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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Dr. Joseph Corser, a medical director at Sanford Bemidji, and Nicole Kiesow, physician assistant from the Headwaters Health Clinic in Fosston, were recognized for their contributions to rural health. -
The two teen boys, ages 13 and 14, were reportedly trying to ice fish Nov. 18, 2025, when their sled fell into the water on Straight Lake near Osage. -
And: PotlatchDeltic lumber mills lose Forest Stewardship Council certification over Bemidji workplace harassment; and Nashwauk-Keewatin is hosting liquidation sales for its old schools. -
Two lawsuits filed Nov. 14, 2025, against PotlatchDeltic and a Bemidji supervisor come after the Forest Stewardship Council terminated the certification for all the company's mills. -
The Nashwauk-Keewatin school district said the one-day, cash-only sales are a chance to explore the old schools one last time. -
The Cass County Sheriff's Office said a 20-year-old man faces pending charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, second-degree assault and domestic assault. -
The United Way of Bemidji Area is coordinating toy drives to serve low-income families in Beltrami, Clearwater and Hubbard counties. -
A 911 caller reported the incident the evening of Nov. 18, 2025, near Snellman. No injuries were reported, but law enforcement is asking for help identifying a suspect. -
The deputy, also identified in the report, fired his department-issued weapon. He has three years of experience in law enforcement. -
Grand Itasca and several partners are putting on the event at the YMCA, which includes breast health education, bone density screening and memory assessment.
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Plus: Itasca County Habitat for Humanity builds net-zero energy efficient homes; and Bemidji City Council member Audrey Thayer will serve on the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities board.
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Among 39 organizations receiving grants are those in Bemidji and Virginia, and the funds will provide more than 4,000 youths with workforce development and training. -
The new building style is more affordable and saves families money by being more energy efficient, according to the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity. -
Under a Minnesota law passed in 2023, all employees are entitled to one hour of paid sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked up to 48 hours a year. -
Plus: The Bagley City Council is deliberating whether to expand its police department or disband it to contract with the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office; 3 Northlanders medaled at the state swimming and diving meet; and Northland football teams end season after semifinal losses.
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Through a partnership with the Nature Conservancy, Endazhi-Nitaawiging, Red Lake's first charter school, celebrated the arrival of its new pontoon with family boat rides and hot chocolate on Nov. 12, 2025. -
Minneapolis-based Mortenson Development wrote in a letter that it wishes to host a public open house before proceeding. -
Park Rapids' Avery Schueller placed third in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle, and Two Harbors' Bella Imholte ended seventh in the 200 freestyle. -
Grand Rapids, Mahnomen/Waubun, Fertile-Beltrami and Kittson County Central all lost, despite multiple attempts at fourth-quarter comebacks. -
The incident near Onigum Road NW, northeast of Walker, is under investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
