St. Cloud Times
‘Our company is a growth company’
Before your favorite type of cheese hits the pizza on your plate, Northland Cheese shreds and dices it. The Rice, Minnesota, cheese facility is celebrating nearly half a century in the region; it first opened its doors by 1978 and underwent an...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Iran sets conditions for further talks with U.S.
Iran vowed on April 10 not to participate in negotiations unless a ceasefire takes hold in Lebanon and Iran’s assets are unfrozen, throwing doubt over highstakes peace talks set to begin the following day in Pakistan. Iran’s parliamentary speaker,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
7 golf courses to play near St. Cloud this spring
If you squint hard enough, you can witness weather slowly on the upswing across the region, meaning golf season in central Minnesota soon will reach full swing. Similar to other locales across the Northern Plains, the area’s landscape offers several...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Paynesville revamps parks, eyes downtown project
Paynesville has spent the past five years reshaping itself by investing in projects meant to bring residents back together after the pandemic, Mayor Shawn Reinke said, and position the city as a place developers want to build. Efforts to enhance...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
House of Pizza is back in Sartell
A local pizza spot has returned to Sartell. House of Pizza, through a collaboration with Coborn’s, opened a new location in the grocery store off Pine Cone Road in March. The new spot offers a full-service restaurant with in-store dining, take-out...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New art studio to hold grand opening in May
St. Cloud artist Paige LaDue Henry has one goal for her new art studio at the Crossroads Center: to inspire and create community. “We live in times that aren’t so fun, and everybody is responding to what’s going on in the world in different ways. Art...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
What to eat at Kwik Trip on your next MN road trip
As warmer temperatures creep into the picture, Minnesotans prepare for summer drives north to Duluth or east to the Wisconsin Dells or west to Mount Rushmore. These drives can take time, and for many, stops at gas station stores provide more than...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
St. Cloud Times recognizes 5 Under 40 St. Cloud-area leaders
The St. Cloud Times/ Greater St. Cloud class of 2025 5 Under 40 recipients are, from left, Ashley Green, Cody Hauser, Jake Krippner, Anna Gruber and Megan Pflipsen. St. Cloud Times/LocalIQ and Greater St. Cloud has announced this year’s class of 5...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
1 rescued after U.S. jet downed over Iran
One crew member of a U.S. F-15E fighter jet that went down over Iran on April 3 has been rescued, according to a U.S. official. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the jet, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
St. Cloud offers historic venues to film producers
Minnesota is trying to make itself appeal to filmmakers in hopes of generating tax revenue and economic growth. These efforts are able to help local communities, according to Nell Lawrenz-Wareham, deputy director of Explore Minnesota Film. This was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Meat market plans to open store in Sartell
Von Hanson’s Meat Market is expanding in central Minnesota. It’s opening the company’s 24th location in Sartell, according to Matt Murray, the owner and manager of Waite Park’s Von Hanson. Despite the projected 2028 opening date, Murray, who will also...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Community saves St. Cloud wine shop
The Grande Depot, considered one of Central Minnesota’s top destinations for a unique blend of home décor, gourmet foods, fine wines and culinary apparatuses, is overcoming hurdles and pushing forward with help from the community. Earlier this year,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Minnesota’s ‘No Kings’ protest draws thousands
Tens of thousands gathered at the Capitol in St. Paul on Saturday as part of the national “No Kings” day of protest, with speakers and singers decrying the Trump administration’s policies. Gov. Tim Walz took the stage dressed in flannel on a blustery...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A unique way to get your energy back
It’s a combination of acupressure, compression work and stretching altogether. h That’s how Thai Yoga Bodywork practitioner Kate Meemken describes her discipline. h “That’s kind of the three main things that happen during a session, but you come...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘I just fell in love with the work’
If you’ve been to a production of “The Wizard of Oz” at Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, chances are you’ve seen St. John’s University alumnus Dean Holt as Hunk and Scarecrow. h The 1994 graduate, who has called the theater home for over 30...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump delays strikes on Iran power plants
The Pentagon is weighing sending an additional 10,000 troops to the Middle East as the war with Iran rages, multiple news outlets reported. It remained unclear when a decision will be made on whether to send the additional combat soldiers, according...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
St. Cloud Restaurant Week offers new flavors and prizes
St. Cloud’s weeklong restaurant celebration will return in May. Visit Greater St. Cloud announced in a release the 5th Annual Greater St. Cloud Restaurant Week, running from May 10-16, 2026. This weeklong event celebrates the vibrant flavors and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fight over Medicaid funds in MN continues
Minnesota vs. Trump administration on Medicaid: Your questions, answered. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Minnesota’s plan to strengthen oversight over certain Medicaid services, which would pause the Trump administration’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A year long investigation is coming to a close
Tyrah Davis’ stay at the Sherburne County Jail only lasted a few days. It ended with her body being taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy states she wore bright green pants and two gray socks when she took her final breath. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Holdingford Feed Mill fire leads to rebuilding plans
HOLDINGFORD — Jeff and Sue Burg were sitting in their living room watching television Sunday, Feb. 15, when their phone rang. On the other end was their nephew, who told them he thinks the Holdingford Feed Mill was on fire. Jeff Burg remembers rushing...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Could startups help city’s economic development?
