Bemidji Now News Bites

Larissa Explains it All: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Larissa Explains it All: Jails and Taxes and Bears, Oh My!

Larissa Explains it All: The Smoke of Saskatchewan Topics:

Larissa Explains it All, The Return! Topics:

Week 9 of the Larissa Explains it All Podcast! Topics: What's up, City Hall? The Bird is the Word Women's History Month wrap up! Egg-centric Blotter Correspondent visit

The meetings and motions continue! Topics covered include recaps of Bemidji City Council, Bemidji School Board and Beltrami County Board meetings, clips from interviews and some of those meetings, some reflections from my trip to the Sugar Bush and our official blotter correspondent!

We're back for Week 7 of explaining things! Topics: Northern Township proposal work session, extension of city services without further annexation Ridealong with a Beltrami County Sheriff's Deputy! The Charter Commission recommendation for a council code of conduct Beltrami County Jail wrongful death lawsuit Highlights from Chatabout last week, with Sheriff Jason Riggs and Mayor Prince. Blotter Correspondent Randi Su Tanem

In this episode, we'll cover the "myriad of mayoral motions" at Monday's Bemidji City Council meeting, the Township grievances with Beltrami County's new road maintenance contract, a recap of the Red Lake State of the Band Address with a brief bonus history talk on why a portion of Upper Red Lake is currently excluded from the boundaries of the Red Lake Nation. Plus, a fun new segment with our Official Blotter Correspondent RandiSu Tanem!

Larissa's moving the release day officially to Mondays, recapping all that happened last week, starting with the Bemidji School Board meeting Monday, Feb. 27, swatting calls that targeted schools in the state including Bemidji, threats at Bemidji State University, the Ward 1 special election, and highlights from some interesting interviews.

Larissa is a couple days late on this episode, which will recap the State of the City Address and interesting updates from the Beltrami County Board meeting, as well as more fun items like blotter trends, and the quote of the week!

Week 3 of Larissa Explains it All! Topics discussed include the Minnesota Attorney General's announcement that they will assist in the review of the 2018 death of Beltrami County inmate Hardel Sherrell, with criminal charges possible; an update from the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force in the recent surge of fentanyl overdoses; there will be only one election for the special Ward 1 race with only two candidates; and the United Way of Bemidji Area's 2022 campaign exceeded its goal!

Legal approved the NEW NAME for the same weekly review of local news stories here in northern Minnesota. Topics covered include the Bemidji City Council-City Manager discussions, upcoming rental code ordinance amendment input session, the Red Lake-US Attorney's Office joint presser on fentanyl trafficking, the Huber Mill project, "Best Blotter Entry of the Week!" and "Quote of the Week!"

Bemidji City Council member At-Large Audrey Thayer joins Larissa Donovan to preview tonight's meeting of the Bemidji City Council.

Larissa takes a deep dive on the latest order from the Minnesota Department of Corrections on the Beltrami County Jail; the special Ward 1 election in the City of Bemidji; the suspicious fire set last week and the ultimate arrest and charges for the suspect; some trends noticed in the blotter reports and Good News of the Week!

A Park Rapids man is facing charges for a psilocybin grow operation discovered in his apartment; the Beltrami County Board will meet next week for the last time in 2022; Sanford Bemidji will have a new CEO and President come January; and a late-season CWD-management hunt will take place this weekend in the Bemidji area as well as southeastern Minnesota.

Kevin Gish was named the administrator of the future Bemidji Veterans Home ahead of its expected opening in summer of 2023; Paul Bunyan Communications recently received a grant to expand broadband services in northern Minnesota; local kids shop with local heroes for the holidays during the Annual Heroes and Helpers event at Walmart; one citizen vacancy is available on the Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning Commission; and 8.8 million people in the Midwest are expected to travel for the year-end holiday season, according to Triple A.

