Itasca County

Mark Smith, 66, died Thursday, May 21, 2026, after hitting a deer near Hill City in southern Itasca County while riding a dirt bike.

The plea agreement for Cyndy Martin includes 364 days in jail, which is a downward departure from sentencing guidelines for the felony charge.

The Itasca County Board of Commissioners decided May 19, 2026, to fly both the 2023 and 1983 versions of the Minnesota state flag outside the government center in Grand Rapids.

Michael Hart pleaded guilty to burglary and assault, the charges he was originally in custody for when he escaped from a corrections facility.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension found Deputy Michael Cowan did not discharge his weapon, according to the sheriff's office. The incident is now being called a "conflict case."

The Itasca County Board plans to decide on May 19, 2026, whether to fly the previous Minnesota state flag, possibly in addition to the present flag.

Elias Harper, 18, appeared in court May 6, 2026, after allegedly violating his probation, with the May 4 shooting listed among the violations.

The deputy was shot in the thigh in Max and airlifted to a Duluth hospital. A convoy of law enforcement escorted him home Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

The deputy was shot May 4, 2026, on a call in Max, northwest of Deer River and east of S. Lake. The suspect is in custody, and the incident is under investigation.

Three projects in Aitkin, Hubbard, Itasca and St. Louis counties are expected to provide high-speed internet options to 3,200 locations.