After the discovering of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a strain of a family of viruses that causes respiratory illness, in the United States, the Center for Disease Control and public health officials have been on high alert.
Zach Stich
Editor
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, M State Fergus Falls hosted a program that looked at what people and businesses in Otter Tail County can do to foster inclusivity and promote opportunities for everybody to flourish and thrive. The event, called the Rural Racial Equity Summit, included keynote …
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
The Wilkin County Sheriff's Office advises no travel in the county.
After a wind-chill advisory on Thursday that had Otter Tail County residents seeking warm shelter, today brings almost a 30-degree temperature jump. But don’t get your hopes up that a heatwave is about to hit Minnesota in January as the National Weather Service has put the state and surround…
Zach Stich
Editor
A new report from LendingTree, an online lending marketplace that connects users to deals on insurance, found that Minnesota is the sixth worst driving state. They based the ranking on factors including driver quality, distracted driving scores, car insurance increases, and road infrastructure.
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
The local ice fishing season held so much promise back in November when an early cold snap created a nice coating of black ice on many lakes in Otter Tail County.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday said he will recommend a roughly $2 billion package of public construction projects this year, including $276 million for housing projects.
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In a winter with its share of uncertainty, the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association held its 117th annual meeting Wednesday at the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls.
Minnesota saw a 14% increase in fire deaths in 2019 with 42 total deaths, compared to 37 in 2018. Fergus Falls also saw its first fire fatality since 2012 in September last year.
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In 2019, Fergus Falls and the surrounding community saw several positive and a few obstacles put in its way. As we enter 2020, The Daily Journal looks back at some of the most talked about, read and viewed stories from the past year.
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When Rus Dic Circle residents living near the scenic Otter Tail River brought rising water levels to the attention of Aurdal Township authorities three weeks ago, they found Emergency Management director, Patrick Waletzko ready to lead an effort to alleviate the threat of flooding.
The local planning committee for the 2020 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener is adding new ways for folks to celebrate the occasion in 2020. This year will be the 73rd annual event and while the main goal is to continue the storied tradition there will be a few differences from years past.
Gov. Tim Walz on Friday, Dec. 13, penned a letter to the Trump administration saying the state would continue accepting refugees under an executive order that requires counties and states to explicitly state they’d be willing to take them in.
The weather had been threatening some perilous low temperatures this weekend, but they’ve slowly started to climb to bearable levels. There’s lots of indoor events this weekend to keep you warm, with a couple of outdoor options for the more adventurous among us. Santa will be extra busy on S…
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
A student was injured in an accidental discharge of a firearm on the Wahpeton campus of North Dakota State College of Science.
The number of driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrests in Otter Tail County is up slightly from 2018 with four weeks of the year remaining.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirms an 8-year-old white-tailed doe tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) after its white-tailed buck pen-mate killed it in a small, two-deer, hobbyist herd in Douglas County. The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the …
House Democrats unveiled two articles of impeachment against President Trump on Tuesday morning, charging him with abuse of power in the Ukraine affair and obstruction of Congress.
A Perham man was one of three soldiers identified in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash that took the lives of the entire crew on Thursday, Dec. 5.
MOUND — The Fergus Falls girls’ hockey team fell in a road game Friday as Mound Westonka used three scores to claim a 3-1 win.
Matthew Holding Eagle
Sports Reporter/Photographer
After enjoying Thanksgiving, those in the Christmas and holiday shopping mood get ready to put on their coats and head out to local retailers to see what the best offers will be for 2019’s Black Friday sales.
Zach Stich
Editor
While an October snowfall dissipated fast and a few snowflakes have been spotted in the area, a snowstorm is expected to hit Otter Tail County and the surrounding area early today.
Zach Stich
Editor
Can rural towns and cities get off carbon pollution? That’s the topic for a free public meeting on practical strategies that can work in small towns like Alexandria and all over Douglas County. Mike Reese, renewable energy director at the U of Minnesota’s West Central Research Center in M…
What is one Minnesota place, location, or site that you want preserved in order to pass on to the next generation? What is your favorite historic site? How can the importance of historic preservation in Minnesota be better promoted?
The Dalton Community Club and the Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen’s Association are sponsoring its first-ever “Dalton Christmas Fest” on Saturday, Dec. 14. The fun begins at noon with activities throughout the day for all ages!
