The Tribune has a reporter going to Kuwait to cover National Guard soldiers from Albert Lea and Austin who are deployed there.

And we need story ideas.

Do you have loved ones in the 2nd Battalion of the 135th Infantry Regiment who are deployed in Kuwait? We need to hear from you.

Our reporter going there is Kelli Lageson, who grew up in the Freeborn County countryside near Manchester and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 2006. She has her college degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Lageson began at the Tribune in March 2010. She covered the deployment ceremony in May and visited the troops at Fort McCoy in June. She has been following the deployment closely.

She wants to know what questions you would have her ask of the soldiers? Are there aspects and insight you might be able to provide her?

Kelli Lageson can be reached at 507-379-3439 or via email at kelli.lageson@albertleatribune.com. Please help shape her coverage by contacting her before she leaves. Her departure date of Nov. 4 is drawing near.