Megan Buffington

Plus: State officials say proposed cuts to the federal energy assistance program will disproportionately affect Northern Minnesotan families and ratepayers; residents of an unorganized St. Louis County township voted to incorporate as a new town; and construction on Highway 87 in Hubbard County begins May 19, 2025.

Plus: the state Commission on Judicial Selection has put forward three candidates to fill the bench vacated by the upcoming retirement of an Aitkin County judge; and the Beltrami County Historical Society will present "Women of Law and Order" for a special panel discussion on May 15, 2025.

Plus: MnDOT to host meeting on 2027 plans for Highway 371 between Nisswa and Pequot Lakes; and Pequot Lakes Patriotics are state champions in robotics.

Three large fires are burning in St. Louis County amid critical fire conditions. Residents share how they've been affected and what actions they'd taken to prepare for an incident like this.

Crews are battling three large wildfires amid extreme fire weather conditions and a Red Flag Warning in Northern Minnesota.

And: A Pine River-Backus senior died in a car crash near Crosslake; two large wildfires are burning in the Arrowhead; and Gov. Tim Walz visits Crosslake for Fishing Opener.

And: Itasca County's early childhood program Early EDge is cutting classrooms; and a U.S. House panel scraps Boundary Waters protection from mining.

The Itasca County early childhood program was long supported by the Blandin Foundation. A new model may be on the horizon, but for now, cuts are needed.

Fishing Opener, Mother's Day and unseasonably warm weather mean the Northland will be busy this weekend. But folks should be aware of near-critical fire weather conditions.

Plus: The National Association of Letter Carriers' "Stamp Out Hunger" campaign to benefit area food shelves is May 10, 2025; and 32 students from Northern Minnesota will display their art at the Minnesota State High School League's Visual Art State Festival in Golden Valley.