Almost 100 years to the day after three black men were lynched in downtown Duluth, the state of Minnesota has pardoned the one man who was convicted in the alleged rape of a white woman that led to one of the darkest chapters in the city’s history. On Friday, the Minnesota Board of Pardons approved the posthumous pardon application of Max Mason, who served five years in prison after an all-white jury convicted him of the alleged crime.It is the first posthumous pardon granted in Minnesota’s history, and comes at a time when the state is still reeling from the killing of George Floyd by...…Almost 100 years to the day after three black men were lynched in downtown Duluth, the state of Minnesota has pardoned the one man who was convicted in the alleged rape of a white woman that led to one of the darkest chapters in the city’s history. On Friday, the Minnesota Board of Pardons approved the posthumous pardon application of Max Mason, who served five years in prison after an all-white jury convicted him of the alleged crime.It is the first posthumous pardon granted in Minnesota’s history, and comes at a time when the state is still reeling from the killing of George Floyd by...WW…

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is always a popular destination in the summer. Its majestic rock cliffs and historic lighthouse overlooking Lake Superior draws thousands of visitors every year. Its campground fills up most summer weekends. But park manager Katie Foshay said this year, more people than usual are flocking to the park for day visits, too — in part, she suspects, because other summertime activities and travel have been canceled due to COVID-19. "We are definitely seeing an increase in numbers,” she said. “I think with all of the major events like concerts and...…Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is always a popular destination in the summer. Its majestic rock cliffs and historic lighthouse overlooking Lake Superior draws thousands of visitors every year. Its campground fills up most summer weekends. But park manager Katie Foshay said this year, more people than usual are flocking to the park for day visits, too — in part, she suspects, because other summertime activities and travel have been canceled due to COVID-19. "We are definitely seeing an increase in numbers,” she said. “I think with all of the major events like concerts and...WW…

For the past three years, Robyn Argir and her husband, Jeff, have spent winters in the tiny old mining town of Madrid, N.M. They’ve fallen in love with the high desert landscape and mountains outside Santa Fe. Still, when the weather warms, they return north to their family and friends and the place they consider their true home, on Owen Lake, about 40 miles north of Grand Rapids, Minn. They usually return in April. But, as COVID-19 began to spread across the country, the Argirs considered staying put in New Mexico. Robyn, a retired nurse, worried about her husband, who has...…For the past three years, Robyn Argir and her husband, Jeff, have spent winters in the tiny old mining town of Madrid, N.M. They’ve fallen in love with the high desert landscape and mountains outside Santa Fe. Still, when the weather warms, they return north to their family and friends and the place they consider their true home, on Owen Lake, about 40 miles north of Grand Rapids, Minn. They usually return in April. But, as COVID-19 began to spread across the country, the Argirs considered staying put in New Mexico. Robyn, a retired nurse, worried about her husband, who has...WW…

In May 2001, Phil Clarke and two friends were paddling across Saganaga Lake when big waves submerged their canoes."And all of our gear started to float up and away," he recalled. They were a long way from shore. And the water was ice cold. Saganaga is a huge lake, 12 miles long. When the wind whips up big waves it can make for dangerous canoeing conditions."We didn't really realize the danger we were in,” Clarke said. After all, they were on a well-traveled route to the Cache Bay ranger station. “But it didn't take too long and I realized, boy, this is about the coldest I've ever felt....…In May 2001, Phil Clarke and two friends were paddling across Saganaga Lake when big waves submerged their canoes."And all of our gear started to float up and away," he recalled. They were a long way from shore. And the water was ice cold. Saganaga is a huge lake, 12 miles long. When the wind whips up big waves it can make for dangerous canoeing conditions."We didn't really realize the danger we were in,” Clarke said. After all, they were on a well-traveled route to the Cache Bay ranger station. “But it didn't take too long and I realized, boy, this is about the coldest I've ever felt....WW…

Officials with Voyageurs National Park in far northern Minnesota are urging campers, who are visiting the park in droves, to not leave trash behind at campsites — and to leave the trees alone. Park officials posted a series of photos this week, showing bags stuffed with garbage that staff have hauled away from campsites: leftover food, broken equipment and other trash they found in campfire rings, bear lockers and strewn along the forest floor. Park Superintendent Bob DeGross attributes the increase in garbage to a nearly 50 percent surge in overnight camping visitors, when compared to...…Officials with Voyageurs National Park in far northern Minnesota are urging campers, who are visiting the park in droves, to not leave trash behind at campsites — and to leave the trees alone. Park officials posted a series of photos this week, showing bags stuffed with garbage that staff have hauled away from campsites: leftover food, broken equipment and other trash they found in campfire rings, bear lockers and strewn along the forest floor. Park Superintendent Bob DeGross attributes the increase in garbage to a nearly 50 percent surge in overnight camping visitors, when compared to...WW…

