Local News Tuesday, April 21, 2026

SENATORS AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN) AND RAND PAUL (R-KY) INTRODUCED THE BIPARTISAN HEMP SAFETY ENFORCEMENT ACT, A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT EMPOWERS STATES AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TO REGULATE AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF HEMP AND HEMP-DERIVED PRODUCTS, PREVENTING A LOOMING FEDERAL CRACKDOWN FROM SHUTTING DOWN A THRIVING, MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR AMERICAN INDUSTRY. THE HEMP SAFETY ENFORCEMENT ACT IS ALSO COSPONSORED BY JONI ERNST (R-IA).

COMMENTS FROM KLOBUCHAR AND RAND:

“I’VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM BREWERS, FARMERS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN MINNESOTA – A FEDERAL BAN ON HEMP PRODUCTS WILL BE DEVASTATING. MINNESOTA IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN HEMP PRODUCTS, AND CONGRESS SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO CONSUMER SAFETY.”

“HALF THE STATES HAVE ALREADY SET UP THEIR OWN SMART RULES, THC LIMITS, AGE RESTRICTIONS, AND SAFETY STANDARDS THAT LET HEMP FARMERS GROW, MANUFACTURERS INNOVATE, AND CONSUMERS STAY SAFE,” SAID PAUL. “WASHINGTON SHOULDN’T WIPE OUT THOSE EFFORTS OR DESTROY JOBS AND ACCESS TO PRODUCTS THAT HELP OUR VETERANS, OUR ELDERLY, AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS BILL GIVES STATES THE FREEDOM TO REGULATE HEMP RESPONSIBLY.”

THERE CONTINUES TO BE A STEADY DECLINE IN YOUTH CANNABIS USE SINCE 2013, WITH 96% OF STUDENTS REPORTING NOT HAVING USED CANNABIS IN THE LAST MONTH, ACCORDING TO THE 2025 MINNESOTA STUDENT SURVEY.

THE 2025 SURVEY, MINNESOTA’S FIRST SINCE ADULT CANNABIS USE WAS LEGALIZED IN 2023, SHOWED HEALTHIER TRENDS RELATED TO STUDENT USE. BACK IN THE 2013 SURVEY, NEARLY 15% OF 8^TH, 9^TH, AND 11^TH GRADERS REPORTED USE IN THE PAST MONTH, THE NUMBER IN THOSE GRADES CURRENTLY WAS AT ONLY 6%.

CONSERVATION OFFICER REPORTS FOR THE WEEK WERE HEAVILY FOCUSED ON TURKEY HUNTING, WHERE COLD WEATHER KEPT THE NUMBER OF HUNTERS DOWN FROM WHAT IS TYPICALLY SEEN, BUT THERE ARE REPORTS ON PLENTY OF BIRDS IN THE AREA. THOSE WHO BRAVED THE ELEMENTS WERE FINDING SUCCESS.

FISHING PRESSURE ON THE RAINY RIVER REMAINED STRONG THROUGH THE COLDER WEATHER WITH ANGLERS LOOKING TO PULL IN A RECORD STURGEON.

IN HER WEEKLY UPDATE, MICHELLE FISHBACH NOTED THAT LAST WEEK, SHE JOINED MY COLLEAGUES IN PASSING SEVERAL KEY BILLS TO SUPPORT OUR PRODUCERS, STREAMLINE GOVERNMENT, AND KEEP OUR SKIES SAFE. HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS:

HELPING FARMERS RECOVER FASTER
THE EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT ACT ENSURES OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE NOT LEFT FOOTING THE BILL ALONE AFTER NATURAL DISASTERS. THIS BILL ALLOWS PRODUCERS TO RECEIVE UP TO 75% OF COST-SHARING PAYMENTS IN ADVANCE TO REPAIR FARMLAND AND STRUCTURES, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RELIEF WHEN IT’S NEEDED MOST.

ENDING UNFAIR ENVIRONMENTAL PENALTIES
THE FENCES ACT: PREVENTS THE EPA FROM PENALIZING AMERICAN COMMUNITIES FOR AIR POLLUTION THAT DRIFTS IN FROM OUTSIDE THE US. MINNESOTA SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AIR QUALITY ISSUES THAT WE DON’T CAUSE.

U.S. SENATORS AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN) AND TINA SMITH (D-MN) ARE URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO RELEASE THE REMAINING FY26 LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ALL STATES, INCLUDING MINNESOTA.

THEY NOTED THAT, “LIHEAP IS THE MAIN FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND SENIORS WITH THEIR ENERGY BILLS. IN MINNESOTA IT HAS HELPED OVER 100,000 HOUSEHOLDS THIS WINTER, PREVENTING OVER 17,000 DISRUPTIONS,”

WE TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF BAND MEMBERS WITH THE ROSEAU SCHOOL THAT HAVE QUALIFIED FOR AN ALL-STATE BAND. THOSE ARE OWEN CUMMINGS WITH THE ALTO-SAXOPHONE TO ALL STATE CONCERT BAND AND REESE SEMINGSON ON THE VIBRAPHONE TO THE ALL STATE JAZZ BAND. LEVI DEITER ON THE TUBA IS ALSO AN ALL STATE ALTERNATE. BOTH OWEN AND REESE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO ATTEND SUMMER CAMPS IN AUGUST AND PERFORM IN THE TWIN CITIES IN FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR.

ALSO A CONGRATULATIONS TO RUBY OSWEILER WHO RECENLTY PLACED 3^RD AT A SPEECH EVENT, AND THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH TO QUALIFTY HER FOR THE STATE COMPETITON THIS WEEKEND.

AS ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR HITS THE HOME STRETCH, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS SOME PROMISING NEWS REGARDING GRADUDATION RATES. THE STATE HAS IMPROVED ON IT’S ALREADY RECORD HIGH RATES, WITH 84.9% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GRADUATING IN FOUR YEARS, THAT’S UP SLIGHTLY FROM LAST YEAR’S DATA.

Last modified: 04/21/2026