On January 16th, Hubbard County Sheriff Cory Aukes reported a fraud case involving 76-year-old Vincent Bellomo from rural Nevis. A financial worker at Hubbard County Social Services alerted authorities after discovering Bellomo had received over $263,000 in benefits he was not eligible for. The benefits included various assistance programs, and the investigation revealed that Bellomo falsely claimed to have minimal assets, stating he had only $1.08 in his savings account while actually having over $77,000 in 2024. After removing $80,000 in 2025, Bellomo left the area and went to California. He was arrested by the Fontana Police on a warrant from Hubbard County and was brought back to face charges of Wrongfully Obtaining Public Assistance and Perjury. He remains in the Hubbard County Jail.
The Bemidji School Board will meet tonight at 6:30pm at the District Office Board Room. They will finalize the calendar for next school year. The calendar includes a reduction in student days, and a reduction in staff development days, which are required based on the proposed contract with teachers that will also be voted on tonight. An informal listening session is offered at 5:45pm tonight.
Last Thursday, at about 2:25pm, the Bemidji Fire Department responded to an explosion and fire on the 1500 block of Bixby Ave NW. Firefighters arrived to find a detached structure fully engulfed in flames. Shortly after, a large explosion occurred, affecting an adjacent building. A total of 28 firefighters and 9 pieces of equipment were on site for around 4 hours. Two garage buildings were completely destroyed, and one vehicle and home received moderate damage. The fire caused evacuations in the area, and power was later restored. No injuries were reported; the fire is believed to be accidental. The explosions were caused by propane cylinders experiencing a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. The Minnesota State Fire Marshals’ Office, Bemidji Ambulance Service, Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Bemidji State University Public Safety, Bemidji Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Ottertail Power Company, and Minnesota Energy Resources assisted the Bemidji Fire Department at the scene.
(video from BSU Campus Security)
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has expanded the area subject to open burning restrictions of vegetative debris, beginning today, as warm and dry weather spreads throughout the state. Escaped fire from burning vegetative debris is the number one cause of wildfires in Minnesota, and burning restrictions help reduce wildfire risk. Additional counties in which burning restrictions apply: Beltrami North, Carlton, Clearwater, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau. Restrictions remain in place in these counties: Beltrami South, Cass, and Hubbard. The DNR will not issue permits for the open burning of brush or yard waste in these counties until restrictions are lifted.
According to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Election Ordinance, the order of placement on the ballot is determined by a public lottery, held separately for Primary and General Elections. The lottery for the Leech Lake General Election is set for this afternoon, at 1:00 p.m. in the RTC Tribal Chambers. Go to the Leech Lake Band Of Ojibwe Facebook page for the results of the lottery.
April 17, 2026
Minnesota's severe weather season is approaching, and emergency agencies urge residents to prepare. This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week, focusing on daily themes to raise awareness about summer weather hazards and family safety. Today's theme is extreme heat. Winters in Minnesota are long and cold, while summers can also be extremely hot. High humidity with warm temperatures creates a dangerous heat index. Avoid outdoor activities during heat and never leave pets or children alone in cars, as they can heat up dangerously.
The City of Bemidji Rental Report is out for March. The city gained on rental permit, and two rental units since February. The city is still down 24 rental units from March of last year. Currently, there are 3717 rental units in the city limits. Construction permits numbers are also in for March. There was $3.8 million in construction done in March of this year, which is down $1.2 million from March of 2025. Year to date construction for 2026 is also down$1.5 million from 2025. As has been the case since the storm last June, most residential construction for March, was new roofs.
A structure fire in Bemidji yesterday led to an explosion and damaged multiple buildings. According to Lakeland News, law enforcement confirmed that no one was at home during the fire, and there were no injuries. First responders arrived around 2:30 PM to a burning house and garage on Bixby Avenue, prompting the evacuation of all homes on the block as they extinguished the flames.
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education has announced the opening of the Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE) Teacher Shortage Grant Program Request for Proposals. This initiative aims to enhance the number of licensed teachers for young learners in Minnesota. The grant provides funding to postsecondary institutions that train early childhood teachers, focusing on increasing access for those from rural areas and students of color. Funds can be used for tuition relief, recruitment, and support services. Proposals are due by May 8, 2026, with up to $950,000 available in grants of up to $250,000 each for eligible institutions.
The Bemidji Area Arts Endowment online grant application opens on May 1 for nonprofits within a 30-mile radius of Bemidji. These organizations can apply for grants up to $1,500 for art-related projects that enhance the local community. The application period closes on June 1, and proposals can be submitted through the Northwest Minnesota Foundation’s website. The BAAE also offers a grant round for the Everett Wilimek Endowment for Orchestral String Studies, providing two $500 scholarships for young musicians aged 8 to 15, based on need. Applications will be reviewed by the BAAE Advisory Board, and recipients will be notified in July.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will not charge vehicle permit fees at all 73 state parks and recreation areas on Saturday, April 25. This Free Park Day is one of four days each year when no vehicle permit is needed. These days throughout the year allow people to explore state parks in each season. Ann Pierce, the director of the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division, highlights spring as a great time to enjoy nature’s beauty. Visitors should recreate responsibly to protect natural resources.
