Up North Report: In wake of BWCA watershed mining ban, Twin Metals submits plan for exploratory drilling near Babbitt

BABBITT — A subsidiary of Twin Metals is seeking approval to explore for metallic minerals in St. Louis County, 5 miles east of Babbitt.

Exploration at the site has occurred intermittently since 2010, according to the exploration plan submitted by Franconia Minerals.

A month ago, a federal judge dismissed the mining company's lawsuit against the Biden administration over its mining proposal in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. President Joe Biden in January placed a 20-year ban on mining activity in the watershed containing the BWCA.

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Franconia proposes diamond drilling exploratory borings at up to six drill sites within the leased boundary, which is less than 30 miles from the wilderness area. Four of the sites, according to the company's map, are near Birch Lake, a 21-mile long lake with 80 miles of shoreline and many islands. The lake is within the Superior National Forest on lands managed by the DNR.

The proposed exploration would also occur near the site of the Dunka Mine, a taconite mining site shuttered for almost 30 years.

Waiting lists, budget shortfalls for Boys & Girls Clubs

GRAND RAPIDS — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids and Greenway are inviting parents and community members to a town hall discussion to share concerns and ideas for the future of the club programming in Itasca County.

Challenges caused by budget shortfalls, low staff numbers and space limitations have put a strain on club programming to a point that both clubs have hit maximum membership. Waiting lists mean several families must find alternative care for their children.

Ideas for the future of the clubs include adjusting to a fee-for-service model, merging the two clubs, moving club locations and more. The public meeting will be 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Robert J. Elkington Middle School library in Grand Rapids.

The Grand Rapids Herald Review reported recently that Itasca County is experiencing an ongoing child care shortage, with just 65 providers in the entire county. According to county officials, the need for infant and toddler care is especially high, which can force young families to choose between quality care and a career.

Wolves don't eat that many fawns, evidence says, despite billboard claims

COTTON — It’s been a tough few years for northeastern Minnesota deer hunters and that has put the state’s most prominent predator in the cross hairs on a billboard erected recently along Highway 53 in Cotton.

The billboard makes a controversial claim — that the state’s estimated 2,800 gray wolves consume 54,000 white-tailed deer fawns a year.

It’s an astonishing number that has generated plenty of heat on social media from people with widely conflicting claims.

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Timberjay newspaper

The Timberjay newspaper reports in reality, there is no evidence backing up the numbers on the billboard and in social media news feeds.

Marshall Helmberger spoke with Jared Mazurek, executive director of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association about the billboard, which was rented by the Sturgeon River chapter of the organization. The statewide group asked the local chapter to supply peer-reviewed information in support of the claim but hasn't heard back.

Based on available data, according to the Timberjay, the number of fawns killed by wolves is likely closer to 20,000. Fawns also meet many other predators in nature, like black bears and coyotes. Hay mowers kill fawns bedded in the spring, and an estimated 40,000 are killed each year by motor vehicles.

While the billboard may have created a headache of sorts for the deer hunters association, the organization's leader says it has brought plenty of attention to the discussion around the degree to which wolves may play a role in the lackluster deer population recovery in recent years in northeastern Minnesota.

Sanford Bemidji offers new service for chronic illness patients and those just released from hospitalization

BEMIDJI — Sanford Health Bemidji is offering a new remote monitoring service to help patients stay healthy from the comfort of their home.

Sanford CareSignal allows patients to stay in contact with their care team between appointments.

The program helps monitor those recovering after discharge from the hospital along with chronic conditions like heart failure, Type 2 diabetes, COPD and depression.

Patients can self-report symptoms either via phone call or text message, automated to check in regularly to monitor health.

The program helps reduce avoidable hospital admissions, the rural hospital system says.

There is no cost to enroll for eligible participants and interested patients will be enrolled by their clinician.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was updated to clarify the Biden administration's mining ban is in the watershed within with the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is located.

It was also updated to make clear the drilling exploration sites proposed by Franconia Minerals is within the Superior National Forest, but on lands managed by the state.

KAXE regrets the errors.

Stay up to date on what's happening up north with KAXE/KBXE News' twice-daily newscast "Up North Report," bringing you the top stories across Northern Minnesota.

KAXE/KBXE is the oldest rural community radio station in the U.S. and an independent NPR affiliate.