Echo Press Minute

This month on Minnesota Night Skies, it's a quiet month as we wait for spring to finally arrive, but there are a few things to look out for.

Aurora season continues over most of Minnesota!

Mars aligns with Gemini's bright start Castor and Pollux on April 10.

Look for the smallest full moon of the year, the so-called micro-moon on April 12. Don't believe it? Bob has tips to assemble photographic proof.

Also April 12, there's a close conjunction with Spica in Virgo.

Look for the peak of the annual Lyrid meteor shower April 22.

Venus has flipped over to the morning sky after it passed between the Earth and sun. We'll have a nice conjunction of Venus, Saturn and the crescent moon on April 25 very low at dawn. And watch Jupiter and Mars move to the east at a good clip this month as they orbit the sun.

Plus, for the first time ever, Bob reads poetry!

Next month on Minnesota Night Skies, another meteor shower to look forward to, plus more pleasant weather (we hope) to encourage folks to spend the night out under the stars.

Astro Bob is podcasting! Astro Bob King and Echo Press reporter and host Lisa Johnson did an astronomy radio show together for many years, and now they're back on a new podcast for all of Minnesota, called Minnesota Night Skies.

Bob King is an amateur astronomer, an photographer and author. His most recent book is called "Magnificent Aurora" about the Northern Lights. He writes a syndicated column for the Duluth News Tribune and is a regular contributor to Sky & Telescope magazine.

Bob recommends several guides to help you find what's up in the sky. For more information about the star maps and a local information calendar, you can check out Skymaps.com. Also look for Stellarium Mobile where you get your apps. It's available for both Apple and Android phones.

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about the state class 3A State Championship Alexandria Cardinals. 2024 saw lots of new buildings going up in Alexandria - we have that story, and the story about the former Perry's Furniture coming down. Food shelves were on the mind of the community, the Alexandria Police Chief made his annual report to the city council, and the Alexandria robotics team is on their way to the World Championships. Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from March 23-28, 2025 below:

March 26, 2025

Photos: Alexandria boys basketball team, West Central Area girls basketball team win state titles

Big year of construction in Alexandria

Landmark building, Perry's Furniture in Alexandria, comes tumbling down (w/video)

Church group's FoodShare campaign runs through April 6

Empty Bowls - but cups runneth over

March 28, 2025

Alexandria police chief's report addresses use of force and de-escalation

Bluebirds are doing all right, but volunteers are another story

Informational meeting held regarding level-three offender's release

For the record, March 28

Archery: Discovery Middle School team takes first at Osakis Tournament

Opinion

ALEXANDRIA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson tells the story of a former Alexandria exchange student from Ukraine, trying to stay in the US. Read the story and her opinion piece about her fight for freedom. We wrap of Women's History Month, a protest for veterans lines a block in downtown Alexandria, the Andria Theatre has a new executive director and turnovers make the difference for Alexandria's boys basketball team. Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute.

Check out the top headlines from March 16-22, 2025 below:

March 16, 2025:

Former Alexandria exchange student from Ukraine trying to stay in the U.S.

Fighting for her freedom for more than 1,000 days

Women's History Month: Mollie Aberle Noonan 1885-1964

Pro-veteran protest was held in Alexandria on March 14

Bernie Van Zomeren, former Alexandria ag instructor, wins prestigious Day-Frederick Award

Girls basketball: History made for West Central, disappointment for MACCRAY

March 22, 2025:

Bears on the move into West Central Minnesota

Andria Theatre hires new executive director

Alexandria School Board votes to not administer controversial MN Student Survey

Seniors and nursing homes are scared of cuts, say Alexandria area legislators

Alexandria man is member of Journeymen Chorus performing on Sunday, March 23

Boys Basketball: Turnovers make the difference in Alexandria's state quarterfinal win over Byron

Opinion

ALEXANDRIA - In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Celeste Edenloff profiles an Alexandria woman being honored for more than 40 years volunteering for her community. We look into an idea being floated for chickens in the city limits, a project that would add 64 units of workforce apartments, and the results — and a recipe — from the Great Hotdish Bakeoff.

Check out the top headlines from March 9-15 below:

Helen Feda of Alexandria chosen as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year

Chickens, cannabis, replica of Kensington Runestone and more discussed by city, county leaders

Loan agreement approved for Twenty08 apartments in Alexandria

Winner of this year's 'Great Hotdish Bake-Off' in Alexandria was Central MN Elder Network

Boys Swim and Dive: Alexandria finishes in upper-echelon of Class A with 5th place finish at state

Women's History Month: Theresa Thomas Hicks 1836-1918

TJ Maxx to open in Alexandria on Sunday, March 16

Alex College to host 'Battle in the North 2025' eSports event

Felony theft charge dropped in Wendy Hoff case involving signs

Area Scouts take part in annual Klondike Derby at Kensington Rune Stone Park

Girls Basketball: Alexandria wears down DeLaSalle in MSHSL Class 3A State Tournament quarterfinal win

ALEXANDRIA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson says more than 300 Discovery Middle School kids took turns plunging into a tank of icy water – for a good cause, we take a look into suicide attempts and threats in the Alexandria area – and how to get help, the Alexandria Police Department is getting new tools to prevent crimes, catch criminals in stolen vehicles and possibly save lives and more.