Fergus Falls is now a League of American Bicyclists silver level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC), an improvement from last year’s bronze designation. The award recognizes Fergus Falls for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit its residents of all …
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Jean Bowman, the executive director of Visit Fergus Falls, has been appointed to the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council by Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
Charitable giving has seen a sharp decline since the 2017 GOP tax reform, called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), went into effect. The TCJA increased the standard deduction and eliminated personal exemptions, making it less beneficial to itemize deductions like charitable donations. Losing…
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz showed up at the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls on Friday morning anticipating a big weekend.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
A “Welcome to Camp” celebration kicked off the 2019 Minnesota Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener Thursday evening in Fergus Falls.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
A long and difficult grain farming season may be coming to an end and it may not be a happy ending. As a general rule, the natural drying season for corn in Minnesota comes around Nov. 1, according to Farmers Elevator manager Jon Stueve. If corn is 25% or above in moisture content farmers do […]
Minnesota communities and schools wanting to develop safer places for students to walk and bicycle to school can apply for three different grant opportunities this fall through the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. Application deadlines are Jan. 10, 2020. Communities and schools can apply for planning assistance grants to help […]
More than 5,000 hands-free citations have been issued since the law went into effect this summer, new data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety shows. The new law has made it illegal to use a cellphone while driving in Minnesota — including scrolling or surfing the internet, not just talking or texting. Traffic safety […]
A number of classic cars were destroyed in a Saturday, Oct. 12, fire at a pole barn-type garage full of automobiles and shop equipment at the Glen and Ruth Erickson home in Island Lake, according to Carsonville Fire Chief Michael Harvey. “All the cars are gone,” Ruth Erickson said Friday, Oct. 19, adding that they […]
Growing corn, soybeans and other crops contributes significantly to Minnesota’s overall emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases associated with climate change, but a new analysis shows a range of practices can reduce those emissions — and help improve water quality at the same time. “Many farmers are already engaging in these practices for other reasons,” said […]
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is asking residents not to disturb aerial photography targets as crews begin aerial mapping on Highway 108 from Ottertail to Henning. The aerial survey process relies on clear observations, and must be conducted after the leaves fall and before it snows. To begin the process crews place an “X” on […]
President Donald Trump’s campaign is threatening to sue over an alleged pre-payment demand ahead of his Thursday rally at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. The president’s campaign sent a letter to Target Center management Monday after they were allegedly told they needed to pay $530,000 ahead of the rally for security costs and other fees. […]
On the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 5:30-7 p.m., the public is invited to A Center for the Arts in Fergus Falls to watch a new documentary called “The Power of Minnesota” that tells the story of how clean energy is making local economies throughout our region even stronger. More than just a film […]
Gov. Tim Walz called on House Democratic and Senate Republican leaders on Tuesday to negotiate a compromise between their competing insulin affordability proposals so that he can call a special session to resolve one of the big unfinished issues left over from this year’s regular session. Walz said in a letter to Democratic House Speaker […]
Minnesota agriculture officials monitoring for the possible spread of a fungus-like organism that has killed millions of oak trees on the West Coast say it has not yet been found in the state. But they remain on the lookout for a disease that could harm the state’s iconic oak trees. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture […]
Motorists traveling on Minnesota roads this fall should be aware of large farm equipment transporting crops to markets, grain elevators and processing plants, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. “Harvest season is ramping up across Minnesota and farmers need the highways to access their fields and deliver crops to market,” said Brian Sorenson, state […]
No one is calling it a bumper crop but farmers are preparing to set the soybean harvest in west-central Minnesota into motion. Some beans are beginning to trickle into area elevators but the flood comes in October. Coming off a week that saw extreme heat as well as above-average moisture, soybean fields have gone quickly […]
U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., in a phone conference with agricultural media, said he is looking into why the U.S. Department of Agriculture has cut staff by a quarter in a time when demands on offices have increased. Peterson, speaking to reporters from Minnesota and the Dakotas on Sept. 25, said people in his district […]
ST. PAUL — In recent weeks, Minnesota television viewers have been blitzed with ads urging them to tell U.S. Sen. Tina Smith to oppose “government rate setting” for payments to doctors and hospitals. The group behind the ads, Doctor Patient Unity, spent more than $28 million to air them in states where senators are running […]