The Beltrami County Board of Commissioners will discuss a resolution requesting a local option sales tax approval from the state legislature; fire officials are urging all Minnesotans to have working carbon monoxide detectors in their homes; Beltrami County's Reset program at the jail won an award from the Association of Minnesota Counties; health officials are urging parents to vaccinate their young children against COVID-19 as the feds recently approved a bivalent booster for kids 6 months and up; and the Beltrami County Board will set their final budget and levy for 2023 in tonight's meeting.

The first meeting of the newly established Rail Corridor Development Committee is tonight; MDH is urging the latest COVID booster ahead of holiday gatherings; Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN awarded a $100,000 grant to fund scholarships to meet growing demand of LADCs; the George W. Neilson Foundation is accepting applications for internship funding; and the Region 2 Arts Council awarded over $48,000 in Arts Learning Grants.

Charges of theft and fraud were dismissed against the former Beltrami County Dept. Head after learning of his death; a Beltrami County inmate is on life support in Fargo after an apparent suicide attempt; Beltrami K9 Rip was recently gifted a protective vest from "Vested Interest in K9s;" the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce held their 115th Annual Gala Thursday night; and a report from Triple A shows drivers are taking more risky behaviors after a few years of downward trends.

The former head of Beltrami County's IT department is facing 14 felony counts of theft and fraud, accused of using about $150,000 in county funds for personal purchases of tools and electronics; Beltrami County's domestic violence court received a grant to establish a supervised child visitation center; the MPCA is accepting grant applications for EV charging stations; three were injured after rear-ending a semitruck on Highway 64; and Harmony Foods Coop's "Buy Local-Give Local" campaign raised about $1,500 for two local initiatives.

The suspect of an armed bank robbery in Bemidji Tuesday is reportedly in custody after several hours of being on the lam; today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day; winter load increases for the north frost zone begin Friday; a former Beltrami County department head is facing 14 charges after a theft and fraud investigation; and the White Earth Reservation Business Council issued a moratorium on factory farming.

The Bemidji City Council voted unanimously on three resolutions adopting the display of the Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth tribal flags in City Hall during their meeting Monday; Northland Vapors, which operates in Moorhead and Bemidji, is facing a civil lawsuit over their "Death by Gummy Bears" THC products; and MnDOT is once again bringing back the "Name a Snowplow" contest.

A Solway man was sentenced to 12 years in a federal prison after a meth trafficking investigation; Red Lake Tribal Police removed drugs off the streets after two incidents last week; and a late-season hunt is scheduled in the Bemidji area as part of chronic wasting disease management.

Bemidji City Council will consider resolutions authorizing the display of tribal flags in the City Hall lobby during their meeting Monday; and the MPCA is urging Minnesotans to do their part for our freshwater resources by salting smartly this winter.

Hubbard County traffic stop led to seizure of methamphetamine and fentanyl; the Bemidji Police Department issued an updated release from the Night We Light DWI arrest; the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual gala next week; a Red Lake man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the murder of his cousin; and authorities in Cass County made an arrest after a traffic stop led to the discovery of a large quantity of methamphetamine.

One juvenile was arrested after a pursuit led to a crash off of Lake Boulevard's steep embankment into Lake Bemidji, leaving three injured passengers; and about 200 people required rescue off of Upper Red Lake when a large sheet of ice broke off the main shoreline.

Bemidji Police Department reminds everyone to drive sober this holiday season after a DWI arrest at the Night We Light Parade; a Park Rapids woman was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash Friday; and the Beltrami Electric Cooperative is returning $1.7 million to its members.

The Bemidji School Board held first reading of several policy revisions as well as a preview about how the new five-period day will be rolled out with full implementation for the Bemidji High School Class of 2027; the City of Bemidji recently received its bond funding from the 2020 biennium for the water treatment plant; law enforcement officers across the state will be looking for impaired drivers this holiday season; and deadlines for the United Way of Bemidji Area's Holiday Gifts for Kids program are coming soon.

