The annual State of the City address was given by Bemidji Mayor Jorge Prince during the city council’s meeting on Tuesday, which also included a debate on online meeting access.
Housing advocates and tenants are raising concerns about the conditions at Pine Ridge and Century Apartments in Bemidji, with reports of unsecured entrances, recurring property damage and a lack of response from the property owners.
“We want the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge back,” Fairbanks said. “It was taken away from us in the 1930s." White Earth also wants the 160,000-acre White Earth Forest.
This year, many of the Pioneer’s top stories centered around growth, healing, relationships and community. Even in the midst of some hard losses it was a rejuvenating year of progress.