Check out the top headlines from March 2-8, 2025 below:

March 5, 2025: Voyager Elementary School holds celebration for being named a School of Excellence

March 5, 2025: Alexandria to try new strategy for catching criminals — license plate readers and cameras

March 5 2025: RSV up slightly; flu and COVID rates trending down in Douglas County

March 5, 2025: New Arts Initiative of Douglas County to focus on community art projects

March 5, 2025: Alexandria DECA students win big at District 5 competition

March 5, 2025: Wrestling: Seven area wrestlers earn state medals

March 7, 2025: Discovery Middle School students take the plunge for a good cause

March 7, 2025: Intersection of County Road 46 and Nevada Street to become a four-way stop in Alexandria

March 7, 2025: Habitat for Humanity dedicates 'Cardinal Build' home in Alexandria

March 7, 2025: Girls Basketball: West Central Area outlasts Breckenridge in OT thriller to advance to Section 6A title game

March 7, 2025: Opinion

A roundup of the top stories in the Echo Press, February 23-March 2, 2025.

The Echo Press, giving information life since 1891.

This month on Minnesota Night Skies, Bob King returns from his trip to Norway, having seen the Northern Lights like he's never seen them before.

That ol' busybody moon is hanging with Mars in March, plus there's a total lunar eclipse to look forward to on March 14.

Venus transforms from a night owl to a morning person (planet) this month, and spring arrives at 4:01 a.m. March 20.

You can see photos from Bob's aurora-watching trip here at Sky & Telescope magazine.

Next month on Minnesota Night Skies, Venus is a relentlessly perky "morning star" in the eastern sky at dawn and the Lyrid meteor shower is coming up on the morning of April 21.

Astro Bob is podcasting! Astro Bob King and Echo Press reporter and host Lisa Johnson did an astronomy radio show together for many years, and now they're back on a new podcast for all of Minnesota, called Minnesota Night Skies.

Bob King is an amateur astronomer, an photographer and author. His most recent book is called "Magnificent Aurora" about the Northern Lights. He writes a syndicated column for the Duluth News Tribune and is a regular contributor to Sky & Telescope magazine.

Bob recommends several guides to help you find what's up in the sky. For more information about the star maps and a local information calendar, you can check out Skymaps.com. Also look for Stellarium Mobile where you get your apps. It's available for both Apple and Android phones.

ALEXANDRIA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson discusses Alexandria Industries' "Fishing for the Cure" ice fishing challenge, the study ranking Douglas County as the third-best place in the state — and Minnesota as the second-best state in the United States — in which to raise a family, and more.

Check out the top headlines from Feb. 16-22, 2025 below:

Feb. 15, 2025: Hadley Thul scores 2,000th career point in No. 5 Alexandria's win over No. 10 Delano

Feb. 15, 2025: Alexandria man faces third felony sex case in Douglas County

Feb. 17, 2025: Busy Saturday on Smith Lake thanks to Fishing for the Cure

Feb 18, 2025: Douglas County ranks high for raising a family

Feb. 19, 2025: You can now watch Douglas County Board meetings on YouTube

Feb. 19, 2025: Federal charges filed against suspect in Alexandria bank robbery

Feb. 20, 2025: BE School Board hears presentation on district's operating levy

Feb. 20, 2025: Osakis Special Ed students blooming through transitions program

Feb. 20, 2025: Alexandria doctor performs more than 100 eye surgeries during a week in Sierra Leone, West Africa

Feb. 23, 2025: For nearly 60 years, Alexandria Downtown Merchants Association has supported local businesses

Astro Bob is back with a new podcast! Join Astro Bob King and host Lisa Johnson for a look at what to see in the night skies this month all across Minnesota.

In our debut episode, Bob talks about the planets (they'll all be visible at different times this month), a conjunction right away February 1st, and how to see the "Heavenly Palace."

Bob King is an author, photographer and amateur astronomer and he writes about astronomy (and offers photography tips) for a variety of publications, including his column for Forum Communications and Sky & Telescope magazine.

For more information about the guides Bob talked about, you can check out Skymaps.com and/or look for Stellarium Mobile where you get your apps. It's available for both Apple and Android phones.

For information about satellites, visit Heavens Above for satellite and other data customized to your location.

Information about the Seestar Smart Telescope is available here.

If you want to sing the "Conjunction Junction" song from Schoolhouse Rock, you can find it here.

To learn more about the Chinese space station, Tiangong, click here.

To learn more about Road Scholar trips, click here.

Here are the top stories in Wednesday's paper:

• Run-down of Alexandria's Memorial Day ceremony

• Tradehome Shoes is moving to a new spot in the mall.

• Survivor raises awareness of suicide

• Cardinals baseball beat Little Falls 14-8, ending the regular season.

To read more from these stories and others, look for them in our print edition and online at echopress.com

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