Beltrami County, Minnesota Local News

39 Bemidji Leaders Lobby St. Paul Lawmakers on Housing, Education, Infrastructure

Thirty-nine Bemidji leaders, including Mayor Jorge Prince and Beltrami County Administrator Tom Barry, traveled to the State Capitol March 5, 2026 to press lawmakers on a regional events center, trails and higher-education funding.

Marcus Williams•3 min read•12:30 AM

Read Full Article →

About Beltrami, MN

Population

Approximately 46,228 residents

County Seat

Bemidji, Minnesota

Coverage Area

3,056 square miles in northern Minnesota

Local Updates

Active

Newsroom monitoring local Beltrami, MN developments. Next update cycle in 48 minutes.

More Local News

Business

KB101 in Bemidji Wins Seventh NAB Crystal Radio Award

KB101 (KBHP-FM) in Bemidji won one of 10 national 2026 NAB Crystal Radio Awards on March 3, 2026, marking the station’s seventh Crystal Award after its June 21, 2025 derecho coverage.

Sarah Chen3m read

Community

United Way Bemidji Opens Grants for Beltrami Nonprofits, Deadline March 31

United Way of Bemidji Area is accepting impact grant applications for nonprofits serving Beltrami County; deadline is 4 p.m. on March 31, email completed packets to grants@unitedwaybemidji.org.

Lisa Park3m read

Government

Bemidji Seeks Bids for TH-197 Light Pole Replacement Project by March 26

The City of Bemidji posted a Minnesotabids solicitation on Feb. 27, 2026, seeking contractors to remove 67 existing light poles and install 73 new units on TH‑197; bids are due March 26.

Marcus Williams3m read

Government

Court Denies Bemidji Rehearing, Upholds Northern Township Incorporation, Rejects Annexation

Administrative Law Judge Jessica Palmer-Denig denied Bemidji’s post-hearing motion on March 2, leaving the Feb. 10 decision that granted Northern Township incorporation in place.

Marcus Williams3m read

Healthcare

Bemidji Man Charged with Embezzling Nearly $13,000 from Elderly Relative

Daniel Bliss, 63, has been charged after admitting he took $12,896 from a relative in her 90s, funds investigators say were spent on his bills while her assisted-living account fell about $50,000 behind.

Lisa Park2m read

Healthcare

Sanford Health Equip Sleep Store Relocating to 3801 Bemidji Ave. N.

Sanford Health announced March 3 that its Bemidji Equip Sleep Store will move in early March to 3801 Bemidji Ave. N., Suite 4, next to Hill’s Plumbing and Heating; call (218) 333-4528 for the store.

Lisa Park3m read

Education

Bemidji State's Sophie Rylance wins first individual NSIC indoor title since 2021

Sophomore Sophie Rylance ran a personal-best 2:55.85 to win the NSIC 1000m in Mankato, giving Bemidji State its first individual NSIC indoor title since 2021.

Marcus Williams2m read

Education

Bemidji Lumberjacks Outscore Thief River Falls by 20 in Regular-Season Finale

Bemidji outscored Thief River Falls 47-27 in the second half to turn a 44-42 halftime deficit into an 89-71 regular-season finale win at the Bemidji High School Fieldhouse.

Marcus Williams3m read

Community

Beltrami County Public Health to host inaugural Winter Festival at Kelliher School

Beltrami County Public Health will stage a free, family-friendly Winter Festival at Kelliher Public School on Saturday, March 7, with booths, music, local food and a tour of a mobile clinic prototype.

Sarah Chen3m read

Community

Clearwater and Solway Lutherans Host 14th Cabin Fever Auction March 14

Clearwater and Solway Lutheran churches will hold the 14th annual Cabin Fever Auction at Lammers Town Hall, 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026; food is served at noon, donations accepted at either church.

Sarah Chen2m read

Government

House District 2A Rep. Bidal Duran Details First Two Weeks of Session

Rep. Bidal Duran told Bemidji Now’s Chatabout podcast on Feb. 27, 2026, that the Minnesota House is evenly split and he’s prioritizing public safety for House District 2A.

James Thompson2m read

Government

Minnesota Sues Federal Government to Block $243M Medicaid Deferral, Jeopardizing Beltrami County

Attorney General Keith Ellison sued CMS and HHS on March 2, 2026, seeking a TRO to stop a federal pause of roughly $243 million in Medicaid payments that state officials say would jeopardize Beltrami County.

Marcus Williams3m read

Community

Chamber Ambassadors Welcome Jennifer Aakre as Bemidji Food Shelf Director

Chamber Ambassadors congratulated Jennifer Aakre on her appointment as executive director of the Bemidji Community Food Shelf, which served more than 13,000 families in 2025.

