MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about the Special Olympics in Alexandria, news from city councils in Alex and Osakis, theater, music, and baseball.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from June 15 and June 17 below:

Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, July 15 issue:

122 Special Olympics athletes participate in regional bocce competition in Alexandria (W/PHOTO GALLERY)

2026 Alexandria Historic House Tour coming this weekend

$10.9M runway reconstruction contract approved for Alexandria Airport

Get ready for Alexandria 2026 Homecoming Parade

Lakes Area Theatre presents 'Dear Jack, Dear Louise' at Carlos Creek Winery July 15

Alex Red clobbers Marshall in game 1, day 2 of the Bernie Classic Junior Legion Tournament in Alexandria

Here are the top stories in our Friday, July 17 issue :

Sultry weather makes impact on attendance at Summer Sounds Tuesday, July 14 (W/VIDEO)

Osakis City Council: Fireworks, ice carousels, and nuisance cats

Douglas County SWAT Team executes narcotics warrant in Alexandria

Lake Miltona cottage owned by same family for 100 years

Baseball: Alexandria Post 87 showcases balance, class en route to Gopher Classic championship

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about graduation - and one special graduate, big changes coming to the Andrea Theatre, and some young trout go from Discovery Middle School to a school of their own.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from June 3 and June 5 below:

Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, June 3 issue:

Standing ovation (w/VIDEO)

Congratulations to the AAHS Class of 2026!

Relay for Life of Best of MNWest set for June 5-6 in Alexandria

Alexandria Police Department launches two new events

Alexandria Education Foundation awards nearly $20,000 in Teacher Innovation grants

Girls Golf: Alexandria returns to the top, sweeps Section 8AAA championships

Here are the top stories in our Friday, June 5 issue:

Andria Theatre reveals more than it's upcoming season at fundraising event Tuesday night

History 250 Festival to be held Saturday at Douglas County Pilgrim Point Park

Alexandria candidates file for office in county, school board, council

Trout go from Alexandria's Discovery Middle School to … school

STATE BOUND: Big inning leads Brandon-Evansville baseball past Jaguars to win Section 6A championship

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about a glamorous celebration at New Life Christian Church, upcoming Memorial Day events. Plus mini-camps to fill your summer with learning and a story about an unparalleled 80th birthday celebration.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from May 20 and May 22 below:

Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, May 20 issue:

Royal Celebration at New Life Christian Church was full of glitz and glam (W/VIDEO)

Douglas County Sheriff Troy Wolbersen announces his retirement

Memorial Day events are planned for the lakes area

Building boats for the war effort

Send in the clowns

Area softball roundup for May 15: Parkers Prairie closes regular season with third-straight shutout win

Here are the top stories in our Friday, May 22 issue:

Bicyclists bond in a silent ride in Alexandria (W/VIDEO)

4 fire departments battle house fire near Farwell on Tuesday, May 19

Douglas County Board gets update on Extension Office, approves a new clean energy program for The Rune

Smokey Timbers announces summer mini-camp schedule

Alexandria veteran celebrates 80th birthday on Veterans Honor Flight in Washington, D.C.

College Baseball: Alexandria Tech leans on toughness, memories in run to NJCAA Division III World Series

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about the season for baby bears and farmers markets has arrived, not to mention graduations and ukelele music. Plus DECA students, baseball players and track and field athletes bring honors to Alexandria.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from May 13 and May 15 below:

Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, May 13 issue:

'We're capturing more wildlife, probably, than bad actors' W/VIDEO

Alexandria couple share their story at Habitat for Humanity's annual Hard Hat event

SOKs is a new mental health support group for children

Alexandria City Council calls for bids on runway project

A chilly but successful Alexandria Farmers Market (w/video)

Baseball: Pitching carries Alexandria to sweep of Bemidji

Here are the top stories in our Friday, May 15 issue :

Alexandria College holds spring 2026 graduation ceremony

Vikingland Ukuleles and Grand Arbor Choir perform together in 'Sing-a-lele' (w/videos)

Firm hired to build awareness for local sales tax in Alexandria

Out of thousands of students competing at international DECA event, Alexandria brought home 2 glass trophies

Track and Field: Alexandria shines at B Lohman Invitational

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about impressive graduation rates in Douglas County schools, runestones in Melby, and lots of music and poetry on the way.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from April 8 and April 10 below:

Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, April 8 issue:

Remembering the Resurrection

Runestones in Melby? And one thrown down a well?

