Minnesota’s Board of Water and Soil Resources is making 3.2 million dollars available to help soil and water conservation districts put soil health practices into action.
The grants can support practices such as no-till farming, cover crops and rotational grazing, methods that can improve soil productivity, protect water quality and help farms withstand severe weather.
The funding is available to conservation districts statewide, including those serving farmers in Northwest Minnesota. BWSR is asking all districts to identify local funding needs. The request for interest is open through October 15th.
Farmers can learn more by contacting their local soil and water conservation district or by visiting BWSR’s website at bwsr.state.mn.us/soils.
Minnesota’s Take a Kid Hunting Weekend is coming up September 26th and 27th. The Minnesota DNR says adult Minnesota residents can take a youth under 16 hunting for squirrels, rabbits and other small game without a license during the weekend.
Hunters still must follow open seasons, bag limits and other regulations. The DNR says small game hunting can teach young people about wildlife, firearm safety and how to access hunting land.
For hunting tips, season details and regulations, visit MNDNR.gov/gohunting, or MNDNR.gov/hunting/small game.
Minnesota’s archery deer season opens this Saturday and runs through December 31st. The Minnesota DNR says last year was a record, with more than 30-thousand deer harvested during archery season. About 55 percent were antlerless deer.
Hunters will also see changes this year with the state’s new electronic licensing system, including new options for buying licenses, validating harvests and registering deer. The DNR is also reminding hunters to check chronic wasting disease requirements and follow blaze clothing and tree-stand safety rules.
For regulations, CWD testing information and an interactive deer map, visit MNDNR.gov/hunting/deer.
BAUDETTE, Minn — The Baudette City Council met in regular session this week to continue work on the city’s 2027 budget plan. The city has spent the past year working through financial challenges and reviewing spending. Councilman Cole Nelson says putting the budget together involves looking closely at each department and deciding what the city needs to keep, what can be adjusted and what ultimately receives council approval.
As part of the process, the council also discussed the city’s proposed tax levy for 2027. Nelson explains how the council reached its decision on the proposed levy percentage and what factors went into that discussion.
Infrastructure is also part of the 2027 plan, with funding being considered for road maintenance, street work, and areas where curb and gutter improvements are needed. Nelson says the city is looking at those projects as it works to plan for both immediate maintenance and longer-term needs.
Stay tuned next week for more from Baudette City council on what projects are coming up in 2027.
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has a new exhibit on display at its gallery inside Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.
“Self-Taught Artists, Self-Told Stories” features 110 pieces of folk art from 27 artists, with most of those artists from northwest Minnesota.
The exhibit includes a wide variety of work, including Indigenous beadwork, paintings, wood carvings, pottery, fiber art, quilting, weaving, metalwork, music and other traditional crafts.
Roseau fiber artist Aliza Novacek-Olson says folk art can help people better understand the past. “Folk art is a way of connecting to the past on a deeper level. It helps us understand not only the purpose behind an object, but also the social and cultural practices of the people who made and used it.”
Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla spoke on her quilt at the exhibit, saying, ”This crazy quilt incorporates fabric scraps, including material from my mother’s wedding dress and my grandmother’s fanciest Sunday dress. I studied and used many embroidery stitches, fascinated by the different techniques.”
The exhibit also features a wall dedicated to Middle River musician and radio host Cathy Erickson and her music career.
The exhibit will be on display through November. The gallery is open weekdays 8-4:30 at Northland or take the virtual walkthrough of the exhibit available through the NWMAC YouTube page. The video is also available on their website NWArtsCouncil.org under the exhibits tab on the top of the homepage.
September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. About 845 Minnesotans died by suicide last year. Erich Mische, CEO of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, says Minnesota has made progress, but there are still troubling trends.
Mische says suicide rates are increasing among young people, while firearm-related suicide deaths also continue to rise. Mische says a combination of circumstances can play a role.
Mische says those factors can include housing, employment, finances, substance abuse and mental illness.
Prevention advocates say recognizing warning signs, starting conversations and connecting people with help can make a difference before a crisis escalates. Help is available through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Education is a focus for both major-party candidates for Minnesota governor, with Republican Lisa Demuth and DFL candidate Amy Klobuchar having recently outlined competing proposals aimed at student achievement.
Demuth’s “Education Comeback Plan” calls for an emphasis on reading, math and science, along with greater oversight of school spending. Her plan also includes additional funding for school safety at public and private schools. Demuth argues Minnesota is spending more per student while academic performance has declined and says she wants to reduce state education mandates and focus more on core academic subjects.
Klobuchar’s education plan also emphasizes reading and math. She is proposing evidence-based instruction, additional tutoring for students who fall behind and increased attention to student attendance. Her plan would also require parent-teacher meetings when students are struggling in reading or math.
Klobuchar is additionally proposing a statewide ban on cellphones and other personal mobile devices in K-12 classrooms, with exceptions for emergencies and medical needs, along with limits on classroom screen time.
Both candidates have made improving student achievement a part of their education platforms, while proposing different approaches to how schools should address academic performance, spending and classroom policies.
A new season of performances from the Northern Lights Concert Association got underway Friday night in Roseau.
The first show of the 2026-27 season featured “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” at the Roseau School Theatre. The group took the audience back to the era of sock hops and early rock and roll, performing music from the 1950s and beyond.
The Northern Lights Concert Association has been bringing live entertainment to the area for more than four decades, with several performances planned throughout the new season.
Friday night’s concert was the first of those shows, with additional performances scheduled in the months ahead at venues including the Roseau School Theatre and Warroad RiverPlace.
The concert association provides an opportunity for residents across the area to enjoy a variety of live entertainment close to home.
