Local News Wednesday, March 18, 2026

IN A COUPLE OF LEGAL NOTES FOR THE AREA, A NORTH DAKOTA SEMI DRIVER IS FACING MISDEMEANOR CHARGES FOR A SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM VIOLATION IN ROSEAU. OCCURRING ON JANUARY 9^TH ON HIGHWAY 11 NEAR 370^TH AVE, SCHOOL BUS DRIVER BRYAN OLSON WAS MAKING THE STOP AT A DRIVEWAY WHEN AN ONCOMING SEMI FAILED TO STOP WHEN ALL PROPER LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE SEMI, DRIVEN BY 49-YEAR OLD SHAWN NEUSTEL, WAS IDENTIFED AND STOPPED AND CITED FOR THE VIOLATION. HE ADMITTED TO NOT STOPPING, SAYING THAT HE BELIEVED HE WAS APPROACHING FLASHING LIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH AN OVERSIZED TRUCK, AND BY THE TIME HE REALIZED IT WAS A SCHOOL BUS HE COULD NOT STOP SAFELY.

INEWZ.TV REPORTED ON A MOTORIST WHO FAILED TO STOP WHEN OFFICERS WERE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A STOP ON MARCH 14 AROUND 4 AM, EAST OF WARROAD. JASIEL FERNANDEZ OF WARROAD WAS ALLEGEDLY CLOCKED AT 97 MPH BY A DEPUTY EAST OF WARROAD AND HE FAILED TO STOP. A WARROAD OFFICER EVENTUALLY TRACKED DOWN THE VEHICLE AT THE CIRCLE K STATION IN WARROAD. FERNANDEZ TOLD THE OFFICER HE DOESN’T HAVE A GOOD LIFE AND WAS HOPING TO HIT A DEER AT THE HIGH SPEEDS. HE IS CHARGED WITH FELONY FLEEING.

ROAD RESTRICTIONS FOR THE LOST RIVER AND BELTRAMI ISLAND STATE FOREST ROADS WILL COINCIDE WITH STATE RESTRICTIONS EFFECTIVE 12:01 AM FRIDAY MORNING MARCH 20. THE STATE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT WINTER LOAD INCREASES WILL END, AND SPRING LOAD LIMITS BEGIN ON MARCH 20.

GATES MAY BE CLOSED TO SOME SECONDARY ROADS STARTING ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 18.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO CALL THE DNR FORESTRY OFFICE IN WARROAD 218-450-5450 OR WANNASKA AT 218-450-5470

IN RECENT DNR CONSERVATION OFFICER REPORTS, COBYFONTES ALSO MADE COURTESY CALLS TO AROUND A DOZEN PEOPLE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR ICE HOUSES WERE BEGINNING TO SINK INTO LAKE OF THE WOODS NEAR ONE OF THE DETERIORATING ACCESSES.

NUISANCE BEAR COMPLAINTS WERE ALSO HANDLED IN THE THEIF RIVER FALLS AREA.

STARTING IN JANUARY, STATE-RUN MEDICAL INSURANCE PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA STOPPED PAYING FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR PEOPLE 21 AND OLDER. THE CHANGE WAS PART OF SWEEPING BUDGET CUTS PASSED DURING THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN AN EFFORT TO STAVE OFF A LOOMING $6 BILLION BUDGET DEFICIT.

ACCORDING TO A MINNESOTA MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET REPORT, THE CHANGE WAS PROJECTED TO SAVE THE STATE $7.8 MILLION DURING THE 2026-27 BIENNIUM. CHIROPRACTIC PROVIDERS SAY THE CHANGE COULD ACTUALLY END UP COSTING THE STATE MORE MONEY, AS PEOPLE WHO USED MEDICAID FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE ARE FORCED TO SEEK MORE EXPENSIVE TREATMENTS THAT ARE COVERED.

PREVIOUSLY, THE PROGRAMS COVERED UP TO 24 VISITS TO TREAT SPINAL PAIN AND CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE SPINE, ALONG WITH X-RAYS AND AN ANNUAL EVALUATION.

YOUTH IN GRADES 9-11 WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN JOINING QUIN HEALTHY COUNTIES YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD ARE ENCOURAGED TO REACH OUT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.

THIS FRIDAY WILL FEATURE A FRIENDLY HOCKEY RIVALRY BETWEEN MARVIN AND POLARIS. GAMES BETWEEN EMPLOYEES ARE AT 5 PM AND 6:30PM AT GARDENS ARENA.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ TODAY ORDERED ALL UNITED STATES AND MINNESOTA FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF AT ALL STATE BUILDINGS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, FROM SUNRISE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, TO SUNSET ON THURSDAY, MARCH 19, IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL SHAWN JOHNSON OF THE MINNETONKA FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 5, 2026, AFTER A TWO-YEAR BATTLE WITH CANCER.

WE’RE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOMORROW ON THE PAID LEAVE PROGRAM, AND SOME OF THE LATEST NUMBERS ON APPLICATIONS AND APPROVALS, AND FINANCIAL NUMBERS OF HOW MINNESOTA RESIDENTS ARE BENEFITING FROM THE PROGRAM.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ TODAY ANNOUNCED MINNESOTA HAS SECURED MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN FEDERAL INVESTMENTS TO REPLACE THE BLATNIK BRIDGE BETWEEN DULUTH AND SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN, CLEARING THE WAY FOR THE LARGEST PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT IN MINNESOTA HISTORY. MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN HAVE EACH COMMITTED $400 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING. THE PROJECT WAS AWARDED A $1.058 BILLION FEDERAL GRANT IN JANUARY 2024 AFTER PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT. HOWEVER, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DID NOT FINALIZE THE NECESSARY GRANT AGREEMENT AMENDMENT TO RELEASE THE FUNDS FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION UNTIL THIS WEEK. PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR. THE REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST $1.8 BILLION

Last modified: 03/18/2026