By: Graham Scher | R&J Broadcasting Inc.

STRANDQUIST, Minn — A major milestone in flood protection and conservation is set to take place Tuesday in northwest Minnesota. After more than a decade of planning and collaboration, local, state and regional leaders will gather in Marshall County to officially break ground on the Nelson Slough Improvement Project. R&J News’ Graham Scher will be in attendance and tells us more.

Parents and students planning to participate in Roseau High School fall activities are invited to an informational meeting next month. The Roseau Activities Fall Meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 10th at 5:30 p.m. in the Roseau High School Theatre. Organizers say everyone will meet together before breaking out into meetings with individual fall activity coaches.

The meeting is open to parents and students interested in any fall activity. School officials also remind families that Minnesota State High School League fall activities are scheduled to begin Monday, August 17th. Contact the Roseau High School Activities Office for additional information.

Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig is promoting a proposal she says would strengthen Social Security while putting more money back into seniors’ pockets. Craig says she’s spent the past three years developing the plan, which would eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits and require higher-income earners to pay more into the system. She says the goal is to help seniors struggling with everyday costs.

Craig says the proposal would also improve the program’s long-term finances.

Craig says the plan would extend the Social Security trust fund by 34 years while generating additional federal revenue over the next 75 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. More information on Craig’s “You Earned It, You Keep It Act” is available on her congressional website, and general Social Security information can be found at SSA dot gov.

As many Minnesotans prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, doctors are urging families to put safety first. The Minnesota Medical Association says thousands of fireworks-related injuries happen every year, with adults making up a large share of those treated in emergency rooms.

Doctors say the safest option is to leave fireworks to the professionals. They also remind people that backyard fireworks can have unintended impacts on others, including military veterans living with PTSD.

The association says loud fireworks can also frighten pets and encourages people to attend community displays instead. More Fourth of July safety tips are available from the Minnesota Medical Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Minnesota Seventh District Representative Michelle Fischbach is marking the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Fischbach announced she is an original co-sponsor of a congressional resolution recognizing the anniversary.

Fischbach said the resolution commemorates what she describes as lives saved following the Dobbs decision and supports policies aimed at protecting unborn children while providing resources and support for mothers and families.

According to Fischbach’s office, the resolution also marks the anniversary of the Dobbs ruling and reaffirms congressional support for policies focused on protecting unborn life and expanding support networks for mothers and their children.

Early voting is now underway for Minnesota’s August primary election. Minnesotans can now cast their ballots ahead of the state’s August 11 primary election. Early voting runs through Monday, August 10, giving voters just over a month to vote before Election Day. Secretary of State Steve Simon says the best way to avoid last-minute problems is to make a plan.

For those voting by mail, Simon says it’s easy to keep tabs on your ballot after it’s sent in.

Voters can cast a ballot early in person, vote by mail, or head to the polls on Primary Election Day, August 11. For polling locations, ballot tracking, registration information and a sample ballot, visit MNVotes.gov.

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan says lowering healthcare costs is a top priority in her campaign for the U.S. Senate. The DFL candidate is proposing what she calls “Medicaid for All,” along with lower prescription drug costs and an end to prior authorization requirements that can delay treatment.

Medical Assistance, Minnesota’s Medicaid program, provides health coverage for more than one million Minnesotans. For more information about eligibility and benefits, visit MNsure.org or mn.gov/dhs.

Drivers in northwestern Minnesota should expect delays as a Highway 11 reconstruction project gets underway in Greenbush. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is rebuilding Highway 11 from Highway 32 to 7th Street, with work including new pavement, sidewalks, storm sewers, lighting, and utility improvements. 

Officials say the project will improve safety, drainage, and pedestrian access, with construction expected to wrap up by late September. Drivers are reminded to slow down, stay alert, and obey posted work zone speed limits. For project updates, detour information, and maps, visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Highway 11 Greenbush project page.