Latest News From Minnesota Daily News Dot Com

October 30, 2026

Statewide Republican Candidates gathered at Raphael's Bakery in Bemidji yesterday as part of a Minnesota Republican Party bus tour aimed at boosting voter turnout before Tuesday's election. The tour featured GOP Minnesota Governor candidate Lisa Demuth, her Lt. Governor running mate Ryan Wilson, and Minnesota Secretary of State candidate Tad Jude, as well as local representatives Bidal Duran and Matt Bliss. The candidates took questions from the audience, addressing public safety, with Demuth highlighting her support from law enforcement and her commitment to restoring common sense in governance. She also discussed plans for state agencies, including potential firings to counteract corruption. Demuth advocated for better school funding and acknowledged the challenges facing local school districts, encouraging decision-making that supports educational success. She concluded with a call for everyone to vote and emphasized the ongoing statewide campaign tour, which continues into Monday. The DFL Party will also hold a rally on Sunday at Paul Bunyan Park beginning at 9am.

The Park Rapids City Council unanimously voted 5-0 this week to reject a design proposal by Kimley-Horn for improvements to the U.S. Hwy. 71 corridor. This proposal included features like bump-out curbs, dedicated left-turn lanes, a roundabout at 5th Street, pedestrian refuge medians, and left-turn barriers. Council member Liz Stone described the proposal as excessive for the town's needs and expressed a desire for a new plan to address traffic issues without the roundabouts. Mayor Pat Mikesh noted concerns about emergency response times due to the proposed barriers. Council members agreed on the necessity to slow traffic but preferred different solutions. The council also approved applying for a Local Road Improvement Program grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The Minnesota Department of Health yesterday reported that the number of measles cases in Minnesota for 2026 has reached a total of 80 cases, the most the state has seen in a single year since 1990. Health officials are stressing that now is the time for people to check their vaccination status.

A man from Red Lake, Darwin Lussier Jr., has been sentenced to over five years in prison for sexually abusing a minor. He received a 63-month prison term and will be under supervised release for 15 years. Lussier, 37, pleaded guilty to the charges on March 24. The abuse occurred from December 2018 to December 2019, during which the minor was between 12 and 13 years old and was in Lussier's care. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen emphasized that the sentence holds Lussier accountable for his actions and highlights the priority of protecting children from predators. The investigation was conducted by the FBI with support from other law enforcement partners.

The 37th annual Treat Street is tomorrow at the Sanford Center in Bemidji. It runs from noon to 3pm, and is free, but tickets are required. Log on to http://PaskvanEvents.com to find ticket locations. Treats For Tots will be held on the Leech Lake Reservation tomorrow from 4pm to 7pm at Cedar Lakes Casino in Cass Lake. Red Lake Nation held their Halloween events in the last week.

October 29, 2026

Beltrami County Attorney David L. Hanson announced that a jury found Thomas Humiston guilty of six counts of criminal sexual conduct this past Monday. The trial lasted six days, and the jury deliberated for about two hours. The investigation began in 2024 after a child victim tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease, revealing widespread abuse by Humiston in multiple states. A multi-jurisdictional investigation involved the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Alpine County in California, Douglas County in Nevada, and the FBI. The criminal complaint was filed in January 2025, and Humiston was arrested in Nevada and extradited to Beltrami County. Following over a year of legal proceedings, the trial concluded in October 2026. After the jury’s unanimous verdict, Judge Brand set a sentencing hearing for December 29, 2026. County Attorney Hanson expressed support for the victims and thanked all law enforcement and office staff involved in the case.

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Enrollment Department is reminding band members that an important deadline is approaching for the 2026 Trust Fund Distribution. Members must update their current mailing address with the Enrollment Department by tomorrow, at 3:00 PM.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting comments on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for a proposed scram mining project at the former Hill Annex Mine in Itasca County until November 30. Calumet Reclamation Company plans to use scram mining to process old stockpiles and tailings containing hematite. This project will involve demolishing certain historic properties owned by the DNR, which necessitates the EAW. The project aims to process about 1,000 long tons of material per hour, leading to a total of 62 million long tons mined. The processed concentrate will be shipped by rail to a pig iron production facility in Minot, North Dakota. The EAW can be found online, and hard copies are available at specific libraries or by calling the project manager. The EAW can be viewed at the Marble Public Library. A 30-day public review and comment period is open until 4:30 p.m. Monday, November 30.

Election Day is next Tuesday. You can vote early, now through Election Day. You can also see what will be on your ballot by visiting the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, along with the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, announced nearly $11.1 million in federal funding for eight projects under the Partnerships for Academic-Industry Career Training Initiative. This funding includes $2.3 million for a project that focus on hands-on training and credentialing programs for jobs in oil, natural gas, coal, and geothermal energy. Leech Lake Tribal College will start a geospatial technologies certificate program to prepare students for careers in Geographic Information Systems and drone piloting.

Many deer hunters eagerly await the firearms opener each year. More than 400,000 hunters are expected to participate when the season opens on Saturday, November 7. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends that hunters review updated hunting rules and buy licenses early. A new electronic licensing system is in place now. The northwest region has seen healthy deer populations, leading to less restrictive bag limits, allowing more antlerless deer to be harvested.

