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Officials with the state's Environmental Quality Board heard more on how data center development could impact the state's water resources.

Plus: The Bagley City Council is deliberating whether to expand its police department or disband it to contract with the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office; 3 Northlanders medaled at the state swimming and diving meet; and Northland football teams end season after semifinal losses.

Minneapolis-based Mortenson Development wrote in a letter that it wishes to host a public open house before proceeding.

Paul Bunyan Communications estimates that services will be available in all project areas by the end of January.

In a lawsuit filed Nov. 5, 2025, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy joined the grassroots Stop the Hermantown Data Center group to demand further environmental review on a proposed data center.

The Environmental Quality Board reviewed the petition and designated the Hermantown City Council as the responsible entity. It must either reject the petition or conduct further environmental review for the proposed data center.

Cooperative Paul Bunyan Communications reported various projects are on track as construction season in Northern MN nears its end, including those in Coleraine and Bovey.

The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force is implementing automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, in its jurisdictional boundaries. Civil liberties groups join those concerned with the lack of public knowledge and oversight into how this data is used.

Twelve new automatic license plate readers went up in Bemidji and other MN cities in May 2025. But the Flock Safety cameras raise concerns with privacy advocates.

Industry groups say Minnesota is home to at least 40 data centers, with nearly a dozen more being proposed.