Local and Regional News, Thursday 3/19/2026
Drivers in Koochiching County should be aware of upcoming road restrictions.
Spring Load Restrictions will go into effect on county and unorganized township roads beginning Friday, March 20th at 6 a.m. These seasonal limits help protect roadways during the spring thaw.
For a full map of affected roads, visit the county website under the Engineer’s page.
Officials with the Koochiching County Highway Department thank the public for their cooperation. For questions, you can contact Jake Juen or Trent Nicholson at the Highway Department.
The City of International Falls is looking for a camp host for the City Beach campground for the summer of 2026.
The seasonal position runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and includes a free RV site with water, sewer, and electric hookups, plus access to all City Beach amenities.
The city says they’re looking for someone who is friendly and welcoming, enjoys helping others, and helps promote a positive environment.
Duties include opening and closing gates, monitoring beach activity, recording daily traffic, managing tent reservations, cleaning the bathhouse and restrooms, and assisting visitors.
To apply or learn more, contact Deputy City Administrator Lisa Riggs at 218-283-7988 or email lisar@ci.international-falls.mn.us.
The Town of Fort Frances is inviting bids for the purchase of land through a public tender process.
Tenders are now being accepted for available properties within the community. Descriptions of the lands can be found on the Town of Fort Frances website.
Additional details, including property packages, are also available online for a small fee.
All tenders must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. local time on April 22nd at the Fort Frances Civic Centre on Portage Avenue.
Tenders will then be opened publicly later that same day.
For more information, visit the Town of Fort Frances website.
Northshore Mining in Silver Bay has been fined 19-thousand dollars by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for repeated wastewater permit violations.
According to the MPCA, an investigation found that between 2023 and 2025, the company made 11 unauthorized releases — including seven releases of recycled water and four involving mining process water. Officials say the largest unpermitted release was nearly 400-thousand gallons, and a small amount of recycled water may have reached the Beaver River.
Northshore Mining says equipment failure caused the releases.
Along with the fine, the company must submit a spill prevention report, replace 8-thousand feet of pipeline by the end of 2026, and put a piping integrity plan in place.
The MPCA says it will continue enforcing environmental rules to protect public health and clean water.
A new report is raising concerns about how social media platforms handle harmful content.
According to a BBC investigation, companies like Meta and TikTok may be allowing so-called “borderline content” — including misleading or inflammatory material — to remain online because it drives engagement.
The report, citing whistleblowers, claims some engineers were encouraged to loosen restrictions in order to compete for user attention, while also limiting enforcement in certain high-profile cases.
Experts say this type of content often sparks strong reactions, sometimes called “ragebait”, which can boost clicks and, ultimately, advertising revenue. Both companies deny wrongdoing and say they work to keep users safe.
Still, the findings are fueling ongoing debates about the impact of social media on mental health, misinformation, and public trust.