Good morning, St. Cloud.

Local gardeners are invited to donate surplus produce to Catholic Charities at 157 Roosevelt Road, Suite 100 during the Grow and Give drive running through October—donations are accepted Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

CentraCare, the largest employer in St. Cloud, will lay off 535 workers from 44 locations—most in administrative roles—to cut costs as rising expenses and low reimbursements hurt its finances.

The system will reassign some employees to over 350 open positions while details for local layoffs remain unavailable.

The Minnesota State Fair will run from Aug 21 to Sep 1 and will offer nearly 500 food items—carnival rides and live performances for families to enjoy local traditions.

Jake Juliot from Explore Minnesota highlighted key activities that promise a memorable event for all visitors.

TEDxStCloud returns to the Paramount Center for the Arts on October 9 with local speakers including business and cultural leaders who will share ideas to spark community connections— the event includes a social hour from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and a 36-foot art installation by Mary Bruno on display until October 16.

Today, the Minnesota Department of Education is honoring 93 schools for their commitment to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports—an effort that includes the St. Cloud Area School District as one of five districts recognized for districtwide improvements in school climate.

St. Cloud Area School District 742 earned statewide recognition for its behavioral support program that fully adopts PBIS in every school.

MDE Commissioner Willie Jett will honor the district and other local schools on August 14th — a ceremony to commend efforts in improving school climate and student achievement.

Representatives from Sherburne County will meet Tuesday, August 26 at the county government center in Elk River to tackle the housing challenge—local officials and partners will discuss plans to add 5,250 new units as projections show a 10% population increase through 2030.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation said the Highway 55 bridge over Clearwater River between Kimball and South Haven will reopen today—lifting the detour.

The $860,000 project improved safety by resurfacing the bridge deck and upgrading the panels and railings.

A special primary election was held Tuesday for the District 4 commissioner seat—final results showed Amin Ali with 528 votes and Bob Johnson with 486 votes.

Ali and Johnson will face each other on November 4 to fill the seat left vacant when Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier resigned amid questions about his residency and mental capacity.

Bob Dunning, a longtime Stearns County agricultural inspector, was honored today with the Lifetime Achievement Award by MACAI and MDA for his decades of service in guiding local farmers through challenges.

He is set to retire at the end of August.

I Am He Said - A Celebration Of The Music Of Neil Diamond

1:30-4:30 p.m. — Paramount Center for the Arts — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate the timeless classics of Neil Diamond with The Killer Vees, featuring beloved hits spanning five decades.

Movie Under the Stars

6:30-9 p.m. — St Cloud City Offices — Free entry — Enjoy a family-friendly film under the stars with fun activities and treats!

Everybody Loves Dean

1:30-2:30 p.m. — Paramount Center for the Arts — $ — Experience timeless classics by Dean Martin with Mick Sterling and The Amore’ Orchestra.