Latest News From Minnesota Daily News Dot Com

September 17, 2026

Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk reports that the victim has been identified as a seventeen year old juvenile male of Walker. An autopsy with the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office has been completed and the death has been ruled a homicide by gunshot wound. The investigation is ongoing; no arrests have been made at this time. Cass County Sheriff’s Office is assisted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Leech Lake Tribal Police and Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force. If you have information relevant to this case, Sheriff Bryan Welk asks the public to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at two one eight five four seven one four two four.

The Bemidji Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating forty eight year old Timothy Nelson. Nelson was reported as missing yesterday by a family member. Nelson is believed to possibly be in a red Ford Taurus with Minnesota license plate M-W-A-six to seven-three. Nelson is five-feet-ten, one hundred sixty pounds, has short or shaved brown hair and green eyes. His clothing description, direction of travel, or destination are unknown. If you have any information regarding Nelson's whereabouts, call two one eight three three three nine one one one.

September 16, 2026

The Bemidji Planning Commission, which is made up of the City Council, voted on Monday night to pass a one-year moratorium on large data centers to be built in the city limits. The limit is for data centers ten thousand square feet and larger. The vote was six to one, with Ward Three Councilor Mark Dickinson voting against the measure. He said that limiting growth was not in Bemidji's best interest. State law limits a moratorium at twelve months. The goal of the planning board is to put limits on data centers based on size, what types of pollution it creates, such as noise, smells, smoke, or any other pollutants. You can watch the entire Planning Commission meeting from Monday night at the City's website.

A couple from Bemidji suffered non-life threatening injuries in a rollover crash near Park Rapids on Monday. David and Judy Perkins, both sixty two, were trying to pass a vehicle on U.S. Hwy. seventy one when their Hyundai Genesis hydroplaned in the rain. The car hit a power transformer and two parked vehicles before rolling over. David was taken to the hospital, and both were wearing seat belts.

Sanford Health and North Memorial Health announced their partnership two weeks ago, merging into one nonprofit health system called Sanford Health. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison visited Sanford Bemidji yesterday to observe the operations and hear from front line workers after reviewing the merger. Following this review, Sanford made commitments to prioritize the needs of patients, employees, and communities in Minnesota. Sanford Health, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the largest rural health system in the U.S., with locations throughout Minnesota.

Hubbard County is sending notices to people who may be affected by a data breach. They recommend that those impacted take steps to safeguard their information by regularly checking account statements and free credit reports for any unauthorized activity, and reporting any unusual findings to law enforcement. On July 1st, the county discovered that an email account from the county attorney’s office was sending spam. An investigation found that cybercriminals accessed emails in that account from June 22nd to July 1st.

The Leech Lake Band is holding two upcoming informational meetings exclusively for band members to discuss the Natural Resource Damage settlement related to the Saint Regis Superfund Site. The meetings are scheduled for September 21st, and September 22nd, running from five:30P-M to 7P-M each night at the Cedar Lakes Casino. Sessions will provide members an opportunity to learn more about the settlement, the natural resource damage claim, and what the agreement means for the Tribe.

Yesterday, Beltrami County Emergency Manager Chris Mueller met with Emergency Managers from Kandiyohi County and Grant County. They are part of the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers Radar Gap Committee, which focuses on improving radar coverage to detect severe weather and snowfall. Minnesota has several significant radar gaps, with Beltrami County and Bemidji being among the worst. The committee is working with Climavision. Grant County recently had the installation of Climavision’s first radar in Wendell. Brainerd will get the second radar soon. Beltrami County is pursuing a radar site in Bemidji.

September 15, 2026

Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk reports that on Sunday, at seven:57A-M the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a request for an ambulance from the Leech Lake Tribal Police in the area of John Moose Drive Northwest, in Pike Bay Township, in rural Cass Lake, for a male located possibly deceased. Medical crews and Officers arrive on scene and located a male, deceased in the yard of a residence. An investigation immediately was initiated. Assisting with the investigation is the Leech Lake Tribal Police, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the State Patrol. An autopsy is scheduled with the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Leech Lake Division of Resource Management is monitoring for Chronic Wasting Disease on the Reservation. Bring a deer head for testing and receive a twenty five dollars gift card valid at several local businesses. When bringing a deer head, leave four inches of neck meat, know where the deer was harvested, and remove antlers if desired. Visit the CWD Sampling Shed for your gift card. Email with questions at leechlakewildlife@llojibwe.net.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has taken control of the Red Lake Family and Children's Services on the Red Lake Reservation. This follows a federal search warrant executed by the FBI and BIA agents last Thursday. The BIA emphasizes the safety and well-being of children and families, stating that staff are in place to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of services. The Red Lake Nation has confirmed it is addressing the matter and remains focused on protecting its children, sovereignty, and community going forward.

The Leech Lake Enrollment office will be closed today for training. The office will reopen tomorrow at eight AM.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources confirmed the presence of starry stonewort and zebra mussels in Six Mile Lake, near Bena, and zebra mussels in Little Wolf Lake, near Cass Lake. An angler reported zebra mussels found on plants in Little Wolf Lake, and DNR staff discovered more attached to native mussels nearby. A lake service provider reported finding zebra mussels on a boat lift in Six Mile Lake.