As St. Cloud looks to bring economic development to the region, local experts aren’t just considering large companies. Economic development organization Greater St. Cloud also wants to create opportunities for startups. In an interview with the St....
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘The Quarry Girls’ author tours central Minnesota
Growing up, Minnesota author Jess Lourey understands the pain of keeping secrets. Not only was she in St. Cloud when the Reker sisters were abducted, but she lived in Paynesville when a series of boys were kidnapped as well. h The former St. Cloud and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Troops deployed to Middle East region
Despite promises of the war with Iran ending soon and broad disapproval of further U.S. involvement, the White House is signaling more is coming on the front in the Middle East. The U.S. military is deploying thousands of additional troops, including...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Audit: State DHS failed to probe autism kickbacks
The Minnesota Department of Human Services has said that until a 2025 change in the law, the agency was limited in how it investigated so-called kickback schemes in human services, which is when a provider pays someone to sign up for their...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘LIFELONG PASSION’
St. Cloud native Tom Sales will take his band — Mel Tepid & Them Soul-Ska Farmers — to Germany in April for some shows and recordings at the legendary Hansa Studio in Berlin. Now called the “godfather of Minnesota ska” music, due to his lengthy...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Bipartisan push to ban prediction market betting
Jonathan Ross getting charged for killing Renee Good before the end of the month is a less likely event than Jesus Christ’s return before the end of the year, according to people betting on the prediction market Polymarket. Prediction markets, which...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Central MN gas prices jump after Iran war impacts oil
The price of gas in central Minnesota is nearly a dollar more than it was a month ago, before the war in Iran began. Insurance company AAA reports the average gas price in central Minnesota is $3.38 per gallon, as of March 15, which is up from $2.43 a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Experts see rising risks to flight safety
A partial government shutdown. A war in Iran. Warnings about sleeper cells. And in the middle of it all: Americans left to wonder if their travel plans are safe. Those concerns were echoed in part by former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘MOTHERHEAD’
St. Cloud State University alumnus and poet Nicole Zwolinski illuminates the unsung and sometimes bitter realities of motherhood in her first full-length poetry collection, “Motherhead,” set to be released in August 2026. h After taking the only two...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fort Snelling blends history with natural beauty
With over 10,000 years of history behind it, Fort Snelling remains open, serving as a testament to interconectedness and the nation’s history. Fort Snelling State Park is located next to the museum. Along with 18 miles of hiking trails, there are 5...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘I can’t do research, but I can ride a bike’
Al and Terry Reszel will again crisscross the country in support of their organization, Pink Pedals For A Cure | Terry’s Ride and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). On Friday, this Minnesota couple will head to California — for a cause. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Stearns County reevaluates potential future of park
Changes could come to Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in Waite Park. Before going forward, Stearns County wants to hear from residents. Stearns County is updating the parks master plan, Stearns County Parks Director Ben Anderson said, and is holding...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Schmidty’s Soda Shop opens in St. Cloud mall
A new local spot for sodas and other sweet drinks has opened in St. Cloud. Schmidty’s Soda Shop, which is based in Alexandria, opened a new shop in the Crossroads Center Mall in St. Cloud — its second location. Owner Jessica Schmidt started...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Emmer, Fischbach blast Walz in letter
Four members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation are calling on Gov. Tim Walz to clean up the state’s fraud scandal. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer was joined by U.S. Reps. Michelle Fischbach, Pete Stauber and Brad Finstad to send the governor a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Oversight Committee grills Walz, Ellison
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee sought to turn the page Wednesday on the federal law enforcement surge that killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis and turned public opinion against the Trump administration’s immigration policy. They...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump demands Iran’s surrender
President Donald Trump demanded Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” in a social media post the morning of March 6, insisting “there will be no deal” to end his 7-day-old war with the battered Persian Gulf power. The president added in a social media post...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
States see millions from marijuana sales
Minnesota allowed recreational sales of marijuana at non-tribal dispensaries starting in September 2025. In all, 24 states have passed legislation to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Those states have seen a decent bump in revenue from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
White Bear Lake soldier killed in Kuwait attack
A Minnesotan died Sunday in Kuwait, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. The attack came after the U.S. and Israel launched operation Epic Fury on Saturday against Iran. The U.S. strike killed senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RIVERWALK REIMAGINED
In St. Cloud, the Mississippi River could become even more accessible if lawmakers include the city’s Riverwalk Connection project in this year’s potential bonding bill. While the bonding bill — legislation that funds infrastructure projects...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Don Casey, former St. Cloud Times editor, dies at 91
Long-time St. Cloud Times editor Don Casey died last week; the journalist spent more than 20 years with the paper. Casey, 91, died last Thursday, Feb. 19, at his home in Sartell, according to the Minnesota Newspaper Association. The long-time editor...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Local duo launches Futsal Collective Co.
