Samantha Siedow Report for Minnesota The Minnesota House and Senate have voted to respond to the avian influenza epidemic, but they still have to agree on the scope of the effort. The House included more than $3 million in funding for bird flu prevention in its budget bill, which passed on a bipartisan vote of 130-3 on… Read More

Yvette Higgins  Report for Minnesota A $4 billion higher education budget bill passed by the Minnesota House cuts funding for a program that supports student-parents.  The Student-Parent Support Initiative (SPSI), passed in the 2023 legislative session, gives money to programs that help students with children succeed in higher education through one-on-one support, emergency grants for unexpected medical… Read More

Photo by Robert Williams More than 20 tractors lined up in the Frazee-Vergas High School parking lot and the kids operating those tractors braved temperatures in the 30s and windy conditions while driving their tractors to school during the annual event Friday, May 2.

Minnesota Responds calls on community members to step up and make a difference by volunteering with their local public health agency’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). Join a network of volunteers who support public health during emergencies. Individuals can make a difference in a health emergency. Join the MRC open house on May 21. What is  Minnesota… Read More

Event to be hosted on May 10 in Vergas “Bring on Spring”will be held in Vergas, Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Vergas Event Center. The free event is for the whole family. It features May Pole Dancing, Mega Bubbles, Twisted Balloons, Flower Crowns, Dirt Cup Snacks, a Story Teller,… Read More

During Child Foster Care Month, Otter Tail County is asking individuals and families to consider becoming foster parents. With the number of children needing safe, stable homes increasing, there is a need for caring foster families. “Otter Tail County prioritizes placing children with relatives whenever possible; family restoration is our ultimate goal,” said Stephanie Olson, Human… Read More

County DWI Court was established in 2008 Each day, Otter Tail County’s Justice and Safety teams engage with individuals affected by substance use and mental health disorders—challenges that often underlie criminal behavior. Many individuals cycle in and out of the justice system without effective intervention. Otter Tail County Treatment Courts break that cycle through accountability,… Read More

Participation in statewide program is voluntary The Minnesota DNR Resource Assessment is issuing a final call for private woodland owners to enroll in the state’s forest inventory program. Launched in 2024, this critical effort aims to develop a broader understanding of Minnesota’s forests across all landscapes. Private woodland owners with at least two acres of… Read More

The juvenile female killed in a crash in Itasca County Sunday, April 20, has been identified by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office as Angelica Bryan, 13, of Cass Lake. According to the preliminary investigation by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), an Itasca County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to stop a… Read More

Annual event set for June 14 in New York Mills Four thinkers have been selected to travel to the small town of New York Mills, this June to debate the 2025 question posed by the annual Great American Think-Off: “Is there only one truth, or are there many truths?” In an age shaped by misinformation, social… Read More