Local and Regional News, Thursday 5/28/2026

Save the Boundary Waters Action Fund is endorsing Congresswoman Betty McCollum in her bid for re-election to the U-S House of Representatives.
The group says McCollum has spent more than a decade fighting to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from sulfide-ore copper mining near the watershed.
Supporters point to McCollum’s legislation aimed at permanently banning mining in the Boundary Waters headwaters, calling it critical to protecting Minnesota’s wilderness and outdoor recreation economy.
According to Save the Boundary Waters, about 70 percent of Minnesotans support permanent protections for the area, while studies cited by the organization suggest proposed mining projects could threaten thousands of tourism and recreation-related jobs across the region.

Veterans in central Minnesota found more than just turkey hunting during a special spring camp near Pillager earlier this month.
The second annual Faith, Fellowship and Feathers Veterans Turkey Hunt brought veterans together at Lake Placid Bible Camp for a weekend focused on hunting, faith, and connection. Hosted through The Waters Church veterans ministry, the event gave veterans a chance to learn about turkey hunting, spend time outdoors, and build friendships with fellow service members.
This year, veterans Tim Engle, Raul Muniz, and Jonathan Lynn took part, with both Lynn and Muniz harvesting their first wild turkeys.
Organizers say the event is about much more than hunting, creating a supportive environment where veterans can share experiences and build lasting connections.
The program was organized with support from the National Wild Turkey Federation, which says outdoor traditions like hunting camp can help strengthen community and fellowship for veterans long after military service ends.

Minnesota soybean leaders are helping lead a statewide effort to address mental health and suicide prevention in rural communities.
The Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and several farm organizations on a new Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign.
Council Chair Gail Donkers says mental health training helped her realize the importance of recognizing when others may need support. The campaign comes as many farmers continue facing financial stress and economic uncertainty, with studies showing farmers have higher suicide rates than the general population.
The effort includes radio ads airing on more than 150 stations across Minnesota, social media outreach, and workshops aimed at helping farmers, families, and ag professionals recognize warning signs and connect people with help.
Resources include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670. More information is available at mnfarmstress.com.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed legislation clearing the way for the return of nearly 3,400 acres of land to the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The land, located entirely within the reservation near Cloquet, has been held by the University of Minnesota for more than a century.
The measure removes the final legal hurdles for the transfer by paying off outstanding state bonds tied to the Cloquet Forestry Center. Tribal leaders call the move a long-awaited reunion with ancestral lands guaranteed under an 1854 treaty.
The University of Minnesota will continue operating the forestry center through a lease agreement with the band, while tribal and state leaders say the return represents an important step toward healing and partnership.
Meanwhile, the Red Lake Nation has broken ground on a new three-megawatt solar array near Blackduck. Once complete, the Makwa Solar Array will provide renewable energy capable of powering about 500 homes.
Tribal leaders say the project will help lower electric costs for members while supporting energy independence and future community programs.

Minnesota tribal nations are continuing major investments in renewable energy and energy independence.
The White Earth Nation’s Pine Point Resilience Hub is now operating at a K-through-8 school and elder gathering center. The solar-and-battery project is designed to provide backup power during emergencies, including for medical devices and warming shelter needs during winter storms.
Project leaders say the system is expected to generate more electricity annually than the school uses, while helping strengthen energy resilience for the community.
Meanwhile, experts studying tribal energy sovereignty say Native communities are increasingly turning to renewable energy projects to gain greater control over local power needs and reduce long-term costs.
The Pine Point project follows the recent groundbreaking of the Red Lake Nation’s Makwa Solar Array near Blackduck, one of the largest tribal-owned solar projects in Minnesota.