American Crystal Sugar continues to move along in their pre-harvest, and their full fall harvest is right around the corner. Harrison Weber of American Crystal Sugar is happy to say that pre-harvest is going really well for their growers across the Red River Valley.
Labor is always a need for sugarbeet harvest, and Weber says that is no different this year, as many producers across the valley are still in need of labor.
More ag news available at rjbroadcasting.com
By Graham Scher – R & J Broadcasting | September 11, 2025
Warroad, Minn – Warroad City Council met in regular session Monday. Councilmembers talked at length about another construction project that will be happening eventually in Warroad. KQ92/KRWB spoke with Warroad Mayor Tom Goldsmith on the construction plan for Elk Street.
The council also had a good discussion about the possibility of Warroad becoming a quiet zone for trains. Mayor Goldsmith also gave us the latest on that discussion.
KQ92/KRWB will continue to update on city council meetings.
By Graham Scher – R & J Broadcasting | September 11, 2025
University of Minnesota workers across its five main campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and the Twin Cities, kick off their union push to join SEIU Local 284. This comes just days after fourteen hundred U workers, represented by Teamsters Local 320, rejected the school’s last, best, and final offer.
284 Executive Director Kelly Gibbons says four main units are working to unionize for expanding workplace democracy, promoting career security, working in healthy settings, and closing the salary gap.
Democratic Senator Omar Fateh, who works at the U, signed a union card and says he will help bargain for the unit. The four departments involved include IT, Marketing and Communications, Student Services, and Grants and Contracts.
The Minnesota Department of Ag was offering free nitrate well testing at Farmfest this year, giving well owners instant answers about their drinking water. This revealed issues in some Minnesotans well water. MDA Water Experts say there are a few things to do if you find your well water has high levels of nitrate.
Infants or children under six months should not use the water. Alternative should be bottled water or filtered water. You also should be looking at possible sources around their wells. If they have a really shallow well that can make it more vulnerable.
The MDH drinking water standard is 10 milligrams per liter and that really has to do with what’s called blue Baby syndrome, and that can really affect how much oxygen is carried in baby’s blood.
Minnesota pheasant hunters have reason to celebrate. The latest August roadside survey shows pheasant numbers are up nearly 50% compared to 2024, and 21% above the 10-year average. Bird counts increased across every region, a trend likely driven by a mild winter and dry spring—ideal conditions for pheasant survival and reproduction.
Survey crews recorded 75 birds per 100 miles of roadside, a jump from 51 birds per 100 miles last year. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports that pheasant populations are now above the 10-year average in every region within the pheasant range.
Geographically, the Southeast part of Minnesota has gone up the most in pheasant numbers up 189% in 2025. Other parts of the state has seen spikes of 40-90% since last year.
The Minnesota DNR says Minnesotans need to take the threat of chronic wasting disease seriously. Wildlife Health Supervisor Erik Hildebrand says the disease threatens the hunting heritage and outdoor recreation industry in Minnesota.
The DNR continues its effort to track chronic wasting disease across the state. Hildebrand says the DNR collects samples from deer for multiple reasons.
You can visit the DNR website to find an interactive map highlighting where CWD has been located in the state.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is urging Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to restore a $700,000 federal grant that supported Minnesota’s violence prevention efforts. The Targeted Violence and Prevention grant was abruptly cancelled in July, cutting key positions within Behavioral Threat Assessment And Management team at the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
Walz went on to say that with recent tragedies, like the assassination of Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her family, and the fatal shooting at Minneapolis’s Annunciation Catholic School, he wanted to highlight the devastating cost of failing to act.
Red River Valley Community Action’s board of directors have voted to dissolve the organization, a process that requires documentation to be filed and finances put in order before the organization ceases to exist. The unanimous decision came during a board meeting Wednesday evening, Sept. 3. The Vice President of the Board says the members’ dedication is why they have stuck around, despite the stress and confusion they’ve faced running an organization that became increasingly financially unstable in recent months.
The agency’s financial concerns were first reported in May after the organization announced it would permanently close its Grand Forks food pantry. Concerns at that time included tens of thousands of dollars in debt to partner agencies and vendors caused, at least in part, by what board members called misappropriated funds. The uncertain future of federal funding that’s essential for the organization’s operation was another major concern reported at the time.
The option the organization ultimately voted in favor of was dissolution, which calls for a majority of board members to vote in its favor. The board now needs to submit documentation with the Secretary of State’s Office. The deadline to file documentation is Sept. 22. Once the state reviews this documentation, it would determine whether RRVCA can feasibly continue providing services.
By Graham Scher – R & J Broadcasting | September 8, 2025
Warroad/Roseau, Minn – Construction continues on Highway 11 in Warroad. MNDOT has provided an update. First an update on what happened this past week. Still single lane traffic with temporary lights at Warroad River bridge. Detour maps are available. The Bridge project has Crews working on south abutment. Pile driving and rip-rap placement was completed. As for the Roundabout project on 11 and 313, concrete was poured on the Hwy 313 north leg of the roundabout. Sidewalks and A-D-A work also finished on the north side.
This week, Crews will begin installing falsework for south abutment and pour concrete in the same location on the bridge. At 313 North, Final grading and preparation for pavement. Paving will start at the end of the week and progress into next week.
Now, a MNDOT update on the Highway 11 construction in Roseau. Last week, Final paving and clean up work began and went through the week. This week, Parking lot tie-ins and final project striping, as MNDOT says this will be a substantial part of the completion of the project. Detour will be lifted this week and traffic will be routed back to Highway 11.
By Jon Michael – R & J Broadcasting | September 5, 2025
Warroad, MINN. – Preparations continue for the production of “Warroad Community Potluck” which will be performed on September 12th, 13th, and 14th. The play is being put on by Mixed Blood Theater. On The Warroad RiverPlace segment this week, Stage manager Joelle Coutu (Coo-chew) talked about her role
This week is Tech Week for the play and Coutu talked about what happens during this week.
To get tickets for “Warroad Community Potluck” go to warroadriverplace.org or stop by Warroad RiverPlace during their hours Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm.