With the page slowly turning on 2025, East Central Regional Library executive director Carla Lydon was an open book in sharing highlights and challenges from the library system in an interview last week. "It's been quite a year," said Lydon, who has been in the position since 2017. Lydon said ECRL started 2025 with a new strategic plan, and progress on those goals included a growing readers program piloted by the Mora Public Library. The program connects a student in grades 1

A wildfire reported in the Nemadji State Forest on Friday morning has been 75% contained, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. According to Minnesota Interagency Fire Center public information officer Leanne Langeberg, the Rash Road Fire was detected west of McDermott Creek on Nov. 7. Langeberg said the fire is burning in a "mix of hardwood trees and downed leaf litter." Over the weekend, fire crews mapped the blaze at 120 acres and have contained 75% o

Work on Hinckley's I-35 bridge replacement project is nearing completion. According to the MnDOT project website, lane closures will be removed at noon on Friday, Nov. 7. A northbound lane closure will be put back in place on Monday, Nov. 10. That work is expected to last through the evening of Nov. 14. All work on the project, which carries a $25.6 million price tag, is expected to be complete by the end of November.

The Chisago Lakes school board voted to hold a special referendum election on Feb. 10 at a meeting on Oct. 23. The referendum ballot will feature two questions. The first seeks $48.1 million for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including safety and security improvements at the primary school, middle school, high school, and Taylors Falls elementary school. The second question, which is contingent on the first question passing, seeks $7,505,000 for pr

Here are the preliminary results from local elections. Cambridge-Isanti School District referendum Question 1: 4,481 voted no (59.6%), 3,038 voted yes (40.4%). Cambridge: 2,005 voted no, 1,720 voted yes. Isanti: 2,476 voted no, 1,318 voted yes. Question 2: 4,931 voted no (65.73%), 2,571 voted yes (34.27%) Cambridge: 2,253 voted no, 1,462 voted yes. Isanti: 2,678 voted no, 1,109 voted yes. Willow River School District referendum 305 voted no, 190 voted yes. Princeton Public Sc