The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded nearly $2 million to 12 organizations that provide job training to youths and young adults.
DEED’s Youthbuild program provides grants to Minnesota organizations that offer construction job training, academic support, mentoring, case management and other services for young people who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out.
Three of those organizations serve Northern Minnesota. Bi-County Community Action Programs — serving Beltrami and Cass counties with offices in Bemidji — will receive $190,000 to fund its Youthbuild program. Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency in Grand Rapids will also receive a $180,000 grant, and True North Goodwill of Northern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin will receive $100,000.
"Youth workforce development programs are a solid investment in young Minnesotans and in communities around our state," stated DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek in a news release. "The services Youthbuild providers offer young people are life changing — they make a difference and help open a world of future opportunities."
The program, serving about 600 young people in the state, also expands affordable housing in underserved communities.
"Youthbuild helps ensure young Minnesotans facing barriers to completing their high school education have the support they need to successfully earn a diploma and prepare for fulfilling employment," stated DEED Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development Marc Majors.
"Youthbuild helps young people prepare for a strong career path in the construction trades where they can earn a family-sustaining wage. The program also helps build or renovate affordable housing."
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Contributed/Rock Ridge Public Schools via FacebookThe School Board unanimously passed its budget, leaving a little more than $136,000 of cash flow available in its general fund. -
And: A cannabis business has been approved for Second Harvest's LaPrairie warehouse; and Rock Ridge has nearly depleted its reserves. -
Contributed/Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThe intent of the ban is to reduce the risk of chronic wasting disease spread, following detections of CWD in wild deer in new areas of the state last year. -
Contributed/USDA Forest Service - Superior National ForestLate cancellations and no‑shows continue to climb, according to the U.S. Forest Service. In 2025, nearly 40% of January reservations were never used. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe business would grow, manufacture and sell cannabis out of the building off Highway 2, though there are still moving parts as far as the sale of the warehouse. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEMichael Hart escaped from a correctional facility and was later mistakenly released from jail. He was in custody for these charges when he escaped in 2025. -
Contributed/Office of the Governor via Minnesota ReformerSchiltz said the incursion of 3,000 federal agents and the Trump administration’s statements show the subpoenas were issued for harassing political opponents and coercing them into action. -
Plus: Changes are in the wings to the BWCAW permit cancellation policy; and the DNR is expanding a deer feeding and attractant ban in two Northern MN counties.
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Contributed/City of HermantownHermantown and Google jointly agreed to the updated study with current information allowing for greater specificity, the city reported. -
Canva Graphic/KAXEThe Beltrami County Sheriff's Office reported Floyd Cloud was hit June 21, 2026, on Division Street Northwest, west of Bemidji in Grant Valley Township.
