DURING THE AUGUST CITY COUNCIL MEETING THERE WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE COMPLETION OF THE MEMORIAL ARENA ROOF. THIS ACTION COMES AFTER THE COMPANY ROOF1 FAILED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ARENA DURING THE INSTALLATION. THE COUNCIL HAD WITHHELD $100,000 IN PAYMENT FROM THE ROOF1 CONTRACT, WHICH WILL BE USED TO COVER THE REMAINDER OF THE PROJECT. THE NEW CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TO EQUITY ROOF, AND IS EXPECTED TO COST $92,000, WHICH WILL BE COVERED BY THE MONEY THAT WAS WITHHELD. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
THE ROSEAU CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A MOTION TO AWARD A CONTRACT FOR THE DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW 150T AMMONIA ICE PLANT REFRIGERATION COMPRESSOR FOR MEMORIAL ARENA. THE CONTRACT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED FOR MODERN MECHANICAL SYSTEMS (MMS) FOR AN EXPECTED $1.9MILLION. THE OTHER BID CAME IN $170,000 HIGHER FROM CIMCO, BUT THAT NUMBER COULD HAVE INCREASED ANOTHER $400,000, DEPENDING ON TARIFFS LATER THIS MONTH. THE COUNCIL SET CONDITIONS FOR MMS THAT INCLUDE AN APPROPRIATE DOWN PAYMENT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE. THE COUNCIL APPROVED THIS PROJECT WITHOUT FUNDING, AND ALL FUNDING OPTIONS INCLUDE A NEW SALES TAX FOR 2028.
A NEW SCHOOL YEAR IS APPROACHING AND THAT ALWAYS BRINGS NEW FACES IN NEW ROLES. OVER IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY ARE INTRODUCING SHELBY NOSAN AS THEIR NEW PRE-K THROUGH 12 PRINCIPAL. SHE WAS SELECTED AFTER INTERVIEWS FROM THREE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BURKEL SENT A PRESS RELEASE YESTERDAY CONGRATULATING THE AREA’S FARM FAMILIES OF THE YEAR. WE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THESE THROUGHOUT LAST WEEK’S NEWS, BUT AGAIN, THOSE FARM FAMILIES ARE THE YOUNGRENN’S IN KITTSON COUNTY, THE OLAFSONS IN ROSEAU COUNTY, THE BERGS IN MARSHALL COUNTY AND THE RABISCHKO FAMILY IN PENNINGTON COUNTY.
U.S. REP. MICHELLE FISCHBACH AND ERIK OSBERG, THE DFL-ENDORSED CANDIDATE SEEKING HER 7TH DISTRICT SEAT, BOTH AGREED THAT FARMERS NEED STABILITY. BUT THEY SPENT THE NEXT HOUR DISAGREEING ABOUT WHAT’S STANDING IN THE WAY DURING A CANDIDATE FORUM DURING THE FIRST DAY OF MINNESOTA FARMFEST. THEY SHARED STARKLY DIFFERENT VIEWS ON TARIFFS, TRADE AND USDA REORGANIZATION.
FISHBACH WAS AUDIBALLY BOOED BY SOME ATTENDEES IN THE FRONT ROW AFTER DEFENDING TARIFF POLICIES FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. FISHBACH ENDED THE SESSION HIGHLIGHTING THINGS SHE HAS PUSHED FOR AND SUPPORTED AND ACCOMPLISHED DURING HER TENURE, WHILE OSBERG SIMPLY ASKED “IF FARMERS ARE BETTER OFF NOW THAN THEY WERE TWO YEARS AGO?”
OSBERG FACES AN AUG. 11 DFL PRIMARY. FISCHBACH WON THE GOP ENDORSEMENT IN APRIL.
THE US SENATE IS THROWING A LIFELINE TO MINNESOTA’S THC INDUSTRY.
A ONE-MONTH REPRIEVE, WHICH COULD BE EXTENDED, BUYS THE HEMP-DERIVED THC INDUSTRY MORE TIME TO AVOID A FEDERAL BAN ON THEIR INCREASINGLY POPULAR PRODUCTS.
THE FEDERAL BAN WAS TO GO INTO EFFECT NOVEMBER 12. THIS NOW PUHSES THAT BACK TO MID-DECEMBER.
NEW REPORTS SHOW MINNESOTANS ARE HAVING A TOUGHER TIME PASSING THE STATE’S DRIVING EXAM.
IN FACT, THE STATE HAS HIT A SIX-YEAR HIGH IN FAILURE RATES.
MINNESOTA’S DRIVERS LICENSE FOR ALL LAW WENT INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER 2023, AND HAS SEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TAKING THE TEST.
THE DRIVERS LICENSE FOR ALL LAW ALLOWS ALL STATE RESIDENTS TO GET A STANDARD CLASS D DRIVER’S LICENSE, INSTRUCTION PERMIT OR ID CARD REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
IN 2025, MINNESOTA SHATTERED ITS OLD RECORD FOR PEOPLE TAKING THEIR DRIVING EXAMS AT 191,000, VERSUS JUST MORE THAN 170,000 IN 2024. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FAILING DRIVING TESTS IN 2025 ALSO HIT A HISTORIC HIGH OF MORE THAN 75,000.
STATISTICS FROM THE MINNESOTA DRIVER AND VEHICLE SERVICES SHOW THAT 18- TO 20-YEAR-OLDS ARE FAILING THE MOST, WITH MORE THAN 1,700 HAVING TO TAKE THE TEST AT LEAST FOUR TIMES BEFORE THEY PASS.
STATISTICS FOR PEOPLE IN THAT AGE GROUP THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING DRIVER’S EDUCATION, THEIR PASS RATES ARE IN THE 70 TO 75 PERCENTILE. NOW, PEOPLE THAT DON’T TAKE DRIVER’S EDUCATION, THEIR PASSING RATES ARE MAYBE 50%.”
Last modified: 08/05/2026
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