KMSU Community Stories

Jan. 26, 2023 Pieta Brown, daughter of folk singer Greg Brown talks about growing up in Iowa in a home without indoor plumbing, no TV, an outhouse, and how that shaped who she is as a person and as a musician.  She performed in Mankato on Jan. 31, 2023 as part of the MNSU Music Performance Series.

Jan. 11, 2023 Community Education in Mankato has been around since the 1970s and has expanded and adapted through the years. Community Education Director, Audra Nissen-Boyer and Program Coordinator, Melanie Schmidt talk about what's new and seek nominations for the upcoming "Spirit of Youth" award.

Dec. 23, 2022 How did the tradition of Santa Claus start?? And just how many gift-givers are in the world today? Tom A. Jerman, author of Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers tells us about many renditions of Santa around the world.

The final Dakota 38+2 Memorial Ride will take place on Dec. 26, 2022. The annual ride honors the lives lost in a mass public execution of 38 Dakota men and two others following the War of 1862. Leaders of the ride say that 40 staff members are retiring, marking the end of the annual journey from La Brule, South Dakota to Reconciliation Park in Mankato. Jessica Potter (Blue Earth County Historical Society) and Kelly McBride (Blue Earth County Library) talk about the upcoming event.

Dec. 27, 2022 Mankato Area Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Peterson talks about the legislative priorities for District #77 in 2023.

Nov. 30, 2022 Minnesota State University Mankato professor of creative writing, Rachael Hanel tells the story of how an ordinary Minnesota girl came to be, briefly, one of the most wanted domestic terrorists in the United States Behind every act of domestic terrorism there is someone’s child, an average American whose life took a radical turn for reasons that often remain mysterious. The book, "Not the Camilla We Knew: One Woman’s Path from Small-town America to the Symbionese Liberation Army" by University of Minnesota Press is out Dec. 13, 2022.

Nov. 23, 2022 Mankato Area Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Paul Peterson, discusses the challenges facing the school system including mental health, lack of qualified employees to fill positions, and the upcoming legislative session.

Nov. 23, 2022 Mankato Area Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Paul Peterson, discusses the challenges facing the school system including mental health, lack of qualified employees to fill positions, and the upcoming legislative session.

Nov. 16, 2022 Learn about the band with roots in Minnesota - Good Morning Bedlam. Husband and wife team, Issac and Tori Elker talk about their inspirations and aspirations, as well as their upcoming visit to Mankato.

Nov. 7, 2022 Curtis & Loretta Simonet will be performing at the Princess Theater in St. James on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, 7 p.m. The duo share stories on KMSU's Minnesota Morning with host Karen Wright.