Aitkin County

Cisco and other cold water fish died by the thousands in the large, shallow lake as water temperatures soared to an average of 77 degrees in late July and early August 2026.

Republican State Sen. Nathan Wesenberg and endorsed House 10A candidate Mark Striemer are advancing to the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, based on unofficial results from Minnesota's primary election.

Incumbent J. Mark Wedel and challenger Timothy Catlin are advancing to the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, based on unofficial results from Minnesota's primary election.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds harvesters ahead of the Aug. 15, 2026, season opener that rice must be ripe for legal harvest.

The Department of Natural Resources reported forest tent caterpillars have damaged the leaves of 60,000 acres of foliage around Aitkin County in 2026.

The meeting was an early step in the environmental review process required by state law for any proposed mines in Minnesota.

The event was the 11th Gii-Ishkonigewag Pow Wow put on annually by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

Forty-six lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands were added, including Big Stony Lake near Park Rapids, Emily Lake in Crow Wing County and Birch Lake in Hackensack.

The proposed mine would primarily focus on nickel and copper. It is the first underground mine proposal in Minnesota to reach the public review process.

Timothy Catlin, Christopher S. Dotzler and J. Mark Wedel are running for Aitkin County Commissioner District 1.