Good morning, Rochester.

A new women's shelter and support center is planning an open house soon in Rochester to show available services and answer questions for local women in need.

Rochester’s Little Thistle Brewing will be featured at the Minnesota State Fair — part of the Brewed in Minnesota exhibit in the Agriculture Horticulture Building — offering beer flights with its Brave Woman and Wetlands beers.

It will also pour Jungle Bird IPA at Ball Park Cafe.

Minnesota State Fair visitors recall Dolly Parton’s performances (1969, 1970, 1978, 1993) as her legacy inspires today's fairgoers.

The country icon died Tuesday (age 80) and her music as well as the Imagination Library continue to warm Minnesota hearts.

The Minnesota State Fair runs from today through Sept.

7 and features new rides like the giant America Wheel and Viking-themed Thor, along with Eat Together — a dining area with nine food vendors — and free exhibits on dinosaurs and local films.

The Alliance of Chicanos, Hispanics and Latin Americans will host Latino Fest on September 19 at the Château Theatre and Peace Plaza downtown from noon to 7 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will celebrate Latino culture with live music, food vendors, and a Chihuahua Fashion Show at 3:30 p.m.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library delivers free, age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth through age five in Olmsted and Dodge counties — local programs serve about 3,500 kids in Olmsted and 655 in Dodge as community partners work to boost early literacy.

On Wednesday, Rochester Public Schools welcomed elementary students on the first day of the 2026-27 school year with classes at Sunset Terrace Elementary from 7:55 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The district also launched its Office of Learning Environments (a new program to boost student support) to strengthen school connections.

City officials in Rochester celebrated the new electronic marquee at Mayo Civic Center, completed through federal funding.

The upgrade also included restroom and power improvements at local venues (with matching contributions from DMC and Experience Rochester) to boost downtown event promotions.

A developer announced a 349-unit apartment complex in downtown Rochester — the $136 million public-private project will feature a 273-unit market-rate tower and 76 affordable senior housing apartments, set to open in spring 2028 at 217 East Center Street across from the Mayo Civic Center.

A downtown project to add seven stories to historic buildings is moving forward after Mayor Norton announced on Monday she would not veto the plan, which may force Treedome to relocate its record store and live music venue if construction changes its entrance.

The business remains open for now.