ROSEAU — Gov. Tim Walz announced the appointment of Assistant Roseau County Attorney Michael Grover as a district court Judge.
He will assume the bench in Roseau County upon the retirement of Judge Donna K. Dixon.
“Roseau County and the Ninth Judicial District will be well served by Michael Grover, a familiar face to both the community and the justice system he has helped advance for more than two decades,” stated Walz in a news release.
“His confidence and commitment to treatment courts and justice innovation not only yield improved outcomes for litigants but also foster greater public trust in the justice system.”
Grover was one of three candidates nominated by the Commission of Judicial Selection to fill the expected vacancy in the 9th District, which included Bemidji City Attorney Katie Nolting and Thief River Falls public defender Max Schafer-Lacoursiere.
Minnesota's 9th District includes much of Northern Minnesota, encompassing Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties.
-
Extreme fire conditions caused some of the 17 wildfires burning in the Superior National Forest to rapidly spread July 13-14, 2026.
-
The library matched the anonymous matching donation for $30,000 it received in June 2026. A larger fundraising goal is aimed at increasing public hours in 2027.
-
Due to smoke from Boundary Waters wildfires, the MPCA issued air quality alerts for large parts of Minnesota. The alert lasts until at least Friday, July 16, 2026.
-
And: An Aitkin peat processor fined for air pollution control violations.
-
While it is expected to cool off slightly on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, temperatures will stay high enough that additional heat advisories may be put in place.
-
Nearly 9,000 acres are estimated to be burning in the BWCA as of July 13, 2026, and the closure is for public safety. The Boundary Waters is not expected to fully reopen this summer.
-
Severe drought is present in at least 11% of Minnesota and another 18% is in moderate drought. The drought conditions are mostly seen in Northern Minnesota.
-
Prairie Pines Childcare Center, the Northland Foundation and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation were awarded grants from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development.
-
Even with green plants and recent rainfall, large portions of the Northland are classified as in moderate or severe drought.
-
And: Four Northland organizations recieve child care grants; men encouraged to wear sunscreen and get skin checks; and Eveleth plans to replace the "Big Stick."