Wirt, MN Events and More

Goodbye Lake Superior, So Long Lake Minnetonka: This Minnesota Gem Is A Freshwater Fishing Paradise

It's not for nothing that Minnesota has been dubbed the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." The North Star State is a fisherman's oasis, with places like Duluth offering access to Lake Superior, while folks in the Twin Cities can escape to Lake Minnetonka. Still, as serene as their natural beauty may be, summer crowding can be an issue. However, if you prefer a secluded fishing retreat off the beaten path and away from Minnesota's major cities, then say goodbye to these two destinations and hello to Little Jessie Lake. This body of water is located in Itasca County, in what is referred to as "Up North" by locals.

Minnesota · 2d

Grand Rapids Herald Review

partner publisher · 116.8K followers

Itasca County Board sets 2027 legislative priorities, approves jail medical contract

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — The Itasca County Board of Commissioners finalized its 2027 legislative priorities, approved a $646,753 contract for jail medical services, and recognized local deputies for statewide honors during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Legislative Priorities Commissioners solidified a seven-point legislative agenda ahead of the 2027 session, focusing on local infrastructure, energy regulations, and rural funding. The finalized list includes: Supporting efforts for double-lane completion on Highway 169.Increasing Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) reimbursements, with an emphasis on lakeshore property.Securing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) funding.Lifting the state nuclear moratorium and updating energy transition rules to include biomass as carbon neutral.Addressing recent legislative impacts on new business economic development and investment.Reforming the state funding process for recreation enforcement.Updating current sulfate standards. During the discussion, Commissioner Corey Smith pointed to the nuclear moratorium and energy transition policies, noting that state regulations have been tough on businesses and require legislative change. Commissioner Casey Venema agreed, calling the current regulatory climate “ridiculous.” Venema also emphasized keeping Highway 169 on the list and suggested looking into pedestrian safety improvements at the crossing near Four Seasons Market. The board voted to accept a $646,753 bid from Advanced Correctional Healthcare (ACH) to

Itasca County, MN · 1d

News8000com WKBT News 8

Mississippi Canoe Trip Raises Awareness

Grand Rapids, MN · 5h

myklgr.com

14 Counties Eligible For Disaster Assistance

(Atlanta, GA) – The U.S. Small Business Administration is making available low-interest federal disaster loans for eligible small businesses and private nonprofit organizations impacted by drought. The 14 counties are Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Douglas, Lincoln, Lyon, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Yellow Medicine. The businesses hurt by the drought can apply for up to $2 million dollar loan with interest rates as low as 4%. Loans can last up to 30 years and there is no interest or required payments during the first 12 months following disbursement. Businesses can apply online at sba.gov/disaster.

Yellow Medicine County, MN · 3d

Grand Rapids Herald Review

Five Thunderhawks commit to college athletics

GRAND RAPIDS — Dozens of students, staff, and families gathered inside the Grand Rapids High School atrium on Wednesday to celebrate a number of student-athletes committing to college athletic programs to continue their pursuits following high school graduation. Five of Grand Rapids’ best: Senior multi-sport athletes Logan Wourms, Ethan Morgan, Sophie Carlson, Ava Limberg, and Quinn Cargill signed their letters of intent to continue playing the sports they’ve committed to at the schools they chose. Grand Rapids High School athletic director Dale Christy complimented the five for their athletic and academic accomplishments, and for being good representatives of the school and community. Each student had the opportunity to answer several questions about their plans and experiences while at high school, and had their respective coaches offer what set each of them apart. Logan Wourms, State University of New York at Cobleskill - Lacrosse A defenseman and a midfielder for Grand Rapids, Wourms committed to play college lacrosse at SUNY at Cobleskill where he’ll suit up for the Fighting Tigers. While playing lacrosse, he said he is interested in the canine training program offered at the school. He said that was a factor in him choosing Cobleskill, along with the coach’s

valleynewslive.com

Family asks judge to exhume Beltrami County grave over fears wrong body was buried

BEMIDJI, Minn. (Valley News Live) - Two brothers are asking a Beltrami County judge to order the exhumation of their brother’s grave, saying they have reason to believe he may not be buried there after an alleged funeral home mix-up. A hearing on the petition is set for 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16. The brothers asked for an expedited hearing in part because winter frost could make the work harder.