A man was presumably killed in a house fire Sunday night in Port Hope Township; the Bemidji City Council tabled the amendments to the city's rental code in their meeting Monday with a revisit of the issue slated for Dec. 19; the friends and family of beloved Bemidji Middle School history teacher Mark Fodness have established a scholarship for Bemidji students; and the DNR is advising caution over Thanksgiving break around the early, treacherous ice.

The Executive Director of the United Way of Bemidji Area Denae Alamano was named the 2022 Violence Free Minnesota Community Leader Inspire Award winner; Give to the Max day raised $34 million to nearly 6,500 organizations across the state; flu activity is increasing across the state; the Northwest Minnesota Foundation has grant funding available for equity and inclusion; and the DNR says hunters can check their CWD sample results online.

Preview of Monday's Bemidji City Council meeting; Minnesota's unemployment rate remains low at 2.1 percent; MnDOT wraps up 2022 construction season with nearly 260 projects; and U.S. Senator Tina Smith introduces legislation aimed at cracking down on insurance company's "ghost networks" of mental health providers.

U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) recently introduced legislation that she says would improve access to mental health care. The bill would crack down on inaccurate healthcare provider listings or "ghost networks," and create stronger enforcement standards to protect those seeking mental health care.

U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) recently introduced legislation that she says would improve access to mental health care. The bill would crack down on inaccurate healthcare provider listings or "ghost networks," and create stronger enforcement standards to protect those seeking mental health care.

U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) recently introduced legislation that she says would improve access to mental health care. The bill would crack down on inaccurate healthcare provider listings or "ghost networks," and create stronger enforcement standards to protect those seeking mental health care.

Bemidji man facing new charges after crashing into two buildings and leading a police pursuit; a Thief River Falls man was seriously injured in a rollover crash Wednesday morning; Region 2 Arts Council awards grants; BiCAP YouthBuild participants learn tricks of the trade; and today is Give to the Max Day for schools and nonprofits in Minnesota.

The Beltrami County Board of Commissioners voted to move forward with constructing a new jail; Sanford Bemidji Behavioral Health receives new grant; and Cass Lake is slated to receive some economic development funding from the state

A Centerville man was killed in a non-firearms-related hunting accident in Cass County over opening weekend; the first suspected case of CWD in the Bemidji area was announced; canvassing of local election results will take place this week; United Way of Bemidji Area is encouraging businesses and groups to participate in a "Week of Caring"; and Casey Ward was named the new administrator of Sanford Health Bemidji's WoodsEdge Senior Living Campus.

The Bemidji City Council will once again revisit the possibility of displaying tribal flags at City Hall in their work session tonight; today is the first day of Minnesota's Winter Hazard Awareness Week; a Fosston doctor was recently recognized with a Rural Health Lifetime Achievement Award; the American Academy of Pediatrics for the first time recognized the American Indian cradleboard as an appropriate sleep surface for infants during Infant Safe Sleep week; and the debate about legal recreational marijuana will likely ramp up this next legislative session with the DFL "trifecta" in state government.

With the return of winter, AAA of Minnesota and Iowa has some helpful winter driving reminders; BSU's Dr. Kelly La Venture was recently honored for her work abroad by the Fulbright Scholarship Board and the U.S. Department of State; Sanford Health's Rebekah Fineday highlights some encouraging trends in healthcare as it relates to Native American Heritage Month; and the new DFL-controlled Senate announced new leaders after they won the one-vote majority in the midterms.

Sanford Bemidji's Native American Community Advocate Rebekah Fineday recently highlighted some history and current events when it comes to healthcare in northern Minnesota as part of Native American Heritage Month. Fineday discussed many of the barriers to healthcare for people of color, especially those Indigenous to these lands, but highlighted some encouraging trends, such as more people of color entering the workforce in healthcare fields. Sanford Health has some events planned later this month to expose more Sanford employees to Anishinaabe culture, said Fineday.

