All 6 Minnesota state flag finalists on display at Becker County Museum through Sunday

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – The six finalists for the new state flag of Minnesota are on display at the Becker County Museum in Detroit Lakes through Sunday, Dec. 17.

Anyone wishing to see the new flag prospects can check them out during the museum’s regular business hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Becky Mitchell, executive director of the Becker County Historical Society and Museum, said, even though changing the flag may be controversial to some, we’re living through a piece of Minnesota history and she’s happy the museum, and Detroit Lakes, is a part of it.

“This is living history,” said Mitchell. “We’re in a time, we don’t know what the end result will be, because the commission that has been tasked with submitting a proposal … it then goes to the legislature to get voted on. And, if it is voted through, it would take effect in May, but there are a few hurdles that would have to happen before that would occur. I think where people are struggling is that our current state flag is very traditional … but I think it’s that drastic difference between traditional and very graphic modern.”

She also said it’s opportunity for Greater Minnesota to give their informed opinion to decision makers. She hopes anyone checking out the flags read the statements from the flag’s artist to see what they were trying to go for before scanning the QR code and submitting their opinions.

“There is a lot of opinion surrounding the new state flag, correct?” she said. “This is really an opportunity for Greater Minnesota to give their opinion and to have an opportunity to see them life-sized, what they would look like on the fabric, so they can provide an informed opinion. I like, often time, in Greater Minnesota, we feel like unless you are living in the metro, we don’t get a lot of say. So, this is our opportunity and I hope people take advantage of it.”

However, the vice chair of the flag selection commission said they may select the final design as soon as Tuesday night.

Commission Vice-chair Anita Gaul said they’ve received a ton of input since narrowing it down to six finalists last month. 

She also reminded residents the design is not set in stone. Any of the finalists could be modified or possibly combined with elements from different flags.

All six designs feature a version of the North Star and are blue and green.

Gaul says the commission will adopt the final design and send it to the legislature by January 1st.

MN Attorney General Keith Ellison and lakes area lawmakers hold town hall in Moorhead

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and local legislators held a public forum in Moorhead to discuss what it takes to afford their lives.

State Sen. Rob Kupec, and State Reps. Heather Keeler and Jim Joy joined Ellison at Bright Sky Apartments.

During the forum, people broke off into small groups and discussed what they need in order to live with dignity, safety, and respect. 

They brought up many issues including scams, lack of transportation, amount of homelessness, and issues with the education system.

During the event, Keeler said, quote: “I’ve had chairs, I’ve had our AG, I’ve had our speaker of the house come out to the community, so that they really know and understand what Moorhead is all made of before we go back into the legislative session and make decisions based on the entire state of Minnesota. I think our community deserves to be heard.”

Ellison was insistent that the people of Minnesota should call the attorney general’s office with any issues they have, and that they want to hear what the people have to say.

Story by KFGO/KVRR News

Passenger rail service may return on Chicago-to-Seattle Amtrak rail line after funding secured

Efforts to restore passenger rail service on Amtrak’s North Coast Hiawatha Chicago-to-Seattle route have received a big boost from the Federal Railroad Authority.

Through its Corridor Identification program, the FRA announced a $500,000 grant to Montana’s Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority to continue planning for the restoration of the line which provided the long-distance passenger route until the service was discontinued 43 years ago.

Rail Authority Chairman and Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier said acceptance into the program also brings a commitment to future funding that will help push the line’s restoration closer to reality.

He said when the planning starts it will identify the infrastructure needs for the route and after a service development is created, the preliminary engineering phase will occur, and finally, an environmental review which will eventually get the project to “break ground and hopefully in the not too distant future seeing restored passenger rail service.”

A spokesman for Governor Doug Burgum says while the state has not committed resources to the restoration of the Hiawatha Amtrak route through southern North Dakota, the Governor is “generally supportive of the concept.”

The Rail Authority in Montana has been working on the plan for three years.

Story by Don Haney / KFGO

MN tax brackets adjusted upward for 2024; standard deduction increased

Tax brackets are being adjusted upwards by over 5% to help compensate for inflation.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue makes the changes to ensure that people aren’t bumped up a bracket for making more money in what is known as nominal terms. That means their income is higher than the year before without seeing their overall purchasing power increase.

Individual income tax brackets have been indexed for inflation since 1979 as required by law. The threshold for an individual standard deduction will also be moved upward due to the shift to $14,575. For couples, it is $29,150.

A single filer would be taxed at 5.35% for the first $31,690 of income. The highest bracket, 9.85%, would apply for single filers on income above $193,240.

Some taxpayers make quarterly payments. The new brackets would apply to them first, beginning in April 2024. The changes are based on the chained Consumer Price Index. That measure is calculated by the federal government and is designed to better reflect differences in how consumers spend on certain items over time.

Story by Grant Dossetto / KNSI

Second fire reported at Grand Forks Correctional Center since Thanksgiving

Firefighters responded to a fire just after 2 a.m. Tuesday in the laundry room at the Grand Forks County Correctional Center at 1701 North Washington Street. It’s the second fire in the laundry room in less than a month.

Fire crews arrived and were met by jail employees who had discovered smoke and flames in the room. They found that clothes in the dryer had caught fire and the sprinkler system had activated. The fire was quickly extinguished and the smoke was removed from the building.

One inmate was transported to Altru Hospital with unknown injuries.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The earlier fire was on Thanksgiving Day.

Story by Don Haney / KFGO

Emerald Ash Borer discovered in Morrison County

Officials with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture say emerald ash borer has been found in Morrison County for the first time.

A suspected EAB infestation was reported at a campground in Genola. 

Larvae were later found and a sample was sent to ag department staff for further testing, confirming the discovery. Other areas around Morrison County and the Little Falls area were also tested.

Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in Morrison County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine of the county. 

The quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.

This brings the number of counties with an EAB infestation in Minnesota to 46.

EAB was first found in the state in 2009. It kills ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the portion of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. The pest is spread by the transfer of firewood from county to county. The MDA recommends burning only firewood from the county you are in and not taking firewood from where you live to where you’re camping or staying.

Story by Jennifer Lewerenz / KNSI

Minnesota officials highlight cold weather rule and energy assistance programs on Monday

State officials highlighted resources available to help low-income Minnesotans with energy assistance on Monday.

Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Commerce Department Commissioner Grace Arnold called attention to the cold weather rule, which states people can’t have their main heat source turned off due to nonpayment as long as a plan is set up with their utility company. 

The cold weather rule is in effect from October 1st through April 30th each year.

They also discussed the Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program. The Energy Assistance Program is for renters and homeowners who meet income and household size guidelines. The free program provides up to $1,400 plus additional support for emergencies. Learn more about how to apply here.

The Weatherization Assistance Program helps income-eligible renters and homeowners with broken boilers or furnaces and upgrades to make homes more energy efficient. It works closely with the Energy Assistance Program to reduce energy bills permanently. A link to apply is here.

The programs can save an average of $500.

Story by Jennifer Lewerenz / KNSI

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