April 16, 2026
At 10:40am yesterday, the Bemidji Police Department responded to an upset student at Northwest Technical College who said, “I need a gun” and asked someone to “bring me a gun” while entering a classroom. Officers quickly found the student and used crisis intervention techniques to de-escalate the situation, confirming there was no physical threat. They secured the building and ended the lock-down. The student was taken to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation. The incident is under active investigation with no further details available. The police were assisted by the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, and Bemidji State Public Safety.
Minnesota's severe weather season is approaching, and emergency agencies urge residents to prepare. This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week, focusing on daily themes to raise awareness about summer weather hazards and family safety. Today is Tornado Drill Day. Beltrami County will hold two state-wide tornado drills today, at 1:45pm and 6:45pm. Outdoor warning sirens will be activated during these drills. Sirens are used for tornado warnings and severe thunderstorms with winds over 70mph. They sound for about three minutes without an "all clear. " If the sirens keep sounding, a threat remains.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is advising residents in northwestern Minnesota not to disturb aerial photography targets as aerial mapping begins. Landowners with targets on or near their property will be contacted directly. The mapping work is set to start in mid-April and is expected to finish by late May, focusing on Highway 1 from Busy Corner to Highway 71. This process requires clear observations after the spring thaw and before trees have leaves. Crews will mark reference points with large white "X" targets on paved areas and place temporary plastic or fabric "X" targets on unpaved areas. MnDOT asks landowners to avoid disturbing these targets and to call the District 2 survey office at 218-755-6509 if they need to be moved.
The Red Lake Band will hold another candidate forum tonight at the Little Rock Community Center for Chairmen and Secretary candidates. The public is welcome to attend and ask questions. A light meal will be served. The event starts at 6pm tonight.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency fined West Fraser Forest Products $24,750 for exceeding hazardous air pollutants at its Solway facility from January 2024 to January 2025. The company must submit a new permit application and a plan to comply with the current limits. In January 2026, West Fraser was fined $15,250 for late test submissions and exceeding pollution limits from March 2023 to November 2023.
Big Bog State Recreation Area will hold a "Wonders of the Night Sky" event on Saturday, April 18, from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Participants will explore constellations and learn how the night sky has guided people and animals for centuries. The event starts with a presentation at the Visitor Center, followed by a walk or drive to the beach for stargazing through telescopes. Light refreshments and a campfire for roasting marshmallows will be available. Attendees should dress for the weather and bring a chair and blanket. A valid Minnesota State Park vehicle permit is required to enter the park, costing $7 for a day or $35 for a year.
April 15, 2026
Minnesota's severe weather season is approaching, and emergency agencies urge residents to prepare. This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week, focusing on daily themes to raise awareness about summer weather hazards and family safety. Today's theme is flooding. Flooding can occur when heavy rain falls quickly on sandy soils near lakes and rivers. It can be hazardous; six inches of water can knock down a person, and a foot can lift vehicles. Never drive through flooded areas; "turn around, don't drown."
A Level 3 sex offender, Anthony James Wittner, 29, is moving to the Cass Lake area on Friday, as reported by the Cass County Sheriff's Office. Wittner has completed his sentence and is not wanted by the police. He previously held an adult male and female against their will, using force and severe harm to control them. The sheriff’s office is sharing this information under Minnesota law to enhance public safety. They cannot dictate Wittner's residency, work, or education. The release of information aims to prevent offenders from exploiting secrecy, but misuse of this information may lead to criminal charges.
A few recent donations to spotlight: The Hackensack Auxiliary Unit 202 donated $600 to Hackensack Fire and Rescue, and the Hackensack American Legion Post donated $1,000 to Cass County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Eric Alger to attend the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. Also, the In Country Motorcycle Club donated two checks of $1,000 each to local veterans. One check was for Middle River Veterans Outdoors, which offers hunting and fishing trips for veterans. The other went to Don Roberts of the Honor Flight of North Dakota, which takes veterans to see memorials in Washington, D. C.
The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce will host a free presentation on the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Unemployment Insurance Program tomorrow, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at 102 First Street W, Suite 105. The presentation will cover program updates and allow for questions to a DEED representative.
Target Bemidji will take part in the Car Seat Trade-In event starting Sunday, and running through to May 2. Community members can exchange any car seat for a 20% Target Circle bonus. The event has recycled over 58 million pounds of materials. Target will have in-store giveaways on April 25 and 26.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation awarded grants to nine Minnesota cities to improve walking and bicycling safety in their areas. MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger stated that the program aims to enhance transportation safety, boost economic activity, and improve health. Recipients include Clearwater County for a Multi-community Active Transportation Plan. The program provides about $100,000 for technical assistance, including action plans.
The Beltrami County Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party will host its monthly Pizza and Programs event on Thursday, April 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DFL office located at 1510 Bemidji Ave. N. The session will feature Emily Thabes, candidate for Minnesota House 2B, who will discuss her mutual aid work. The event is public and organized by a volunteer team. More information is available at www.beltramidfl.org.
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Housing Authority will have 4 positions open for the 2026 Election. District I has one 4-year and one 2-year position; District II has one 4-year position; District III has one 4-year position. Elections will take place on June 9, 2026, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sign up is from April 14 to May 8, 2026, at the Election Board Office in Cass Lake.
