WADENA — Drivers around Wadena can expect a major change in construction traffic this Labor Day weekend.
Highway 10 will reopen with one lane each way, beginning late in the day on Friday, Aug. 29. Drivers can expect lane shifts and no shoulders.
Highway 71 in Wadena will close Tuesday, with a detour posted on County Road 20. Access to County Road 92 off Highway 10 will remain closed for construction of a roundabout.
Highway 71 is expected to be closed through mid-October, with a temporary all-way stop in place at County Road 20 and Juniper Avenue.
The hospital access off Highway 10 is still reserved for hospital use only.
Drivers can expect off-road work along Highway 10 on the east end near Oink Joint Road, with shoulder closures and slow-moving trucks entering and exiting side streets
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Lorie Shaull/KAXEAbout a half-inch of rain fell across the area overnight into Tuesday, and crews are expected to return to work on securing and improving the fire lines again. -
And: A rural Orr man was arrested for allegedly shooting a firefighting plane; the Legislature passed a bonding bill; and filings open for public office Tuesday. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEIn their final hours before the session ended, lawmakers passed a county hospital bailout, an infrastructure bill and small cuts to car tab fees and property taxes. -
Contributed/Ellen Schmidt / MinnPost / CatchLight Local / Report for AmericaHere’s what made it into the Legislature's infrastructure package and what lawmakers and others had to say about it May 17, 2026. -
Contributed/St. Louis County Sheriff's OfficeFirefighters responded to a wildland fire between Orr and Crane Lake on Friday, May 15, 2026. After returning to the airport, it was learned a bullet appeared to have struck one of the planes. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEEvacuated homeowners will be able to return to their properties for the day, Monday, May 18, 2026. Crow Wing County declared a local emergency, the first step toward state disaster aid. -
This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of May 18.
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As next steps for a proposed data center are considered, Liz Schwab from Google addresses some of the concerns raised at a recent Hermantown City Council meeting.
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Contributed/Doug MitchellWildland firefighters are working on containment and mopping up hot spots for a wildfire that began Saturday afternoon, May 16, 2026, southeast of Crosslake. -
Plus: Minnesota partners want you to help track wildlife collisions; and DNR upgrades four fishing piers in Northern Minnesota.
