Deer River

KAXE partnered with ICTV to host candidate forums for Grand Rapids and Deer River school boards on Sept. 30, 2026. Videos of the forum are available at watchictv.org.

Richard Fieldsend, Timothy Frits, Carrie Johnson, Lloyd Kongsjord, Scott Ramsdell and Pam Thompson are running for Deer River School Board.

Cory Smith and Lonny Witkofsky are running for Itasca County Commissioner District 1. John A. Johnson and Robert Preble are running for Commissioner District 3. Devin J. Gorski and Cassidy Villeneuve are running for county attorney. Dennis Barsness and Marjorie Sella are running for the Soil and Water Conservation District 4.

The new 3-year contract includes wage increases for around 40 nurses serving the Deer River hospital and clinic.

Lonny Witkofsky and Cory Smith are advancing to the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, based on unofficial results from Minnesota's primary election.

Bryan v. Itasca County paved the way for the modern tribal gaming industry. The monument recognizes Leech Lake Band member Helen Bryan and her husband, Russell Bryan.

Anyone who may have seen Rikki Skog, 37, on or after July 15, 2026, or with information that may assist investigators, is asked to contact the Itasca County Sheriff's Office.

Chris Reed, Cory Smith and Lonny Witkofsky are running for Itasca County Commissioner District 1.

Events this week include a butterfly field trip in the Sax-Zim Bog, a water ski show in Nevis and a celebration of art and fish houses in New York Mills.

Students in Deer River are tending to a "pizza garden" this summer, with the hopes of hosting a pizza party using ingredients from the garden in September 2026.