rival Sauk Centre

October 3, 2025:

Kalon Prep students raise $1,500 for Douglas County Habitat for Humanity at dunk tank fundraiser

Alexandria Fire Department to hold open house Oct. 6

Petition to enter guilty plea filed in felony child torture case

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks more about homecoming, there’s lots of news from the Alexandria City Council and School Board, plus a celebration of multicultural food and music, and a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.

These stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from September 24 and September 26 below:

September 24, 2025

Alexandria celebrates Homecoming Week with pep fest, naming of king and queen and football

Alexandria City Council sets 2026 preliminary levy increase of 8%

Bringing people together at Global Bites and Beats

Lori Anderson celebrated at retirement party

Zhang is National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

Volleyball: Lady Cards beat Moorhead Spuds 3-2 in five sets

September 26, 2025

Someplace Safe receives special event permit

Alexandria School Board approves $18.2M proposed preliminary levy

Girls Soccer: Cards shut out the Storm 5-0

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about Homecoming, Global Bites & Beats, 25 years of grape-stomping at Carlos Creek Winery and the “at the lake” experience at a local museum.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from September 17 and September 19 below:

September 17, 2025

Never forget Sept. 11, 2001

Alexandria Area High School celebrates homecoming week Sept. 14-19

Global Bites and Beats this week at Alexandria College

Want to know more about living greener? Attend the Green Solutions Expo Sept. 20

Celebrating the silver anniversary of Carlos Creek Winery's Grape Stomp

Tennis: Alexandria shuts out Rocori 7-0

September 19, 2025:

Former Douglas County deputy's record being examined

Carlos Elementary students help complete mural project

Trinity Lutheran Church in Holmes City celebrates 150th anniversary Sunday

The experience of ‘at the lake’ – within four walls at Alexandria’s Legacy of the Lakes Museum

Soccer: Alexandria boys soccer round-up of Sept. 11 and 16 games.

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about turbulence surrounding an Alexandria Airport runway project, a wrapup of two great fall festivals, and a look at Alexandria Public Schools proposed capital projects levy.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from September 10 and September 12 below:

September 10, 2025

Copper Trail Brewing hosts another edition of its Oletoberfest in Alexandria

Funding for Alexandria Airport runway project is up in the air

Douglas County Board approves resolution regarding execution of lease and agreement for Alomere Health

From pickleball to puppy yoga, Taste of Osakis offered something for everyone

A Dash for Cash - and his mom (w/VIDEO)

Football: Osakis Silverstreaks wrap-up from Sept. 5, 2025 game

September 12, 2025

Alexandria superintendent shares details about proposed capital projects levy

Alexandria 6th Avenue project, with trail, gets approval

Osakis sets preliminary budget for 2026

Girls Soccer: Cards fall to Brainerd in a 3-0 loss

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about back to school, the West Central Initiative making a difference in Douglas County, a witness to the Kensington Bank robbery 50 years ago tells his story, and a Minnesota town comes together to honor its veterans.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from September 3 and September 5, 2025, below:

September 3, 2025

Flying high

Bank worker recalls Kensington armed robbery from 50 years ago

KT Remembrance Walk to take place Sept. 14 at Lake Brophy County Park

West Central Initiative makes a difference

A town united to honor veterans

Football: Chanhassen deals Alexandria heartbreaking loss in season opener

September 5, 2025

Tuesday was a soggy start to the 2025-2026 school year for Alexandria students

Douglas County students continue to exceed state averages

Volunteers options abound at Andria Theatre in Alexandria

New flight simulator at On His Wings Mission Aviation in Alexandria offers accelerated training

Boys Soccer: Alexandria Cardinals beat Sartell Sabres

Opinion

This month on Minnesota Night Skies, September means cooler temps and no mosquitos - great stargazing weather!

We’ve got tips for watching the lunar eclipse (the one that's not visible in North America) September 7 via a livestream.

There's a double - or triple - conjunction September 19 this month (if you want to sing the song, here’s the link). Venus, Regulus, and that ol' crescent moon will be, as Bob says, "stacked like a Viennese torte."

Plus, it sounds like something out of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Bob says the idea of a Blood Moon is "particularly heinous."

Autumn begins at 1:19pm September 20, and look for something called "zodiacal light."

And next month, the Orionids from Halley's comet and no lunar interference! All the details of October, next month on Minnesota Night Skies!

Astro Bob is podcasting! Astro Bob King and Echo Press reporter and host Lisa Johnson did an astronomy radio show together for many years, and now they’re back on a new podcast for all of Minnesota, called Minnesota Night Skies.

Bob King is an amateur astronomer, an photographer and author. His most recent book is called “Magnificent Aurora” about the Northern Lights. He writes a syndicated column for the Duluth News Tribune and is a regular contributor to Sky & Telescope magazine.

Bob recommends several guides to help you find what’s up in the sky. For more information about the star maps and a local information calendar, you can check out Skymaps.com. You can look for Starwalk and Stellarium Mobile wherever you get your apps. They’re available for both Apple and Android phones. And check out Heavens Above at Heavens Above.com.

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about Alomere Health Board’s hopes to convert to non profit status, lots of photos from Millerville Butter Day, an expanded cell phone policy in Osakis that may cause some cell-shock when school starts, a much-deserved Service to Mankind award for a local couple and an update on an Alexandria child torture case.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from August 27 and August 29 below:

August 27, 2025

Alomere Health board votes to move to nonprofit status

Cool temps, sunshine, and a butter ball turkey (w/VIDEO)

Business gets approval to cultivate and sell cannabis indoors in Alexandria

‘Cell shock’ for some Osakis students; third time's the charm for school referendum?

Sonya and Earl Anderson of Alexandria receive 2025 Sertoma Service to Mankind Award

Viking Speedway: Alexandrians Kreg Anderson, Bailey Rosch win division season titles

August 29, 2025

Alexandria man to plead guilty to felony child torture, document says

There's no business like snow business in Osakis

Girls Tennis: Minnewaska looks the part

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about the Douglas county fair, efforts to host Hockey Day Minnesota in Alexandria in 2028, an active shooter training exercise in Osakis and the Douglas County Commission’s efforts to balance funding requests with some less-than-idea budget news.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from August 20 and August 22 below:

August 20, 2025:

More than 60,000 attend 2025 Douglas County Fair

Alexandria's new assistant superintendent wants to hear from parents, students

More than 170 Icelanders visit Runestone Museum in 1 day

City of Alexandria supports hosting Hockey Day Minnesota 2028

Alexandria native earns Fulbright award to research in Japan

Volleyball: New year, new challenge for Alexandria after winning 2024 Class 3A state title

August 22, 2025:

Local law enforcement, first responders, stage active shooter drill at Osakis Public School

$10,000 reward offered for information about missing woman

Douglas County Commissioners approve $861,918 in funding requests, $21,000 in raises for 2026

Alexandria School Board learns about Extended School Year program, district's operational plan

Football: Fresh challenges ahead in 2025 for Alexandria

Opinion