The Minnesota Incident Command Center reports that a wildfire in Carlton County is almost entirely contained. Over the weekend, crews were mopping up the 82-acre fire near Barnum—infrared flights located more hot spots in the western portion of this wildfire.
Officials say the type of vegetation in the area is slowing down progress, particularly the composition of peat soil that provides a long-term fuel source for a wildfire. Thirty-seven crew members with 19 pieces of equipment have worked on this fire since Sept. 4.
All evacuation orders and road closures have been lifted. The MNICS says aircraft may be brought in to assist with the wildfire suppression efforts, and if drones are detected in the area, air operations supporting the fire will stop. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.
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The soft launch of the Minwaadizi Project's new space, which aims to be an "un-boarding school" community center, included a round dance and potluck. -
A new statewide research project created by the Legislature is connecting the dots in trying to make health care affordable for everyone. -
The Minnesota State Patrol reported the driver was not wearing a seat belt. -
The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office reports the driver veered off-road through a yard before entering the Mississippi River southeast of Bemidji. -
The proposal creates a statewide framework to evaluate whether suicide prevention measures are necessary when new bridges are built and when existing bridges are repaired. -
Current state law prohibits these facilities from serving alcohol without a license or permit, but the process of getting the licenses can be time-consuming, expensive and redundant. -
One would prohibit local governments from entering into NDAs with private companies. The other would require two public hearings and disclosures like the company behind the project, size and potential impacts. -
The bill limits permitted uses of AI to services such as transcribing and documenting sessions. A human therapist would then have to review the documents created by AI. -
AirCorps Aviation plans to invest nearly $1 million into an expansion project that is expected to create 14 new manufacturing jobs. -
And: Bemidji's Aircorps Aviation receives MN DEED grant; and Beltrami County seeks feedback for safer roads planning.
Two fatal accidents were reported in northeastern Minnesota Saturday.
A 22-year-old was killed in a train crash early Saturday morning near Highway 210 in Carlton County. The Sheriff's office reports Brock Hascall of Wright was southbound on Lammi Road when his vehicle was struck by the westbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported and the incident remains under investigation.
A separate fatal crash in St. Louis County killed three 23-year-olds.
The victims were Darren Tenney of New Richmond, Wisconsin, Joseph Trowbridge of Woodbury and Madison Warren of Oakdale. The crash was around 3 a.m. on Highway 8 near Floodwood.
As drought conditions continue to expand in Minnesota, some areas of the state are now experiencing exceptional drought conditions for the first time since 2021. At this time, the US Drought Monitor classifies more than half of the state in severe, extreme, or exceptional drought, with the rest of the state in moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages all to monitor their water use, with some watersheds in southern Minnesota entering drought-restrictive phases, which requires public water suppliers to implement significant water conservation measures to reduce consumption.
Over the past seven weeks, the DNR has also suspended 107 surface water appropriation permits for non-domestic use across the state in response to the expanding drought conditions.
