Two Northern Minnesota electrical cooperatives are among those receiving federal loans to strengthen the rural power grid.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making the investments as part of a $2.2 billion program to build and improve infrastructure and smart grid technologies.
Wild Rice Electric Coop in Mahnomen, which serves more than 14,000 customers in six northwestern counties, will use $18.6 million to connect more than 600 more consumers and improve almost 100 miles of powerlines.
North Itasca Electric Coop in Bigfork will use $8.7 million to connect more than 240 consumers and build and improve 40 miles of line. North Itasca provides electricity to 5,600 in three north-central counties.
Both loans include funding for smart grid technology. A smart grid allows for sensing along the power lines with computers and other equipment to respond more quickly to changing electrical demand.
The projects seek to ensure more than 2 million people in rural areas have access to reliable electricity.
-
Nearly 75,000 people were approved for benefits under the state's new paid leave law. State officials this week provided an update on the first six weeks of the program. -
Contributed/Carlton County Board Meeting Recording / CivicMediaA motion was started at the Carlton County Committee of the Whole meeting July 7, 2026, for an interim ordinance on the development of data centers. -
Contributed/Leslie LucasSoccer super fans Dan Gannon, Bianca Karjalainen and Chris Walker share their favorite moments partway through the 2026 World Cup. Hear more soccer talk Fridays at 8:40 a.m. on "Futbol is Life!" -
Contributed/Leona CichyDuring the week of July 7, 2026, we enjoy reports of squid spiders, tiny toads, and summer swimming. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds. -
Plus: Second Harvest Northland selects a new site for the Grand Rapids Food Shelf; and the St. Louis County Landfill may get double the trash with expansion in the five-county region. -
Contributed/Becker County Sheriff's Office Facebook PageThe storm caused damage to buildings, trees and power lines. Thousands experienced power outages due to the storm. -
Contributed/iNaturalist user riversedgeDuring the Phenology Report for the week of July 7, 2026 Staff Phenologist John Latimer remarks on blooming wildflowers, the poisonous water hemlock and crab spiders.Send us a voice memo through SpeakPipe! -
Erin Bowman/KAXEThe nonprofit's new food shelf location in downtown Grand Rapids is closer to other services and more walkable compared to the current location off Highway 2 in LaPrairie. -
Chelsey Perkins/Datawrapper graphicThe location of the July 6, 2026, incident is an area commonly used as a swimming beach, and the woman was reportedly swimming at the time. -
Jim Gallagher/ContributedGet to know the volunteers behind the mic on KAXE. This week we find out more from On The River host and volunteer, Jim Gallagher.
