A RURAL THIEF RIVER FALLS WOMAN WAIVED HER TUESDAY, FEB. 17, OMNIBUS HEARING AND PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF HER CHILD.
EDWINA MARIE STOUTENBURGH, 35, IS CHARGED WITH TWO FELONIES: ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER WITHOUT INTENT AND SECOND-DEGREE ASSAULT. SHE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO BOTH CRIMES.
STOUTENBURGH WAS ARRESTED JULY 20 AFTER ALLEGEDLY CUTTING HER CHILD’S THROAT. SHE CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN HEARING VOICES THAT TOLD HER TO DO SO, AND THAT SHE HAS HEARD VOICES BEFORE BUT NEVER TO THIS EXTENT AND HARMIGN THE CHILDREN HAS NEVER BEEN PART OF THAT.
THE WARROAD SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK AND AS MANY DISTRICTS ARE CURRENTLY DOING, THEY ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026-2027 AND APPROVING SCHOOL CALENDARS. IN WARROAD, THEY HAVE GRANTED A WAIVER THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO START CLASSES PRIOR TO LABOR DAY, TO COMBAT THE FACT THAT LABOR DAY IS AS LATE AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE, SEPTEMBER 7. THE APPROVED CALENDAR WILL THEN STILL ALLOW THEM TO FINISH UP CLASS PRIOR TO MEMORIAL DAY IN THE SPRING.
ROSEAU COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL HOLD A QUARTERLY CALL WITH LEADERS FROM VARIOUS SECTORS ON MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK. UPDATES WILL BE FROM THE ROSEAU COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, LIFECARE PUBLIC HEALTH, LIFECARE MEDICAL CENTER AND OTHERS. THIS MEETING WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR LAST MONTH, AND POSTPONED TIL NOW.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TODAY ANNOUNCED A NEW REGULATION THAT WILL LEAD TO FASTER DECISIONS AND QUICKER PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF SURVIVORS’ CLAIMS.
PREVIOUSLY, VA WAS REQUIRED TO ADDRESS CLAIMS FOR DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION AND SURVIVORS PENSION SEPARATELY, RESULTING IN A LONGER CLAIMS PROCESS, AS A FORMAL DECISION WAS REQUIRED FOR BOTH BENEFITS.
WITH THIS CHANGE, EFFECTIVE FEB. 23, VA WILL PAY THE HIGHER OF THE TWO BENEFITS, WHICH IS GENERALLY DIC — WITHOUT DELAYING THE PROCESS TO DEVELOP THE LESSER BENEFIT.
DIC IS A TAX-FREE MONTHLY MONETARY BENEFIT PAID TO ELIGIBLE SURVIVING SPOUSES, CHILDREN AND PARENTS OF A SERVICE MEMBER WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY OR VETERANS WHO DIED FROM SERVICE-CONNECTED INJURIES OR ILLNESSES.
IT WILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN WHAT THE SIX INCHES OF SNOW OR MORE THAT WAS SEEN WILL DO TO A SPRING FLOOD FORECAST. LAST WEEK THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RELEASED THEIR SECOND FORECAST WHICH SHOWED THE THREAT TO BE LOW. LATE WINTER AND SPRING PRECIPTIATION IS THE BIGGEST REMAINING FACTOR IN THAT CHANGING.
FARMERS FROM ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA GATHERED SATURDAY IN NEW ULM TO DELIVER A BLUNT MESSAGE: DONALD TRUMP’S TARIFFS ARE CRUSHING FARM PROFITS, DRIVING UP CONSUMER PRICES, AND THREATENING THE SURVIVAL OF FAMILY FARMS.
FARMERS POINTED TO FERTILIZER AS A HIGH PART OF THE CRISIS CAUSED BY THE CONTINUING TARIFFS.”MUCH OF OUR FERTILIZER COMES FROM CANADA AND WITH THESE CONTINUED TARIFFS, WE’RE GETTING SLAMMED AT PLANTING SEASON,” SAID NORTHFIELD FARMER AND STATE SENATE CANDIDATE MARK LEGVOLD. “THEN, TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE DESTROYED TRADE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR MAJOR BUYING PARTNERS HURTS US AT HARVEST.”
THE PRESSURE IS FALLING HARDEST ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS. “IT’S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO HAVE THE NEXT GENERATION TAKE THE SERIOUS INVESTMENT — PUT THEIR LIFE SAVINGS ON THE LINE — WHEN THERE’S NO STRONG AG POLICY,”
IN A WEEKLY UPDATE FROM MICHELLE FISHBACH, A COSPONSOR AND SUPPORTER OF THE SAVE AMERICA ACT. THIS LEGISLATION HAS PASSED THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR THE SECOND TIME AND IS NOW IN THE SENATE. THE SAVE AMERICA ACT WILL REQUIRE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND REQUIRE A VALID PHOTO ID TO VOTE IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS. IT WILL ALSO FORCE STATES TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE NON-CITIZENS FROM EXISTING VOTER ROLLS.
THE SUPPORT FOR VOTER IDENTIFICATION IS OVERWHELMING: 84% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT REQUIRING PHOTO ID TO VOTE, AND 83% SUPPORT PROVIDING PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP WHEN REGISTERING TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I HAD A PRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH THE MINNESOTA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION TO DISCUSS THE ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT KEEPS OUR SMALL TOWNS RUNNING.
THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUT IS HELPING SENIORS IN WESTERN MINNESOTA KEEP MORE OF THEIR HARD-EARNED BENEFITS. THIS HISTORIC RELIEF INCLUDES A NEW $6,000 PER-PERSON DEDUCTION ($12,000 FOR COUPLES) FOR SENIORS AND PROTECTS 88% OF RETIREES FROM PAYING ANY TAXES ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.
Last modified: 02/19/2026
