On a vote of 70-62, the Minnesota House approved legislation Monday to invest $25 million toward expanding high-speed broadband access to every corner of the state. “High-speed broadband isn’t just a luxury anymore.
Borderland got nearly 3 inches of rain over the past weekend, causing area creeks and rivers to rise quickly, when frost kept the soil from absorbing the moisture in many areas. Mike Hanson shared this photo of Nelson Park at about 4 p.m. Monday “and still rising.” At places along the Rat Root River, the shoreline was nearly being compromised on Monday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Local police are working with the FBI to determine the source of calls that made unfounded bomb threats to two Borderland schools and several other schools in Minnesota last week. The Falls High School in International Falls and Littlefork-Big Falls School in Littlefork were each evacuated after threats were called in at about 1:30 April 20.
Servants of Shelter of Koochiching County was awarded $30,000 as part of the Otto Bremer Trust’s most recent grantmaking cycle. A total of 96 grants totaling $7.3 million were awarded.; $624,000 was awarded to organizations in northern and central Minnesota and the Red River Valley.
Ranier City Council accepted its 2021 audit close-out, hearing from its accountant there are no significant issues. Accountant Doug Host of Clifton Larson Allen told the council in committee earlier this month that the city’s funds are stable.
The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force reports its activities for the first quarter of 2022, ending March 31. The task force reported it arrested 20 people on first-degree charges; 6 people on second-degree; 5 people on third degree and 26 people on fifth-degree charges.
The International Falls City Council last week approved a 5-year lease with the International Falls, Ranier, Rainy Lake and Rainy River Convention and Visitor Bureau for the building at 301 Second Ave., International Falls.
On a membership vote of 38 to 5 at a special meeting Tuesday, the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce reversed an earlier vote to dissolve as of Saturday, the end of its fiscal year. The vote, which continues the chamber’s existence, puts in motion a plan to survey members, conduct an audit, fill board vacancies, and recruit volunteers and more members.
Koochiching County Commissioner Wade Pavleck announced today he would not seek reelection to the District 1 commissioner position he’s held for 30 years. Pavleck said he wanted to let people know as soon as he’d made the decision not to seek another term to allow potential candidates to consider throwing their hat into the ring May 17, when the filing period opens.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Minnesota Department of Commerce urge income-eligible Minnesotans to apply for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program before Cold Weather Rule protections end April 30 to avoid having their utilities disconnected.