KMSU Community Stories

October 22, 2026 - The Mankato Symphony Orchestra's Executive Director, Bethel Balge and Conductor/Music Director Ernesto Estigarribia Mussi join Dwayne Megaw to talk about their October 24th Stories of Fire performance.  Listen as Ernesto and Bethel share more about what you are likely to see, hear, and feel Saturday afternoon at 4pm at Crossview Covenant Church in North Mankato.  For more inform...

Musician Hanna Cesario stopped by the Shuffle Function Morning Show to talk about her Patsy Cline Tribute, which is taking place on Saturday, October 24 at the Kato Ballroom.

October 14, 2026 - Melanie Schmidt with Mankato Area Public Schools Community Education department stops by Minnesota Morning with Dwayne Megaw to chat about Fall and Holiday activities being offered to the community.  Check out all the fun things we talked about on their website .

October 7, 2026 - Dr. Chris Corley , Dean of Library and Learning, and Dr. Elizabeth Adams , author of Leading i n the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Choosing Purpose Before Code join Dwayne Megaw on KMSU's Minnesota Morning to talk about Dr. Adam's upcoming visit to campus for the final Common Read event of this year.  The focus of this year's common read is artificial intelligence.  Dr. Adams w...

Jeff Ford stopped by the Shuffle Function Morning Show on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 to talk about Benny's Belleville Bienvenue, a vaudeville event feature live music, magic, comedy, and acrobats! The event takes place at 7:00 p.m. at Benny's in New Ulm on Saturday, October 10th.

October 5, 2026 - Nobel Conference Director Philp Voit joins us to talk about the 62nd Annual Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.  This year, they take up the topic of the Mississippi River.  Learn more about the conference, including how to attend virtually, at the Nobel Conference website .

September 30, 2026 - Rachael Hanel stops by to chat about the 10th Annual Deep Valley Book Festival, happening Saturday, October 3.  Hanel has been involved in festival since it began and share with us how excited she is about this year's keynote, Kate DiCamillo.  Find out the entire line-up of speakers and other activities scheduled during this free event at the Deep Valley Book Festival website.

September 30, 2026 - For the first time since the start of the school year, we catch up with Mankato Area Public Schools Superintendent Paul Peterson.  We chat about how things are going early in the academic year, a recent statewide award 4th-graders earned, and an important school funding measure on the November 3rd ballot.

September 19, 2026 - The 54th Annual Mahkato Wacipi took place September 18-20.  Listen to the 1pm Saturday Grand Entry featuring drummers, singers, and dancers as they enter the arena.  

September 25, 2026 - Maisie with The Living Earth Center stops by to chat about their upcoming Farm Fest event on October 10.  She also shares more about the Seed to Sauce program, and tells us to be listening for some exciting news coming in October.  Find out more about the Living Earth Center at their website .

Sept. 23, 2026 - The Role of Public Health Laboratories in National Health Safety are the topics discussed by James Chithalen, the deputy director of the Wadsworth Center, New York Sate Department of Health in the 36th Leonard Ford Lectureship at Minnesota State Mankato. KMSU's Karen Wright spoke with Chithalen about the work of public health role in local and global health security, and bridging...

August 21, 2026 - Maisie stops by to tell us about things happening at the Living Earth Center and ways you can get involved.

August 19, 2026 - Alison Troldahl and Alisa Boswell stop by to talk about volunteer opportunities with MAPS, openings right now with ACES, and the fall catalog.  For more information, go to the Community Education website.

July 27, 2026 - Laura Murray with Greater Mankato Area United Way joins us to chat about their 95th Anniversary Celebration and 2027 Campaign Kickoff event tomorrow as well as their upcoming Women With Heart event next week.

July 24, 2026 - Maisie with Living Earth Center stops by to talk about what's happening at their Community Farm and Community Gardens.  Find out more about all we chatted about at their website.

July 1, 2026 - KMSU Alumnus Doug Faust with Mankato Kiwanis stops by to chat about the 34th Kiwanis Thunder of Drums event happening Tuesday, July 7 at Blakeslee Stadium on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato.  Learn more and purchase tickets at the Thunder of Drums website.

June 17, 2026 - Maisie Johnson with the Living Earth Center stops in to chat about their Solstice event on Saturday June 20 from 6pm to 8pm.  Everyone is invited to stop by and enjoy music, yoga, and community at the LEC Community Gardens on Good Counsel Hill.

June 5, 2026 - Mankato Area Public Schools Adult Basic Education Coordinator Karen Wolters stops by and tells us all about the GED Bootcamp that starts June 15.  We lean what a General Educational Development diploma is, why it's needed, and how you can attend the bootcamp coming up soon.

April 22, 2026 - Superintendent Paul Peterson and Prairie Winds Middle School Teacher Brett Riss stop by to talk about sustainability in Mankato Area Public Schools.

April 20, 2026 - The Watonwan County Entertainment Association presents St. James area native Becky Buller, performing Saturday night at Armstrong Auditorium in St. James.  Learn more about Becky's roots and how playing the fiddle has been to key to her performing all over the world.  Learn more by following this link .

April 20, 2026 - Kate Hengy-Gertz and Alyssa Dieken stop by and let us know more about Project Community Connect happening Tuesday, April 21 at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.  Listen to learn more about what types of resources and services are available at the event, which happens from 1pm to 4pm.

April 15, 2026 - Brian Gosewisch from Key City Bike joins Dwayne to chat about the Deep Valley Trash Cleanup event on Saturday, April 18, from 10am to 12pm.  Find out more at their website .

March 25, 20206 - In this week's Community Spotlight, Mankato Area Public Schools Superintendent Paul Peterson stops by to talk about legislative priorities, a super summer, and the need to support future students with lifestyle pathways.  

Sam Schirmers and Amy Phares from Mankato Area Public Schools stop by to talk all things Summer ACES, including registration, enrollment, and even employment opportunities.

Mankato Area Public Schools Superintendent Paul Peterson stops by to talk about how area schools are handling increased immigration enforcement in our area.  He also talks about student involvement in school board meetings and updates us on the ongoing discussion about what education might look like in the future.