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 Minnesota Department of Health is reporting 1,640 new COVID-19 infections today and 33 new deaths, bringing the case total to 443,562 and the death toll to 5,850. Of all deaths, 3,734 were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. Of all cases, 34,594 were health care workers. Today’s data comes after 47,000 tests…
Featured photo: First vaccines administered at Sanford Bemidji. The Minnesota Department of Health issued new guidelines on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. “We are approaching the end of our earliest stages of the vaccine rollout, and we want to make sure all vaccines in the state are getting into arms as quickly as possible,” MDH Commissioner…
The Leech Lake Tribal Police Department issued a release in response to the increase in opioid-related overdoses in the area. They say the most recent overdoses are linked to illegally-made fentanyl, which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Signs of overdose include the subject being unable to wake up, shallow breathing,…
Photo credit: Giniw Collective Two self-proclaimed water protectors reportedly locked themselves to each other inside a Line 3 pipe segment Thursday morning near Backus. According to a release, the action was meant to halt work on the project. The Court of Appeals has yet to rule on tribally-led lawsuits concerning the project. The protesters expressed…
Newly elected Minnesota House 5A representative Matt Bliss is coauthoring a “Stand Your Ground” bill, and a companion was introduced in the Senate. Minnesota has traditionally had a “duty to retreat” stance on the justifiable taking of a life, which, as currently written in statute, prohibits taking the life of another unless they believe that…
The following is a summary of incidents the Bemidji Police Department and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office responded to on Thursday, Jan. 14. BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT DWI, 11:48 p.m. Officer conducted a traffic stop on vehicle with no headlights on 29th St. and Irvine Ave. NW. Driver arrested for DUI. Vehicle Calls/Complaints, 11:32 p.m. Officer…
The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting 1,598 new COVID-19 cases today and 43 new deaths, bringing the state’s case count to 441,935 and the death toll to 5,817. Of all deaths, 3,716 were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. Of all cases, 34,437 were health care workers. Today’s data comes after around…
Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch is reporting a variety of ice conditions on area lakes. Due to the unseasonably warm months in December and January, early ice conditions have deteriorated and the thaw-freeze cycles have opened up large cracks and ice heaves. Walker Bay, for instance, has ice thickness ranging from 5 to 15 inches….
Dr. Colleen Swank, Sanford Bemidji pediatrician and VP of clinics, discussed the COVID vaccine rollout. So far, the hospital is still working on the two doses of the Pfizer vaccine for the 1A priority group, which includes health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. Dr. Swank also spoke to the vaccine misinformation that…
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will virtually address the Bemidji community this Friday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. According to a release, Bemidji State University’s Black Student Union, Faculty of Color Caucus and Student Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will all co-host “The People’s Peace: We Own it if We Build it.”…
