Podcasts about Boundary Waters

Boundary Waters Podcast Ep. 133 - Who am I without trees? by WTIP North Shore Community Radio

Photo: Notah Begay III, who is Diné and from the pueblos of San Felipe and Isleta, is the 2026 recipient of the Payne Stewart Award. (Courtesy PGA) The PGA Tour has bestowed one of its highest honors, the Payne Stewart Award, to a four-time PGA Tour winner who is also a citizen of the Navajo Nation. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has details. Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Notah Begay III excelled at swinging a club. His success on the fairway afforded him the chance to play college golf beside Tiger Woods at Stanford University – winning a national team championship in 1994. Begay is widely considered the first Indigenous golfer to compete on the PGA Tour. When accepting the award on Tuesday, Begay noted how Native Americans have the lowest graduation rates and life expectancies in the U.S. among all ethnicities. “So for me to be standing up here as a Stanford graduate with a degree in economics, four-time PGA Tour winner and a television broadcaster accepting this prestigious award is a miracle.” Entrance to White Mesa Mill in southeastern Utah. (Photo: Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ) A uranium mining company missed a Monday deadline to turn over communications between its executives and the feds. KNAU's Chris Clements reports that is according to House Democrats, who have launched an investigation into Energy Fuels for potential insider trading. Two House Democrats allege the Trump administration may have tipped Energy Fuels off about the cut to Bears Ears National Monument before it happened, leading company executives to invest in their own firm. One of the Democrats is U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California. “The timing and the volume of these stock purchases are conspicuous and speak for themselves.” Huffman asked the company to send a year's worth of communications with the feds, as well as its lobbying contracts, by August 24, but Energy Fuels did not provide the materials by that deadline, according to a spokesperson for Huffman. In a statement, the company said it strongly rejects the idea that anything improper took place, but did not deny that it missed the deadline. Energy Fuels stands to benefit from less protections to the uranium-rich monument, the lawmakers argue, because the company owns the White Mesa Mill, the only conventional uranium processing mill in the United States. Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, has signed an executive order blocking new state mineral leases and halting permitting work for proposed nonferrous mining projects in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed near the Boundary Waters. The National Congress of American Indians praised the move, saying it protects treaty rights, Tribal resources, and culturally significant lands from potential mining-related pollution. NCAI also recognized the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, and Grand Portage Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa. The three 1854 Treaty Tribes have pushed for protections in the region and earlier this year joined the Red Lake Nation and an Anishinaabe First Nation in Canada in a cross-border effort to protect the watershed. NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. says the order provides immediate relief, but permanent protections are still needed. The organization is calling for federal legislation permanently withdrawing the Boundary Waters and Rainy River Headwaters from mineral leasing and development. Jeffery Amherst painting by Joshua Reynolds. And on this day in 1763, British commander Jeffery Amherst wrote a letter calling for the destruction of Native people resisting British expansion. The letter came during Pontiac's War, when a confederation of Native nations fought British forces around the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. Amherst also supported efforts to spread smallpox among Native people, one of the most infamous examples of biological warfare discussed during the colonial era. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, August 27, 2026 — Native Bookshelf: ‘Treat Them as Buffalo’ by Blair Palmer Yoxall

In this week's public lands news briefing, we are covering three main stories:1. Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order using the power he has to help protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but the fight is not over yet. This action is somewhat complicated and has caused some confusion, so I break down what it really means and what we need to do next.2. Mining claims have been staked in Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments in Utah following Trump's reduction in monument size ft. Autumn Gillard, a Southern Paiute and coordinator of the Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalition.Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalition: https://grandstaircasecoalition.org/ 3. Bulldozers have been at work in Big Bend National Park, but further destruction was recently paused. The fight is far from over to protect the Big Bend region as a whole from this border wall construction ft. Christina Hernandez, director of the People of La Junta for Preservation and executive director of the Big Bend Conservation Alliance.People of La Junta: https://www.peopleoflajunta.org/Big Bend Conservation Alliance: https://www.bigbendconservationalliance.org/ ------------------Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/outdoorminimalist ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listener Survey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------Episode Sourceshttps://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/executive-orders/ https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/what-governor-walzs-executive-order-means-future-boundary-waters https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-administration-pauses-border-construction-project-in-big-bend-national-park https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Big-Bend-lawsuit-People-of-La-Junta.pdf https://biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/pdfs/034-Pls-Emergency-Mot.-for-TRO-or-PI.pdf  https://westernpriorities.org/2026/08/mining-claims-filed-on-land-removed-from-utah-monuments/

Gov. Tim Walz issued a state executive order Tuesday prohibiting copper-nickel mining over about 350 square miles in the Rainy River watershed in northeast Minnesota. The action comes just four months after Congress voted to overturn the Biden-era mining ban in the region.Duluth-based reporter Dan Kraker joined Minnesota Now to help us sort through it all.

