The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources is now accepting applications for its Clean Water Fund Competitive Grants Program, with more than 6 million dollars in grants and up to 13 million in loans available to local governments.

Eligible applicants in Lake of the Woods and Roseau counties include soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, counties and municipalities with approved water management plans.

Funding supports projects that protect or restore lakes, rivers, streams and drinking water sources.

The application window opens February 11 and closes March 25. Award announcements are expected this summer.

Details and the full request for proposals are available at the BWSR website.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has launched a new fact-check webpage to combat misinformation about Medicaid fraud. Officials say false claims can undermine public trust and threaten access to care for vulnerable residents. Medicaid, also known as Medical Assistance, provides health coverage to more than 1.2 million Minnesotans. The new fact-check page is available through the state’s Medicaid program integrity website at mn.gov/dhs.

Local award-winning tattoo artist and Golden Dragon Tattoo Shop owner Somsak “Noy” Bounvongxay was detained by ICE officers Monday, Feb. 9 at his Fargo business. Bounvongxay was brought to the United States by his parents as a child, and later built a home and family in Warroad, where he remains closely connected to the community.

He now faces deportation to Laos while his legal status remains pending. His family says they filed a spousal petition five years ago that is still under review. Known for his charity tattoo drives and community involvement, supporters describe him as generous and deeply committed to both his craft and community. Bounvongxay’s detainment has sparked an outpouring of support, and his family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover legal, medical and living expenses.

Minnesota is advancing efforts to strengthen Medicaid anti-fraud systems. The Department of Human Services, working with Optum, has completed the first phase of a one-year project to develop an automated pre-payment review system for Medicaid claims. Over the past 90 days, Optum reviewed nearly four years of claims in 14 high-risk service areas, flagging items that need additional review before payment.

Officials say the work is not a measure of fraud but identifies areas where policy clarification or provider training may be needed. Over the next nine months, the state will refine the system to reduce fraud risk, improve efficiency, and investigate suspicious activity when necessary.

For more information on Minnesota’s Medicaid program integrity efforts, visit the state’s Medicaid program integrity webpage.

By Mani Souphom – R & J Broadcasting, Inc. | Tuesday, February 10, 2026

WARROAD, MINN. – The Warroad City Council held its regular meeting Monday, Feb. 9, approving a $10,000 GIS aerial mapping update to improve how the city tracks utilities and plans for growth. The cost will be split among the street, water, electric, and sewer departments. Council members said the update, which hasn’t been completed since the Hampton development, will help the city maintain accurate data for newer areas and could last five to six years.

Mayor Tom Goldsmith emphasized the city’s focus on preventative maintenance to ensure the quality and reliability of city infrastructure for residents.

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Council members also discussed the condition of aging lift station pumps, noting that replacing four smaller pumps could cost nearly $80,000. Dan Trosen from the Utility Department said the city is borrowing pumps from other stations to maintain service and that a full replacement plan has not yet been finalized.

Goldsmith added that the updated GIS data will help guide future growth and development in Warroad.

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Other business included the resignation of Police Officer Connor Adams, who will leave for Elk River, with his final shift set for Feb. 13. The city will conduct an exit interview.

The council unanimously approved reappointments to the Warroad Housing Authority Board, which oversees Young Manor, and also approved several special events, including the Yeti-fest on March 14 and multiple bingo events at the Hampton Inn.

KQ92 and KRWB will continue to provide updates on Warroad City Council meetings and city developments.

Communities in Lake of the Woods and Roseau counties, as well as across greater Minnesota, are invited to apply for Child Care Economic Development Grants through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

A total of $1.425 million is available to help expand quality child care, support new providers, improve facilities, increase training, and address local shortages of child care services. Local governments and nonprofits may request up to $300,000. Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on March 17, 2026.

The grants can be used for child care business startups or expansions, facility modifications, training, direct subsidies or incentives to retain employees, licensing improvements, and other regulatory requirements. Priority will be given to communities with documented shortages of child care providers, including rural areas, low-income communities, and populations such as Black, Indigenous and people of color individuals, persons with disabilities, veterans, and women. At least 50% of funds will be awarded to communities outside the seven-county metropolitan area.

DEED will host a virtual information session for prospective applicants on Wednesday, February 19, at 2:30 p.m. Central Time.

For more information, to view the request for proposals, and to register for the information session, visit the DEED Competitive Grants and Contracts page. Questions can be submitted by email to CCED.DEED@state.mn.us, or by phone at 651-259-7161.DEED is Minnesota’s principal economic development agency, supporting business growth, workforce development, international trade, and community development. Learn more at the DEED website or CareerForce.mn.gov.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate for governor, has been named Legislator of the Year by the Major County Sheriffs of America for her work on public safety legislation. Among the measures cited is the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, now signed into law, which expands the federal Public Safety Officer Benefits program so that firefighters and other first responders who die or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers are eligible for survivor and disability benefits previously unavailable under federal law.

Klobuchar has also championed efforts to modernize the nation’s emergency communications systems, including backing grant support and upgrades for Next Generation 9-1-1 infrastructure — an interoperable, internet-protocol based system intended to allow emergency call centers to receive not just calls but texts, photos and video during emergencies, increasing resilience and response capabilities nationwide.

Her campaign says the recognition reflects a long record of bipartisan work on behalf of first responders, public safety and community support.

On the Republican side, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth has emerged as a leading GOP contender for governor, topping early straw polls and campaigning on issues such as fraud prevention and law enforcement partnerships. She has pledged to seek and abide by her party’s endorsement ahead of the state convention later this as she builds her campaign to challenge Klobuchar in the general election.

Warroad native Brock Nelson has been named to the United States men’s ice hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, marking a rare third-generation appearance for his family in the Games. Nelson, 34, is playing in his first Olympics while extending a rich American hockey lineage that includes his grandfather, Bill Christian, and great-uncle Roger Christian, members of the 1960 U.S. gold medal team, and his uncle Dave Christian, a member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” gold-medal squad.

Nelson played Warroad Hockey, then starred at the University of North Dakota before spending more than a decade with the New York Islanders, where he became one of the franchise’s most consistent scorers. Since joining the Colorado Avalanche this season, he’s continued that production, adding veteran leadership to one of the NHL’s top contenders.

NHL players return to the Olympic hockey tournament for the first time since 2014, with the U.S. hoping to end a decades-long gold-medal drought.

The U.S. men open their Olympic campaign against Latvia on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 2:10 p.m. Central Standard Time. The game will be televised live on USA Network and streamed on Peacock in the United States