Beltrami County, MN · 1d

state.mn.us

Report bear den locations in Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Duluth areas

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters and other recreationists spending time outdoors this fall to report the locations of bear dens they encounter in and around the Brainerd, Grand Rapids and Duluth areas. Bear researchers with the DNR and University of Minnesota Duluth hope to fit additional bears with GPS tracking collars this winter.

partner publisher · 116.8K followers

News8000com WKBT News 8

Central Iowa man canoes from Grand Rapids to Gulf of Mexico with dog Jade

The Brief

Grand Rapids, MN · 4h

Grand Rapids Herald Review

Fothergill and Jordan win Redfish Cup Championship

PORT ARANSAS, Texas — Grand Rapids native and world-class angler Easton Fothergill and his partner Clark Jordan took home the top prize of $37,000 after winning the 2026 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship. They finished second in last year’s Redfish Cup, and earned a redeeming victory Nov. 6-8 with a three-day total weight of 42 pounds even - 4.1 pounds ahead of second place Mike Lauer and Jesse Craddock out on Aransas Bay, Port Aransas, Texas. Fothergill and Jordan’s haul after Day 1 saw them just outside the lead by less than a pound. They overtook the tournament lead after Day 2 and extended it through the end of Day 3. Following the win, Fothergill wrote the story of the team’s redemption himself. Redemption on Redfish Easton Fothergill I had a great time fishing the Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship at Port Aransas, Texas, and winning the event alongside Clark Jordan was an incredible experience. Clark and I finished second at last year’s event, so to take home the trophy this time felt really good. After last year’s finish, with my competitive nature, I wanted redemption. I wanted to come back and get another shot at it, so to do that

Grand Rapids, MN · 16h

lptv.org

Lakeland News 25th Anniversary – Betsy Melin & Chris Burns

For our second night of blasts from the past for Lakeland News’ 25th Anniversary, we’re featuring two of our reporters from the past three years, Betsy Melin and Chris Burns. Most of you will remember Betsy Melin from the many news and events that she covered in the...

Bemidji, MN · 2d

myfamilytravels.com

partner publisher · 6.1K followers

An Abandoned Minnesota Iron Mine Is Now A Stunning Outdoor Park With 38 Miles Of Trails

The water in these old mine pits is hundreds of feet deep, and it shines a startling shade of blue. Right above it, mountain bikers zip along trails carved through red rock and past towering cliff faces. For more than a century, crews dug iron ore out of this ground....

Chisholm, MN · 2d

Mesabi Tribune

Second Chance home revealed in Chisholm

CHISHOLM—A house located at 214 Second Street Southwest is the first of four former tax-forfeited homes on the Range to be given “a second chance” through a new pilot program. On Tuesday representatives from the partnering entities, along with elected officials from Chisholm and Hibbing, among others, stopped by to get their first look at the newly renovated home along with displays that included before and after photos. Launched in fiscal year 2024, the Second Chance Homes Pilot Program is a partnership among Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR), Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) and St. Louis County to rehabilitate formerly tax-forfeited homes and preserve to help meet a need for housing. Phase 1 includes three other homes, two in Eveleth and one in Aurora that are expected to be completed soon. The approximate $1.2 million investment is Phase 1, according to information provided by the IRRR. The work preserves existing housing, revitalizes neighborhoods and creates homeownership opportunities while helping prevent deterioration that could eventually require demolition. AEOA Executive Director Mark Page said the three bedroom, two bath home in Chisholm took about 12 months to complete. Before and after photos of the project were available for people to view