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates Wednesday for the second time in seven weeks, in an effort to prolong the decade-old economic expansion in the face of rising headwinds. The Fed lowered its target for the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point, to a range of 1.75 percent to 2 percent. The move, […]
One of the victims of Monday and Tuesday’s murder spree in St. Paul was the husband of a former Fergus Falls resident – Kayla (Kowitz) Sanmiguel – a 2004 graduate of Fergus Falls High School. A GoFundMe account has been set up for the family of Javier Sanmiguel. The Sanmiguels live in the Payne-Phalen district […]
The weather might be cooling down (and then warming back up), but don’t go into hibernation just yet, there’s still plenty for community members to do this weekend if they’re looking to support a local sports team, go to the races or partake in controlled chaos. 1. WISSOTA 100 The final day of the WISSOTA […]
When the state government elected to outlaw smoking in bars, restaurants and other establishments 12 years ago a decision that pleased some and angered others. Both sides in the fight had cases to make. People supporting the ban pointed out the health benefits of not having to breathe secondhand smoke. Those protesting the ban were […]
ST. PAUL — Traffic fatalities rose this summer in Minnesota, though the increase cannot be directly pinned on alcohol or speed-related crashes, which both showed decreases from a year ago, data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety revealed. In what state officials call the “100 deadliest days” on Minnesota roadways, the period from Memorial […]
While some people might be looking for some relaxation after the first week of school, others might be looking for a way to hold onto that feeling of summer fun. Well, there’s plenty going on this weekend to satisfy excitement-seekers. 1. The Lake Region Threshers Show in Dalton Friday through Sunday is the 66th annual […]
As questions arise about immigration in the United States and the best steps that should be taken, one Christian denomination has chosen to declare itself on a national level a sanctuary denomination. On Aug. 7, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), declared itself a sanctuary denomination, committing to supporting and sheltering migrants entering the […]
On Wednesday, motorists will encounter alternating lane closures in both directions on Highway 59 north of Pelican Rapids as crews begin a road preservation project. The work is taking place from 460th Street to 470th Street between Dunvilla and Pelican Rapids, and is expected to be completed by Friday, weather permitting. As part of this […]
Former Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach announced Monday, Sept. 2, that she would challenge U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson in Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District. The move tees up a competitive bid in the district that spans much of the western side of the state and launches one of the most serious challenges Peterson, a Democrat who has […]
More than a dozen utilities from around Minnesota have sent power crews to Florida to help with the potential aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. The storm battered the Bahamas Monday with wind speeds of over 180 mph, making it one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded. The hurricane is now moving along Florida’s coast as […]
Motorists will encounter a temporary detour and closure of Highway 27 in Herman starting Tuesday, Sept. 10, as railroad crews replace the concrete crossing. Traffic will be detoured to Highway 9/Atlantic Avenue, Third Street West and Pacific Avenue. The work is expected to take approximately two days to complete, weather permitting. MnDOT urges motorists to […]
Minnesota Democrats say they want to legalize and regulate marijuana in next year’s legislative session, but first they want members of the public to tell them how they should do it. In front of the Farmers Union building at the State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 29, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the Minnesota House said […]
The Fergus Falls campus of Minnesota State Community and Technical College will host a regional bonding tour for Minnesota House members and community officials from the area on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The meeting, scheduled for 7-8:15 p.m., is intended to give local state agencies an opportunity to introduce lawmakers to the projects for which they […]
United Way, Calvary Evangelical Free Church and North Country Food Bank will coordinate a free mobile food drop — Project Community Connect — for people in need in Pelican Rapids, Friday, Sept. 20 at Calvary Evangelical Free Church. A Project Community Connect event, including a mobile food drop will be held for families and people […]
This week, motorists traveling on Highway 10 near Perham will encounter intermittent short-term ramp closures in both directions at the Highway 10/County Road 80 and Highway 10/Highway 78 interchanges. Crews have started milling and paving operations in the eastbound and westbound lanes, including the ramps. During the ramp closures, motorists should find an alternate route. […]
The wind whips Erika Rowe’s hair as she stands in a western Minnesota prairie and studies a GPS screen. She’s trying to determine the precise location for a small piece of this prairie which will become a monitoring site for scientists trying to understand better the ways Minnesota’s ecosystems are changing. She’s project coordinator for […]
ST. PAUL — Minnesota law enforcement officials cited 678 drivers in the first week a new law barring holding a cell phone behind the wheel took effect. Minnesota deputies and troopers cited 678 drivers across the state for violating the law between Aug. 1 and 7, Department of Public Safety spokespeople said. The new law […]