Plus: Early voting in 16 school districts and one township in rural Northern Minnesota began Friday, Sept. 19; MnDOT says to expect one-week detours around Baudette and Red Lake for some late-season construction starting Monday, Sept. 22; Two state grants will support northern Minnesota efforts for dementia awareness; and the city of Grand Rapids is conducting a community-wide survey on a number of city issues.

Plus: Resilience was the unspoken theme of the 2025 State of the Range, hosted by the MN Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation.

Plus: More than 100 people crowded into the Beltrami County Board Room Tuesday to voice concern about proposed cuts to local libraries and the county museum.

And: Zebra mussels confirmed in Boy Lake; Crow Wing County accepting electronic waste Thursday; and Lake and Cook county residents can apply for Taconite Harbor redevelopment advisory committee.

And: Essentia Health-Fosston regains Level 4 trauma center designation; and University of Minnesota Crookston expects to break enrollment record.

The American Bear Association-owned sanctuary near Orr started with one man feeding black bears to co-exist. The nonprofit continues the practice to educate visitors.

And: Highway 7 near Iron will be closed for about five days starting Monday; and the U of M seeks nominations from NW MN for Growing Local Leadership course.

Plus: Walz appointed a Roseau County attorney to be the next Ninth District judge; a new study from the U of M School of Public Health found that access to obstetric care across the country has declined, hitting rural communities the hardest; the Superior National Forest will begin prescribed burns this week; and Paul Bunyan Communications says progress is on track for its broadband expansion projects in St. Louis and Itasca counties.

Plus: West Fraser receives a Job Creation Fund grant from DEED; and the DNR predicts a vibrant fall color season.

And: Walz announces vaccine access executive order; zebra mussels found in three more MN lakes; and MnDOT plans Hwy. 169 safety open house in Coleraine.