Author: Joe Lancello

Local Radio

Adult Son of ND US Senator Cramer Arrested In Stolen Vehicle Crash That Killed Sheriff’s Deputy

Charges are pending against the adult son of North Dakota US Senator Kevin Cramer after a chase that killed a Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Wednesday evening.  The North Dakota Highway Patrol says a stolen SUV driven by 42-year-old Ian Cramer of Bismarck was spotted in Hazen.  When law enforcement approached Cramer, he took off in…
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December 7, 2023 0

Special Fertile City Council Meeting Thursday

FERTILE, MN—The Fertile City Council is holding a special meeting Thursday night at 7 at the Community Center Auditorium.  There will be presentations on two audits: one of the City of Fertile, the other of Fair Meadow Nursing Home, which the City owns.  Once again, that Fertile City Council meeting is at 7pm  R&J News…
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December 7, 2023 0

Minnesota Health Coverage

Minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid, Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare will need to reapply for their coverage.  Bukata Hayes, vice president of racial and health equity and chief equity officer with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, says up to one in four Minnesotans are at risk of losing their coverage. Hayes tells us about a…
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December 7, 2023 0

Central Valley High School Concert

BUXTON, ND—The Central Valley School in Buxton is holding its high school music concert Thursday night. Central Valley music director Sam Sharpe gives us a preview. Thursday night’s concert starts at 7pm and admission is free.


December 7, 2023 0

MN Budget Outlook

What’s the outlook for Minnesota’s budget?  It depends on who you ask.  On Wednesday, a new forecast from the Minnesota Management and Budget office projects a surplus of $2.4 billion for the budget period ending in June 2025.  Speaker of the Minnesota House Melissa Hortman talks about the new report. But when R&J News reached…
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December 7, 2023 0

Arrest In Bemidji School Threat

BEMIDJI, MN— A boy has been arrested and is facing possible charges in connection to a threat that closed Bemidji schools Wednesday.  According to Bemidji area schools, at approximately 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5, the Bemidji Police Department notified the school that an unknown individual had sent text messages indicating a specific threat to…
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December 6, 2023 0

Ulen-Hitterdal FFA Students Win Honors In Crookston

Several students from the region took part in an FFA competition last Friday at the University of Minnesota-Crookston.  Ulen-Hitterdal Dean of Students Ted Critchley tells R&J News some of his students took home prizes from that competition. You can hear the latest Ulen-Hitterdal School News Monday afternoons on KRJB 106.5 FM; and it’s also available…
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December 6, 2023 0

Santa Coming To Fertile

Fertile will be celebrating Santa Day this coming Saturday, December 9.  Stacy Erickson, president of the Fertile Community Club, has details. Once again, that’s this Saturday, December 9 at the Fertile Community Center.


December 5, 2023 0

National Influenza Vaccination Week

This is National Influenza Vaccination Week.  In other words, it’s a reminder to get a flu shot. Kelsey Merkens is a public health registered nurse with Norman-Mahnomen Public Health. Merkens says flu shots are for all of us, but especially the very young and older populations. While there may not be many flu cases yet,…
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December 5, 2023 0

Merkens Receives Heritage Award

A member of the Norman County Fair Board has received a national award.  Don Merkens received a Heritage Award last week from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions.  Merkens tells R&J News about the award. Merkens has been with the Norman County Fair since 1986 and he talks about changes at the Fair since…
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December 5, 2023 0