>>Fire Crew Battle Stewart Fire Near Two Harbors
(Two Harbors, MN) — Fire crews continue battling the Stewart Trail Fire burning near Lake County Road 3 and U.S. Highway 61 in Two Harbors. The wildfire was first reported on Friday afternoon and has now grown to an estimated 100 acres with no containment reported. Multiple local, state, and federal agencies are responding, along with aircraft making water and fire-retardant drops. Firefighters are working overnight to build containment lines using hand crews and heavy equipment. A Minnesota Incident Command System Type 3 team is expected to take over management today. Due to heavy smoke and emergency response activity, portions of U.S. Highway 61 remain closed, and Lake County has activated its “Ready, Set, Go” evacuation notification system.
>Wildfire Near Gilbert Prompts Emergency Response And Highway Closure
(Gilbert, MN) — Crews on the Iron Range continue working to contain a wildfire that ignited Friday near Gilbert along Highway 135. Authorities say sparks or flames from a dump truck may have started the fire, which spread rapidly through dry grass because of gusty winds and critical fire conditions. The blaze expanded to roughly 25 acres, prompting a large response from local fire departments, the Minnesota DNR, and aerial firefighting crews. Officials say firefighters have made progress on parts of the fire, while some flames continue moving into remote wooded areas away from homes. Highway 135 was temporarily shut down during firefighting operations as crews worked to contain the fire and protect nearby property.
>>St. Louis County Crews Respond To 17 Wildfires During Extreme Fire Danger
(Duluth, MN) — Emergency crews battled a total of 17 wildfires Friday across St. Louis County as dry conditions and strong winds created dangerous fire weather. County officials activated the Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts. Officials say several fires were likely caused by residents burning cardboard, while others were sparked by trees knocking down power lines. Wind gusts reached up to 40 miles per hour during the height of the fire danger. Authorities now say all eight of the initially reported fires have been brought under control, though mop-up operations and monitoring continue. Residents are still being urged to avoid any outdoor burning due to ongoing dry conditions.
>>Minnesota Lawmakers Race Toward Final Days Of Session
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota lawmakers are entering the final weekend of the legislative session with several major issues still unresolved at the Capitol. House Democrats are continuing a lengthy sit-in protest as they push for a vote on a gun violence prevention package that includes an assault weapons ban. Meanwhile, lawmakers in both chambers are still negotiating key items, including school safety funding, a bonding bill, and affordability measures impacting Minnesotans statewide. The legislative session is scheduled to adjourn Monday night.
>>26 Members Leaving the Minnesota House after 2026 Session
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House will look a lot different next year. Twenty-six members are leaving the House following this legislative session. Ten representatives are retiring, seven are running for the Minnesota Senate, and nine are seeking election for other offices. Republican Speaker Lisa Demuth is running for governor. It could break the record for turnover of 38.8 percent in the Minnesota House set back in 1974.
>>Senate Passes Safety Bill for E-Bikes and Motorized Bicycles
(St. Paul, MN) – E-bikes and motorized bicycles are becoming more and more popular, and soon, Minnesota could have a new law for them. The Senate passed a bill to improve safety and consumer protections. At the top of the list is that all riders under the age of 18 will be required to wear a helmet. Also, clear labeling of what kind of e-bike it is and about its speed capabilities. The bill narrowly passed the Senate 34-33. It now heads to the House.
>>Minnesota Lawmakers Pull Funding From Youth Boundary Waters Program Over Anti-Mining Message
(St. Paul, MN) — A youth program that brings hundreds of students to the Boundary Waters each year is losing state funding after lawmakers raised concerns about anti-mining advocacy tied to the organization behind it. Minnesota senators voted 34 to 29 to remove more than one million dollars in funding for the program operated through Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. Critics pointed to a video opposing mining projects near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The funding cut eliminates three years of state support for the program, which helps roughly 600 students experience the wilderness area annually.
>>Attorney General Ellison Wins Emergency Order Restoring Power To Minnesotan
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison has secured an emergency court order requiring a utility company to restore electricity to a Minnesota resident who relies on life-sustaining medical equipment. The temporary restraining order says Montevideo-based Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power Association must reconnect service within six hours after allegedly disconnecting power in violation of state law. Minnesota law requires utility providers to continue service for customers who depend on electrically powered medical equipment. Ellison called the shutoff “cruel” and “unlawful,” saying businesses cannot put profits ahead of people’s survival. The lawsuit was filed Friday evening by the Attorney General’s Office.
>>Body Recovered From Minnesota River Near Chaska
(Chaska, MN) — Authorities say a body has been recovered from the Minnesota River near Highway 41 in Chaska following a multi-day search for a missing swimmer. The Carver County Sheriff’s Office says crews had been searching the area since Wednesday after witnesses reported a swimmer went underwater and did not resurface. The body has been taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy and formal identification. Officials have not yet released the person’s name.
>>Duluth Woman Sentenced to 58 Months for Shooting at Hells Angels Clubhouse
(Duluth, MN) — A Duluth woman is sentenced to nearly five years in prison for firing multiple shots at the Hells Angels clubhouse in Eveleth. St. Louis County prosecutors say 41-year-old Adrien Gunderson pleaded guilty to felony drive-by shooting in connection with the September 2024 incident. Camera footage shows Gunderson get out of a vehicle, approach the front door of the clubhouse, and fire multiple shots.
>>Apartment Fire Contained At Greysolon Plaza In Duluth
(Duluth, MN) — Firefighters quickly contained an apartment fire Friday evening at Greysolon Plaza in downtown Duluth. The Duluth Fire Department responded around 5:23 p.m. after a passerby reported smoke coming from an eighth-floor window. Crews from several stations helped extinguish the fire, which was contained to a single apartment unit. One resident was taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation, while another was displaced due to water damage and is receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. Damage is estimated at around 70-thousand dollars, and the cause remains under investigation.
>>U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Celebrating National Safe Boating Week
(St. Paul, MN) — The St. Paul District of the U-S Army Corps of Engineers is celebrating National Safe Boating Week. It runs today (Sat) through Friday, May 22nd. Officials in Minnesota are reminding boaters on the Mississippi River to be smart while on the water. Lock and Dam’s chief Sam Mathiowetz says there are many hazards boaters need to be aware of, including commercial tows. He says to give the towboats lots of room, beware of boating at night, and do not anchor in the channel. Boaters should also be familiar with restricted zones and their markings.
