Local Government

In its meeting on April 28, 2025, the Bemidji School Board unanimously approved $1.5 million in cuts from its budget ahead of a $2 million projected deficit starting in fiscal year 2025.

In a resolution passed unanimously on April 21, 2025, the Bemidji City Council also issued a notice of intent to annex Northern Township property around the lake.

Chris Lahn presented on 50 years of aspirations to wrap sewer services around the highly developed Lake Bemidji during a BSU Earth Day event on April 22, 2025.

The bonds will be paid via the county's transportation sales tax and should not impact property taxes.

Construction on the new, $80 million jail facility is expected to begin soon. Beltrami commissioners heard options on what to do with the current facility at their April 1, 2025, work session.

Plus: Red Lake will remember victims of the state's deadliest school shooting 20 years later; and the Grand Rapids fire chief saved a woman from a house fire.

This week, News Director Chelsey Perkins talks about the latest updates on the arrest of state Sen. Justin Eichorn and discusses her story on Cass and Itasca counties' cooperation with ICE.

Plus: MnDOT to host open houses on planned Hwy 210 project in Brainerd; and Northland boys basketball teams head to state.

The proposed lease cancellation for a Bemidji Indian Health Service office is not expected to impact health care services, the Leech Lake Band said in a statement.

With funding for the long-planned Highway 197/Paul Bunyan Drive project now in question, the city plans to use $5M in state grants to proceed with detour work this year.