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Grand Marais expands parking ban, reviews remaining 2026 priorities
The Grand Marais City Council passed a parking ordinance Sept. 16, expanding a ban on overnight parking along Highway 61 to year-round enforcement. Previously, the overnight parking restriction was enforced only during the winter to allow snowplows to clear the roadway. Mayor…
County Board sets preliminary levy at 11.98%
Service agreements, a loan request from the Colvill Fire Department for a fire truck, and the 2027 budget were among the agenda items discussed at the Sept. 22 Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting. At the meeting, the commissioners approved setting the 2027 preliminary levy…
Cook County Soil & Water candidates discuss district priorities
WTIP spoke with the two candidates running for the Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District as part of the station’s 2026 coverage ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Stan Tull is running unopposed in District 2, while Gail Gieseke is running unopposed in District 4. WTIP…
District 3 county commissioner candidates weigh in on issues as Election Day nears
On Monday, Sept. 21, WTIP hosted the first of three candidate forums as part of the station’s 2026 coverage ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Monday night’s candidate forum featured the two candidates, Dave Mills (incumbent) and Roger Westerlind, running for the Cook County…
Cook County PHHS moves to donate unused Boreal Transit van to ISD 166
Cook County Public Health and Human Services plans to donate its Boreal Transit van to ISD 166 because the department does not have the staffing or funding to operate the service. The PHHS Board approved the donation at its Sept. 15 meeting. The transfer still requires approval…
HRA approves income flexibility for housing applicants, seeks board members
The Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority approved a policy at its Sept. 16 meeting that allows 10% flexibility in area median income limits for applicants at housing developments. The change applies to HRA-supported housing, including Gunflint Vue and The Heights in…
Hear from the candidates: ISD 166 School Board
WTIP spoke with candidates running for the ISD 166 School Board as part of the station’s 2026 election coverage ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Rena Rogers is running unopposed in District 3, while Dan Shirley is running unopposed in District 5. WTIP spoke individually with…
WTIP to broadcast three candidate forums ahead of November election
As part of WTIP’s 2026 election coverage, the station will host three candidate forums over the next week featuring candidates in two Cook County commissioner races and the Cook County sheriff’s race. Each forum will be one hour and will be moderated by WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins. The…
Vikings Weekly: Vikings volleyball prepares for key matches; football rolls past South Ridge
Volleyball The Cook County girls’ volleyball team split its matches this week, setting up a crucial end-of-season stretch before the section tournament in late October. Last weekend, the Vikings competed in the Hilltopper Invitational in Duluth. The tournament provided a preview…
What fish eat can reveal changes in Lake Superior’s food web
A fish carcass that might otherwise be disposed of may instead help fisheries biologists with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources better understand Lake Superior’s ecosystem and dynamic food web. That’s the idea behind the agency’s Predator-Prey Project, which for more…
Grand Marais approves preliminary 4.81% levy increase
The Grand Marais City Council voted to approve a preliminary property tax levy of $1,196,167, a 4.81% increase. Mayor Tracy Benson made the motion to approve the preliminary levy. It passed 4-0. Council member Craig Schulte was absent. The preliminary levy is not the city’s final…
Birchwood Apartments renovation gives Grand Marais families a renewed place to call home
After years of planning, funding delays, and extensive rehabilitation work, the Birchwood Apartments in Grand Marais are now fully renovated. For the residents of the 24-unit apartment complex, the completion of the multi-year renovation project means more than new finishes,…