Local News Thursday, June 11, 2026

THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ARTS COUNCIL HAS EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ARTISTS TO HELP IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS INCLUDING HOUSING COSTS, HEALTHCARE COSTS, LOSS OF INCOME, TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND MORE. THEY HAVE FOUR DEADLINES TO APPLY FOR VARIOUS DISPERSEMENTS. THE NEXT IS JUNE 15, BUT ALSO AUGUST 15, OCTOBER 15 AND DECEMBER 1. THE ARTIST MUST BE ACTIVE IN A CREATIVE PRACTICE AND RESIDE IN THE SEVEN COUNTY REGION.

THE WARROAD RIVERPLACE IS HOSTING A FREE ARTIST RECEPTION TOMORROW. THE WORKS OF CERAMIC ARTIST ROBIN FOSTER OF RED LAKE FALLS, MINNESOTA, ARE FEATURED IN AN EXHIBIT TITLED “THE LANGUAGE OF FIRE: FROM PRECISION TO UNPREDICTABILITY.”  RUNS FROM 4 TO 6 P.M.

LOCAL FAVORITE “SLOUGHGRASS” WILL PROVIDE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT.

MANY MINNESOTA PROPERTY OWNERS ARE IN LINE FOR BIGGER-THAN-EXPECTED REFUNDS TIED TO THEIR PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE OF A BEEFED-UP POT OF MONEY.

A BILL PASSED BY THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE PROVIDES A ONE-TIME BOOST TO THE HOMESTEAD CREDIT REFUND. THE REFUND WILL BE 14.88% MORE FOR QUALIFYING HOMEOWNERS.

THE ADDED CREDIT AMOUNTS TO $125 MILLION MORE IN REFUNDS. ABOUT 588,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN THE HOMESTEAD CREDIT REFUND PROGRAM, THEY’VE SAID THE AVERAGE INCREASE TO THE REFUND WILL BE $213. THAT WILL BRING THE AVERAGE REFUND TO AROUND $1,641.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY FILED THEIR RETURN FOR THE 2025 HOMESTEAD CREDIT REFUND, THE INCREASE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE INCLUDED.

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT YET FILED FOR THE CREDIT, APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE RETURN DEADLINE IN AUGUST 2027.

IT’S BEEN A MIXED BAG FOR FARMERS THIS SPRING WITH DROUGHT CONDITIONS, WIND STORMS CAUSING DAMAGE, AND EVEN LATE DAYS OF FROST IN MAY.

BASED ON THE MAY 26 USDA CROP PROGRESS REPORT, 86% OF THE CORN IN THE U.S. WAS PLANTED, WHICH COMPARES TO A 5-YEAR AVERAGE OF 83% PLANTED BY THAT DATE. AS OF MAY 27, CORN PLANTING WAS OVER 90% COMPLETED AND CORN EMERGENCE WAS AHEAD OF NORMAL IN MINNESOTA, IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE MAY 27 USDA REPORT SHOWED THAT 79% OF THE SOYBEANS NATIONWIDE WERE PLANTED, WHICH IS WELL-ABOVE THE PLANTING PACE IN 2025, AND COMPARES TO A FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE SOYBEAN PLANTING RATE OF 68% BY THAT DATE. SIMILAR TO CORN, SOYBEAN PLANTING WELL AHEAD OF NORMAL IN MOST OF THE MAJOR SOYBEAN-PRODUCING STATES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST

MICHELLE FISHBACH RECENTLY VOTED TO PASS THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THIS LEGISLATION IS A WIN FOR FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. IT STRENGTHENS DOMESTIC PRODUCTION, IMPROVES TRACKING OF FOREIGN-OWNED FARMLAND, AND PUSHES BACK ON FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE FUNDING THE PRIORITIES THAT MATTER: FOOD SAFETY, ANIMAL AND CROP HEALTH, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS, WHILE CUTTING COSTLY CLIMATE PROGRAMS AND WASTEFUL RED TAPE.

THIS HOUSE-PASSED BILL ALSO CONTAINED COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING FOR 3 PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR A DAM REPLACEMENT IN GAYLORD AND FUNDING FOR WASTE & WATER UPGRADES IN RED LAKE FALLS AND AKELEY.

THIS SATURDAY IS A FREE PARKS DAY WITH THE MINNESOTA DNR, MEANING PERMITS ARE NOT NEEDED TO VISIT ANY STATE PARK AND RECREATION AREA.

Last modified: 06/11/2026