Month: December 2020

The Minnesota Department of Health released the latest COVID-19 numbers for Sunday, December 6, and the state reported 5,349 confirmed cases out of 61,078 tests for a positive rate of 8.8 percent. The state also reported 64 deaths and 239 probable cases.

Polk County-60 and 4 probable, Roseau County-24, Pennington County-16, Kittson County-13, Marshall County-8, Red Lake County-7, Norman County-4, Mahnomen County-4 and 1 death (65 to 69-year-old), Lake of the Woods County-1. All the information is below.

Updated December 6, 2020
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.

Data is for cases that were tested and returned positive. All data is preliminary and may change as cases are investigated. Many data points are collected during case interviews. Data presented below is for all cases, regardless of interview status. Data for cases pending interview may be listed as “unknown/missing.”

Positive PCR test results are considered confirmed cases. Positive antigen test results are considered probable cases.

All probable cases get the same public health follow up and recommendations as cases confirmed by PCR tests.

Other Statistics

• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MIS-C) Statistics
• Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard
• Minnesota’s COVID-19 Response and Preparation Capacity
• Dial Back Dashboard
• CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases in the U.S.
• Minnesota COVID-19 Modeling

Three people were arrested in Pennington County after stealing a tractor and posting it for sale online.  For more on the story click on the video below –

On Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) unanimously approved Otter Tail Power Company’s request to implement interim rates on January 1, 2021, as part of the company’s current Minnesota rate review. In November, recognizing the economic impact to customers of the ongoing pandemic and with input from MPUC staff, Otter Tail Power Company proposed reducing its interim rate request by approximately half to $6.9 million, or 3.2 percent.

The company cited extending depreciation on its wind farms and deferring depreciation costs for its retiring 1950s-era coal-fired Hoot Lake Plant as part of the reduced interim rate request. “We appreciate the Commission’s input on our initial request and their decision to approve our updated interim rate request as filed,” said Otter Tail Power Company President Tim Rogelstad. “With this decision, we’re able to recover on our prudent investments in necessary infrastructure and technology to provide our customers with electric service that’s increasingly clean, safe, and reliable while maintaining rates among the lowest in the nation.”  

Otter Tail Power Company filed its original request for a rate review on November 2 to support investments in cleaner energy and smarter technologies and to adjust for rising costs.

The MPUC will hold a public hearing related to this filing and will post the hearing schedule on its website. Otter Tail Power Company also will post the hearing schedule and provides additional details about its rate review request at otpco.com/MNRateReview.

The Minnesota Department of Health released the COVID-19 numbers for Saturday, December 5 and the state reported 5,932 confirmed cases out of 48,389 tests for a positive rate of 12.3 percent. The state also reported 75 deaths and 405 probable cases.
Polk County reported 35 cases with an additional 5 probable cases and 1 death (100-plus years old), Roseau County-8 cases and 1 probable, Pennington County-10 cases and 24 probable cases, Marhsall County-10, Kittson County-8, Red Lake County-5 cases and 7 probable, Lake of the Woods County-5, Mahnomen County-4.

Updated December 5, 2020
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.

Data is for cases that were tested and returned positive. All data is preliminary and may change as cases are investigated. Many data points are collected during case interviews. Data presented below is for all cases, regardless of interview status. Data for cases pending interview may be listed as “unknown/missing.”

Positive PCR test results are considered confirmed cases. Positive antigen test results are considered probable cases.

All probable cases get the same public health follow up and recommendations as cases confirmed by PCR tests.

Other Statistics

• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MIS-C) Statistics
• Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard
• Minnesota’s COVID-19 Response and Preparation Capacity
• Dial Back Dashboard
• CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases in the U.S.
• Minnesota COVID-19 Modeling

Two Crookston men, Jonathan Stronstad (40) and Isaiah Dominguez (18) are facing charges after threatening a judge and the police.  For more on the story, click on the video below.

The Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) is proud to announce its 2021 Scholarship Program, which will award up to five $2,000 scholarships to high school juniors. All students currently enrolled in 11th grade and attending a Minnesota public, private, or parochial school, or a home-study program, are eligible to apply for this program. Since its inception in 2001, the MAT Scholarship Program has had over 2000 submissions and 87 winners.

Applicants should submit a written essay using critical thinking on the topic of land use by May 1, 2021. Winners will be chosen by an independent panel of judges and will be notified by September 1, 2020. They will also be invited to attend MAT’s annual conference in St. Cloud, Minnesota in September 2021.

For more information and application details, please call the MAT offices at 1-800-228-0296 or visit www.mntownships.org.

“Townships are proud to offer the Scholarship Program, and encourage as many high school juniors as possible to apply, whether they are from the largest cities or from smaller rural areas. We know the MAT Scholarship Program has made a real difference for our recipients in furthering their education. It is also an opportunity for learning about township government, which embodies the values of “grassroots government” where local citizens directly participate,” said MAT Executive Director David Hann.

There are approximately 914,174 township residents in 1,781 townships in Minnesota. Townships exist in every area of the state, including the metropolitan area. Some, with populations of more than 1,000, function in much the same way as a small city. While many townships remain rural agricultural centers, others host a variety of residential, light commercial, and industrial development.