Wild Rice

The early season has been marked with low water levels, cool spells and storm damage.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds harvesters ahead of the Aug. 15, 2026, season opener that rice must be ripe for legal harvest.

The bill seeks to integrate wild rice waters into the ag department's pesticide management plan, developing better practices to monitor pesticide distribution, use and disposal.

Leanna Goose and Annie Humphrey from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Emma Needham from the Red Lake Nation advocated for uncultivated wild rice beds left in the state.

Little progress has been made despite 40 years of cleanup on Leech Lake Reservation. Locals fear for the health of surrounding lakes and the Mississippi River downstream.

KAXE covered natural disasters, federal funding chaos, Eichorn's arrest and resignation, mining permits and wild rice, library budget cuts, sheriffs teaming with ICE and more.

While storms and high water impacted some areas, wild rice is looking great in much of Northern Minnesota, and there's enough water to get to it.

A year after millions of gallons of coal ash wastewater spilled from a Minnesota Power plant in Cohasset, the groups allege the company hasn't been following federal rules.

Plus: Megan Buffington recaps a candidate forum for the special Itasca County Board elecion.

Todd Thompson's charge of illegal equipment while wild ricing was dismissed for the second time. Thompson, a White Earth band member, describes the state's actions on ceded lands as harassment.