>>Minnesota Schools to Implement Anonymous Threat Reporting Systems
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota school districts and charter schools will be required to implement anonymous threat reporting systems under a new state law aimed at preventing school violence. DFL Representative Kari Rehrauer of Coon Rapids says stronger security alone isn’t enough because many school shooters are students at their own schools. She says research shows more than 80 percent of attackers show warning signs beforehand, and 94 percent tell someone else about their plans. Schools must select a reporting system by next July and have it fully in place by July 1, 2028.
>>Body Recovered from Movil Lake After Storm Delays
(Bemidji, MN) — A man’s body was recovered Friday night from Movil Lake after severe thunderstorms temporarily halted recovery efforts. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office says the man entered the water from a boat shortly before 5 p.m. and did not resurface. Deputies located what they believed was the body in about 25 feet of water, but incoming storms forced crews to leave the lake before recovery. After the storms passed, the Lakes Area Dive Team returned and recovered the body around 8:30 p.m. The sheriff’s office says the investigation is ongoing, and the man’s identity has not been released.
>> Mesabi Metallics Nears Commercial Operations on Iron Range
(Nashwauk, MN) — Mesabi Metallics is moving closer to commercial operations at its new Iron Range mine and pellet plant after years of delays, bankruptcy and ownership changes. The roughly $2.5 billion project is one of the largest private investments in Minnesota history and is expected to begin commercial production later this year. The company says the 16,000-acre facility will produce seven million metric tons of direct-reduction-grade iron ore pellets annually. Mesabi recently launched a hiring push for about 200 operations jobs as other mining companies on the Range face layoffs.
>> Two Drownings Reported on Minnesota Lakes Over Holiday Weekend
(Undated) — Authorities recovered two bodies from Minnesota lakes over the Fourth of July weekend. One man disappeared after entering the water from a boat on Movil Lake near Bemidji on Friday. A second man drowned in Lake Ann in Chanhassen Saturday night. Both deaths remain under investigation. Chanhassen officials have rescheduled the city’s canceled Lake Ann fireworks celebration for July 23rd.
>> Minnesota Seeking Landowners for Tree-Planting Program
(Undated) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications through December 1 for the second round of its Field to Forest Cost Share Program. Eligible landowners can receive up to 75 percent reimbursement for tree-planting costs, plus a $500-per-acre incentive after planting is completed. The program is designed to restore historically forested land, adding 1,500 acres of new trees.
>> Arrowhead Regional Corrections Celebrates 50 Years
(Saginaw, MN) — Arrowhead Regional Corrections is celebrating 50 years of serving northeastern Minnesota. Formed on July 1, 1976, the agency oversees the Northeast Regional Corrections Center, the Arrowhead Juvenile Center and probation services across five counties. Executive Director Becky Pogatchnik says rehabilitation—not just incarceration—helps reduce repeat offenses through treatment, education, work programs and community supervision.
>> Cyclist Finds New Purpose on Cross-Country Charity Ride
(Duluth, MN) — A cyclist who was once told he might never ride again is crossing the country to help families in need. Mark Kinzer joined the 4,000-mile Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure, which stopped in Duluth over the holiday weekend. After a 2017 accident left him in a wheelchair, Kinzer says he found new purpose through cycling. The 10-week ride raises money to build and repair homes for families living in poverty. Organizers say the annual event has raised more than $7 million since 2008.
>>World Cup Expected to Boost Soccer’s Popularity in Minnesota
(Sartell, MN) — Soccer has grown steadily across Minnesota over the past decade, and local coaches say this year’s World Cup in North America could spark even more interest in the sport.vvRoy Snyder, director of coaching and player development for the Sartell Soccer Association, says the excitement reminds him of the 1994 World Cup, the last time the tournament was held in the U.S. He says that event helped fuel soccer’s popularity and paved the way for Major League Soccer. Team USA continues its World Cup run Monday night, taking on Belgium in the Round of 16 at 7 p.m.