Governor Walz is making sure of that. Reaction to the breaking news from the Executive Director of the Friends of The Boundary Waters, Ingrid Lyons on the WCCO Morning News

Governor Walz is making sure of that. Reaction to the breaking news from the Executive Director of the Friends of The Boundary Waters, Ingrid Lyons on the WCCO Morning News

Wildfires have now been burning for six weeks in northeast Minnesota, in the Boundary Waters. The fires have burned more than 66,000 acres. And there are more than 650 fire personnel working to put the fires out. Putting the fires out responsibly is much more than just putting down hose lines. Joining Minnesota Now with more about the careful work to preserve the forest ecosystem while fighting fires is Matt Nourmohamadian, a fire resource advisor coordinator.

Minnesotans have long debated the meaning of “Up North.” Is it everything north of Duluth, or north of Mille Lacs? Are pine trees and lakes a prerequisite? What about loons? Or is it more of a perception — a place defined not so much by location but by mindset? Sigurd Olson wrote his beloved book, “The Singing Wilderness,” to describe the beauty and wildness he saw in what came to be known as The Boundary Waters Canoe Area. He wrote: “The singing wilderness has to do with the calling of loons, with northern lights, and the great silences of land lying northwest of Lake Superior. It is concerned with the simple joys, the timelessness and perspective found in a way of life which is close to the past.”Cal Flyn has never been to the Boundary Waters, but she resonates with Olson's definition. A writer based in the isles off the coast of Scotland, Flyn climbed mountains, plunged into forests and helicoptered to volcanoes for her new book, “The Savage Landscape.” But more than the nature itself, she's intrigued by how we recognize and preserve these wild places. “There is no obvious visual marker that announces one's arrival in a wilderness,” she writes, “and thus, the search never truly ends.” Flyn joins Kerri Miller on this week's Big Books and Bold Ideas to talk about what we mean when we say wilderness and why that definition matters. Guest: Cal Flyn is a Scottish journalist and writer. Her new book is “The Savage Landscape: How We Made the Wilderness.” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

Chris Fink's annual writing class in the Boundary Waters took a terrifying turn this year.

More than 80 businesses have signed a letter asking the state for help after wildfires in northeast Minnesota forced closures around the Boundary Waters during what is normally the busiest time of year. It comes after Gov. Walz said there would not be a special session held to address the economic impacts of the fire. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with two of those businesses owners, both based in Ely, who voiced their concerns: Elli Piragis, general manager of Piragis Northwoods Company, and Abby Dare, owner and operator of The Meadows Gallery and Studio.

Derechos are devastating, fast-moving bands of thunderstorms capable of producing destructive winds. Minnesota has experienced several, including the Boundary Waters blowdown in 1999. But research suggests derechos could become twice as common in a warming climate.MPR News chief meteorologist Ben Cathey spoke with members of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville about the impacts these storms can have on wildlife. He also spoke with Logan Bundy, a meteorologist at Northern Illinois University, about what derechos could look like in the future.Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Minnesota's drought is likely here to stay for a while. That's according to experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.But there was welcome rain in the Boundary Waters fire zone this morning.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Businesses impacted by the wildfires burning in the Boundary Waters are asking for state aid after Gov. Tim Walz suggested this week that a special session to provide wildfire relief is unlikely. And the latest U.S. Drought Monitor update for Minnesota is showing a SLIGHT improvement in long-standing drought conditions across the state.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A debate featuring four candidates for Minnesota governor showcased differences in style and substance today. The Farmfest stage was filled by likely Democratic nominee Amy Klobuchar and three Republicans vying for that nod: Lisa Demuth, Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls.Governor Tim Walz says there is no need to extend a peacetime emergency declaration for the wildfires that have burned through parts of the Boundary Waters.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The man serving life in federal prison for killing former DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark is due in Hennepin County court Monday afternoon to make his first appearance on state charges. Last month a judge handed Vance Boelter two consecutive life terms plus 40 years under the terms of a plea deal that spared the 59-year-old a possible federal death sentence.About 50 people protested on Summit Avenue in St. Paul Sunday ahead of Mayor Kaohly Her's planned homeless encampment closures. The first one is scheduled Wednesday at Pig's Eye Park. City officials say St. Paul is investing $1 million into additional housing, but there isn‘t enough housing to immediately shelter those who will be displaced this week.Small business owners in northeastern Minnesota told their state legislators Friday that the wildfires that have been burning in and around the Boundary Waters for almost a month now, are having a “disastrous” impact on their bottom lines. One canoe outfitter says he lost 98 percent of his revenue in July due to cancellations. Other business owners said they've suffered losses of at least 40 percent, and for some it's much more as the wildfires shut almost everything down during the peak of a relatively short tourism season.80 workers are to be laid off as Pearson's Candy Company closes its St. Paul facility in September. The company is famous for its Salted Nut Rolls and Nut Goodies. The company is over 100 years old. It started as a family business, but has changed owners three times in the past 15 years.A new law took effect Saturday aimed at decreasing food waste and boosting food shelf inventory. Minnesota law says stores can't sell eggs past their quality assurance date, which is four to six weeks after the egg was packed. But those eggs can still be safe to eat. Republican Rep. Andrew Myers sponsored a bill this year to let stores donate unsold eggs.Northeast Minnesota wildfires causing disastrous economic impacts to tourism industryPearson's Candy Company to shut down St. Paul plant

Fires still burning in parts of the Boundary Waters have charred nearly 65,000 acres. And federal officials say Minnesota was one of at least seven states that reported cyberattacks on city water systems last week.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

In this episode, Travis Van Es shares a personal reflection on his recent break from podcasting, his spiritual journey, and plans for the future of 'Running Through My Vanes' He also recaps a memorable father-son trip to the Boundary Waters and discusses upcoming projects and personal goals.

