LATEST NEWS

The Otto Bremer Trust awarded more than $14 million in grants and program-related investments in December and January. The trust also distributed more than $16.6 million to six local intermediary partners as part of its new Community Responsive Fund pilot program. Grants that affect our area include the following: The Center for Victims of Torture, St. Paul, $55,000 to serve Somali families in St. Cloud through culturally specific outreach, parenting classes and mentoring; Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, St. Cloud, $50,000 for general operations to develop and preserve affordable housing in central Minnesota; Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines, Waite Park, $55,000 for general operations to provide youth development opportunities and programs for girls residing in Greater Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin; Initiative Foundation, Little Falls, $100,000 to build organizational capacity by providing training, consulting, and coaching for nonprofit organizations in central Minnesota; Minnesota Head Start Association Inc., Sauk Rapids, $37,000 for general operations to support low-income families and ensure high standards of service for young children through a statewide network of Minnesota Head Start providers; Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, St. Paul, $10,000 to promote systems improvements in Minnesota’s emergency housing sector, leading to the elimination of homelessness; Hearth Connection, St. Paul, $150,000 for general operations to provide technical assistance and solution creation to improve housing outcomes for chronically homeless Minnesotans through a statewide network of direct service providers, government partners and community stakeholders; Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, Minneapolis, $36,000 for general operations to elevate the capacity of programs, systems and policies to strengthen youth-mentoring relationships in Minnesota and the region; and WomenVenture, St. Paul, $60,000 for general operations to equip women entrepreneurs with the skills and resources to create and grow profitable and sustainable businesses.

The Royalton Royals celebrated thier first two victories of the 2024 season after taking on Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City in a double header at home Thursday April 25. The Royals won the first game 4-0, with all runs scored at the bottom of the second inning. The Royals’ Nick Liebold had three hits and one run. Keaton Nelson and Jonah Schnieder scored a run and two walks each. The game ended with...

The St. Joseph Y2K Lions Club will host its annual Plant-Sale & Pillow-Cleaning event on two days in mid-May: from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 16 and from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, May 17. The two-day event will take place at the St. Joseph American Legion, 101 Minnesota St. in the...

St. Cloud State University President Robbyn Wacker is stepping down earlier than scheduled ahead of anticipated budget cuts. Wacker announced last fall that she planned to leave at the end of the academic year. Her contract ends on June 30. In a letter sent Wednesday to faculty and staff, Minnesota...

Star Tribune’s Jenny Berg writes St. Cloud State University President Robbyn Wacker was scheduled to leave the position this summer but will now leave this weekend, “ahead of anticipated budget cuts that could be announced as early as next week.”. Addie McCabe with KTTC reports the Becker County...

The Royalton Royals boys golf team had a good showing as it hosted a meet at the Little Falls Golf Course Tuesday, April 30. Overall, the team placed third out of six teams, with a score of 181. The teams were playing the back nine of the golf course. Zach Schraut led the team, finishing fourth as an individual and shooting a 40. Nate Spencer followed with a 45. Ben Boyd and Wyatt Plumski tied at 48, Matthew Hollenbeck had a 49 and Nick Block...