🌱 Mankato quietly tops the nation in job growth—see how it compares.

Hi Mankato! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Mankato quietly tops the nation in job growth—see how it compares.
• What unsealed court files reveal about the FBI's Mankato phone seizure.

Also on today's calendar: Paddle Wheel and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Periods of sun; not as warm, with a high of 66 and low of 43 degrees.
• Friday: Variable cloudiness, temps: high: 63, low: 46.
• Saturday: An afternoon shower or two, with a high of 68 and low of 47 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Midland No. 2 in nation in job growth (star-telegram.com) — Mankato just posted the strongest job growth among U.S. metro areas, with a 3.7% increase in non-farm payrolls from August 2025 to August 2026. While the article spotlights Midland, Texas in second place, the numbers underscore Mankato's especially strong employment momentum compared with both state and national averages.
   

• Judicial Watch Victory: Federal Court Unseals Secret FBI Warrant Records Targeting Mike Lindell (judicialwatch.org) — Newly unsealed federal court records reveal details behind the FBI's 2022 seizure of Mike Lindell's phone at a Hardee's drive-through in Mankato. Judicial Watch and Lindell pushed to make the warrant materials public, arguing they show how information from Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit factored into the government's justification, even though no charges were filed.
   

📸 Around Mankato

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Mankato

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday October 1
• Bar Bingo →
  Mankato Eagles Club #269, 708 N Riverfront Drive, Mankato
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday October 1
• Paddle Wheel →
  Mankato Eagles Club #269, 708 N Riverfront Drive, Mankato
  7:00 pm
• Trivia Night at Legends Bar and Grill (Mankato) →
  Legends Bar & Grill - Mankato, Mankato
  7:00 pm
• Mamma Mania →
  1850 Madison Avenue, Mankato
  7:00 pm
• Pub 500 Trivia →
  Pub 500, 500 S. Front Street, Mankato
  7:30 pm
Friday October 2
• Kayla Daniels at Mankato →
  Mankato, Mankato
• Chili & Cheeseburger →
  Mankato Eagles Club #269, 708 N Riverfront Drive, Mankato
  11:00 am
• Walk-a-thon (3rd Annual) →
  600 Lind St., Mankato
  2:00 pm
• Paddle Wheel →
  Mankato Eagles Club #269, 708 N Riverfront Drive, Mankato
  5:30 pm
• Play The Ponies →
  Mankato Eagles Club #269, 708 N Riverfront Drive, Mankato
  7:00 pm
Saturday October 3
• Bar Bingo →
  Mankato Eagles Club #269, 708 N Riverfront Drive, Mankato
  1:00 pm
• Chopped Steak Dinner →
  Mankato Eagles Club #269, 708 N Riverfront Drive, Mankato
  5:00 pm

📣 Mankato Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Our annual Fall Festival is this Saturday 5-7:30PM.
  We always love to see the West Mankato community enjoying this event! Come for some great food and a chance to win really fabulous prizes at all the… (Nextdoor Blue Earth Park)
• I voted!
  Vote now to help your favorite businesses win a Fave Award. https://nextdoor.com/local_faves/?start_voting=1 (Nextdoor Indian Lake)

• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Freezer, Cooler and Deli Stocker Associate in Mankato. Apply here.
• Walmart posted a job opening for Online Order Filling Team Supervisor in Mankato. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mankato here.

🗞 Nearby News

North Mankato

• Nicollet County farmers delay soybean harvest due to persistent rain (keyc.com)

Nicollet

• Nicollet Public Schools launches new STEM initiative (nujournal.com)
• Shadows at the Crossing Returns to the Prairie at Traverse des Sioux (radiomankato.com)
• Area roundup: Chargers sweep Eagles (nujournal.com)

Le Sueur

• Zeke Roberts Named September 29 MIAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Week (bethel.edu)
• Cambria Strengthens Its Commitment to American Quartz Manufacturing (stoneworld.com)

Ok Mankato! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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