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On June 14, 2025, Minnesota experienced an unimaginable tragedy. Speaker Emerita and State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their home. That same day, State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were critically injured in a similar attack at their residence. Both Senator Hoffman and his wife remain in stable conditio…

The PAKRAT Roll and Read book bus will be coming to a neighborhood near you! Come borrow your favorite books from the library on the bus! Our book bus is open to children of all ages, birth through grade 8, and completely free! Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the summer – come to any location that is convenient for you. Everyone is welcome at any s…

In the heart of Central Minnesota, the Local Education & Activities Foundation—better known as LEAF 742—plays a vital role in enriching the educational experience for students in District 742. Established to support and enhance both academic and extracurricular programs, LEAF acts as a bridge between community generosity and student success. LEAF provi…

On Saturday, May 17th, LEAF 742 had the privilege of co-sponsoring a vibrant community event that brought together over 1,500 people for a day filled with fun, connection, and celebration. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of community engagement—and the joy of a good book and a cool treat on a not-so-warm May day in Minnesota! As part of the festiv…

By Dr. Laurie Putnam, Superintendent of St Cloud Area School District 742. It’s fashionable these days to use public schools as a political talking point. Depending on who holds the microphone, schools are either failing our youth, wasting taxpayer dollars, or not doing enough to “fix” society’s problems—everything from declining civic engagement to the ri…

St. Cloud Area School District 742 and the Local Education & Activities Foundation (LEAF) announce LEAF’s $100,000 commitment to fund activities fees for all participating District 742 middle schoolers (grades 6-8) over the next two years. The idea came about last fall, explains LEAF Executive Director Natalie Copeland, when school district leadership…