Comedy benefit happens Friday

An April Fools comedy benefit is scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday at the Albert Lea American Legion. Tickets are $20 and benefit the Freeborn County Red Cross. The benefit features comedian Scott Hansen with The Stagebenders.

Drug defendant in court today

One of two men from Mexico who are alleged to have been transporting more than 4 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine on Interstate 90 in February is slated to appear in Freeborn County District Court today for a contested hearing with his lawyer.

Jesus Ivan Lopez-Torres, 21, faces one charge of first-degree drug possession.

Lopez-Torres was reportedly the driver at the time a state trooper pulled the vehicle over on Interstate 90 near the Minnesota Highway 13 exit. Another man, Antonio Melecio Sanchez-Hernandez, was reportedly sleeping in the back seat.

Film series continues tonight

Another film will be shown for the Paths to Peace Film Series called “Pueblos Hermanos” or “Brother Towns” at 7 p.m. tonight. The film will be shown at Riverland Community College’s Albert Lea campus in Room 124. The showing is free with an optional discussion period following the film.

Baseball opens

The Albert Lea baseball team’s season kicks off at 5 p.m. Thursday at Owatonna. After finishing second in the Big Nine Conference last season and returning most of their starters, the Tigers will look to make another title push this season.

Budget bills take center stage

ST. PAUL (AP) — The first floor debates and votes on Republican-sponsored state budget bills come this week at the Capitol.

The House of Representatives plans to debate and vote Monday on a tax bill that includes income-tax cuts in the two lowest income brackets, cuts statewide property taxes on businesses, and phases out state aid to the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth.

Gov. Mark Dayton has harshly criticized aspects of the House GOP tax plan.