Sanford Bemidji's Native American Community Advocate Rebekah Fineday recently highlighted some history and current events when it comes to healthcare in northern Minnesota as part of Native American Heritage Month. Fineday discussed many of the barriers to healthcare for people of color, especially those Indigenous to these lands, but highlighted some encouraging trends, such as more people of color entering the workforce in healthcare fields. Sanford Health has some events planned later this month to expose more Sanford employees to Anishinaabe culture, said Fineday.

Cass Lake woman killed in head-on crash with semi; Bemidji 31 Education Foundation distributes $10,000 to Bemidji Area School classrooms; White Earth Public Transit's Kenneth Bakken named Transit Professional of the Year; Sanford Health named a top employer for veterans; and BSU opera nights are coming next weekend.

Unofficial results for local and state races; Thayer wins at-large seat for Bemidji City Council while Rivera wins re-election to Ward 4; no incumbents successful in Bemidji School Board races with Manecke, Wall and Frenzel winning 4-year terms and Hoover and Laitala winning 2-year terms; incumbents prevail in Beltrami County Commissioner races with two new faces elected to the bourd, Gould and Carlson; and Republicans prevail in the MNLEG District 2 races.

Election Day is here, with many local races on Bemidji-area ballots; and the Bemidji City Council meeting resulted in the first reading of an ordinance amending the city's rental code as well as a contentious vote on creating an advisory committee for the Wellness Center and Rail Corridor Development.

Bemidji Fire responded to two suspicious fires at one apartment building on Ridgeway Ave. last Thursday; survey results indicate support for a new Beltrami County Jail and a local option sales tax to fund it; preview of tonight's Bemidji City Council meeting; Minnesotans are struggling to keep the lights on amid rising energy costs; one woman is preparing to be the first Black woman to kayak the full length of the Mississippi River; and the Minnesota State Patrol is reminding drivers to be cautious of deer on the roads this month.

Wildfire dangers persist after a high fire warning Wednesday; no injuries reported in Nevis School Bus crash; the DNR is looking to add 13 species to its prohibited species list; and Bemidji Parks and Recreation will host a free open skate tomorrow while Bemidji Public Schools have the day off.

Jarrett Walton has been Beitel's Chief Deputy since Beitel began in 2018, and is also Beitel's endorsed candidate. Walton believes his experience in running the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff's Office in this role prime him to lead law enforcement in this county. Walton knows that this Office needs to do more with less, and has experience acquiring grants to help fund technology that will help the county do just that.

Jason Riggs won the primary election with more than half of the vote in August, but that hasn't stopped him from continuing to press hard on his campaign. Riggs says a top issue he's heard while door-knocking revolves around the drug problem that our community is facing. Riggs wants to see more communication from the Sheriff's Office and community involvement among deputies.

A Deer River woman pleaded guilty to murder and arson for a July 2022 crime in Ball Club; a risk-level 3 sex offender changed Bemidji addresses late last week; and a Solway woman is facing charges after a crash in Hubbard County.

The USPS is holding a major career fair at post offices across the state Friday, including Bemidji's; Hope House of Bemidji is holding a "42-42-42" fundraiser starting tomorrow; Northwest Minnesota Foundation has channeled $1 million through the region this past quarter; the former Enbridge office in Park Rapids will turn into an Indigenous Treaty Rights and Culture museum; and lakeshore property owners are encouraged to check over their docks and lifts for evidence of zebra mussels and report their findings to Beltrami County's AIS program.

The Beltrami County Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution of support for three federal bills that would continue health care coverage for pre-trial incarcerated people; the Bemidji Fire Department is expecting two new vehicles in the coming months; the DNR issues safety reminders and trail restrictions ahead of the firearms deer opener; Halloween marks six years since the disappearance of 17-year-old Jeremy Jourdain; and Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union opened a branch in Mahnomen Thursday.