REGIONAL- Construction is nearing completion on a $7.8 million fiber-optic broadband expansion expected to reach more than 600 homes and businesses in portions of St. Louis and Itasca counties. In …

REGIONAL- Two Babbitt residents were injured in a side-by-side ATV rollover early Sunday along Pulkinen Road near Waasa Township. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash at …

TOWER- There were congratulations all around as trail supporters, planners, funders, and local politicians celebrated the formal completion of the 165-mile-long Mesabi Trail, the longest paved …

ELY — The current political season filled the Vermilion North College theater again last week as Ely residents turned out to hear from local candidates for Ely mayor and city council seats. Current …

TOWER— Steve Freshour is now the city’s fire chief and interim ambulance supervisor. The city council here approved those changes last Wednesday, Sept. 2, in a special meeting to, among other …

GREENWOOD TWP- It appears that Greenwood Township will soon have a new fire engine, with a total price tag of $809,649. The town board signaled their willingness to move forward with the purchase …

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board is ready to take the first steps towards becoming a Firewise community. Firewise USA is a national program to help communities take action to reduce risks and …

COOK– The city council here approved planning and design quotes for the city’s wastewater pond rehabilitation project as well as its north business utility extension project during its regular …

TOWER- A three-year grant from the Minnesota Department of Education is allowing Vermilion Country School’s Tower campus to expand it Ojibwe culture and language programming. The school has hired …

VERMILION RESERVATION- Over 100 volunteers are needed Oct. 6-8 to help build the new playground at the Boys and Girls Club at Vermilion Reservation. The playground has been donated thanks to a …

REGIONAL- Federal prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison sentence for former Minnesota Sen. Justin Eichorn following his guilty plea to attempted possession of child pornography. The request is …

ELY— More than 120 craft and food vendors will be on hand here, at Whiteside Park, this weekend as the 32nd annual Harvest Moon Festival gets underway on Friday, Sept. 11. And the weather forecast …

ELY— It was a tale of two debates here last week as Ely Rotary and the American Association of University Women paired up to present a candidates forum focused on the local District 3 contests. In …

LAKE VERMILION- No one was injured in an early Sunday morning fire that destroyed three watercraft and damaged part of the marina at Fortune Bay Resort Casino. The fire also caused minor damage to …

REGIONAL— This fall, an amendment to Minnesota’s constitution is on the ballot, seeking to increase the annual distribution from the Permanent School Fund from 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent. The …

BABBITT- With its existing city license set to expire in six years, the Babbitt Golf Association is seeking a new 99-year agreement to provide the long-term stability needed to pursue grants and …

REGIONAL- Greater access to traditional healing practices could be coming for Native Americans enrolled in Medical Assistance, Minnesota’s Medicaid program. The Minnesota Department of Human …

REGIONAL- St. Louis County commissioners gave initial approval Tuesday to a maximum 2027 property tax levy of $215.3 million, a 6.25-percent increase over this year. The levy’s impact will be …

LAKE VERMILION— More details on the planned deployment of a neutrino detector in the waters off Vermilion’s Ely Island later emerged this week in response to questions posed by the Timberjay. The …

REGIONAL— After more than 30 years of planning and construction, the 165-mile-long Mesabi Trail will pave its final section, just south of Tower, this coming week. The project, which began in 1993 …

LINDEN GROVE TWP- A proposal to grow cannabis on a 17-acre parcel on Carpenter Road drew strong opposition here last Thursday, as township property owners voted 26-6 against having the township seek …

ELY— Area voters and DFL candidates Grant Hauschild and Aaron Kania sounded a note of unity during a town hall event held here on Monday. About 60 mostly older residents gathered at the Grand Ely …

REGIONAL— The St. Louis County school board passed a bell-to-bell cellphone ban for the upcoming school year. Students will not be allowed to use their phones during the school day, including at …

SOUDAN- Randy Pratt, who took over management at McKinley Park Campground this season, has asked the Breitung Town Board for changes in the contract, including a pay increase, for the campground for …

REGIONAL – Small businesses in the Upper Midwest are facing significant economic challenges right now, as they struggle with the combined impact of tariffs, labor shortages, and general …