New federal data shows Minnesota’s Medicaid program has a significantly lower improper payment rate than the national average.

A review by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found Minnesota’s error rate at just over 2.1% compared to a national average of 6.1%.

State officials say the data was compiled before the Department of Human Services rolled out new anti-fraud measures last year, including audits of high-risk services and tighter oversight of providers.

Temporary Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi says no level of error is acceptable, but the review shows Minnesota has strong internal controls that continue to improve.

The report comes as federal officials consider withholding up to $2 billion a year in Medicaid program integrity funding.

More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Human Services website.

Minnesota exports declined in the third quarter of 2025, with the impact falling heavily on northern Minnesota.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development reports exports of agricultural, mining, and manufactured goods totaled 5.7 billion dollars — down 14% from a year ago.

Much of the decline came from sharply lower mineral fuel and oil sales to Canada, Minnesota’s largest trading partner and a critical market for northern Minnesota’s mining, refining, and transportation sectors.

Machinery and vehicle exports — both tied to regional manufacturing jobs — also fell, while exports to Mexico and China dropped by more than twenty percent each.

State officials say tariffs and trade uncertainty continue to weigh on export-dependent regions.

More information is available on DEED’s website in the Export and Trade Statistics section.

By: Graham Scher – R&J Broadcasting Inc. February 2nd, 2026

Baudette, Minn – Mental health continues to be a tough obstacle that millions in our world today deal with in their own way. Lake of the Woods School provides some awareness about the importance of mental health and Brian Sather of Lake of the Woods school tells us about their annual Stick-it-to-Stigma hockey game that is all about mental health awareness.

Sather also talked about how important it is to students to have such a night focusing on a great cause.

Again, the annual Stick-it-to-Stigma mental health awareness hockey game is coming up February 12th at Lake of the Woods High School in Baudette.

Lake of the Woods Brewing Company has announced it will be closing its Warroad location on Lake Street in downtown Warroad after nine years in the community.

In a statement, the company said it is grateful for the memories made and thanked its employees, the Warroad community, and the distributors, businesses, and patrons who supported the Lake of the Woods Brewing Company brand across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Montana, and Wyoming.

The Warroad taproom will remain open through Saturday, February 7th. While the Warroad location is closing, Lake of the Woods Brewing Company says its handcrafted brews will continue to be available at its Kenora and Winnipeg taprooms.

The company also hinted at what’s next, saying it’s excited for a future endeavor planned for the iconic space at 104 Main Avenue, with more details to be announced.

Warroad Chamber of Commerce is hosting a stand-up comedy and dinner night coming up Friday, February 20th at the Warroad American Legion on Lake Street downtown Warroad.

Tickets are available online for 35 dollars for a dinner and comedy show featuring K-Von, a comedian who has made appearances on NETFLIX, NBC’s ‘Last Comic Standing’, and his popular TED Talk showcases.

You can check out K-Von’s website at k-voncomedy.com

A Chamber of Commerce Comedy Night Event at the Warroad American Legion Friday February 20th. Dinner begins at 7pm with the comedy show starting at 8pm. Tickets are available online and on the Warroad Chamber’s facebook page.

On a vote of 10-0, the Red Lake Tribal Council passed a resolution on Jan. 13 preventing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from entering Red Lake Nation without a court order.

The resolution notes that  the tribal council has “observed that ICE officers are moving north,” and that council members were recently informed that ICE officers apprehended a Leech Lake Tribal member in the Walker area.

According to the resolution, any ICE officer or other federal officer assisting ICE enforcement with a proper order signed by a judge is required to first meet with the Director of the Red Lake Department of Public Safety and provide the court order.

The resolution reads, “Be it further resolved, that no ICE officer or other federal officer may be present on the Red Lake Nation without the presence of a Red Lake Officer, and the federal officers may be present for only so long as it takes to serve the order.”

Veterans in Roseau County kicked off 2026 with a busy slate of activity, and Roseau County Veteran Service Officer Marty Howes provided an overview of the first month of 2026. Howes highlighted the District Midwinter Conference that was recently celebrated by Roseau County Veterans.

Howes explained more about the conference and why it’s so important for the Veterans Service Office.

You can hear that full conversation with Roseau County Veteran Service Officer Marty Howes online at kq92.com under the news tab.