Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is hoping school districts and law enforcement agencies in the state have more clarity when it comes to a new law governing school discipline.
Ellison issued a supplemental legal opinion outlining the intent of the law, which sought to limit the use of prone restraints on students in disciplinary situations.
In the legal opinion, Ellison said school employees and school resource officers may use force to prevent bodily harm or death, but the force must be reasonable in those situations.
They also may make physical contact to address nonviolent behavior, as long as they avoid the restraints outlined in the new law, including chokeholds or other holds restricting breathing or communication.
Ellison said while the supplemental opinion does not draw new conclusions compared to the original, he noted good faith questions from law enforcement and school officials prompted him to issue the clarifying follow-up.
The school districts of Brainerd, Pequot Lakes, Virginia and others in the region saw school resource officer contracts canceled while officials grappled with conflicting interpretations of the law.
Some argued the law was too restrictive and exposed districts and police departments to liability issues.
Book challenge in Brainerd
A fantasy novel challenged by a community member in the Brainerd School District will remain in the high school library.
The Brainerd Dispatch reported a committee established for the purpose of reviewing the Sarah J. Maas novel Empire of Storms unanimously agreed the book should remain as choice reading material available to high school students.
The challenge raised concerns about sexual content in the book, which is the fifth in a series. Committee members were tasked with reading the book and walking through a series of questions about its value as a resource for students. Children's Book Review, the book publisher Bloomsbury and Common Sense Media all rated the book for ages 14 and up.
As part of the examination, district officials shared that the book has been checked out just three times in its history in the high school library.
The committee decided to apply its ruling to all of the books in Maas' "Throne of Glass" series, some of which are facing separate complaints.
Challenger Shirley Yeager has a right to appeal the committee's decision to the full school board. She told the Dispatch she doesn't know whether she'll appeal this decision, but said she intends to fight the recommendation about the rest of the series.
Read the full Brainerd Dispatch story for more.
IM Care-Lakeview contract woes
As the contract termination between Itasca County's public health insurance provider and Lakeview Behavioral Health will be effective at the end of this year, about 700 IM Care patients at Lakeview Behavioral will be affected.
Lakeview Behavioral Health issued a call-to-action regarding this contract termination decision by IM-Care, Itasca County's agency that handles insurance coverage for those who qualify for Medical Assistance or Minnesota Care.
In an interview with KAXE/KBXE, Itasca County Commissioner Terry Snyder said the contract termination is a legal issue, being contemplated by attorneys on both sides of the arrangement.
IM Care Director Sarah Anderson wrote in an email that the agency has a plan in place to make sure all enrollees have continuity of care with other providers, and enrollees are encouraged to contact IM Care Member Services for assistance.
Snyder acknowledged disparities in access to mental health care in Northern Minnesota and said the county is continuing to work toward improving that access.
Lakeview Behavioral Health offers out-patient mental health and substance abuse disorder services in their offices in Grand Rapids, Hibbing and Brainerd. Lakeview also operates Reflections Recovery Residences, an in-patient type of facility that promotes recovery with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
KAXE/KBXE News is following this story and will continue to provide updates.
Oak wilt treatment research
Trained tree climbers in the Superior National Forest are testing a new technique to improve forest health against oak wilt disease, one of the deadliest diseases to red oaks in the Eastern U.S.
Oak wilt can spread in two ways: above the ground through the movement of fungal spores by sap-feeding beetles to wounds in oak trees, or below ground through the grafted roots of neighboring oaks.
Treatments for oak wilt disease are often costly and damaging. They involve cutting and removing trees with the disease, including many nearby uninfected trees and disrupting the root systems using heavy equipment.
To test the oak wilt rapid response treatment, researchers need to infect oaks with the disease. To accomplish this, climbers drill into the branch and add the fungal disease to mimic a natural infection.
Following artificial infection, forest health managers girdle the trees at predetermined times to prevent the oak wilt infection from advancing down from the crown into the roots and spreading throughout the root systems to other trees.
Girdling is when bark and some wood materials are removed from a ring around the tree’s trunk.
It has been shown in recent testing to be an effective means in stopping the spread of oak wilt into the tree’s roots and protecting other trees in that area.
The project includes several state and federal partners and is in effect in Michigan's Huron-Manistee National Forest and Wisconsin's Octonto River Seed Orchard as well.
The group will conduct one more summer of treatment, then monitor the select trees for five years for effectiveness.
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The law allocates $848,000 to support accredited residential environmental learning centers in offering multi-day, overnight experiences focused on outdoor-based learning. -
Out of all the Legislature did this year, getting this funding will make the most impact around the state, said Bradley Peterson of Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. -
Plus: Minnesotans will honor the Hortmans at the Capitol; and forests begin recovery after the Brimson Complex wildfires. -
One person died in a house fire in Fosston on Wednesday morning, June 25, 2025, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. -
The Judy Garland Museum and Mobility Mania in Grand Rapids attempted to set the world record for most people in wheelchairs dancing in one place at one time. -
Plus: Bois Forte seeks input on date change for state of the band address; Park Rapids brings home victory in final MSHSL spring tourney; and Fourth of July celebrations are upon us.
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The Bois Forte Tribal Council said band members would prefer to meet in March instead of January. -
A common scam results in people handing over thousands of dollars in cash as a deposit, only to have the promised tree cleanup or repair work never occur. -
The invasive pest was found in Carlton County near Holyoke, Sawyer and Wrenshall. It was also discovered in Meeker, Murray, Ottertail and Wadena counties. -
After the major storm in Bemidji on June 21, 2025, organizations like United Way of Bemidji Area have stepped up to help. Executive Director Denae Alamano talked about the effort.
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Northern Minnesota has ample opportunities to celebrate Independence Day 2025 with firework shows, local parades and festivals and more. Connect with your community or discover a new one. -
Plus: A Guinness World Record was attempted in Grand Rapids Saturday.
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Essentia Health advanced practice practitioners in northeastern and north-central Minnesota voted to unionize last year. They say Essentia has refused to bargain. -
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz traveled to Bemidji on June 24, 2025, to assess damage from a hurricane-strength windstorm that wrought a path of destruction three days earlier. -
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A list of resources, information and answers to questions about Bemidji storm recovery, including cleanup tips, road and other closures and how to support the community. -
Some remained without power Monday afternoon, the BSU and NTC campuses are still closed and storm debris still blocks trails, roads and more as cleanup continues. -
Part of the Nippon Steel’s national security agreement with Trump administration includes $800 million in local investments, few job protections. -
Property owners may be eligible for property tax relief if the damage to their property totaled at least 50% of its value or if their property is homesteaded. -
The city will use the funds to refurbish and replace outdated playground equipment as well as enhance the functionality and accessibility for all ages and abilities.
