Good morning, St. Cloud.

A state law change on Aug.

1 now lets meat raffles offer up to $200 in merchandise prizes + raise ticket prices from $2 to $5. MT’s on 8th will run raffles starting on Sept. 12 at 2:00 p.m., with funds helping the Youth Hockey Association + local sports programs.

The Minnesota State Fair announces nearly 100 exclusive summer drinks, including unique alcoholic options like dill pickle seltzer and nonalcoholic favorites such as mango sticky rice refresher—available at local venues like Summer Lakes Boat House, LuLu’s Public House, and The Hideaway Speakeasy.

Greta the alpaca and her handler Monica Schlough from the Central Minnesota Llama Club will travel to the Minnesota State Fair this season, where Greta will compete in showmanship and Monica will judge sheep—marking their third year at the fair.

St. Cloud Area School District 742 announced on Wednesday it joined a national group working with OpenAI to deploy ChatGPT Edu for teachers, staff, and administrators only, not students.

The tool will support lesson planning and routine paperwork, with users required to check content for accuracy (inputs remain confidential).

A drought report from Thursday, Aug.

27 showed extreme drought increased nearly fivefold, affecting 3.5% of the state and leaving only 4.71% drought-free while nearly 95% remains abnormally dry; St. Cloud is following DNR guidance to conserve water as the storage drought continues.

Residents can watch a partial lunar eclipse tonight as astronomer Bob Berman said the moon's shadow will begin at 9:33 p.m. and reach 96% coverage (nearly total) at 11:12 p.m., with clear skies forecast.

Drivers in Sauk Rapids face a closure on 2nd Avenue South – from Benton Drive to 6th Street South – at 7:00 a.m. on Aug.

31 as crews begin Stage 2 of the railroad crossing improvements; Benton Drive will operate with one lane each way and detours until October.

A Maze N Farmyard in Eden Valley offers families fun with a petting zoo, corn pit, ropes course, and pony rides at 57645 State Highway 55, and is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with adjusted Sunday hours through Labor Day.

Grizzly Lane reconstruction in Sartell wraps up this summer with only a short Terry Lane segment remaining — resurfacing on Pine Cone Road South and Leander Avenue starts mid-September.

The Wyndham Garden Inn and projects at River Crossing and Niron Magnetics are on track for early November and 2027.

Sauk Rapids-Rice football is rebuilding after a tough 2025 — the 107-player team has worked two weeks of practice — and will open its season at Monticello on Sept.

4 with coach Phil Klaphake aiming for more wins.