Faribault daily briefing

Good afternoon, Faribault — here’s a quick look at what’s new and what’s happening around town on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

Absentee voting underway for township elections

Absentee voting is now open for the March 2026 township elections. Township voters can cast ballots in person at the Rice County Government Services Building on Third Street Northwest in Faribault, or vote by mail if that’s easier.

In-person hours run weekdays from now through March 9, with extra Saturday and extended Monday hours just before Election Day. Ballots must be received by the county elections office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10 to be counted.

Bid out for Rice–Steele 911 Center cabling

Rice County has put out a bid request for horizontal cabling work at the new Rice–Steele 911 Center location at 118 3rd Street NW in downtown Faribault. The project will handle wiring inside the building as the regional dispatch center continues its move into the new space.

Vendors are required to attend a mandatory pre-bid meeting, with proposals due by Friday, February 13. County leaders say the work is another step toward modernizing emergency communications for residents across Rice and Steele counties.

Job help for recently laid-off workers

For neighbors dealing with layoffs, CareerForce Faribault on Lyndale Avenue is continuing to promote free job-search support and retraining programs. The center serves Rice County and helps displaced workers with career counseling, training options and other supports aimed at getting people back to work quickly.

Services are available weekdays during regular business hours, and staff can help connect residents to state and local resources that match their skills and goals.

Full slate of Saturday events downtown

Downtown Faribault is busy today. The Paradise Center for the Arts is hosting “The Looney Lutherans In: It Could Be Worse!” at 2 p.m., a comedy show built around lighthearted advice and relationship mishaps. (allevents.in)

Later this afternoon, The 3 Ten Event Venue on Central Avenue welcomes “Giddy-Up for Ruth’s House,” a western-themed fundraiser supporting local transitional housing and support services. The sold-out event promises a lively evening of entertainment while raising money for families in need. (allevents.in)

Weather outlook

After a breezy, colder Friday, Faribault heads into a seasonable weekend with highs in the 20s today and a gradual warmup into the 30s by Sunday. Skies should be mostly cloudy to partly sunny, and the pattern looks relatively quiet into early next week.

Sources

• https://www.ricecountymn.gov/566/Elections
• https://www.highergov.com/sl/contract-opportunity/mn-horizontal-cabling-bid-public-notice-61796142/
• https://mn.gov/adresources/search/fa5041de-7a8b-5c75-86dd-f53ae4703db7
• https://allevents.in/faribault/giddy-up-for-ruths-house/200029179216044
• https://allevents.in/faribault/the-looney-lutherans-in-it-could-be-worse/200029179221132
• https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/usa/faribault
• https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-weather-february-6-2026/