To Albert Lea High School students and teachers.

Albert Lea High School students and teachers presented nearly 600 pounds of food and $1,274 on Monday to the Albert Lea Salvation Army after a fundraiser during the month of November.

Twenty-nine of the 54 second-hour classes at the high school participated.

We commend those who participated in the fundraiser. We are sure the Salvation Army greatly appreciated it.

To the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s announcement this week.

More than two months after heavy rainstorms and flooding damaged many homes in southern Minnesota, the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday announced it has approved financial assistance to individuals affected by the storms.

The federal agency had initially denied the assistance for individuals, but after an appeal by Gov. Mark Dayton and our federal senators and representatives, decided to change its course.

The decision will make financial aid help and direct services to eligible people with serious needs if they are unable to meet those needs through other means. It may include temporary housing, repair and replacement work on damaged structures.

We anticipate more information in the coming weeks, and we encourage you to look to the Tribune for more about how those in need can apply for help.

To a proposal to realign Plaza Street on both sides of Bridge Avenue.

The Albert Lea City Council approved professional engineering service agreements for the realignment of Plaza Street, as well as two other street projects, at its meeting on Monday.

This is the first step in moving the project forward. The project calls for moving the street’s location west of Bridge Avenue tot line up with the portion of Plaza Street east of Bridge Avenue.

We hope this project will create less confusion by shifting the roadway away from the Interstate 90 ramps.

To news of a $1.4 billion budget surplus at the state level.

We were glad to hear the news Friday that lawmakers will have a $1.4 billion budget surplus in Minnesota next year.

Though we recognize that at least half of the funding comes from unspent dollars from stalled tax and transportation bills, we still think this is an indication of a stable economy.

We hope lawmakers will remember Greater Minnesota when deciding how to spend the money.