Latest News From Minnesota Daily News Dot Com

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.

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.

September 10, 2026

Baylor Short, a graduate student at Bemidji State University, is conducting research on muskies in Leech Lake. He is part of a partnership involving BSU, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The project looks at how muskies navigate the lake and whether modern fishing technology affects their health, especially concerning the use of forward-facing sonar. Short, who grew up fishing on Leech Lake, leads a team that tracks the fish using electronic tags that monitor their movements and environmental conditions. The study explores reported concerns about increased fish stress due to new fishing technologies. So far, tagged fish have shown good health, with no reported deaths. The project highlights collaboration among the involved organizations and provides practical experience for undergraduate students, contributing to Short's career growth.

The Red Lake Band is in need of Youth Advisory Committee Members for the Redby District. It's for youth ages thirteen to seventeen. If interested, call 218-542-6834.

The Bemidji City Council made decisions about managing the Sanford Center during its meeting on Tuesday. The council voted 6-1 to part ways with Legends Global, formerly ASM Global, at the contract's end in March 2027. The plan is for the city to take control of the event center starting in April 2027, with City Manager Rich Spiczka set to become the Executive Director. The council discussed various management options, leaning towards a hybrid model where the city oversees finances while an event management company manages bookings. Spiczka emphasized the need for the Sanford Center to become financially self-sufficient to relieve pressure on other city services. He identified areas for potential savings in insurance costs and mentioned that a city-run center wouldn’t have to pay maintenance fees. He also suggested a food and beverage tax as a new revenue source. These financial issues will be significant when preparing the 2027 budget. More decisions on this matter will happen at upcoming meetings of the City Council.

The Bemidji City Council made decisions about managing the Sanford Center during its meeting on Tuesday. The council voted 6-1 to part ways with Legends Global, formerly ASM Global, at the contract's end in March 2027. Councilor Gwenia Fiskevold Gould expressed concerns about City Manager Rich Spiczka assuming additional responsibilities, preferring an experienced industry leader. However, Mayor Jorge Prince supported Spiczka, stating that he is prepared to take accountability for the center's management. Concerns about the center’s past performance were raised, with several councilors questioning whether current plans would effectively address existing problems. Some members highlighted the importance of changing the community’s perception of the center and noted that a management company had not proven profitable. Despite uncertainties, the council's vote confirmed Spiczka’s leadership role in improving the Sanford Center once the contract ends. More decisions on this matter will happen at upcoming meetings of the City Council.

September 9, 2026

A man from Bemidji, forty-six-year-old Jerrold Ryan Kemmer, is facing multiple felony charges for sexually abusing two children over several years. He was charged last week in Beltrami County District Court with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, each carrying a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $40,000 fine, or both, with a minimum of 12 years in prison. Kemmer is being held at Beltrami County Jail. The investigation started in August after reports of the abuse were made. Both children revealed the abuse during interviews at a child advocacy center. Kemmer has a criminal history, including a prior sex offense.

Two people were injured in a crash on Highway Thirty-Four in Cass County last Thursday. The Minnesota State Patrol responded to the accident at 11:15A-M A Toyota Camry, driven by 75-year-old Diane Margaret Herbst, collided with a Hummer H3 that pulled onto the highway. Herbst and her 77-year-old passenger, Sorenson Andrew Peter, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

A new detour of the Highway 197 project started yesterday. The southbound Highway 71 intersection is closed, with the detour from Ann Street, to Hannah, to Highway 197 and back to Highway 71. There are two new temporary small roundabouts that have been installed at Anne and Hannah, and Hannah and 30th. Even though they are smaller than traditional roundabouts, treat them as roundabouts, and do not stop inside of them. More with MNDot and a Roundabout Wednesday, at Paskvan Podcasts on YouTube.

Ryker, a 9-year-old German Shepherd K-9 officer with the Cass County Sheriff's Department, retired with a formal send-off alongside his handler, Deputy Ryan Huston, who will take on his ownership. Ryker was born in Czechia in November 2016 and came to the U.S. in 2019, pairing with Huston after 14 weeks of training. Together, they served Cass County from June 2019, becoming one of the longest-serving K-9 teams in the county's history. Ryker completed eleven-hundred hours of training and had one hundred thirty four deployments, contributing to fifty-six arrests.

Bemidji State University is enhancing access to higher education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the U-Belong-At-Bemidji-State initiative, funded by an Inclusive Higher Education Grant from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. This program will be the first of its kind at a four-year university in Minnesota, focusing on integrating students into the regular university experience rather than creating a separate path. Students will take inclusive courses and receive tailored support for personal and academic goals. Preparation for the first cohort will begin in the 2026-2027 academic year, along with plans to seek federal funding approval to widen financial aid options.

The Red Cross is urging people to give blood this September to help keep the blood supply stable heading into fall. While supplies have recovered from critically low summer levels, they remain vulnerable as changing routines and busy schedules can lead to fewer donations. Schedule your donation at Red Cross Blood dot org.