HIBBING — Hibbing Public Utilities and student Hibbing Key Club volunteers are joining forces for a citywide Christmas Tree collection day.
Real Christmas trees cleared of all decorations can be brought to the curb on Jan. 18 after registering with HPU. The service is offered free to the first 120 homes that register.
“We are excited to be working with the wonderful student volunteers from the Hibbing Key Club,” said customer communications specialist Eliot Dixon in a news release. “The event really provides a service to our community and gives our ratepayers an opportunity to participate the Biomass Operations of HPU’s power plant.”
The city of Hibbing's "Treecycling" program is also underway, with residents able to drop off their trees at their convenience.
HPU's Biomass Operations uses wood products, like discarded natural Christmas trees, to produce electricity and steam heat for the city of Hibbing.
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The spruce budworm has impacted more than 2,000 square miles since 2021, mostly in St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties, although a small population in Itasca County persists.
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Results of the survey will be shared by early summer and will be taken into consideration by staff and commissioners as they work on the 2026 budget and long-range plans.
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The state's department of transportation says public feedback from its survey will help it plan future projects.
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Plus, Minnesota House Republicans carried on with Capitol business Wednesday amid a state Supreme Court challenge over quorum, state transportation crews will begin right-of-way clearing on Highway 200 near the Itasca State Park on Jan. 22, and MnDOT seeks public feedback on its completed Highway 169 project near Aitkin.
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The work is in advance of a July 2025 project on Highway 200 between Clearwater County Road 2 to Highway 71.
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Pollyann Sorcan is running to fill the same seat she was removed from. Brandi Lautigar's term recently expired; she was appointed to fill the seat until the special election.
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Plus, striking workers at Essentia Health Deer River say they will meet Essentia at the negotiating table next week as the strike reaches its 40th day, and Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead announced she would step down from her position on Feb. 3.
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The union also announced an informational picket is scheduled outside of Essentia Health-St. Mary's hospital in Duluth on Jan. 15, 2025.
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Daniel Eason, 37, and Joseph Eason, 42, were sentenced earlier this month for the August 2023 beating death of their younger brother Jared Eason.
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Plus: Chippewa National Forest seeks comment on planned timber harvest, prescribed fire and planting; and the MN legislative stalemate has potential to worsen voter trust.