By: Graham Scher | R&J Broadcasting Inc.

BAUDETTE, Minn — The Baudette City Council spent a portion of this week’s meeting discussing the need to officially name a private drive within the city that’s home to several residents. Council staff discussed if having residents living on the private drive would require it to be a named street within city limits. Councilwoman Liz Weigel commented on how the council determined the status of that street name. 

State guidelines require it to have an official street name to help emergency responders, postal services and other agencies accurately locate those addresses.

Council members discussed the process moving forward, which includes selecting and approving a name before submitting it through the proper channels. Once a name is chosen, it will also need to be mapped and recorded with Lake of the Woods County so it can be officially recognized.

By: Graham Scher | R&J Broadcasting Inc.

WARROAD, Minn — A new exhibit at Warroad RiverPlace is bringing classic stories and fantasy to life through the work of local artist Holly Marie Crowther. “Folklore and Fairy Tales” is now open and runs through August 29th, featuring a collection of original paintings, illustrations, and hand-crafted needle-felted creations inspired by beloved fairy tales, folklore, and mythical characters. Among the featured works is Crowther’s first-place winning oil painting from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s annual art exhibition, which is now on display as part of the exhibit. Crowther says that award-winning piece holds a special place in the collection.

In addition to the award-winning painting, visitors will find a variety of imaginative works inspired by stories that have captivated generations. Crowther says those timeless tales—and a lifelong love of folklore and fantasy—played a major role in shaping the exhibit.

Admission to the exhibit is free, and Warroad RiverPlace is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Minnesota’s labor market shows that 13,200 jobs were added in June for a third straight month of growth, outpacing a flat national job market. The state unemployment rate held at 4.4%, above the national rate of 4.2%. Despite the gains, Minnesota’s labor force participation fell for the seventh consecutive month to 67%. 

Officials call it a mixed picture as inflation continues to outpace wage growth. The strongest job growth occurred in Educational and Health Services. For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development website at mn.gov/deed.

By: Graham Scher | R&J Broadcasting Inc.

ROSEAU, Minn — Rainy weather is forcing a venue change for tonight’s Roseau Summer Concert Series performance. Organizers have announced that this evening’s concert featuring the contemporary Christian group CHOS3N has been moved indoors to the Roseau School Theatre because of smoky and damp conditions. Music gets underway at 6:30 tonight, with the Roseau ALS Team serving a taco meal beginning around 6 p.m. before the concert. Organizers remind attendees that while the meal will be served before the show, food and drinks are not allowed inside the theater. CHOS3N, based in Strathcona, performs a mix of original songs and contemporary praise and worship music. Organizers encourage concertgoers to follow the Roseau Summer Concert Series social media page for any future schedule updates throughout the season.

By Mani Souphom – R & J Broadcasting, Inc. | Thursday, July 16, 2026

WARROAD, Minn. — At Monday night’s city council meeting, Warroad’s council unanimously authorized a signature on a lease agreement in the city’s lagoon area for a solar farm project. Mayor Tom Goldsmith shared more details on the agreement, and what it would entail:

Goldsmith expressed excitement for the opportunity being provided to the city, and talked about the timeline:

City Attorney Steve Anderson addressed the council regarding the legal protections built into the agreement. He explained that the developer would be required to procure a restoration bond to insure the restoration of the project site once the lease concludes. “It’s as good as having something in escrow,” Anderson noted. While some jurisdictions require county bonds for similar projects, he clarified that such requirements are not applicable in Warroad’s case.

While the exact megawatt capacity has not been fully finalized, similar utility-scale installations of this size generally generate tens of megawatts of clean energy. The developer has targeted a potential construction start date around 2028.

The Highway 11 reconstruction project between Roseau and Warroad has entered another major phase. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says Stage 4 is now underway on the west end of the project, with motorists now using the Stage 4 detour while crews begin milling operations in that area.

Construction has wrapped up on the east end, where paving operations are now complete. Crews have shifted their focus to milling operations now underway on the west side of the project. The overall project remains on schedule and is still expected to be finished in late September, weather permitting. 

MnDOT is reminding drivers to slow down, stay alert for workers and construction equipment, and follow all traffic control signs through the work zone. They’re also encouraging everyone to continue supporting businesses along the Highway 11 corridor by checking ahead for the best way to access them during construction.

Minnesota is extending a pause on enrolling new Medicaid providers in 12 high-risk services for at least another six months. The freeze began January 30th as the Department of Human Services revalidates nearly 5,600 existing providers. The revalidation is part of a corrective action plan required by federal officials to avoid losing over two billion dollars in Medicaid funding. 

Providers must document ownership, employees and business locations, then undergo unannounced on-site inspections. For more information, contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

By Graham Scher – R&J Broadcasting, Inc. | Wednesday, July 15, 2026

BAUDETTE, Minn — The Baudette City Council met in regular session Monday at the Government Center in Baudette, with much of the discussion focusing on the community’s splash pad project. As they move toward construction, some decisions still remain to be made. While some decisions still remain, city officials say they’re committed to getting the splash pad project underway before the end of this year. Councilwoman Liz Weigel says the council addressed several important items during Monday night’s meeting before turning its attention to the splash pad project.

As the project moves forward, Weigel says there will be a firm timeline to keep construction on track, with a hard deadline the city expects contractors to meet.

And once the splash pad is complete, Weigel says it will become a popular gathering place for local families and visitors alike, adding that she expects the community to fully embrace the new attraction and enjoy it for years to come.

View the full story at kq92.com.