By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent A motion by County Commissioner Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood and seconded by Commissioner Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids passed unanimously to authorize three Hazard Mitigation Project Assistance Program Grant Agreements. These agreements are between Otter Tail County and the communities of Battle Lake, Underwood and Ottertail. This… Read More

Finalists to debate whether the pursuit of happiness has made Americans unhappy As the United States begins preparations for its 250th anniversary, four thinkers will travel to the small, rural Minnesota town of New York Mills this June to debate the 2026 question posed by the Great American Think-Off:  “Has the Pursuit of Happiness Made… Read More

By Shay Scanlan Report for Minnesota The Minnesota Senate passed a sweeping gun violence prevention package on May 4 that includes a ban on assault-style weapons, though the measure faces steep Republican opposition in the House.  The package also bans what are called binary triggers, devices that double the rate of fire on some firearms…. Read More

By Kendra Mobilia Report for Minnesota Medical waste from hospitals and surgical centers too often gets mixed in with regular trash, and at least one state lawmaker wants to fix that. Rep. Wayne Johnson, R-Cottage Grove, initially authored a bill to fine medical facilities for the mixing of waste products, but after hearing some pushback,… Read More

By Eleanor Steffen Report for Minnesota The Minnesota House will vote on a bill to establish a centralized electronic payroll reporting portal and database for contractors working on state-funded projects. While electronic payroll reporting is already required in Minnesota for projects fully or partially funded by tax dollars, the bill by Rep. Dave Pinto, DFL-St…. Read More

Contributed photo On Thursday, April 30 several New York Mills students participated in a Career Fair at Perham Health and Perham Living. The students were able to visit the different health care departments and listen to various professionals speak about their own career pathways. Parkers Prairie and Perham students also attended the event.

Photos by Tucker Henderson New York Mills kindergarten students recently hosted a special guest of their own during the annual Wonderful Women event at the school. The event, formerly known as Muffins with Moms, featured everything from treats to arts and crafts projects and a time to visit with friends.

By Abbey Mulcahy Report for Minnesota As Minnesota school districts face increasing financial challenges, the Legislature has passed a proposed constitutional amendment to increase funding for schools without raising taxes or dipping into the state’s general fund.  The proposal, passed on May 4 in the House and May 7 in the Senate, would increase the… Read More

Contributed photo The New York Mills High School Class of 1959 met at Mills Lanes recently for lunch and time of remembering. Classmates attending were: Front row: Janet (Wilson) Tumberg, Dorla (Bernu) Salo and Carolyn (Tisdell) Wallgren. Middle row: Pat (Wapola) Fredley, Carol (Wallgren) Ehnert, Myrt (Matti) Larson, Gen (Pesola) Matti and Donal Bauck. Back… Read More

The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month. Recognized each May since 1949, this month is a reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health and that no one must face their struggles alone.  The numbers close to home  Mental health challenges are growing… Read More