Local briefs

Girl Scouts in the Brainerd lakes area are kicking off the sixth annual "H.U.G.S. for Babies" campaign in April, a community drive to collect donated items for a baby's happy and healthy growth. The drive ends April 30.

Items to be collected include diapers, diaper wipes, formula, baby food, baby lotion, bibs, crib sheets, clothes, rattles, combs, nail clippers, pacifiers, bottles, cereal and new or used baby furniture.

Girl Scouts will distribute all items to area agencies that serve newborn babies and their parents.

Drop-off locations include the Ramada Inn lobby in Brainerd and Kmart in the Westgate Mall.

Water management meeting scheduled

The League of Women Voters of the Brainerd Lakes Area is sponsoring Protect Our Water, a legislative initiative by the 70-member Minnesota Environmental Partnership.

The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. Thursday with a brown bag lunch and a presentation from noon to 1 p.m.

Speakers will be Paula West and Linda Ulland of the Minnesota Lakes Association.

PUC, council to hold joint meeting Thursday

The Brainerd City Council and the Brainerd Public Utilities Commission will have a joint meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday at Brainerd City Hall to discuss proposed facility financing options.

Planning commission to meet twice

The Brainerd Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday and noon Friday at Brainerd City Hall.

EDA to meet Thursday

The Brainerd Economic Development Authority will meet at 8 a.m. Thursday at Brainerd City Hall.