(Bemidji, MN) – Twelve businesses and organizations in Bemidji will receive nearly $1.2 million in grant support with funds approved by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation through the state’s Minnesota Main Street Economic Revitalization Program.
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) had previously been awarded more than $2.1 million by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to support revitalization projects in three specific corridors, including one in Bemidji, for the repair or renovation of property, building construction, landscaping, streetscaping, demolition and site preparation, and related site improvements. Among those benefitting for projects from the grants are Greater Bemidji, 4th Street Lodge, Boardwalk Mini-golf, St. Phillip’s Catholic Church, M&M Properties, Dream Blue, Opportunities in Science, Northwest Indian Community Development Center, Bemidji Brewing, and more.
>>Threats Cause Three MN School Districts To Close Early
(Undated) — Three Minnesota school districts sent students home early yesterday after receiving threatening phone calls. Fergus Falls Public Schools says three schools received calls around noon, causing a lockdown. Students were sent home early as a precaution. Calls were also received at the Pelican Rapids Public Schools in Otter Tail County, and at Aitkin High School, south of Grand Rapids. State and local investigators are trying to track down the people responsible for the calls.
(24/7 News Source)
>>New Minnesota Law Requires Hospital To Screen Patients Before Registering Them In Payment Plans
(St. Paul, MN) — A new Minnesota law is making hospitals screen patients before registering them in payment plans or applying them to collections. The bill has been in effect since last year in November and is designed to help with medical debt. Health systems will offer programs such as “charity care” to help patients with low-income pay for medical expenses. Hospitals have 30 days to figure out if patients are eligible.
(24/7 News Source)
>>New Report Shows Slight Gain In MN Wetland Recovery
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota is seeing some small gains in wetland recovery. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says aerial images taken between 2006 and 2020 show a gain of about 43-thousand acres of wetland area. DNR researchers say the gains are encouraging and show that legal protections for the state’s wetlands are having a positive effect. The state requires landowners to make up for any filling or draining of wetlands by creating or restoring those environments in other places.(24/7 News Source)
>>MnDOT Announces Seasonal Load Limit Increase
(St. Paul, MN) — Truckers in some parts of Minnesota are being allowed to carry a bit more weight in their trailers. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is rolling out a ten-percent winter load limit increase for trucks that use unrestricted highways. The load limit is already in effect in Mn-DOT’s north and north-central frost zones. Truck drivers who want to take advantage of the seasonal increase are being urged to go to the Mn-DOT website to check out restrictions and permit requirements.(24/7 News Source)
>>Fargo Man Thanks MN State Troopers For Transporting Heart To Mayo Clinic
(Rochester, MN) — A Fargo man is expressing his gratitude to a group of Minnesota state troopers who helped save his life last year. John Neuenschwander [[ NEW-en-shwan-der ]] traveled to the Mayo Clinic in October for an evaluation and learned he needed a heart transplant. When a donor heart became available in the Twin Cities, getting it to Rochester for the transplant was complicated by road construction. Enter troopers from the Minnesota State Patrol, who sped the heart through the construction on Highway 52 and got it to the Mayo Clinic in time for a successful transplant. Neuenschwander got to thank the troopers in person recently and hopes to return home to Fargo by the end of this month.(24/7 News Source)