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Two St. Cloudarea business owners recently started a new enterprise, launching a sports business in hopes of making soccer offerings more accessible in central Minnesota. Liz Meyer, of Backwards Bread Co., and Jake Hemmesch, of 320...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ICE top of mind during community meeting
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — At least 150 people gathered in the city council chambers of the St. Cloud City Hall Wednesday evening, as local residents discussed the city’s community policing agreement. The agreement, which has been around since 2005, is a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Clinton depositions show changed Democratic Party
WASHINGTON – In late February 2016, Hillary Clinton cruised to an overwhelming victory in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary – an unambiguous statement of the former first lady and secretary of state’s dominance over her party as she...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Game shop draws players from across central MN
A game shop in Paynesville has become a place where people from across central Minnesota gather to play and build connections through games. Katy Westlund, whose children run the game shop, said the idea grew out of family, connection and a belief in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Kimball grad Schultz to compete in Paralympics
St. Cloud’s Mike Schultz is getting ready for the 2026 Milan Paralympic Games next month, representing the United States in para snowboarding. U.S. Ski & Snowboard on Feb. 24 announced it nominated Schultz as one of the 32 ski and snowboard athletes to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DISCOUNT SHOP DEBUTS
This January, co-owners Kris Braegelmann and Brandon Fisher set up shop at Final Sale Liquidation Center, St. Germain Street’s newest store offering quality items at a discounted price. But the story of how the store opened for business starts with...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Local company behind some common furniture items
Visitors to one of Sauk Rapids’ many manufacturers will be met with a small team of machinists, working in a large open space full of equipment for shaping metal, testing machines and transporting supplies. The work stations are surrounded by walls...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New Thai restaurant opens in downtown St. Cloud
A new restaurant specializing in authentic Thai cuisine has started calling downtown St. Cloud its home. Canaan Thai Kitchen – located at 129 Seventh Ave. S. – opened its doors on Thursday, Feb. 12. Co-owner Pa Pra said there has already been a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘A Paddler’s Symphony’
ASt. Cloud native has written a Northwoods-inspired symphony, titled “A Paddler’s Symphony.” h The effort is influenced by Sarah Kremer’s own experiences on canoe expeditions and by the writings of local children’s author Doug Wood. The symphony...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Find plants, furniture, unique gifts at downtown shop
Visitors who step inside Green Thumb Etc. in downtown St. Cloud will be greeted with green walls lined with plants, upbeat music playing on a speaker, and a chair or sofa surrounded by piles of fabric. The store’s owner, Ashley Green, will come greet...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MC’s Pub expected to open location in Elk River
ELK RIVER — A new restaurant is expected to open in Elk River next month. MC’s Pub announced it will open its doors March 1 at 13478 Business Center Drive NW in Elk River, off of Highway 10 near the Sherburne County Government Center. This will be...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Holdingford Feed Mill catches on fire, explosions heard
Corey Schmidt Those in Holdingford Sunday night might have heard explosions. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office reports the sounds were related to a fire at the Holdingford Feed Mill. First responders were sent to the feed mill, 130 Plymouth St.,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Advocates ask for expanded passenger rail service
Passenger rail access in St. Cloud could resurface at the state capitol this legislative session as All Aboard Minnesota urges lawmakers to explore expanded service between the Twin Cities and Fargo. All Aboard Minnesota is asking state legislators to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Park expands, protecting habitat and cultural site
A Sherburne County park has recently expanded, honoring the area’s unique landscape and cultural history. A sprawling area of over 400 acres of native prairie, oak savanna and shoreline along Elk Lake is now protected after a new expansion of Two...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Report finds microplastics in all Minnesota waterways
From a distance, Minnesota’s waterways may look peaceful and untouched, perfect for fishing, swimming or skating in the winter. However, a new report has found some of the state’s rivers and lakes may not be as pristine as they appear. A citizen...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Report: U.S. inflation ticked down in Jan.
