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Speed enforcement to be ramped up on rural Minnesota roads

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Speed enforcement to be ramped up on rural Minnesota roads


ST. PAUL

— This summer,

Minnesota State Patrol

troopers will be starting a new initiative to curb speeding on high-risk rural roads.

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According to a news release from the State Patrol, troopers will participate in the Rural Speed Reduction Project. Each district will assign troopers to conduct high-visibility patrols on problematic roadways within their areas now through Sept. 2.

“This new enforcement initiative is another way for troopers to make a difference by educating drivers and stopping dangerous behaviors before it results in a life-changing tragedy. If it saves even one life, it’s worth it,” said Col. Christina Bogojevic, the new chief of the Minnesota State Patrol.

According to the news release, fatal crashes are up almost 40% from this time last year on Minnesota roads, with 31 speed-related traffic fatalities reported through May 5. So far, 116 traffic fatalities have been reported through May 9, compared to 84 reported fatalities within the same time frame last year.

The Rural Speed Reduction Project replaces the Highway Enforcement for Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) enforcement the State Patrol started in 2022. The new plan will allow each State Patrol district to formulate its own plans for when and what roads to monitor. The two Twin Cities-area districts will also allocate hours to rural roads and freeways.

Troopers will work the special enforcement while on duty and during overtime hours. On some days in the summer, some districts may schedule all of its troopers for high-visibility patrols.

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In its first week, the new statewide enforcement initiative resulted in 1,246 stops for speeding, according to the release.

By
West Central Tribune staff report
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “West Central Tribune staff report.” Often, the “West Central Tribune staff report” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

The West Central Tribune newsroom can be reached via email:
news@wctrib.com or phone 320-235-1150.





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Minnesota

Minnesota weather: Warm Saturday with hotter days ahead

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Minnesota weather: Warm Saturday with hotter days ahead


Expect a sunny Saturday with heat expected to build up this weekend before an even hotter work week. 

Saturday forecast 

Local perspective:

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Winds stay light out of the south with plenty of sunshine today. 

There are hints of an extremely isolated thundershower, but the chance of that happening over any given area is extremely small.

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Expect highs to peak in the upper 80s with dew points in the mid to upper 60s this afternoon.

Extended forecast

What’s next:

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This forecast is hot. 

Highs will peak in the 90s every day this upcoming week for the Twin Cities and a large portion of the area as well. 

Dew points really don’t look to surge into the 70s but mainly stay in the lower to upper 60s depending on the day of the week. 

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Little to no precipitation forecast this upcoming week. Expect dry and sunny days.

The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast.  

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WeatherWeather Forecast



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Minnesota

How to prepare for extreme heat in Minnesota

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How to prepare for extreme heat in Minnesota


Minnesota’s climate is warming and extreme heat is becoming a bigger health concern. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how dangerous heat affects our health, who’s most at risk, and how to stay safe.



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Northwest Minnesota Foundation awarded $200,000 for child care economic development

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Northwest Minnesota Foundation awarded 0,000 for child care economic development


BEMIDJI — The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recently announced over $1.4 million in child care economic development grants, including a $200,000 award to the

Northwest Minnesota Foundation

in Bemidji.

Split between 11 programs and organizations around the state, more than 80% of the awarded funds support programs in Greater Minnesota, with the aim of creating more than 1,100 new child care slots.

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“Affordable, reliable child care is essential for a thriving economy,” DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said in a release. “These grants are supporting working families by ensuring Minnesota parents are able to work knowing their child is well cared for by some of the best caregivers in the nation. We’re also helping employers retain talent and working together to establish the foundation for long-term economic vitality.”

DEED’s Child Care Economic Development Grant program provides funding to organizations and communities to invest in new or expanding child care businesses, including facility improvements, worker training, attraction, retention and licensing, and other strategies to address the child care shortage.

Since the office’s inception in July 2023, DEED has awarded over $13 million in grants to 56 organizations to fund child care startups or business expansions, resulting in over 4,000 new child care slots.

Our newsroom sometimes reports stories under the byline “Pioneer Staff Report.” This byline is used when reporters rewrite basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as an email or press release that requires little or no reporting.

Other times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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For questions about a staff report, call (218) 333-9796 or email news@bemidjipioneer.com.





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