Love is in the air this Valentine’s season in Roseau County!

Roseau District Court Judge Michael Grover is inviting couples to say “I do” in a special Valentine’s Day Wedding Celebration — completely free of charge.

The ceremonies will take place on Friday, February 13th, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Roseau County Courthouse. Judge Grover will perform complimentary marriage ceremonies in a courtroom decorated for the occasion, with light refreshments provided for couples and their guests.

Whether you’ve been planning your wedding for months or want to take advantage of this unique opportunity to make it official, all couples are welcome to participate.

For more information or to register, call 218-463-2541.

Mediation claims between Minnesota farmers and their banks are four times higher according to DFL Agriculture Committee Chair Arik Putnam. Mediation claims in many cases are the final step before a farmer declares bankruptcy. Putnam says state lawmakers have to help.

The next legislation session begins three weeks from today. Putnam says he’s been meeting face to face with farmers about their biggest concerns.

Putnam says the tariffs combined with lower prices have put many farmers on the brink of bankruptcy and they’re concerned about falling prices and rising healthcare costs.

Applications are open for nominations for the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s (NWMAC) annual “Of the Year Awards”, and they’re currently taking nominations for all types of artists across Northwest Minnesota. NWMAC Director Mara Hanel says there are three different awards that you can nominate someone for.

If you would like to nominate someone for an award, Hanel explains how you can do so.

For more information about the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s “Of the Year Awards”, go to northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org.

Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach of District 7 joined House Ways and Means Committee Republicans in calling on the IRS to strengthen oversight of nonprofit organizations, citing Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future fraud case.

Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of individuals connected to Feeding Our Future with fraud and related offenses, alleging that the organization submitted false claims to federal child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic and misused hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds. Several defendants have pleaded guilty, and convictions have been secured in federal court.

In a letter to the IRS Commissioner, lawmakers criticized the Biden administration, saying federal agencies failed to properly monitor tax-exempt groups and prevent large-scale fraud. They’re now calling for reforms aimed at protecting taxpayer dollars and improving nonprofit accountability.

The United States is in a tough period of time financially, and for many with mounting credit card debt it may feel like a helpless time. However, did you know that there are non-profit organizations out there that have resources available to help you? Joanne Lundberg of Lutheran Social Services (LSS) tells us more about their debt relief programs, and the ways they can help.

If this sounds like a program that could help you, Lundberg explains how you get the process of getting help started. 

Lundberg says they also offer assistance to people who are stuck in a payday loan. 

For more information on Lutheran Social Services financial assistance programs, go to www.lssmn.org.

January is National Bathtub Safety Month, and Safe Kids Grand Forks is raising awareness about the importance of proper bathtub safety practices for parents with young children. Carma Hanson of Safe Kids Grand Forks says bathtub safety is a very important item to talk about, as multiple North Dakota children have died in bathtubs. 

Hanson says the best bathtub safety practice you as a parent or guardian can practice, is to never leave your young child in a bath unattended, even if it’s just for a single minute. 

For more child safety materials and information, go to the Safe Kids Grand Forks website.

2026 is expected to be a bonding year in the Minnesota Legislature, and entities from all across the state will be seeking funding. Red River Watershed Management Board (RRWMB) Director Rob Sip says they will be one of the many seeking funding through a bonding bill, and he lays out the board’s funding priorities for this year. 

Sip also talked about the potential challenges that may come up during the session. 

As for other items in the upcoming session, Sip says they will also be prioritizing funding for riverwatch, and keeping a close eye on drainage legislation.

2026 is expected to be a tough year for farmers across the country, and many farmers may have to try something new in 2026 to stay on top of dwindling commodity prices. R&J Ag Reporter Nick Revier caught up with Minnesota Department of Ag Commissioner Thom Peterson who says producers will need to get creative this year. 

Peterson says one thing Minnesota producers have going for them is the ability to grow a diverse crop. 

Peterson says his office is going to do what they can to support local producers, which is helped by Minnesota being a very influential voice in agriculture. 

That was Minnesota Department of Ag Commissioner Thom Peterson.

The Red River Watershed Management Board held a legislative open house as a part of their monthly meeting on Tuesday, and a number of our area state legislators were in attendance, including Minnesota Senator Rob Kupec.  Kupec spoke with R&J News about his takeaways from the visit.

Minnesota Senator Steve Green was also in attendance at the open house, and he shared his takeaways from the visit, which includes the need for more transparency, and a cost benefit analysis for projects across the state. 

That was Senators Steve Green and Rob Kupec. More to come next week from the Red River Watershed Management Board’s monthly meeting in Moorhead.

Warroad, Roseau, Badger, and Greenbush-Middle River school districts students will be logging in instead of heading to the bus stop for the rest of the week.

Warroad Schools announced they will shift to e-learning tomorrow and Friday due to expected severe weather. Administrators say the decision was made out of caution, with forecasts calling for dangerous travel conditions.

Classes will continue remotely, with students expected to follow their regular schedules online. School officials say assignments and attendance requirements will be communicated through district learning platforms.

After-school activities and events are expected to be postponed unless otherwise announced by the schools.

Other local schools are expected to proceed as normal until further announced. 

Parents are encouraged to check district websites and social media pages for the latest updates.