Good morning, St. Cloud.

Starting May 27, downtown St. Cloud will welcome Block By Block ambassadors in green jackets who will clean streets, provide directions and safety support while serving as a visible resource—an effort funded by voluntary downtown business contributions.

Ashley Green, owner of Green Thumb Etc in downtown St. Cloud, will join Dancing With Our Stars to raise money for Open Hearts Home, which helps pregnant teen moms facing homelessness.

She will host three fundraisers next weekend—whiskey and cigar night on May 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., a pickleball tournament on June 1 at the country club, and a Roses and Rose night on June 2 at White Peony—while she prepares to perform on Monday, June 9 at the College of St. Benedict with her dance partner Jon Skuza and coach Melinda Tamm.

A 35-year-old Becker man, Johnathan James Schafer, made his initial court appearance Monday on felony charges for leaving the scene of a fatal crash in Santiago Township after his girlfriend allegedly jumped from his moving pickup truck and he drove while intoxicated—authorities said additional charges may be filed.

An off-duty St. Cloud police officer was awarded the Medal of Commendation after he stopped an armed suspect at Crossroads Center Mall on December 8th, 2024—Patrol Officer Justin Wagman saw a wanted man while Christmas shopping, chased him without his gun or vest, and held him until backup arrived, with the suspect later found to be carrying a loaded handgun.

Tomorrow at 7:00 p.m., the St. Cloud Municipal Band will play its fall concert ‘A Night at the Movies’ at the Paramount Center for the Arts, featuring music from Star Wars, E.T., Frozen and other films + tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $5 for students + conductor Andrew Nelson will lead the band.

Lykke Theatre, a new theatre company in St. Cloud, will hold auditions on June 2nd and 3rd for its debut production, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee—performances will take place from August 27th to 29th at Milk and Honey Ciders in St. Joseph.

Tickets cost $18 as the company aims to bring joy and a fresh storytelling approach to the community.

Great River Children’s Museum won the Heritage Preservation Award for revitalizing nearly a half block of downtown—its board received a plaque at the city council meeting on Monday night.

The museum merged three buildings into 31,000 square feet along 7th Avenue South and will open in June while memberships and a new website are on sale.

The two-week filing period for candidates for the vacant Stearns County Commissioner District 4 seat began May 20th after Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier retired amid questions about his residency and mental capacity—his departure followed legal disputes over his eligibility.

The filing period will close June 3rd, and special primary and general elections are scheduled for August and November.

A private utility repair will again slow northbound traffic on 10th Avenue North near the Paramount Theatre on Friday, May 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.—a detour will be provided for northbound drivers while southbound lanes remain open.

This is the third lane closure of this project this year.

Waite Park City Council approved a nearly $4.6 million bid package for the government center expansion that will remove the ceiling and secure the site so ordered panels can form a new police department wing before winter—council members also talked about changing the mayor’s term from two years to four, which could start after the next election.

SAFe® 5.1 Lean Portfolio Management Training

9 AM - 1 AM — St. Cloud, Minnesota — Early Bird Price $1299, Regular $1899 — Gain practical tools for implementing Lean Portfolio Management functions.

Bingo Night at Moose Lodge

6:30-9 p.m. — Moose Lodge 1400 — Free entry — Enjoy an evening of Bingo and community fun every Wednesday.

Bingo Night at Lincoln Depot

6:30-8:30 p.m. — Lincoln Depot — Prizes up to $1000 — Enjoy a fun-filled evening of bar bingo with great jackpots.

Luminous Leaders Gala

6:30-10:30 p.m. — Harvester Square — Ticketed event — Celebrate a decade of community leadership with an elegant evening of music and meaningful connections.

St. Cloud Spin Fest and Fiber Fair

10 AM - 4 PM — Rocking Horse Farm — Free entry — Explore a vibrant vendor marketplace and enjoy fiber art displays, classes, and a petting zoo of live animals.

Dancing With Our Stars Live Fundraiser

5-8:30 p.m. — College of Saint Benedict — Donations encouraged — Enjoy an exciting dance competition featuring local celebrities raising funds for women's charities.

Monday Night Jazz

8-10:30 p.m. — Veranda Lounge — Free entry — Enjoy live jazz in a cozy setting with local musicians bringing the night to life.

An Evening with Frank F. Weber

5-7:30 p.m. — Pantown Brewing Co — Free entry — Delve into forensic psychology and true crime with author Frank F. Weber as he shares insights and signs copies of his latest book.

No Kings Rally

Gather together and make some noise! Let your voice be heard as you celebrate American freedoms forged over 250 years! This public event is family-friendly.

Magic Carpet Ride

1:30-3 p.m. — Paramount Center for the Arts — Ticketed event — Experience the musical magic of the Summer of Love with classic hits and captivating light shows.