Good morning, Rochester.

Thursdays Downtown will return for its 21st year from June 12 to August 14, excluding July 3, with more than 100 vendors & 54 bands scheduled to entertain visitors.

Due to downtown construction, the festival will move its layout to areas south of 2nd Street South on 1st Avenue Southwest, Historic 3rd Street & 2nd Avenue Southwest.

The Rochester Police Department and Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office invite neighbors to join Night to Unite on Tuesday, August 5 to build police-community partnerships.

Neighbors can register their gatherings by July 31 and expect visits from local first responders.

The 22-year-old Ethan Raymond Callier drove three people to Ashland Apartments on May 19, where a passenger left the vehicle and gunfire was exchanged, and he pleaded guilty to second-degree riot before being sentenced today to 30 days in jail with work-release privileges+ he will also serve five years on probation and pay a $1,000 fine.

This fall, 245 high schools in Minnesota, including Century and Mayo in Rochester, will join the Direct Admissions Program to help students easily apply to college.

The program, managed by the Office of Higher Education, sends students a personalized letter — a move expected to boost FAFSA completion and college enrollment.

Two local students, Gavin Hostager and Logan Atkinson, have been awarded the 2025 Pat Lund Scholarship — an honor named after the late KTTC sports journalist who beat dyslexia, with the award given by the Lund family and the Reading Center.

The winners will receive up to $1,000 a year for four years to help them with their studies.

The City of Rochester has released the 2025 Summer Fun — City Resources magazine to nearly 64,000 homes, which details local services, events, and programs including the Soldiers Field Aquatic Center and the Year About Youth initiative led by Mayor Kim Norton and invites residents to provide feedback for future improvements.

Starting Monday, a portion of Highway 63 will close in both directions for a roundabout installation at the intersection with 18th Ave NW; MnDOT has set detours for motorists and said the project will finish in August.

Mayo Clinic today launches the Mayo Venture Partner program to boost healthcare innovation by partnering with industry experts and building ventures from scratch.

In the program, inaugural partners Amy DuRoss, Audrey Greenberg, and Brian Poger will work with the Business Development team to identify high-potential opportunities and enhance patient care — building on previous successes with over $1.2 billion in revenue, more than 180 companies, and 4,159 patents.

June Meet-Up for Female Entrepreneurs in Rochester

2:30-3:30 p.m. — Collider Foundation — Free entry — Connect and create your brand kit in a hands-on workshop led by Izzy Waite.

German Language Conversation Group

4-6 p.m. — Define Conference Room — Free entry — Practice your German language skills with others in a relaxed, friendly environment.

Middle School Summer Camp

8 AM – 3 PM — RCTC Heintz Center — Free entry — An immersive four-day experience for sixth and seventh graders filled with exciting activities.

Let's Speak German!

4-6 p.m. — Define Conference Room — Free entry — Engage in conversation in a friendly environment with coffee available for early arrivals.

German Language Conversation Meetup

4-6 p.m. — One Discovery Square — Free entry — Practice your German skills in a friendly, all-levels welcome atmosphere.

Open House: Spacious 6-Bedroom Home

5:30-7 p.m. — 2319 Viola View Ln NE — $524,900 — Explore this serene cul-de-sac home featuring a walkout lower level and large outdoor deck.

Rochester Pokémon League Gathering

5-7 p.m. — NerdinOut-Rochester — Free entry — Connect with fellow Pokémon fans to play, trade, and earn prizes in a fun community setting.

Let's Speak German!

4-6 p.m. — One Discovery Square, 'Define' Conference Room — Free entry — A welcoming space for all skill levels to practice and discuss the German language.