Chisholm, MN · 2d

Mesabi Tribune

partner publisher · 6.1K followers

Good news for Cliffs' Iron Range miners

Two tentative labor contract agreements between the United Steelworkers union and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is a big piece of good news for steelworkers, families and the Iron Range as a whole. The tentative four-year labor contract agreements comes after months of tough negotiations. But there’s another part of the negotiations that’s just as significant. Steelworkers who had been laid-off at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Hibbing Taconite Co. are being offered the opportunity to come back to work, Chris Johnson, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2705 president at Hibbing Taconite said. With the call-backs, between 375 and 400 steelworkers could be back to work at the taconite plant, Johnson said. Laid-off Hibbing Taconite steelworkers are being called to determine whether they want to come back to work at the plant, Johnson said. “I just got done going through the list of laid-off members,” Johnson said Thursday evening. “So everybody who has been laid-off or transferred (to another Cliffs’ facility) has the opportunity to come back. All of our people are going to have a chance to get back to work and get good pay.” The USW bargaining committee and the Cleveland-based steel and iron ore producer reached a tentative agreement Thursday on a new labor contract

Hibbing, MN · 6d

kaxe.org

Coconut pike delight is the Early Bird Fishing Guide's 'Recipe for a Good Day'

GRAND RAPIDS — Early Bird Fishing Guide Jeff Sundin is not only a fan of catching northern pike in area lakes like Winnibigoshish; he loves to cook pike, too. On his regular KAXE Morning Show segment, Sundin delighted us with the story behind his favorite pike recipe — but not before giving us important details about the species' management.

partner publisher · 39.3K followers

Main Street Dollars

UnitedHealthcare and Humana Medicare Advantage members lose M Health Fairview, White River, Fred Hutch and St. Vincent hospitals in four states on Jan. 1

Four hospital systems in four states have told Medicare Advantage members that they will be out of network on Jan. 1, 2027. M Health Fairview in Minnesota, White River Health in Arkansas and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Washington are leaving UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans. St. Vincent Health in Colorado is leaving Humana’s. The timing […]

Minnesota · 2d

Grand Rapids Herald Review

Grand Rapids City Council receives critical updates during Monday’s worksession

GRAND RAPIDS — During the Monday, Nov. 9 Grand Rapids City Council worksession, the council received critical updates on two important local topics: property assessments and the replacement of an aging and near-expired water treatment facility. Itasca County Assessor William Hillback gave a comprehensive presentation on the landscape of the local Estimated Market Value (EMV) and how the market has changed in the last eight years, and what to expect next year. Hillback emphasized that the property assessor’s role is responsible only for the valuations of the property, and Minnesota state statute and the guidance or mandates from the Minnesota Department of Revenue (DOR) dictate the methods used to determine property values. The DOR receives all the data collected from the local assessment and makes suggestions or mandates to the local assessors based upon local economic factors. The market conditions have led to some citizens buying and renting in the smaller surrounding towns as a result. Hillback indicated that property values have risen sharply since 2018, while sales have declined. Real estate data showed that the median home sale price in 2018 was $160,000, and was $269,900 in 2025. He feels that non-waterfront properties are likely to see more stabilized

Grand Rapids, MN · 2d

Grand Rapids Herald Review

Itasca basketball teams lock in first wins of 2026-27

GRAND RAPIDS — Minnesota North College-Itasca’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are back on the court this season and both recently picked up their first wins of 2026-27. Men’s coach Tim Wagner said this is his first season coaching in the MCAC and it’s an entirely new coaching staff and roster suiting up for the Vikings this season. They’ll be led by captain Dante Adams, who transferred from North Dakota this season, and Wagner said his first impression is that it’s a quick and talented team. “We’ve got a skilled offensive team that can really score in transition. We can always play five good basketball players that can pass, dribble, and shoot. We’re undersized defensively, but we’ve got good individual defenders with the quickness to keep their man in front.” The Vikings are four games into the season and are now 1-3 after picking up the first win of the year on Monday in Grand Rapids. They had four players score in double figures as they took down Leech Lake Tribal College by 28 points for a 95-67 victory. Khalil Hudgins led Itasca with 17 points on 8 of 10 shooting. Jaden Linsday and Yessef Aikens each scored 15. Linsday

Grand Rapids Herald Review