When a garter snake zipped across a path at River Bend Nature Center, Leah Inman didn’t hesitate before gently scooping it up. Most of the tykes and a few of the parents in her Little Sprouts class were brave enough to give it a touch Monday morning. “Snakes are more afraid of you than you are of them,” Inman said as she let the little snake slither on its way. ...

The combined baseball team of Faribault, Bethlehem Academy and Shattuck-St. Mary’s is still looking for its first win on this young season. At 0-6 overall, The Falcons had their closest game of the year Friday. The visiting team Hibbing scored one run with just a walk and a single in the top of the 10th to take the lead for good and win 3-2 in an extra innings affair. On...

For about an hour or two each morning on a wall near the front doors of Nerstrand Charter School, the sun casts a shadow of the word "Peace." It identifies the school's evolving International Peace Garden. The garden includes representation of a number of countries, each with a unique item symbolizing their respective people and cultures. The peace garden continued to grow Monday afternoon, as students, staff and volunteers celebrated the newest edition, Ukraine. ...

For about an hour or two each morning on a wall near the front doors of Nerstrand Charter School, the sun casts a shadow of the word "Peace." It identifies the school's evolving International Peace Garden.

After years of research and community engagement, St. Olaf College assistant professor of music Rehanna Kheshgi and her students are helping bring Somali songs to life for a new generation by launching a website and hosting a pair of concerts. With the support of a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, Kheshgi has led creation of a website that features Somali songs recorded by well-known artists and research on the tradition behind the music. ...

After years of research and community engagement, St. Olaf College assistant professor of music Rehanna Kheshgi and her students are helping bring Somali songs to life for a new generation by launching a website and hosting a pair of concerts. With the support of a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, Kheshgi has led creation of a website that features Somali songs recorded by well-known artists and research on the tradition behind the music. ...

For new customers struggling to choose, Jose Andres Garcia recommends his concha. The classic plain sweet bread is a staple of bakeries in Mexico, he says. Garcia was up at 5 a.m. Friday baking concha and a few other types of breads and sweets during a soft opening of his new bakery in downtown Faribault. For the official grand opening Monday, he’ll have dozens of options ranging from flan to...

Josh Bauer wasn't expecting the call so soon.

Fred Simon coined the phrase “the Bohemian Triangle” to describe the area that includes Rice, Le Sueur and Scott counties where many Czech immigrants settled in the mid-to-late 1800s. Bohemian is essentially synonymous with Czech, Simon told a roomful of…

Faribault track and field posted solid scores in both the boys and girls competitions, with both teams finishing in third on Thursday afternoon behind Lakeville South and Mankato West on the boys side and trailing Mankato West and Byron on the girls side. Lakeville South finished with 181.5 points, 30 points ahead of Faribault boys while Mankato West finished first on the girls side with a final score of 224.5. The Falcons finished with a third-place score of 134.5 points, while Byron finished second with...

On Thursday, Faribault boys tennis hosted Big 9 Conference rival Rochester Mayo, currently ranked No. 2 in the state behind No. 1 Wayzata. Mayo is a talented team with a lot of skills and abilities and a lot of depth throughout their team, including one player who is ranked No. 1 in the state overall and two others ranked in the top 10 as well. Coach Anderson said, “Mayo is...

The races for Minnesota’s the 1st and 2nd congressional districts could be hotly contested this year. The 2nd District has come to be seen as Minnesota’s marquee swing district, given its mix of inner ring and outer ring suburbs, as well as rural areas. The district stretches into northern and western Rice County, including Lonsdale, Northfield, Dundas and Morristown. While the seat has been held by DFL Rep. Angie Craig...

Sharing advice between sleepless nights makes motherhood a little easier for a group of Faribault mothers. At 10:30 a.m. every Thursday, several mothers and their newborns up to 12 weeks old gather at the Faribault Education Center for a free class called Baby Stop, where they offer and receive advice from a nurse, an educator and each other. Faribault Public Schools Early Childhood Family Education Parent Educator Anna Runestad leads...

A metal towel shelf can be a dangerous weapon, according to charges filed against a Faribault man. Cody Wayne Amundson-Berg, 32, was charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon, misdemeanor domestic assault and gross misdemeanor interfering with a 911 call this week in Rice County District Court. While investigating another matter earlier this month, Faribault police officers received reports that Amundson-Berg may have assaulted a woman, according to a...

A man allegedly was caught with nearly 2 pounds of methamphetamine in his vehicle in Faribault. The Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force was investigating Nicholas Sean Tijerina, 37, of Le Center, and obtained a warrant to search him and his SUV. Agents pulled him over near the Faribault hospital on Tuesday, according to a court complaint. ...

A Twin Cities taxi service is now offering rides between the Faribault area and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The courses at the Faribault Golf and Country Club and the Mankato Golf Club hosted Monday matchups between the Faribault and Mankato West boys and girls golf teams. The Falcon girls hosted the Scarlets in a 415-430 victory in Faribault, while the boys went on the road in a 320-337 loss to West. Girls Golf: Faribault 415, West 430 The Falcons were led by junior Mariana Hager, who was the...

Planning for a freeway interchange just north of the city of Faribault is inching forward, despite uncertainty over if or when state and federal approval and funding will be awarded.

At his after-school job at a Faribault hardware store, 17-year-old Felix Hanke’s duties include scrubbing the floors. But the scrubber machine he has to use at the Fleet Supply is clunky and often needs maintenance, he said. The Faribault teen has now launched his own business selling scrubbers that he says are smaller, more affordable and easier to maintain. ...

A sleazebag capitalist who cuts corners on safety regulations, a nosy reporter trying to expose him and a nun with a gambling addiction are just a few of the over-the-top characters in Faribault High School’s spring musical. “Disaster!” is a two-hour parody of classic disaster movies from the 1970s, often poking fun at the unrealistic scenarios found in the old films. The comedic production opens Thursday night and caps off its four-day run with a matinee on Sunday afternoon. ...