Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Month in Minnesota. This aligns with the national observance to highlight the importance of cybersecurity education and awareness for all Minnesotans.

During the month, Minnesota I-T Services will share cybersecurity tips on social media to help Minnesotans spot scams and better protect their personal information, and launch an internal campaign to educate state employees on best practices for cybersecurity. 

Minnesota I-T Services has 2,800 employees to keep Minnesota’s information and data safe from cyber attacks.

KQ92/KRWB will have more on Cybersecurity later this month.

The Rainy River Record printed its final edition on September 27, ending almost a century of local news in the Rainy River District. Publisher Jim Cumming said the closure was driven by unprofitability and a shift in advertising, as major advertisers increasingly favor online platforms over traditional newspapers.

Remaining staff will continue limited operations through November to wrap up office matters. Subscribers have been transitioned to the Fort Frances Times, which will continue covering Rainy River and district news, and the paper is seeking contributors to help maintain local coverage.

The closure highlights a broader trend in Canada and the United States, where small community newspapers are shutting down amid declining print advertising and rising competition from digital media. Residents are now relying on remaining publications and online outlets to stay informed about local events and community news.

By Daniel Demolee – KQ92 & KRWB | October 2, 2025

Roseau School District No. 682 has proposed to increase the school district’s general education revenue by $1000 per student. Voters will be asked to vote yes or no for the approval of new school district referendum revenue authorization. Last year, the referendum was turned down 61% to 39%.

Voters can vote in person at their respective precincts or early at the Roseau County Courthouse or by requesting an absentee ballot to be mailed to you.

For a more detailed look at the verbiage, check “What’s on my Ballot” on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.

By Daniel DeMolee – KQ92 & KRWB | October 2, 2025

In a little more than a month Roseau and Lake of the Woods County voters will be going to the polls in November to vote on special election school district questions on the ballot. Today we will cover Badger.

Badger School District 676 will be asking voters three questions. The first regarding approval of school building bonds not to exceed $5,400,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities.

A second question deals with the approval of new school district referendum revenue authorization. The proposal is to increase the school district’s general education revenue by $429 per pupil subject to the annual rate of inflation.

The third question for Badger voters will be approval of school building bonds not to exceed $11,240,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities. During last year’s election, these same three questions and the approval of new referendum revenue passed 54% to 46%. Questions two and three regarding approval of authorization of new referendum revenue and approval of school building bonds were turned down 55% to 45% and 60% to 40% respectively.

Voters can vote in person at their respective precincts or early at the Roseau County Courthouse or by requesting an absentee ballot to be mailed to you.

For a more detailed look at the verbiage, check “What’s on my Ballot” on the Minnesota Secretary of State website. To calculate your tax impact on these questions, see the Better for Badger Tax Impact website.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expected to call a special session with the focus on passing stricter gun laws, including an assault weapons and high-capacity magazines ban. The special session has garnered pushback from Senate and House Republicans. Minnesota House Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth made it clear that Republicans would show up for a session if called by Governor Walz, but they expect the proper legislative process to be followed.

While they would show for a session, GOP House Floor Leader Rep. Harry Niska criticized Governor Walz, and Democrats for their lack of bi-partistaship heading into the session. 

After the GOP press conference, DFL House Leader Rep. Zack Stephenson responded to the GOP statement, saying that he feels discouraged heading into session. 

In a proposal announced on Tuesday, Governor Walz stated that he expects to call a special session on Monday, October 6th, at 10 a.m.

Fort Frances has secured $240,000 in provincial funding over the next two years to expand mental health support alongside the Ontario Provincial Police. The town will hire a third crisis worker to attend certain emergency calls involving mental health or addiction issues, increasing coverage in the Rainy River district beyond the municipality.

The program, which pairs crisis workers with police officers, allows specialists to respond to incidents, often preventing hospital visits and providing a therapeutic approach rather than a punitive one. Similar partnerships in Thunder Bay have shown positive results.

Funding through the Canadian Mental Health Association and the OPP will cover the additional position until March 31, 2027. Town officials said the new grant matches the funding provided to Thunder Bay for a similar initiative.

The U.S.D.A. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is granting 175 thousand dollars to Lake of the Woods County to reduce wildfire risk to communities. This is part of an over 200 million dollar investment in 58 projects across 22 states and two tribes nationwide. Officials say the money will be used to update the Lake of the Woods Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

These investments, thanks to Congressionally mandated funding, help at-risk communities plan for and reduce wildfire risk, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

Secretary Brooke Rollins said “These grants are about putting real resources directly in the hands of the people who know their lands and communities best – America’s foresters. By empowering them, we are protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure while securing the future of our great American landscape”.

More information about the funded proposals, as well as announcements about the grant program, is available on the Community Wildfire Defense Grants website.