Rochester Local covers what’s happening in Rochester and Southeast Minnesota. We report on local events, new and closing businesses, City Council decisions, seasonal happenings and the everyday news that shapes how people live, work and spend their weekends here. Our readers include longtime residents, newcomers, Mayo Clinic visitors and anyone trying to figure out what to do on a Saturday.
Every article is written by people who live in the Rochester area, and every piece carries a byline and a publish date so you know who wrote it and when. Our Friday newsletter rounds up the week’s most useful stories, and our events calendar is updated daily.
Our Team
Becky Montpetit, Founder and Publisher
Becky founded Rochester Local in 2015 and runs the business, from partnerships and advertising to the overall direction of our coverage. She lives in northeast Rochester and has spent more than a decade covering the city’s growth, its businesses, and its community events.
Kim Friedline, Editor
Kim oversees content quality across Rochester Local. She reviews articles for accuracy and clarity before publication and keeps our guides, event roundups and evergreen stories current as details change throughout the year.
Erica Ross, Social Media Editor
Erica manages Rochester Local’s Instagram, from daily stories to reader engagement, and creates our 5 Things You Need to Know series, which breaks down each Rochester City Council meeting into the decisions that matter most to residents.
Melinda Fischer, Staff Writer
Melinda grew up in Rochester and writes about food, outdoor recreation, local businesses, and things to do across the region. She holds a degree in psychology and spends her free time on local trails and in local bookstores.
Tiffany Alexandria, Contributing Writer and Photographer
Tiffany contributes stories and captures much of the photography and video you see across Rochester Local, from community events to local businesses.
Editorial Standards
We report information we can verify. When a story relies on outside information, such as event details, city announcements, or business hours, we link to the original source so readers can check it themselves. Every article is reviewed by our editor before it goes live, and our guides are updated regularly so the details stay accurate. Our editorial team decides what we cover, and advertisers do not review or approve stories before publication.
Corrections
When we get something wrong, we fix it and note the correction at the bottom of the article along with the date it was made. If you spot an error, email us at info@rochesterlocal.com, and our editor will review it promptly.
Sponsored Content and Advertising
Rochester Local is supported by local advertisers and partners. Any article, guide, or social post paid for by a business or organization is clearly labeled as sponsored or created in partnership with that sponsor. Unlabeled stories are independent editorial content.
Our History
Rochester Local launched in 2015 as Rochester MN Moms Blog, became Rochester Mom in 2020, and took its current name in October 2022 as our coverage grew beyond parenting to serve the entire Rochester, MN community.
Contact Us
Story tips, corrections, and general questions: info@rochesterlocal.com
Advertising and partnerships: Partner With Us