With this major winter storm blowing across parts of Northwest Minnesota, some local and area school districts have announced that students will shift to e-learning today instead of attending in-person classes. 

Warroad schools will operate under E-learning, please check the E-learning Day plan posted on the school website for more details. There will also be no Kid Kare today.

Roseau Schools are also utilizing E-learning today. There is no Little Rams today, and all school buildings and facilities  will be closed today.

Badger School and Grygla School and buses will run on a 2-hour delay this morning. Breakfast will still be served this morning.

The decision comes as heavy snow and hazardous road conditions make travel unsafe for buses, staff and families.

A Livestock Producer Workshop will take place on Monday, February 23rd, from 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM at the VFW in Baudette.

Speakers will include specialists from the Sustainable Farming Association, the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture that will provide valuable information and resources for livestock producers. 

There will also be staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, and the Soil and Water Conservation District to highlight available technical and financial assistance.

Refreshments will be provided. Walk-ins are Welcome, but registrations are preferred 

To register contact the Lake of the Woods SWCD at 218-395-4306.

Warroad RiverPlace invites the public to a free reception and open house this Thursday, February 19, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., celebrating Nikki Besser’s exhibit Portrayals in Paper: Tales of Overcoming.

Through the intricate art form of paper quilling, which involves rolling, shaping, and arranging strips of paper, Besser’s large-scale works offer a unique and awe-inspiring experience. Her detailed portraits, often featuring birds and animals, invite viewers into imagined landscapes where reality and fantasy intertwine.

Guests can meet the artist, browse the exhibit, and enjoy light refreshments at this free event. The exhibit will remain on view through March 21, 2026, and is free to visit Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

After the reception, stay for a concert by the acclaimed vocal duo Aria Nouveau at 7:30 p.m. presented by the Northern Lights Concert Association.For more information, visit warroadriverplace.org.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the double digits throughout the week, which means that now would be a good time to get outside, and enjoy the fresh air. If you want to get outside, but don’t know what you want to do, Connie Cox of Itasca State Park says they have plenty of recreational services available. 

Cox says now’s a good time to do some exploring in the park, as some animals are starting to come out for spring. 

You can go to the Itasca State Park Webpage on the Minnesota DNR website at dnr.state.mn.us for more information on park services and amenities.

The February 28 deadline to submit submissions for the Northwest Minnesota Art Council’s (NWMAC) Annual Exhibit is fast approaching, and area artists are encouraged to get their work submitted as soon as possible. NWMAC Executive Director Mara Hanel.

To submit a piece of artwork for the exhibit, go to the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Website at northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that they have cancelled about $38 million in public health investments for Minnesota. 

The terminated funding is from the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), and is the latest development in the federal government’s ongoing campaign of retribution against Minnesota This five-year grant began in 2022 and was set to expire in 2027. Minnesota has been using the Public Health Infrastructure Grant to support critical public health infrastructure needs. 

Nationwide, 107 health departments across all 50 states received this funding, but only Minnesota and three other states are having these funds cancelled.

Late yesterday Attorney General Ellison joined the attorneys general from the other targeted states of California, Colorado and Illinois in filing a lawsuit.

CDC also cut about $250,000 in funds for the Core State Injury Prevention Program (SIPP), which supports public health infrastructure, data and partnerships to identify and respond to existing and emerging injury threats with data-driven public health actions. 

Badger High School’s FCCLA program is celebrating a number of students who made it to the State competition for their hard work. Stacey Warne from Badger High School tells us that’s not the final step for the FCCLA program this year. 

Again, it’s the top two competitors in each category who qualify for the National Leadership Conference this July. 

Congratulations to all the Badger students who advanced, and best of luck at the state competitions.

Warroad Riverplace has several concerts coming up over the next couple months hosted by the Northern Lights Concert Association and is set to host their second concert series at Warroad Riverplace, coming up Thursday February 19th at 7:30pm.

Headlining the show next week is acclaimed vocal duo Aria Nouveau.

Mitchell Johnson, President of the Northern Lights Concert Association, told us the concert series at Warroad Riverplace will continue to grow.

Johnson also told us how they find their artists and performers to headline shows.

Tickets are required for the concert, and those are $45 for the entire season, including upcoming shows The She Gees and The Suits.

Before the concert, you can enjoy a free artist reception from 5 to 7pm. No tickets required to attend the artist reception before the concert begins. 

Enjoy light refreshments, meet artist Nikki Besser, and experience her large-scale paper quilling artwork.You can get tickets on northernlightsconcerts.com and check out the event at warroadriverplace.org.

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on legislation this week that would lift the ban on copper mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It’s already passed the House. Save the Boundary Waters Executive Director Ingrid Lyons says copper mining would be toxic and destroy the habitat and wildlife of the Boundary Waters.

Lyons says if it passes, things could move quickly.

The Senate only needs a simple majority to pass the legislation. Republican Congressman Pete Stauber is pushing for mining saying it would provide jobs and an economic boost to northern Minnesota. Lyons says if it happens, the impact on the Boundary Waters will be devastating.

The Badger School is celebrating a strong showing in FCCLA competition, with several students qualifying for the State Leadership Conference this March. Advancing to state are Emily Burkel, Adysen Gregerson, Avearah Hanson, Ava Warne, and Delyla Carpenter.

In total, 67 students competed for a chance to move on, with only those earning a score of 50 or higher advancing to the state level. The competition doesn’t stop there—top performers at state will have an even bigger opportunity ahead.

The top two competitors in each category will qualify for the FCCLA National Leadership Conference, set for July in Washington, D.C. Congratulations to all the Badger students who earned their place and best of luck at state.