The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently announced $76.2 million in grants to support projects that improve freight options, travel time and economic development.
Two projects in Northern Minnesota will receive some of this funding.
The city of Two Harbors will receive $4.9 million from the Transportation Economic Development Program to reconstruct Highway 61 from Scenic Drive to Park Road. The project will also include two new roundabouts and other intersection enhancements to extend the life of the corridor.
MnDOT will invest $1.9 million from the Minnesota Highway Freight Program that will go toward intermodal and railroad improvements at the Cloquet Terminal. The project is expected to better accommodate stacking and cargo at the Sappi Paper Cloquet Mill, according to MnDOT.
Seven other projects were awarded grant funding in southern and central Greater Minnesota, with eight more in the Twin Cities metro area.
“Infrastructure investments in Minnesota help people get where they need to go safely, help businesses grow and make local communities attractive to companies looking to relocate or expand,” stated MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger in a Jan. 6 news release.
“Safety is always a guiding principle of our funding decisions, and these transportation projects will help us better serve our state for decades to come.”
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Plus: Some aquatic invasive species prevention efforts to prepare for the impending open water season in Minnesota are already taking place. -
Contributed/University of Minnesota ExtensionGetting an earlier start on targeted removal gives them a stronger chance to effectively manage invasive weeds over the course of an open-water season, professionals say. -
Megan Buffington/KAXETen days after the City Council approved a permit for a cannabis business in Second Harvest’s warehouse, the prospective buyer learned that the sale would not be taking place. -
Plus: The Cook County Sheriff is resigning in May 2026 to accept an early childhood education role; and Minnesota DEED awarded nearly $2 million to support Youthbuild programs.
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Contributed/Cook CountyPat Eliason will resign effective May 8, 2026, after 31 years of service in public safety to Cook County. -
Under current rules, there are no bag limits on many of the state's native rough fish, such as dogfish and sheepshead. -
Contributed/BiCAPMinnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Youthbuild program provides construction training opportunities to 600 at-risk youths. -
The agreement follows a human rights investigation that found Lyft drivers canceled multiple rides for Tori Andres, a blind student who travels with a service dog. -
Plus: the Minnesota Legislature is considering a ban on cryptocurrency kiosks as the FBI reports these ATMs are connected to $333 million in reported losses to fraud.
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Survey results indicate around 116,000 more Minnesotans went without health insurance in 2025 than they did in 2023.