Inflation cooled a bit more than forecasters expected in January, with prices rising 2.4% from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Feb. 13. The report, which was delayed two days because of a brief government shutdown, revealed that inflation...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
St. Cloud’s housing market rebalances
Situated in the geographical center of the St. Cloud metro area is a beautifully maintained, classic home on the riverfront. Located at 3136 Dolores Drive and nestled on a bluff along the scenic Sauk River, this rare gem offers charm and riverfront...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Socks in the Frying Pan returning to St. Cloud
Irish-style music is coming to central Minnesota. Socks in the Frying Pan, a multi-award-winning trio from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, plays Feb. 22 in St. Cloud. Formed in 2014, the band includes Shane Hayes on accordion, Calum Bell on fiddle and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Honoring fire heritage
In 1920s Sartell, Minnesota, firefighting looked a lot different than it does today. h One key difference, explained retired firefighter Dennis Molitor, is the fire department couldn’t get running water from hydrants. h “They actually drafted water...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Several new businesses opening in Sartell in 2026
Sartell made strides to attract economic development in 2025, and many of these projects will come to fruition in 2026. These new additions range from vehicle maintaince shops to food service to lodging. In part because of these developments, Sartell...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Is the Louis Industry expansion Paynesville’s largest?
PAYNESVILLE, Minn. — Manufacturing is at the heart of the Paynesville Industrial Park. Now, it’s not unusual to see construction workers nearby as an expansion is underway at Louis Industries Inc., adding 40,000 square feet for a total of 180,000...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MAGA vs. Bad Bunny splits Super Bowl
Sen. Tommy Tuberville was thrilled to attend the Super Bowl in 2025 when he hitched a ride on Air Force One, joining President Donald Trump and several other Republican lawmakers for the big game. “Happy Super Bowl Sunday,” the Republican senator for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Stearns County’s past comes to life in new book
Staff at Stearns History Museum will soon bring decades of regional history — transportation, commerce, farming and more — into print with the publication of a new “Images of America” book. The project began when Arcadia Publishing reached out to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
St. Cloud Sky Central Airport looks to future
Last month, Allegiant Air announced it will acquire Sun Country Airlines with a $1.5 billion merger agreement. As reported in the Times, the combined airline will operate under the Allegiant banner, serving approximately 650 routes. This deal also...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A LATTE CHANGE
St. Joseph's The House Food and Tap includes four restaurants and a tap wall. Holly Marie Moore W h hhen The House Food and Tap’s former coffee partner Eminent Coffee Roasters made the decision to close its business, a door opened for a new chapter...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Popular area coffee roaster closing its doors
A St. Cloud-area coffee roaster has closed after more than three years in business. Eminent Coffee said on its website, “After a great deal of reflection, we’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to close our coffee roasting business.” Last year,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Where to find upscale meals in St. Cloud
Mavericks Steak & Cocktails is pictured Feb. 20, 2020, in Waite Park. Teagan King The St. Cloud area offers a wide variety of eateries, with many different cuisines represented at local restaurants. Those looking for an upscale meal out in central...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
After 50 years, barber hangs up his shears
Throughout his 53-year career in a barbershop, John Parry garnered a reputation for putting smiles on his clients’ faces. During appointments, he often shared he planned to skip retirement altogether and instead keep cutting hair as long as his body...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Journalists at state church protest arrested
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon on Jan. 29 was arrested by federal officials in Los Angeles days after a protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota, his lawyer said, as mass demonstrations over federal immigration enforcement were planned...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Omar’s attack not the first for a Minnesota politician
Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born Democrat from Minnesota, was sprayed with an unknown substance while giving a speech Jan. 27 at an event in Minneapolis. In Minnesota, attacks on political leaders are not new – not even for Omar. Omar was sprayed with...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘TWO WORLDS’
When Vice President JD Vance visited Minnesota last Thursday, Jan. 22, he called the death of Renee Good, 37, “multilayered.” He said Good’s death is tragic, but so is the concern federal agents have of potentially violent encounters. “The tragedy is...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump and Walz report ‘productive’ phone call
President Donald Trump and Gov. Tim Walz spoke on the phone on Monday, Jan. 26, in what they both labeled a positive call, possibly simmering the boiling tensions that arose after two fatalities at the hands of federal immigration agents in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Mining near Boundary Waters may soon start
A proposal to repeal a ban on mining in northeastern Minnesota’s Superior National Forest is headed to the U.S. Senate following approval in the House, reigniting a long-simmering fight between environmentalists and promining interests. The reaction...
Read Full Story (Page 1)