Month: August 2021

As Minnesota’s agricultural community continues to face severe drought conditions across the state, Governor Tim Walz today signed Executive Order 21-30, declaring an emergency and waiving trucking regulations to support Minnesota livestock producers in the safe and efficient transport of livestock, water supplies, and commodities related to livestock feed. 

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) recently reported that the hay supply in Minnesota is at its third-lowest level since 1950. Without reliable access to good-quality hay or forage, farmers and livestock producers have had to adjust their feeding operations to include other commodities such as corn silage, distiller’s grain, and beet pulp. The continued movement of these commodities is vital to the economic security and viability of many farming and livestock operations in Minnesota.

“After a year that challenged Minnesotans across the state, Minnesota’s farmers and livestock producers are suffering yet another profound setback from the persistent drought,” said Governor Walz. “We are listening to our farmers and remain committed to working in partnership with our state’s agricultural community to tackle these challenges and make sure Minnesota can keep feeding the region and the world.”

On July 28, 2021, Governor Walz issued Executive Order 21-26, declaring an emergency and waiving trucking regulations to support Minnesota livestock producers facing significant decrease in the availability of hay and other forage. The need for relief identified in Executive Order 21-26 still exists and must be extended in duration as well as expanded to include the transportation of livestock, water supplies, and commodities used for or in livestock feed.

This summer, Governor Walz has met with agricultural leaders from across the state to hear how the drought has impacted them. Governor Walz has also spoken with President Joe Biden and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to ask that all levels of government work together to address the impacts that this drought is having on Minnesota’s farmers.

Executive Order 21-30 is effective immediately and remains in effect for 30 days.

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Crookston Public Schools are reminding parents that meet the teacher night will be taking place next week on September 1 & 2 at Washington School & Highland Elementary School. The Crookston High School will also be hosting an open house those days for their students to come in and familiarize themselves with the building.

All the events will run both days from 4:00-7:30 p.m. and allow students to meet their teachers and classmates. Washington School Principal Denice Oliver spoke more on the benefit the nights are for the kids. “Meet the teacher night is one of the biggest events we do in the early part of the school year,” said Oliver.  “Some students have never been in the school before, and since we have younger students, we want them to meet their teacher and get used to their surroundings so that the transition goes a little smoother.”

Washington School will also be hosting an event that night in the school parking called “Big Wheels Night.” Oliver spoke more on purpose for that event. “The students will have a chance to see some bigger vehicles in our parking lot that night to provide some excitement for them,” said Oliver. “We have a school bus, a big tractor, and a fire truck coming those nights so that the students can explore and have some time outside of meet the teacher night that evening.”

For parents who have not registered their students yet for meet the teacher night at Washington School, you can call the school office at 218-281-2762 to set up a time.

Over at Highland Elementary School, they will be hosting the same event with their students, and Principal Chris Trostad spoke more on how to sign up if you haven’t already. “If you haven’t already signed up, call the office at 218-281-5600, and they can help you through that,” said Trostad. “You can also go on https://skyward.iscorp.com/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wseducrookstonmn/seplog01.w and register online yourself if you want too.”

Trostad talked about the benefit of having students come to the school before the first day of classes. “I think the biggest thing is having students come in, and then on the first day, they know exactly where to go and know who their teacher is,” said Trostad. “They know where their locker is and that relieves a lot of anxiety that new kids who have never been in our school might have.”

Time slots for meet the teacher night at both Highland Elementary and Washington School are roughly 15-20 minutes long.

Crookston High School will also be holding an open house those days from 4:00-7:30 p.m. for its students to come in and familiarize themselves. There is no need to register for a time as all students are welcome at any time during the event from 4:00-7:30 p.m.

After Labor Day, the first day of classes will begin for all Crookston schools on Tuesday, September 7.

The post MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 1ST & 2ND FOR CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS appeared first on KROX.

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Thief River Falls (TRF) Regional Airport more than $5 million for infrastructure improvements.

“Critical investments in our infrastructure help create jobs while enhancing public safety. This federal funding for the Thief River Falls Airport does just that by making key runway and airfield updates and boosting the region’s shipping, travel, and tourism sectors,” said Klobuchar. “As we round the corner of this pandemic, I’ll continue pushing for funding to ensure our state’s economic well-being.”

“Thief River Falls Regional Airport in Pennington County is a small but mighty airport that Minnesotans count on for travel and shipping,” said Smith. “It’s also an economic driver, creating local jobs for the community. I’m glad the Department of Transportation is making this investment to construct an apron—the area where planes can park, board passengers, unload or refuel—as well as to improve an airfield and install lighting. I’m going to keep working to direct federal dollars towards Minnesota infrastructure projects.” 

The TRF Airport ships more than 1 million packages per year and houses Northland Community & Technical College’s nationally-acclaimed Aviation Maintenance Program. The grant funding awarded by DOT will allow TRF to improve its infrastructure by constructing an apron, installing runway incursion lighting, and reconstructing the airfield.

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The post KLOBUCHAR, SMITH ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THIEF RIVER FALLS REGIONAL AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS appeared first on KROX.

Yesterday the Grand Forks Police Department conducted a human trafficking operation targeting adults attempting to hire another person for sexual activity. This operation was a part of a regional effort and included several agencies from North Dakota. Participating agencies include the Grand Forks Police Department, Dickinson Police Department, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.

As a result of this operation, three males were arrested for “Hiring an individual to engage in sexual activity” which is a Class B Misdemeanor in North Dakota, punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail.

The Grand Forks Police Department is committed to combatting human trafficking. If you have any information related to this type of activity, please contact us by one of the following methods.

• Call: 701-787-8000
• Online: Submit a tip via the GFPD’s Facebook page or website
• App: Submit a tip via the Tip411 app

The post GRAND FORKS PD CONDUCTS HUMAN TRAFFICKING OPERATION appeared first on KROX.

H&S Concrete will start setting up to place the concrete curb & gutter on Stephens Drive Monday, August 30th, weather permitting. They are asking residents living on Stephens Drive to refrain from parking in their driveways and remove other vehicles that may be needed during this time. Access to driveways will not be available for approximately seven days after the curb & gutter are poured.

The post WIDSETH ASKING RESIDENTS ON STEPHENS DRIVE TO REMOVE VEHICLES FROM DRIVEWAY appeared first on KROX.

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now accepting applications for the Lawns to Legumes program, which aims to increase residential habitat for at-risk pollinators across the state. All Minnesota residents can apply for individual support grants, which reimburse gardeners for up to $300 in costs associated with establishing pollinator habitat in their yards.

Lawns to Legumes offers a combination of workshops, coaching, planting guides, and cost-share funding for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential lawns. The program launched in 2019 with a $900,000 appropriation from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). BWSR received more than 7,500 applications for individual support grants during the program’s first year, demonstrating a significant demand for funding. This year, the program received two additional ENRTF appropriations totaling nearly $2 million to extend program opportunities to more Minnesota residents.

“The high demand for individual support grants shows that Lawns to Legumes resonates deeply with Minnesota residents by providing them with concrete action steps they can take to benefit pollinators,” said BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke. “We’re excited to build off this momentum and offer opportunities to even more Minnesotans who want to play a role in combatting pollinator population decline.”

How to apply: Apply online at Blue Thumb’s website. Applications will be accepted through February 15, 2022. Funding decisions and all notifications will be emailed in March 2022. Grant recipients have until December 15, 2022, to install their projects.

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