Alexandria, Brandon-Evansville, Osakis graduation rates increase for 2025

Ruby's Pantry partnerships left without answers

Easter Bunny makes appearances despite wintry weather

Basketball: Alexandria boys all-time leading scorer Mason Witt headlines all-CLC teams

Here are the top stories in our Friday, April 10 issue:

Any legal firearm may now be used in Douglas County during deer hunting season

'Poetry was always meant to be spoken' W/VIDEO

Norton to perform Americana-style music at Evansville Sunday

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson says the Alexandria Jaycees have ceased operations after almost 80 years; yes, there were Irish pioneers in Douglas County, and Alexandria DECA students excelled at the state Career Development Conference. Plus bad art, good hotdish and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from March 18 and March 20 below:

Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, March 18 issue:

Alexandria Jaycees cease operations after almost 80 years

A look at Irish pioneers in Douglas, Otter Tail counties

Mount Carmel will be new option for preschool this fall

Kindness Night is this Thursday in Hoffman

Alexandria DECA students excel at the Minnesota State Career Development Conference

Boys Basketball: Alexandria fends off late Elk River challenge to win Section 8-4A title

Here are the top stories in our Friday, March 20 issue:

Kyle Momsen takes Oath of Office at Alexandria School Board meeting

Douglas County Library holds first 'Bad Art Night'

A hotdish that bowled over the judges

Class 4A boys basketball: Alexandria opens state tournament against Maple Grove

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about this year's Polar Plunge and the plunges coming up at area schools, the death of a Miltona woman in a house fire, a group of local parents helping their kids - and themselves - unplug from screens, not-so dry history in Douglas County, a Habitat For Humanity Open House, township elections next week, and high school wrestlers and basketball players making their marks.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from March 4 and March 6 below:

Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, March 4 issue:

Total raised for this year's Polar Plunge was nearly $61,000

Alexandria clears a hurdle on its goal of becoming a GreenStep city

Miltona woman dies in structure fire Thursday

Prohibition, bootlegging and rum running: Not so 'dry' history in Douglas County

This is not your parents' debate over screen time

MSHSL State Wrestling: Alexandria's Nolan Fettig reaches semifinal round in Class AA bracket

Here are the top stories in our Friday, March 6 issue:

Open house held at Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County home in Summer Meadows

Nearly 7,000 watercraft inspections conducted during the 2025 season

Township elections to be held March 10 in Douglas County

Boys Basketball: Alexandria cruises past Knights to open Section 8-4A playoffs

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about beating the winter blues with world-class blues and jazz, a peek at how the proposed new Douglas County Library could look, building demolition in preparation for a Kwik-Trip in western Alexandria, and a romantic article about how Alexandrians are bedazzled by romance books … and how they bedazzle the romance books right back.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from February 11 and February 13 below:

Here are the top stories in our Wednesday February 11 issue:

Beat the Winter Blues and Jazz Festival showcased music by world-class blues and jazz artists

SunOpta is being sold to Refresco in $1.1 billion deal

All 11 fire departments in Douglas County may get new radios

Proposed new Douglas County Library inches forward toward a referendum vote in November

Van Zomeren inducted into MN FFA Hall of Fame

Boys Swim and Dive: Alexandria captures Central Lakes Conference championship

Here are the top stories in our Friday, February 13 issue:

90 years ago: Alexandria's Congregational Church burns

$19.9 million building bond referendum for Osakis Public Schools passes

Buildings demolished to clear the way for Alexandria's second Kwik Trip

Alexandria bedazzled by romance books

Zion Lutheran boys basketball continuing to highlight consistent play as state approaches

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about the first-ever SNOfest Winter Carnival, the demise of the paperback novel, a shooting death in Alexandria, community support for a Miltona couple who lost their home in a fire just after Christmas, and the ancient prayer practice that has returned to an Alexandria church.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from January 21 and January 23 below:

Jan. 21, 2026:

Temps were cold, winds were high but the sun was shining at first-ever SNOfest Winter Carnival in Alexandria

10 years later, Brandon man recalls painting Minneapolis' Foshay Tower

The books that 'democratized America' are no more

Brandon-Evansville School Board holds reorganizational meeting

Discovery Middle School students showcase projects about global goals, concerns

Boys Swim and Dive: Alexandria edges Elk River to take Section 8AA true team championship

Jan. 23, 2026:

Man dead after shooting in Alexandria on Jan. 20

Miltona couple 'beyond blessed' by support and generosity after fire destroyed their home

Osakis City Council: Earlier meeting times, and the water leak mystery continues

'This is exactly what my dad envisioned'

Alexandria girls hockey player Quinn Hills named Shannon O'Hara scholarship recipient

Opinion

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about the local skating pond ready for the season, two Douglas County Christmas Bird Counts that turned up records, some County and School Board news, and why some people think they could beat a grizzly bear in an unarmed fight.

Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from January 7 and January 9 below:

Wednesday January 7, 2026

Noonan Park skating pond is officially ready for the season

Two die in head-on crash on Highway 71 in rural Belgrade, Minnesota

$100,000 winning lottery ticket sold in Alexandria

Alexandria Area High School senior nominated by U.S. Rep. Fischbach for 3 military academies

Douglas County bird counts postponed due to weather; still set records

Wrestling: Nolan Fettig wins 150th career match as Alexandria boys takes St. Paul Harding duals title

Friday, January 9, 2026:

Shane Schmidt named board chairperson for the Douglas County Board of Commissioners

Could you beat a grizzly bear in an unarmed fight?

Kyle Momsen appointed to open seat on Alexandria School Board

Boys Basketball: Alexandria wins shootout to hand Moorhead first loss of season

Opinion