Marcus Williams2m read

Healthcare

Sanford Bemidji Podcast Highlights Expanded Bariatric Program, Self-Referral Options

Kayla Persons and Dr. David Faugno‑Fusci told Bemidji Now the Sanford Bemidji weight‑loss program now offers a self‑referral option and has MBSAQIP Comprehensive Center designation.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez3m read

Community

United Way of Bemidji Area Wraps 13th Annual Spread the Love Week

United Way of Bemidji Area wrapped its 13th Annual Spread the Love Week in Bemidji, Feb. 12–18, 2026, with Bemidji Brewing committing 10% of sales and partner events raising funds for local programs.

Lisa Park2m read

Community

Sharie Linke Hosts March 10 Trip Talk Previewing Upcoming Bemidji Bus Trips

Sharie Linke will preview Bemidji Senior Center’s 2026 bus trips at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, at 216 Third St. NW; the free, public event will include homemade treats.

Lisa Park2m read

Government

Bemidji City Council declares March Minnesota FoodShare Month, hears Project Graduate

Bemidji City Council formally declared March as Minnesota FoodShare Month and heard a Project Graduate presentation aiming for a 100% graduation rate for Beltrami County youth.

Marcus Williams2m read

Business

Formalities Bridal Boutique Reopens After Chimney Topples Onto Roof, Flooding

A chimney from the neighboring building crashed onto Formalities’ roof at 421 Beltrami Ave. NW during the early hours of June 21, 2025, sending water gushing into the main floor and basement; the boutique has since reopened.

Sarah Chen2m read

Government

Beltrami County Celebrates 160th Anniversary; Board Receives Proclamation, County History Leaders Reflect

Lakeland PBS reported March 4 that the Beltrami County Board received a proclamation recognizing the county’s 160th anniversary, a milestone observed in early March 2026.

James Thompson3m read

Education

Bemidji's Adventures in Lifelong Learning Unveils Spring 2026 Course Schedule

Adventures in Lifelong Learning will present eight free Tuesday talks from March 10 through April 28 at the Bemidji Eagles Club, capped by Justice Ann McKeig on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Marcus Williams3m read

Community

Top 8 Spring Things to Do in Beltrami County, Family-Friendly

Watch walleyes spawn at the Three Island Lake outlet and pair that close-up spring spectacle with walleye fishing, trails, markets and family festivals a short drive from Bemidji.

Sarah Chen4m read

Community

Beltrami County Master Gardeners Host Spring Garden Party With Free Advice, Classes

Dan Sherman and Val Kinnane promoted the Beltrami County Master Gardeners’ Spring Garden Party on KAXE, touting classes, container tips and volunteer opportunities for a program at Evangelical Free Church, 115 Carr Lake Road SW.

Lisa Park3m read

Community

Beltrami County State Park Naturalists Host Maple Syruping Events March and April

Lake Bemidji State Park will hold a maple-syrup program March 14 in Bemidji; park vehicle permits cost $7 for one day or $35 year-round and some sessions require preregistration.

Marcus Williams3m read

Government

FirstNet Authority Fortifies Beltrami County Communications for Spring Flooding

FirstNet and Minnesota DPS-ECN lent Beltrami County a MegaGo kit to restore communications when FEMA and state teams found commercial networks "severely lacking" during flood response.

James Thompson2m read

Community

Anishinaabe Storyteller Thomas Cain Jr. Shares Native American History on Bemidji Now

Anishinaabe storyteller Thomas Cain Jr. joined Bemidji Now’s "Legends & History" March 2 episode to share Native American history, stories, and cultural perspectives.

Sarah Chen1m read

Community

Bemidji Bantam B1 Wins North Region, Qualifies for State Tournament

Bemidji Bantam B1 beat North Shore 7-5, Rock Ridge 3-0 and East Grand Forks 5-1 to win the North Region and head to the state tournament in Woodbury on March 13.

Sarah Chen1m read

Community

Pianist Christian Haugen to Perform at Blackduck Senior Center March 7

Local pianist Christian Haugen is scheduled to play at the Blackduck Senior Center from 2 to 4 p.m.; the Bemidji Pioneer lists Saturday, March 7, 2026, while the Blackduck Chamber lists July 12 (no year).

Sarah Chen2m read

Business

Kenny Hartel Retires After 35 Years at Wells Technology, Company Honors Craftsmanship

Kenny Hartel, a Bemidji plant craftsman, retired after 35 years at Wells Technology after helping mass-produce ergonomic air-powered scissors used worldwide.

Sarah Chen2m read

Government

Minnesota, Fleet Farm Settle for $1 Million Over Alleged Straw Gun Purchases

Keith Ellison says Fleet Farm will pay $1,000,000 and overhaul gun‑sale practices after a lawsuit alleging the retailer sold guns to straw purchasers linked to the Truck Park Bar shooting.

James Thompson3m read