Laura Bradshaw

From dorm move-ins to kindergarten first days, back to school season is in full swing — and St. Cloud has a few local events lined up to help families ease into it.

I know we have a ton of chicken places here in St. Cloud. Most of them fast food chicken chains. And we are getting another.

The old Gap store at Rivertown Village has sat empty for years, but that's about to change — Dave's Hot Chicken is moving in, brought to St. Cloud by former NBA player Kris Humphries and his family.

This is adorable. Usually it's parents reading to kids. Or the kids, when they are learning to read, will read to their parents.

Kids at the TriCounty Humane Society are reading aloud to shelter dogs and cats through a program called Book Buddies, and the animals make surprisingly patient listeners.

I was looking for fun things to do for people who are visiting, and may have never been to Minnesota.

Pannekoeken! Pannekoeken! Pannekoeken! DO YOU REMEMBER THE RESTAURANT IN ST CLOUD

Latuffs Pizzeria in Plymouth has been around since 1971, making it the city's oldest restaurant. Now it's also serving Dutch pancakes

If you have been looking forward to seeing a bunch of butterflies at the Benton County Fair this year, unfortunately that will not happen.

The Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids lost its Butterfly House this year — the butterflies were intentionally released to begin their migration, not mishandled or lost.