Board to focus on helping veterinary service transition By Robert Williams Editor Community Development Coordinator Joe Tonihka discussed Minnesota Housing’s Community Homeownership Impact Fund with the Economic Development Authority (EDA) on Tuesday, March 24. The program serves buyers needing down payment assistance when purchasing a home and/or first-time home buyers. “The other thing would be a current home… Read More

Kendra Mobilia Report for Minnesota Benjamin Franklin once said that nothing in the world is certain but death and taxes. The Legislature talks a lot about taxes, and on March 23 the discussion turned to death.  Rep. John Huot, DFL-Rosemount, brought bills to a House committee concerning mortuary science and natural burials.  Last year the state passed a… Read More

Eleanor Steffen Report for Minnesota Minnesota legislators delayed action on a bill that would bar Medicaid coverage for prescription medications used solely for weight loss.  ¶  The bill authored by Rep. Danny Nadeau, R-Rogers, aims to prohibit the state’s Medical Assistance program from covering drugs known as GLP-1s if patients are using them exclusively for weight… Read More

Otter Tail County Commissioners will host a community open house on Monday, April 13, from 7-9 p.m. at the Pelican Rapids Public Library, 25 W. Mill Ave. The event is not a formal Board of Commissioners meeting. It is a chance for residents to talk directly with commissioners and county staff about local programs and services…. Read More

Dairy producers in Minnesota impacted by the winter storm and blizzard conditions beginning March 14 are strongly encouraged to report crop, livestock and infrastructure related losses to the local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and inquire about available disaster recovery assistance.  Winter storms and blizzard conditions create serious challenges for dairy producers, affecting livestock health,… Read More

Abbey Mulcahy Report for Minnesota As autonomous vehicle companies set their sights on Minnesota, legislators are struggling to reach a consensus on how self-driving cars should be operated and regulated.    The latest attempt to set up parameters for autonomous vehicles came in the form of a bill authored by Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura, DFL–Minneapolis.  The bill would establish… Read More

Bill would establish mixture of grants, forgivable loans Shay Scanlan Report for Minnesota A Minnesota Senate committee moved forward with a bill on March 23 that would provide financial relief to small businesses that lost revenue due to the surge in federal immigration enforcement in the state.  The DFL-led Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee voted to… Read More

The Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association has released the list of awardees for its 2025 Scholarship Program, and we are pleased to announce that Francis Croucher has been selected as the Becker County scholarship recipient. This statewide scholarship program recognizes individuals pursuing careers as Minnesota Peace Officers and reflects the dedication, professionalism, and commitment these future members of… Read More

A new temporary exhibit, A Legacy of Service, is now open at Otter Tail County Historical Society (OTCHS), located in Fergus Falls since 1927. This exhibit was created to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution by focusing on the military service of Otter Tail County’s men and women. OTCHS gathered together a majority… Read More

5 years ago Frazee-Vergas Forum March 30, 2021 Hazel Mickelson and her family made history this past week. The Frazee family that is known for successful turkey operations, real estate development and volunteering was named the first ever, Citizen of the Season by the Frazee Area Community Club. The Citizen of the Season award is a new… Read More