Essentia Health

The new contract will cover the almost 300 nurses who work for Essentia in the Brainerd lakes area for the next three years.

Plus: A winter-hardy cover crop is being explored as a sustainable jet fuel source; and the Esko girls finished 4th place at the state soccer tournament.

The health event, sponsored by Youth Emergency Shelter & Supports and Essentia Health, will be at the Armory Arts Center in Park Rapids on Oct. 21, 2025.

Plus: Leech Lake Tribal Council members and Itasca County Commissioners entered into a new memorandum of understanding after breaking ground on a new community and wellness center in Ball Club.

A third-party study calculated Essentia's impact in the Brainerd lakes area and the greater Iron Range.

Plus: Essentia Health is touting an independent economic impact study of its operations around Brainerd and the Iron Range.

The MN trauma system is a voluntary network of hospitals designated at various levels, reflecting their resources and capabilities, which aim to match severely injured patients with the most appropriate care.

Essentia surveys Northland communities on their health needs every three years. The results guide the organization's community health initiatives.

Essentia Health advanced practice providers ended their strike, but Essentia still refuses to bargain as it appeals the certification of the bargaining unit.

Over 400 nurse practitioners and physician assistants across 69 facilities from across Northern Minnesota began an open-ended unfair labor practice strike July 10, 2025.