Steve Eisenmenger has guided people on Boundary Waters canoe trips for Piragis Northwoods Co. in Ely for 25 years. He's seen a lot. But he wasn't prepared for what he saw at a campsite on Big Lake earlier this summer, just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness."[There were] beer cans in the water, a live tree chopped down and hacked into pieces, toilet paper strewn around,” he said. “A friend of mine and her sons have camped there historically in the past. It was one of their favorite campsites. They were literally in tears when they saw it."Eisenmenger doesn't think the kind of...…Steve Eisenmenger has guided people on Boundary Waters canoe trips for Piragis Northwoods Co. in Ely for 25 years. He's seen a lot. But he wasn't prepared for what he saw at a campsite on Big Lake earlier this summer, just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness."[There were] beer cans in the water, a live tree chopped down and hacked into pieces, toilet paper strewn around,” he said. “A friend of mine and her sons have camped there historically in the past. It was one of their favorite campsites. They were literally in tears when they saw it."Eisenmenger doesn't think the kind of...WW…

Those looking to explore one of Minnesota’s 75 state parks will have to pay more in entrance fees, if a budget proposal released this week by Gov. Tim Walz is ultimately approved. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing to hike annual state park vehicle permit fees from $35 to $45. The daily permit cost would increase from $7 to $10. The fee increases would raise about $2.6 million in additional revenue, according to Erika Rivers, who directs the Minnesota DNR’s parks and trails division. Rivers said that funding would plug an annual structural deficit the parks face of...…Those looking to explore one of Minnesota’s 75 state parks will have to pay more in entrance fees, if a budget proposal released this week by Gov. Tim Walz is ultimately approved. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing to hike annual state park vehicle permit fees from $35 to $45. The daily permit cost would increase from $7 to $10. The fee increases would raise about $2.6 million in additional revenue, according to Erika Rivers, who directs the Minnesota DNR’s parks and trails division. Rivers said that funding would plug an annual structural deficit the parks face of...WW…

Duluth's Lakewalk hugs several miles of the city's Lake Superior shore, from the Canal Park tourist district all the way to Brighton Beach.With its sweeping view of the lake and the city, the trail is a destination for locals and the more than 6 million people who visit the city every year. But for the past few years, it’s also been an active construction site, as the city slowly rebuilds the Lakewalk after sections of it were ripped to pieces by a series of intense storms a few years ago — first in October 2017, then April 2018 and again in October that same year. That third...…Duluth's Lakewalk hugs several miles of the city's Lake Superior shore, from the Canal Park tourist district all the way to Brighton Beach.With its sweeping view of the lake and the city, the trail is a destination for locals and the more than 6 million people who visit the city every year. But for the past few years, it’s also been an active construction site, as the city slowly rebuilds the Lakewalk after sections of it were ripped to pieces by a series of intense storms a few years ago — first in October 2017, then April 2018 and again in October that same year. That third...WW…

In northern Minnesota’s Aitkin County, just north of the tiny town of Palisade, construction workers are clear-cutting a wide path through the forest near the Mississippi River, heavy equipment rumbling, to make way for the new Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project. And Tania Aubid, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, is there to try to stop them."They want to ship the tar sands, toxic oil. … And when that pipeline breaches, it's going to go into the waterways here," she said. Aubid has come to this place every day for more than a week, part of a group of people who call themselves...…In northern Minnesota’s Aitkin County, just north of the tiny town of Palisade, construction workers are clear-cutting a wide path through the forest near the Mississippi River, heavy equipment rumbling, to make way for the new Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project. And Tania Aubid, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, is there to try to stop them."They want to ship the tar sands, toxic oil. … And when that pipeline breaches, it's going to go into the waterways here," she said. Aubid has come to this place every day for more than a week, part of a group of people who call themselves...WW…

Twelve out of 17 members of a group that advises the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on environmental justice issues have resigned in protest of the agency’s approval late last week of a key water quality permit for the contentious Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project. In a letter delivered yesterday to MPCA Commissioner Laura Bishop, the members of the Environmental Justice Advisory Group wrote that they are submitting their “collective and public resignation” because they “cannot continue to legitimize and provide cover for the MPCA’s war on Black and brown people.”The MPCA on...…Twelve out of 17 members of a group that advises the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on environmental justice issues have resigned in protest of the agency’s approval late last week of a key water quality permit for the contentious Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project. In a letter delivered yesterday to MPCA Commissioner Laura Bishop, the members of the Environmental Justice Advisory Group wrote that they are submitting their “collective and public resignation” because they “cannot continue to legitimize and provide cover for the MPCA’s war on Black and brown people.”The MPCA on...WW…