Episodes

  • FreepCast, Episode 60 — Sports awards, council meeting rules
    Jul 31 2025

    In this episode, Joe Spear and Robb Murray discuss the Athletes of the Year awards bestowed this week on area high schoolers. They also get into the new rules governing public comment at city council meetings.

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    26 mins
  • FreepCast, Episode 59 — Checking in with the new guy
    Jul 23 2025
    Free Press Photo Editor Casey Ek and reporter Ethan Becker take the reins on the latest episode of FreepCast. Casey checks in with Ethan, who has been at the newspaper for about a month, and talks about the latest goings on at local government meetings. Plus, Model T Fords make an appearance in town.
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    14 mins
  • FreepCast, Episode 58 — West side story, Amboy tragedy, city council safety
    Jul 16 2025

    On this episode hosts Joe Spear and Robb Murray talk about the construction at West High School, the tragic suicide of an Amboy firefighter, and the Mankato City Council's concerns about safety in the wake of the Melissa Hortman assassination.

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    22 mins
  • FreepCast episode 57 — Removing the Rapidan Dam might cost how much?
    Jul 9 2025

    Joe and Casey dive into the Mankato area news of the week, including the estimated costs of removing the Rapidan Dam, fentanyl and the local justice system, a possible data center in North Mankato and other topics.

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    19 mins
  • FreepCast Episode 56 — Let's meet *another* new guy
    Jun 28 2025

    On this episode Joe Spear introduces the newest member of The Free Press' reporting team, Ethan Becker.

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    23 mins
  • FreepCast Episode 55 — 99 problems but a King ain't one ... or something.
    Jun 20 2025

    This week FreepCast digs into the massive showing for the No Kings event that took place in Mankato last weekend. We also discuss the horrific killings of Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the social media food reviewer Tony Cu's recent stroll through Mankato's culinary offerings.

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    18 mins
  • FreepCast Episode 54 — Riot at City Hall! (Not really, but ...)
    Jun 14 2025

    In this episode of FreepCast we discuss the city's decision to add more surveillance cameras to the city's already robust collection of cameras. Also discussed: recent crimes, softball and baseball supremacy and the passing of a Glen Wasicuna (pronounced Wah-shee'-shuh-nuh).

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    16 mins
  • FreepCast Episode 52 — Meet Owen the intern!
    Jun 5 2025

    This episode of FreepCast features another new face in the newsroom, University of Minnesota student Owen McDonnell, our summer intern.

    Owen hails from Little Canada, and says he visits the Minnesota State Fair several times each year. He runs the podcast desk at the Minnesota Daily, and is eager to be thrown into the fire this summer tackling everything thrown his way.

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    21 mins