TOWER — There will be a new face in the principal’s office at Tower-Soudan Elementary this year. Crystal Poppler is moving into the role formerly held by John Jirik, who is now the …

SOUDAN — The Breitung Town Board made the decision to stop paying a full-time township employee who was injured on the job two months ago. The employee had been receiving full pay from the …

Gwenn E. Lilya Gwenn Elizabeth Ekern Lilya, 87, passed away on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at the Ely- Bloomenson Community Hospital. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Aug. 29 at St. …

GREANEY — Frontier Communications customers in the Greaney area were without internet or phone service for six days this past week, but had the company responded to multiple requests from a …

ELY — The city’s largest revenue source remains stagnant while costs continue to rise, according to city officials reviewing the preliminary 2026 budget. Local Government Aid from the …

EMBARRASS — Despite showers, cool weather, and a shortage of volunteers, the Embarrass Region Fair had an excellent turnout for the weekend. The fair had something for everyone to enjoy, from …

Ely Public School District Superintendent Anne Oelke presented her goals for the 2025-2026 school year to the school board, outlining three key areas of focus as the district navigates financial …

REGIONAL— If you hear a low-flying helicopter near you in the coming days, it may be part of a routine effort by the St. Louis County Land Department to manage several reforestation projects in …

REGIONAL- The Great Lakes region is facing an unprecedented water crisis as three rapidly expanding industries — data centers, mining, and agricultural irrigation — converge on the …

REGIONAL — There was a time, back in the year 1900, when electric-powered automobiles constituted a third of all vehicles on U.S. roads. Cheaper gasoline models with greater range eventually …

TOWER- Fortune Bay Casino’s ‘Ticket in, Ticket Out’ program just donated almost $1,400 to the Tower-Soudan Athletic Association/Tower-Soudan PTO fundraiser to construct a storage …

MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Minnesota District will honor 10 lenders throughout the state for their commitment to helping small businesses succeed at the …

Jack E. Montagna Jack Elliot Montagna, 75, of Soldotna, Alaska, originally of Ely, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Friends and family are invited to join in a celebration of life …

ELY — The excitement surrounding the rollout of WELY radio was hard to miss as station manager Terri Pylka spoke to the Tuesday Group on Aug. 12. But the return of the longtime local radio …

TOWER- It was a fraction of a second that changed her life, and Dena Suihkonen said she honestly can’t even remember it. What she does remember is trying to grab onto something as she fell …

VIRGINA — While the framework for ISD 2142’s Friday day care option to support the transition to a four-day school week is solidly in place, two big questions still loom as the program …

ELY—Members of the city’s budget committee here are grappling with how to craft next year’s finances among uncertainty over staffing levels and health care costs. A preliminary …

ELY — The police department here is taking the first steps toward implementing body-worn cameras, with Police Chief Chad Houde announcing plans to begin a formal public review process this …

COOK — An 80-year-old St. Paul woman died Wednesday evening after being found unresponsive in Lake Vermilion near Blueberry Island. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said a 911 …

TOWER — The city council here politely declined to go on record in support of a pollution variance for U.S. Steel’s Keetac operation, despite a concerted effort by Mayor Dave Setterberg …

GREENWOOD TWP — The town board on Tuesday approved spending $15,000 for the tennis court resurfacing project. Recreation Committee President Paul Thompson outlined this year’s current …

COOK — Former Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Cook Executive Director Reed Erickson has filed a civil lawsuit seeking more than $50,000 in damages, alleging that a hostile work …

Designs are complete for a new wastewater treatment facility that could potentially double the capacity for Tower and Breitung Township. Water/wastewater supervisor Matt Tuchel said the plans had …

REGIONAL— The proposed acquisition of Minnesota Power parent company, ALLETE, by two large investment funds has divided some usual allies over whether the purchase is in the public interest. …

Dr. Douglas A. and Marcia L. DeGroote Douglas A. and Marcia Lenore DeGroote, beloved parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, educators and friends, passed away peacefully in their home in Merino, …