As we begin our annual trend into fall and winter, I’m reflecting on a cool late May morning when I watched a parade of migrant warblers passing through the partially leafed out trees along a …

A few years ago, a friend gave me a few milkweed seeds, which I grew in hopes of attracting a monarch butterfly or two to the front yard. Little did I know, I was sowing the seeds of a feast for …

There’s a certain kind of political mind that looks at a genuine crisis and asks not: “What caused this?” but rather “Who can I blame for it?” We’ve seen that mind at work once again this …

REGIONAL— Looking forward to a nice campfire at the cabin this weekend? Better put those plans on hold, according to the Minnesota DNR, which has announced Class IV fire restrictions in much of …

REGIONAL— Severe drought now extends into a good portion of northwestern St. Louis County, while moderate drought now extends across the entire northern third of the Arrowhead. That’s according …

REGIONAL— The impact of nearly unprecedented heat in the border country and little to no rainfall over the past week will almost certainly show up in Thursday’s release of the weekly U.S. Drought …

REGIONAL— Campfires and other forms of open burning are now prohibited across much of the North Country due to the extremely dry conditions and a rash of new fires sparked by recent thunderstorms. …

REGIONAL— There is yet more evidence that a small breeding population of cougars is roaming the remote forests of northern St. Louis County, with new sightings of immature cougars and repeated …

ELY—The North American Bear Center will welcome two new residents this coming September, with the introduction of two cubs to the center’s enclosure. “We are eager, excited, and hopeful for the …

I’ve noticed over the years, that one of my favorite destinations — Lost Lake— seems to spark the imagination for many of our readers. While we constantly receive comments from readers on many …

REGIONAL—Hunters may need to work a little harder to reach their bag limit of ruffed grouse when the season opens Sept. 19. According to DNR wildlife officials, the ruffed grouse population is in …

REGIONAL—Every January, thousands of people scramble to their computers at 9 a.m. on the last Wednesday of the month, racing to snag one of the coveted overnight permits that grant access to the …

REGIONAL—The public is invited to review and comment on the draft Little Fork River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan during the formal review period running now through Aug. 14. The draft …

ECHO TRAIL— The Minnesota Air Rescue Team, or MART, was back in the Ely area this past Friday, responding to an injured hiker along the Angleworm Trail. The call came into the Morse-Fall Lake Fire …

SOUDAN- A newly formed group is hoping to help area communities recognize the value of area trails in building the region’s tourism economy. The Arrowhead Coalition of Trails (ACT) began with the …

There are places that, for families, become like hallowed ground. Places where the family connections run deep, where you feel at home even if it’s never really been home. For me, that place is the …

SOUDAN — For many people, enjoying Minnesota’s state parks can be as simple as lacing up a pair of hiking boots and heading down a trail. But for visitors with mobility challenges or other …

I think anyone who has spent time on Lake Vermilion knows about this phenomenon. The islands move. I think they dance. It must happen mostly during the night. They try to conceal their movement, of …

A phrase usually reserved for dancing., trip the light fantastic played out in the skies over Lake Vermilion this past week when lake resident Michelle Toutloff tried capturing a bit of a rainbow in …

If you’ve spent any time poking around woodpiles, garden edges, or sunny rock piles in here in the North Country, you’ve probably met a garter snake. These small, striped reptiles are the most …

REGIONAL— Despite some recent rains, the North Country continues to flirt with drought conditions. The region has experienced on-again, off-again drought for nearly the past year, which has …

REGIONAL—Be aware that June is the month when area turtles emerge from their lakes, ponds, and rivers to look for gravelly banks to lay their eggs. Road embankments are often popular nest sites for …

If you’ve made a mental note that the flowers on the wild fruit trees and shrubs seem to be remarkably profuse this year, you’re not alone. In my 42 years here, it’s the most spectacular flush …

REGIONAL— The unseasonably hot and dry conditions that have settled in over the North Country over the past two weeks is raising fire danger and sending water levels falling rapidly. While the …

REGIONAL— You can take a kid fishing this weekend without a traditional fishing license, as a thanks for sharing the fun of fishing with the next generation.   “This is a great …