Itasca County

The county avoided buying new flag poles by flying the current and former Minnesota flags on poles that were previously used for a memorial.

Harper is accused of resisting arrest by Deputy Michael Cowan on May 4, 2026 as deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant in Max, in rural northwestern Itasca County.

The man was reported missing on June 1, 2026, six months after he was last seen by family and friends. He was last seen in Keewatin or Nashwauk.

Private woodland owners impacted by the June 2025 windstorm can apply for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program for up to 75% reimbursement through June 5, 2026.

Sheriff Joe Dasovich said he still expects Elias Harper to be charged in the incident. Deputy Michael Cowan was shot in the thigh during a scuffle and is expected to make a full recovery.

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."