October 28, 2026

From November 1 to November 7, the United Way of Bemidji Area invites the community to contribute $1 or $5 at local businesses to support community programs. Every dollar stays in the area. Donations can be made by scanning a QR code at checkout or giving at the register. Participating businesses will display donor names to highlight community support. For more details, visit http://unitedwaybemidji.org.

In the first five weeks of voting in Minnesota, officials have distributed 696,364 absentee and mail ballots. As of October 22, 241,348 voters have voted in person, and 177,841 have returned their ballots by mail, totaling 419,189 ballots. This early voting is significantly higher than during the 2022 midterm elections, where 282,277 ballots were cast in the same period, and 558,300 absentee and mail ballots were distributed. Starting this week, there will be extended early voting hours on specified days for voters to cast their ballots directly into a ballot tabulator at local election offices. For info on early voting for your precinct, log on to sos.mn.gov.

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe RBC Special Meeting is set for November 5, at 9:00 a.m. in the LLBO Council Chambers. For more details, log on to the Leech Lake Band Facebook Page.

Thirty-nine-year-old Keith Nathan Carmona faces three charges: second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, third-degree riot, and disorderly conduct filed in Beltrami County Court. The charges arise from an incident on October 16, where Carmona reportedly assaulted two men who confronted him about an earlier allegation. After an argument, a fight ensued outside, during which Carmona swung a baseball bat at them, injuring one man.

Hank Paush Demo-Pierce, 27 of Bena, faces three charges: second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, threats of violence, and interfering with a 9-1-1 call. The victim explained she tried to stop Demo-Pierce from drinking and was worried about his threats to harm himself. During the incident, Demo-Pierce hit her with a metal pipe and attempted to use an axe. He also took her phone while she was calling for help.

Kevin Jay Bruce, a 55 year old from Walker, is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery. This past June, surveillance footage showed Bruce waiting for a victim outside a gas station in Cass County. Bruce struck the victim in the face, leading to a brief confrontation where both displayed weapons. Bruce then hit the victim again, causing him to fall and lose consciousness. He stole the victim's backpack and phone before fleeing in a vehicle. The victim struggled to get up as the vehicle left. Bruce was in Cass County Court this month, with bail set at $50,000.

Derek Daniel Kingbird Jr. faces three charges in Hubbard County District Court: being a felon in possession of a firearm, fifth-degree drug possession, and second-degree DWI for refusing a chemical test. Field sobriety tests showed signs of impairment, leading to his arrest. A search of the vehicle revealed a Glock handgun and drugs. Kingbird was taken to the hospital, where he refused to provide a sample for testing. The charges include possible penalties of up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.

October 26, 2026

Authorities in Bemidji are investigating a tip related to the missing child case of 3-year-old Kevin Ayotte, who vanished in 1982. On Friday, police searched a home near where Kevin disappeared from his family's summer cabin in Sugar Bush Township. Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs emphasized the importance of providing closure to Kevin's family, stating they hope to recover his remains soon. Kevin went missing on September 30, 1982, while playing outside with his dog. Over the years, there have been various leads, including a recent tip from a family member that directed investigators to search an outbuilding near Kevin's last known location.

Bemidji lost out in its bid to be named "Hallmark Movie Channel's Merriest Christmas Town", losing out to Carlinville Illinois. The announcement came late last week. Bemidji, which was the only finalist from Minnesota, was one of 25 finalists nationwide. The winner gets a Hallmark Movie Channel Christmas movie filmed in its town. Bemidji will kick off the Holiday Season with the Night We Light Parade on Black Friday.

John Hoffman, president of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College, has joined a coalition to start the National Student Success Project. This initiative involves 19 leaders from various colleges and aims to address concerns about the value of college degrees. It focuses on five core commitments: providing good value for education, creating clear pathways to degrees, enhancing academic excellence, offering real-world experiences, and building supportive communities. Over 50 colleges are involved in the project. Hoffman emphasizes the importance of answering how education can lead to a better future. The initiative is supported by leading national education associations.

Colin Bales, from Park Rapids and known as "Uncle Colin," suffered a complete C-3 spinal cord injury after jumping into water on July 4. To support his recovery, his family organized a benefit last week to help cover his estimated $1 million medical expenses. Over $170,000 has been raised so far, and another benefit was scheduled for this past weekend in Fargo.

Cass Lake-Bena Schools canceled all after-school activities last Thursday and implemented a campus-wide shelter-in-place due to a forwarded social media message from a parent about a potential threat. The message, which was not a direct threat, mentioned a possible shooting at lunch at a school but did not refer specifically to Cass Lake-Bena Schools. The original post was found to have come from out of state and was handed over to the FBI. The school is open today.

Blake Thomas Gene Wagner, 27 of Bemidji, faces several felony charges including first-degree assault against a police officer and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. The complaint, filed a week ago in Beltrami County District Court, follows an incident on October 17 where Wagner attacked a victim with a knife, causing significant injuries. When approached by law enforcement, Wagner resisted arrest and attempted to flee. He has a history of domestic violence, making the domestic assault charge a felony. The first-degree assault charge could lead to a prison sentence of up to 20 years.