Good morning, St. Cloud.

ConnectAbility of MN in Waite Park is hosting its first Break the Barrier 5K at 8:00 a.m. Saturday—offering a 5K race, a 5K walk or roll, and a 1K run that cost $20 and $5 respectively to support its mission.

Participants will start and end at the nonprofit’s office on 3rd Street South and can preregister until the morning of the event.

St. Cloud Rotaract is marking 10 years by hosting a gala this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Harvester Square—this event will raise funds for a YMCA water park and celebrate the club’s decade of community service and professional growth.

Local law enforcement, EMS and first responders will host Handshakes with Heroes at the Benton County Fairgrounds on June 12th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., where community members can enjoy K9 demos, a live helicopter landing, SWAT vehicle displays + interactive activities like axe throwing and an inflatable bounce house, and free food + at-will donations for the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation.

St. Cloud State University will host an open house tomorrow from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.— unveiling the Creativity Commons that offers local residents free access to digitization equipment, craft supplies, and creative tools.

The center will operate Monday through Friday from 1:00 to 4:15 p.m. or by appointment.

The 2025 Bituminous Street Resurfacing Project will begin this Thursday, June 5 on 8.3 miles of roads in St. Cloud, with work dependent on weather conditions.

Motorists may face minor delays and are advised to find alternate routes—completion is expected by late July, weather permitting.

The Stearns County Highway Department installed a roundabout on CSAH 133 at the Elm Street intersection in St. Joseph yesterday, closing the busy road for a two-phase detour—drivers were first guided to stay on Highway 75 until Highway 2 before turning onto 320th Avenue.

In Phase Two, traffic was rerouted—drivers had to use Northland Drive to return to Elm until the work lifts in September.

The City Council met Monday night at City Hall to hold public hearings on three proposals: a plan by Center City Housing to build a 40-unit low-income apartment building on the former YMCA site on Northway Drive, a request by Wild Weeds to rezone for a recreational marijuana dispensary, and a $5.7M road improvement project for Lincoln Avenue Southeast between 4th and 7th Streets. If approved, the apartment building would open in 2 to 3 years and a related sidewalk project is set for later review—officials also discussed clarifying local sign rules.

Nicholas Lanners, a former lieutenant and football coach, gave the gift of life by donating his organs after a severe car crash—he suffered injuries that left him quadriplegic—and St. Cloud Hospital now honors his legacy with a white flag that reads 'Donate Life' under the Minnesota State flag.

St. Cloud Cathedral softball team, with a 23-2 record and seeded fourth, will play Spectrum today at 3 p.m. at Caswell Park in the Class 2A State Tournament quarterfinals.

The team won the Section 6-2-A championship last week and plans to use its strong hitting and defense to advance.

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.

St. Cloud's 28th Annual Juneteenth Celebration

12-7 p.m. — Lake George Municipal Complex — Free entry — Celebrate freedom with games, music, food trucks, and family activities at this vibrant community festival.

Breakthrough Basketball Essential Skills Camp

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Whitney Recreation Center — $97 fee to attend as observing coach — Improve your basketball skills and gain confidence at this intensive youth camp for aspiring players.

St. Cloud State University Lemonade Concert & Art Fair

11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. — Atwood Mall — Free entry — Enjoy over 100 art vendors and live music with family-friendly activities concluding with a St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra performance.