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Hey Mankato, hope your week’s off to a good start! Regional job growth surprises, first responders honored for life-saving rescue, Valentine card show, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Regional employment trends emerge: Data show Rochester area added nearly 7,850 jobs from November 2024 to November 2025, a 6.1% gain. Mankato posted second-highest growth at 3.5%, with 8,900 jobs added September through November — get the statewide breakdown.
Bravery highlighted in rescue: Mankato Police and Fire honored responders for life-saving teamwork during the July 7, 2025 emergency, recognizing firefighters Sam Csizmadia and Rae Frame and officers Aaron Gelle and Sgt. Matt Huettl — read the full story.
Push for public input: North Mankato council denied a request to pause $27 million Port Authority bonds for a public works facility. The sale is scheduled for Feb. 17. A petition sought 417 signatures — get all the details.
Major utility improvements ahead: Trimont is set to receive $1 million in federal funding for water infrastructure, part of a broader investment helping southern Minnesota towns, including Eagle Lake and Pemberton near Mankato — see which towns are included.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Heartland aid initiative launches: Former Timberwolves owner and longtime Mankato resident Glen Taylor set up the Taylor Family Farms Foundation to lift rural communities. With a major farmland gift fueling grants, applications for projects addressing food insecurity are open now through February 28. Southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa communities could see direct benefits. See how and when to apply.
Your neighbors are Googling you: It’s uncomfortable but true — employers, new friends, even other parents at school pickup search names all the time. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up first, it can shape opinions before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so your first impression actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s someone you care about, you can help them too.
Stepp’s championship pedigree endures: Minnesota State Mankato baseball was picked to finish first in the NSIC preseason coaches poll, announced January 22. The Mavericks received 190 points and eight first place votes, edging Augustana at 189, with St. Cloud State third. Last season MSU went 51-8 and 12-1 at Bowyer Field. See poll rankings and outlook.
Gold is having a moment: Between inflation headlines, market swings, and growing global uncertainty, precious metals are (again) in the spotlight. American Hartford is currently offering up to $25,000 in free silver when you open a qualified account. They’ll also help you set up a penalty-free gold IRA with a lowest price guarantee, no buyback fees, and 7-day price protection.
Tune up, Mankato: Whether your kid’s clarinet needs rescuing, your guitar’s begging for fresh strings, or you want to browse print music and keyboards, The Music Mart keeps Mankato’s scene humming with rentals, repairs, and gear that plays nice together, helping practice motivation stay tuned instead of slipping.
A second opinion never hurts: Not every financial advisor is the right fit, and it’s okay to explore your options. Unbiased matches you with an advisor based on your personal situation, giving you a chance to ask questions in a free, no-pressure conversation to see if the fit makes sense. No obligation — just helpful advice.
Pho craving, solved: When temps dip or your week needs a reset, Wakai’s Asian Fusion serves comforting, aromatic pho and plenty of noodly side quests, a reliable go-to for low-effort, high-satisfaction slurping in Mankato. Perfect for nights when cooking is a hard pass.
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📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
📖 Storytime @ Barnes & Noble | Tuesday (2/10) – If your littles need a midweek or weekend wind-down, swing by the children’s department for Storytime every Tuesday and Saturday at 10:30am. It’s fun and engaging for them, and you get a half hour while someone else does the silly voices and handles the wiggles.
🎨 Wild Art Workshop | Wednesday (2/11) at 6:30 PM – Turn weeds into watercolors at this free, hands-on workshop with author Alicia Bayer and family, making ink, paint, and paper from wild plants, then tweaking colors with science. Feather brushes, messes, and snacks. Bring kids, grandkids, or your inner 10-year-old, wear grubby clothes, register: https://uufm.breezechms.com/form/32248180
🛍 Galentine’s Week | Thursday (2/12) at 10:00 AM – Gather your favorite friends for Galentine’s Week at Mankato Vintage Market, where camaraderie pairs nicely with hidden-heart discounts, surprises, and smug thrift bragging rights. Hunt a heart, cash in at checkout, then leave with a free tulip with a $10+ purchase, while supplies last.
This weekend
💌 Hearts & Holofoil: Valentine Card Show @ Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center | Saturday (2/14) at 9:00 AM – Skip the prix fixe and do Valentine’s Day the Mankato way at the Mayo Clinic Event Center, where $2 gets you holofoil, nostalgia, and bragging rights. Pokémon, Magic, sports, prizes, trading tables, and a couples costume contest make it a charming date-day treasure hunt.
🏛 Family Day | Saturday (2/14) at 10:00 AM – Family Day at the History Center means kids free with paid adult, and you seem smart. Scavenger hunt, crafts, and a workshop using Indigenous Learning Resource Boxes on themes Woodland Creatures, Quilt Making, and Maps. Adults $10, seniors $8, kids and BECHS members free.
🛍 Shop Small – Craft & Vendor Event @ Midwest Makers Mercantile | Saturday (2/14) at 10:00 AM – Craving an old-school mall lap with better stuff to buy, and fewer pretzels. Shop small at the mall as local makers and bakers fill the main corridor near Target. Browse, chat, and support your neighbors, and vendors can grab a spot online or in-store.
🐾 Rescue Network Meet & Greet @ Pet Expo – Mankato | Sunday (2/15) at 12:00 PM – Whether your place is suspiciously quiet or you just like free serotonin, swing by Pet Expo for a meet and greet with Rescue Network’s adoptable dogs and puppies. Expect soft noses, sloppy kisses, and maybe a new roommate who pays in loyalty, not rent.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Mankato report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 41°F – Low: 22°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 41°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny. High near 41, with temperatures falling to around 38 in the afternoon. North northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: A chance of snow between midnight and 1am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. East southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
This house is wild
These new-construction twin homes are offered as investment properties, with both units leased. Two-story layouts feature 9-foot ceilings, LVP flooring, and open living anchored by a Whirlpool kitchen with a four-seat breakfast bar. Entries add built-in benches with storage. Upstairs has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and laundry in the primary walk-in. Patios, concrete driveways, and insulated garages with floor drains.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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