Hope House Bemidji

02/14/2026

ST. PAUL — Residents across Greater Minnesota now have more consistent ways to plan for and, in some cases, book and pay for public transit and intercity bus trips, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

“This is a big step for Minnesota and for rural communities,” MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger said in a release. “Transit agencies currently provide public transit services in all or part of all 87 counties in Minnesota, but many people are not aware of the services in Greater Minnesota or what their options are. This will allow residents and visitors throughout Greater Minnesota to see their options and plan trips now or months into the future.”

This expansion builds on MnDOT’s efforts to help transit agencies make their services more visible and accessible. To complete the upgrade, MnDOT used nearly $500,000 in grant funding from the Minnesota Technology Modernization Fund, a $40 million fund established by the Legislature to help state agencies improve customer experience and efficiency, the release said.

Travelers can plan trips using the Transit app or the website mntransitplanner.com, which allows people without smartphones to plan trips. More than 20,000 Minnesotans are using the Transit app each month for public transit in Greater Minnesota. Prior to this recent expansion, only transit agencies in southern and western Minnesota were covered.

The multimodal trip planning is powered by standardized transit data. Transit agencies provide accurate and reliable trip information that is pulled into websites and apps so that travelers can plan trips statewide.

MnDOT’s original pilot program with 12 rural Minnesota transit agencies launched in March 2023. Researchers from the University of Minnesota studied the pilot phase and found that the transit agencies that used the Transit app saw a 4.2% increase in ridership compared to similar agencies that didn’t have this technology.

“The Mobility as a Service platform is making Greater Minnesota transit resources visible in a way they were not before,” said Elliott McFadden, MnDOT’s Emerging Mobility unit supervisor. “Minnesota is the first state doing this on a statewide basis. We’re proud to help connect people with transit options and strengthen our local transit partners.”

What’s next

MnDOT recently added six rural transit agencies to the Transit app:

• Paul Bunyan Transit

• Hubbard County Heartland Express

Copied from today’s BEMIDJI Pioneer newspaper.

02/13/2026

02/12/2026

When your adult child lives with serious mental illness, caregiving can last decades.

In one week, join NAMI for:

Ask the Expert: Roles in Recovery — Part 2: Parents
February 19, 2026 | 4:00–5:30 p.m. ET

Moderator:
Dr. Judith R. Smith — clinical social worker, psychotherapist and author of Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children through Conflict and Change

Panelists:
The three co-hosts of the podcast Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches:

• Mindy Greiling — former Minnesota State Representative and longtime NAMI leader
• Randye Kaye — NAMI Family-to-Family trainer and advocate
• Miriam Feldman — author, artist and NAMI affiliate volunteer

Together, they’ll share more than 30 years of lived caregiving experience — and explore what it means to balance love, resilience and self-care while supporting an adult child with serious mental illness.

If you are a parent, caregiver, provider or advocate, this conversation is for you.

Register today: https://nami-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XrNnTsZxTBq1_FrY47DZRA #/registration

02/11/2026

02/04/2026

Mark Your Calendar: Our upcoming free and virtual presentation: “Make It OK to Talk Mental Health” is happening on February 5th. Our upcoming events, presentations, and trainings deepen your learning and help create caring conversations!

MakeItOK.org/Take-Action/Events

02/04/2026

February is full of opportunities to spark conversations, raise awareness, and support one another. Now more than ever, creating space to talk about mental health and to truly listen matters.

This month’s observances offer meaningful moments to check in, reduce stigma, and remind each other that we don’t have to carry things alone. Explore the resources and ways to connect throughout the month.

Click here to download:https://makeitok.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MIO-Calendars-Feb-2026.pdf

01/28/2026

Call 1-888-LinkVet Today

01/28/2026

Knowing what to say when someone opens up can make a big difference in supporting their mental health, especially in times when the world feels heavy, uncertain, or overwhelming. Feeling seen, safe, and connected matters.

Sometimes simple, supportive words are enough to show you care and help someone feel less alone.

Some examples include:
• “Thank you for opening up to me.”
• “Do you want to talk about it?”
• “I’m here with you.”
• “You don’t have to go through this alone.”
• “Can I help you feel safer or more supported right now?”
• “Can I drive you to an appointment?”
• “Are you getting the care and support you need?”
• “Can I help you find the care and support you need?”

In moments like these, connection is powerful. Listening without trying to fix can be a lifeline.

January is Mental Wellbeing Month. Let’s Make It OK to check in, to listen, and to help one another feel supported and safe.

01/23/2026

Leech Lake Chairman Jackson, Sr. Issues Tribal Service Announcement

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe—As the Chairman of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, I am compelled to issue a Tribal Service Announcement. The number one concern of the RBC Tribal Council, we want each and every Band member to be safe, know your rights, please carry some form of identification, and if you do not have an I.D.—Leech Lake will provide the membership a FREE Tribal I.D. If you are questioned, detained, or arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents, please do not run, do not panic, because you are this Nation’s first citizen and showing a Minnesota Driver’s License and/or Leech Lake Tribal I.D. will identify who you are.

The Leech Lake RBC Tribal Council has opened every channel of communications with the Minnesota Governor’s office and Homeland Security Administration. We all have concerns with the safety our children, family members, and friends. I am holding firm on the position that Homeland Security ICE Agents could have been more effective if they met with community leaders, elected leaders, and sought community support with the illegal immigration crisis facing our country. Presently, seeing our citizens being hurt is wrong, this must stop immediately, until there’s a more humane way to addressing the policies on illegal immigration facing the U.S.

What are your Rights During an ICE Interactions with an Agent: The first step, please contact the RBC Tribal Council Administration at (218) 335-8200 if you are detained, arrested and/or have questions with these rights. If you do not have an I.D., Leech Lake will provide a free I.D.; please be calm and do not run; Native Americans born in Indian Country obtained citizenship, therefore, you can not be arrested for immigrations violations or deport you; You have the right to remain silent; You have the right to refuse consent to any search; You have the right to ask if you are detained or free to leave; You have the right to verify the Agent’s identity; You have the right to refuse entry to your home; and finally, we can be safe by knowing our RIGHTS and you are not an illegal immigrant but this country’s first citizen.

In closing, with the gifts of the creator, I am praying that we take a moment to reflect on the tragedies, people suffering with pain, the anger with this situation, and finding peace with the present crisis facing our communities and the people. Keeping in mind, we are all in this together. As we move forward, we will keep the Leech Lake People informed and new information will be posted on the LLBO page.