The 2026 inspection of the Cass County Jail by the Minnesota Department of Correction was positive, as reported by Jail Administrator Chris Thompson to the Walker Pilot Independent. He mentioned the facility is outdated, having been in operation for nearly forty years, which raises concerns about its condition. Issues noted in the inspection include deteriorating finishes like peeling tile and corroded showers, along with inadequate storage, leading to supplies being stored in hallways. The medical area lacks a dedicated examination room, limiting space for medical evaluations. The property room is also too small to handle inmate property effectively when the jail is at full capacity. While the facility has a multipurpose room for programs, it lacks a gymnasium and sufficient natural light, impacting the environment for inmates and staff. The report concludes that the existing jail cannot adequately accommodate the inmate population, though no violations of the Juvenile Justice Act were found. Beltrami and Itasca Counties have recently built, or are building, new jails.

September 14, 2026

There isn't a lot of new information in the law enforcement action in Red Lake last week. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs executed a search warrant at a child welfare facility on the Red Lake reservation on Thursday. No arrests were made, and the reason for the search warrant has not been disclosed due to an ongoing investigation. The Red Lake Tribal Council stated they will cooperate with the FBI and maintain community safety. They assured there is no known threat to public safety and urged residents to remain patient, respectful, and understanding during the investigation.

The Walker American Legion Auxiliary set a record by raising over eleven thousand dollars during the National Poppy Days drive. The red poppy symbolizes the sacrifice of those who fought for their country, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. Veterans received donations at local stores, and a jar at Dean’s Bait collected over one thousand two hundred dollars. The campaign donated three thousand dollars to the Cass County Veterans Services Transportation Fund to help veterans with healthcare visits.

The Leech Lake Division of Resource Management has announced a price update and new hours for the wild rice harvest. As of thi spast Saturday, the program is paying eight dollars per pound for green wild rice. Additionally, starting yesterday, daily ricing and purchasing hours run from sunrise to 6P-M at the Leech Lake DRM Complex in Cass Lake. Harvesters must bring their wild rice permit and ensure all rice is clean and free of excessive moisture. For details, contact DRM at over two hundred-over three hundred-seven thousand four hundred.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota has honored one hundred individuals with the about two thousand Spirit Award, including Meghan Bockwitz from the Bemidji area, who works in direct support and customized services. The award recognizes employees for their exceptional commitment to the organization's vision and mission, with nominations made by supervisors. President Patrick Thueson praised the honorees for their compassionate service and impact on individuals and families, helping them achieve independence and resilience. For more information, visit http://lssmn.org.

One measure will appear on Minnesota ballots on November 3rd, asking if school districts should get a larger payout from the state’s Permanent School Fund. This fund was created in one thousand eight hundred fifty eight to support schools with money from leases and resources on state-owned land. Currently, public and charter schools receive two% to two.five% of its value, but if the measure passes, it could increase to four.five%. The fund has grown from six hundred seventy five million dollars in about two thousand to two point three billion dollars now.

The Park Rapids Area Schools are informing the community about a proposed operating levy on the November 3rd ballot through a new website at http://pantherprogress.com. If passed, the levy would generate one point eight million dollars annually to support education, safety, and student services. The school board plans to reduce the existing local levy, resulting in no net impact on property taxes for homeowners and businesses. The levy also aims to gain additional funds through Minnesota’s Seasonal Tax Base Replacement Aid program. Nevis and Walker Schools are also voting on a referendum.

September 11, 2026

The Red Lake Tribal Council released a public statement regarding law enforcement activity at the Child Welfare building yesterday. In the release, the Council asks band and community members to remain patient, respectful, and understanding while the investigation proceeds. The Red Lake Nation is cooperating with the FBI and tribal law enforcement partners to ensure community safety while protecting tribal sovereignty. Officials urge the public to, , "avoid speculation and unconfirmed information, and promise to provide updates as appropriate information becomes available" end .

The Bemidji Regional Airport, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, is hosting a pop-up TSA Pre Check enrollment event on Thursday, September 24th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, visit TSA Pre check By Clear dot TSA dot DHS sot gov, and click "Apply," and fill out the required information. Search "Bemidji" or zip code 56601 and select the BJI enrollment location on the "Finalize Details" screen.

Vacation homes in the U.S. are often concentrated in specific communities, especially in resort areas where they can make up over half of all homes. While many homes are used seasonally, affordable housing remains a widespread issue, with many renters spending too much of their income on housing. Researchers at Sell My Timeshare Now used U.S. Census data to pinpoint areas with high concentrations of vacation homes. In Bemidji, there are nearly twenty-five hundred vacation homes, which represent eleven-point-four-percent of the total housing supply. Additionally, forty-four percent of renters in Bemidji face cost burdens, spending at least thirty percent of their income on rent. The City of Bemidji, Greater Bemidji, Beltrami County, and others, have been talking about hiring, jointly, a housing specialist to help bring more affordable housing to Bemidji. Studies have indicated that Bemidji needs over one thousand new units, both single family, and rental, to fill the current need.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has released its 2025 Uniform Crime Report. Violent crime dropped by fourteen percent in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area and by nine percent in greater Minnesota, bringing the statewide violent crime rate down to two hundred twenty six per one hundred thousand residents. Murders statewide fell from one hundred seventy two in twenty-twenty-four to one hundred thirty last year, with firearms involved in roughly sixty-nine percent of those cases. Motor vehicle thefts decreased by over twenty-two percent, and carjackings fell by thirty-one percent.

The future of the Akeley depot is still unclear. In July, the City Council decided to demolish the building but paused the plan in August, allowing resident Kristin Fake thirty days to propose a new location for it. The council postponed the decision again this week after Fake announced she had funding to renovate the building in its current spot. The cost to relocate it, though, would exceed twenty-thousand-dollars, which was deemed unfeasible.