Larissa Donovan is the News Director for the stations of Paul Bunyan Broadcasting and has been, almost without interruption, since Election Day 2016. She covers events and issues in north central Minnesota, which include local government, crime, courts, education, environment and social issues. She studied communications at Bemidji State University and received her degree in 2018. Larissa, native to the great state of New York, grew up in Bemidji, and enjoys spending her spare time with her family and pet cat. She also loves Star Trek, punk rock music and the theater.
The “I’m Not Done Yet” Foundation recently made a donation of warrior backpacks to the Sanford Health Foundation of Northern Minnesota. According to a release, the backpacks will be given to Joe Lueken Cancer Center patients. “A Minnesota-based non-profit organization, the INDY Foundation provides love, faith and financial support by directly supporting the cancer warriors…
Bemidji’s representative in the Minnesota House John Persell announced that a bill distributing CARES Act dollars to disability service retention and public health grants has reached consensus in both the House and Senate. The legislation provides $30.4 million to these programs. Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign it into law. The peacetime state of…
The Minnesota Department of Health reports 697 new cases of COVID-19 and seven new COVID-related deaths, bringing the state’s case total to 62.993 and a death toll of 1,685. Of those deaths, 1,263 were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. Of those cases, 7,205 were health care workers. Approximately 963,096 people have been…
Wild rice conditions are looking good this year in many areas of Minnesota and the Department of Natural Resources is offering tips and a reminder of important regulations restricting harvest to rice stands that are ripe. Peak harvesting dates are estimated to be in late August to mid-September as long as weather remains mild and…
The following is a summary of incidents the Bemidji Police Department and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office responded to on Wednesday, Aug. 12. BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT Disorderly Conduct, 11:41 p.m. Report of fireworks being fired off on 14th St. and Beltrami Ave. NW. Report was unfounded. Disorderly Conduct, 10:13 p.m. Officer responded to a disorderly…
The Bemidji Housing and Redevelopment Authority was awarded $32,503 as part of CARES Act funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. According to a release, the $5.6 million in funding to 60 public housing authorities throughout Minnesota are designed to help low-income Minnesotans secure and retain affordable housing amid the pandemic. “This…
The newly-established Highway 197 corridor committee met today, and discussed some goals for the corridor before construction, slated to be between 2025 and 2027, begins. After a series of introductions of the members, which include elected officials, engineers, business owners and other stakeholders, the group discussed the types of goals they have for the corridor….
The Minnesota Department of Health reported 470 newly-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 12 new COVID-related deaths, bringing the state’s case total to 62,303 and a death toll of 1,678. Of those deaths, 1,260 were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. Of those cases, 6,963 were health care workers. Approximately 952,785 people have been…
The following is a summary of incidents the Bemidji Police Department and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office responded to on Tuesday, Aug. 11. BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT Suspicious, 6:01 p.m. Caller reported a suspicious vehicle driving slowly through a neighborhood on 3rd St. and Gould Ave. SE. Officer located the driver and were able to confirm…
The unofficial results are in from the state primary. Statewide, voter turnout from 2010-2018 for the state primary had an average of 13.12 percent. In local races, turnout ranged from about 25 to 30 percent of registered voters as of 7 a.m. on Primary Day. In the Beltrmi County District 5 primary, incumbent Jim Lucachick…
