>>Northern Minnesota Wildfire Update
(Ely, MN) — Cooler weather and recent rainfall are helping firefighters gain ground on the wildfires burning in northeastern Minnesota. The July Lightning Complex remains at nearly 64,700 acres, with about 875 personnel assigned. The Little Knife Fire is now 90 percent contained and management is returning to the Superior National Forest, while the Chub Fire has reached 100 percent containment. Crews continue working on the larger Bear Trap, Thumb, Sioux and Wolfpack fires. Fire officials say some forest areas have reopened, but travelers should continue checking for changing closures and fire restrictions.
>>Appleton Prison to Reopen as ICE Detention Center
(Appleton, MN) – A long-vacant prison in western Minnesota is set to reopen as an immigration detention center. Private prison operator CoreCivic says it has signed a five-year agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to house up to 16-hundred detainees for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Appleton facility. The prison has been closed for 16 years and is expected to reopen in phases this fall, reaching full operations by next spring. CoreCivic says the facility could generate about 75 million dollars in annual revenue once fully operational.
>>Minnesota Awards Grants to Expand College Access for Students with Disabilities
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is awarding more than 520-thousand dollars to help colleges better serve students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Bemidji State University, Lake Superior College, and Normandale Community College will share the funding through the state’s Inclusive Higher Education Grant program. The grants support efforts to expand access to postsecondary education and create more inclusive campus programs. The program has invested about 1.3 million dollars in four Minnesota colleges since it launched in 2023.
>>Minnesota to Receive $2 Million in Generic Drug Price-Fixing Settlement
(Undated) – Minnesota is set to receive more than two million dollars as part of a multi-state settlement with generic drug maker Sandoz. Attorney General Keith Ellison says the company agreed to pay roughly 469 million dollars nationwide to resolve allegations it conspired to inflate prices and limit competition on prescription drugs. The settlement, involving 43 states and territories, also requires Sandoz to implement reforms aimed at preventing future antitrust violations. The agreement is still awaiting final approval as states continue pursuing broader price-fixing lawsuits against other generic drug manufacturers.
>>Commission Recommends Record Environmental Investment for Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) – A legislative commission is recommending a record 130 million dollars for environmental projects across Minnesota. The funding comes from the Minnesota Lottery-supported Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and would support 116 projects statewide. Proposed investments include trail repairs, state park improvements, wildlife protection, climate resilience efforts, and research on groundwater and animal populations. The recommendations now head to the Minnesota Legislature for consideration during the 2027 session, with approved projects slated to begin next July.
>>MPCA Clears Dayton Waste Facility Expansion
(Dayton, MN) – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says an environmental impact statement is not needed for a proposed expansion at a Curbside Waste transfer station in Dayton. The project would increase the amount of waste handled at the site from about 42-thousand cubic yards of yard waste annually to as much as 500-thousand cubic yards of mixed municipal waste, construction debris, organics and recycling. The MPCA says it reviewed public comments and determined the project is not expected to cause significant environmental impacts. Officials say growing waste volumes in the Twin Cities will require future infrastructure upgrades.
>>Dakota County Man Faces Multiple Felony Tax Charges
(Rice, MN) – A Rice man is facing more than 20 felony tax-related charges in Dakota County. The Minnesota Department of Revenue says Dillon Blocker is accused of failing to file and pay income taxes between 2020 and 2024, and failing to file sales tax returns and remit sales taxes for his tree service businesses. Investigators allege Blocker earned taxable income from both his businesses and casino gambling winnings, but did not meet his tax obligations despite knowing the requirements. Authorities say he owes more than 221-thousand dollars in unpaid taxes. The charges remain allegations, and Blocker is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