On the morning of December 20, 1879, a Cree trapper named Swift Runner stood on a scaffold in Alberta and waited in the cold, because the hangman had forgotten the straps and had to go back for them. He had already confessed. He had already walked the police out to a clearing in the bush and shown them what was left of his family, and his explanation never changed across four months in custody. Something came into him that winter, and it made him hungry in a way that food could not answer. The men who tried him did not believe in that thing and the men who guarded him did, and both groups agreed on the physical facts, which were a camp 25 miles from a post that was issuing rations, a cooking pot, bones cracked open at the ends, and one man who walked out of those woods in the spring heavier than he went in.The road trip turns north in January, and this stop is different from the others.The wendigo is not a cryptid with a gift shop. It comes out of the traditions of living Algonquian-speaking peoples, and in northern Minnesota that means the Anishinaabe, whose seven nations in this state are governments with citizens, not historical footnotes. So we spend a few honest minutes on what the old accounts actually describe before we go anywhere near a sighting, and it turns out to be almost the opposite of what has been sold to you.There are no antlers. The deer skull came out of concept art in the last 20 years. What the tradition describes is something starving, with the skin drawn tight over the bones and the eyes sunk back in the sockets, that grows in exact proportion to whatever it eats so that the arithmetic never breaks in its favor and it is never one bite closer to full than it was when it started. And it is not only something out in the timber.It is something a person can become.Then we go into the woods, and we stay there. Ray heard his own name spoken through the spruce four miles from the nearest road on a trapline nobody ran but him, and he answered out loud and was walking toward it before he had decided to. Marlys followed a child crying in a tamarack swamp and covered 60 yards without the sound ever coming one foot closer. Dale and Ron met in the middle of the timber a quarter mile apart, each one having heard the other call his name, and looked down at four inches of fresh snow holding nothing but their own two trails. Faye was 11 years old when her mother's voice started calling her in from the yard of a cabin on the Bigfork River, and the fear did not arrive until about 30 years later. Wayne opened the door of a fish house on the ice at two in the morning after somebody outside politely said come here, and found open snow under a moon in every direction. Lonnie lay in a wheelhouse north of Deer River and counted the footsteps of whatever walked past him at 40 feet, and walked the interval out himself at first light.Delores was taught as a small child on the Red Lake reservation not to look at the treeline, not to run, to hold her pace, and to say out loud to an adult what had happened, and the same instruction turns up from Manitoba to Michigan in communities that never compared notes. Gordon watched something stand past his woodpile at 35 yards in the gray before deer season light, went in for a rifle, and signed his share of that hunting camp over to his brother's boys without ever explaining why.Kenny came through the door eight seconds behind his brother into an empty yard with fresh snow and no track under the window, and they sold the shack four years later. Verna gave up a bedroom after three February nights of something dragging along the outside wall at waist height, 20 seconds down and 20 seconds back, with a full minute of pause in between. Orval watched something cross a burn scar for two minutes through binoculars from a staffed fire tower in the Superior, called it in on the radio, and would not answer when the man on the other end asked him what it was.Sam and Wes heard a scream in the Boundary Waters at two in the morning that ran longer than a lung should allow and never broke for breath, and then heard it again from a different position. Andrea's whole body turned before her mind did on a February trail outside Ely, and she still snowshoes and no longer does that trail alone.Tara has worked out how fast something would have to move to cover the ground it covered in 90 seconds, and she does not say the number out loud.The turn to sasquatch is a real one and the episode explains it rather than assuming it, because Anishinaabe tradition carries a separate word for the hairy man of the woods and he is not made by cannibalism and does not eat anybody. That opens up a Minnesota record almost nobody outside the state discusses. Remer in Cass County, where the town's founder described tracks much bigger than a man's and sunk deep into the earth, where the old accounts talk about whole families of them and a stretch of Big Sand Lake that people left alone out of courtesy, and where a trail camera caught something in October 2009. The Vergas Trails in Otter Tail County and the Hairy Man, running since the late 1960s, including two 12-year-old cousins on a snowmobile in 1972.A researcher out of Moorhead who found nine published Minnesota sightings when he started looking and spent his life demonstrating how badly incomplete that number was. Tracks crossing a frozen lake in a single line with a stride over four feet. A bear bait barrel worked 40 yards off its tree with the chain still whole. A deer wedged nine feet up a maple with no claw marks on the bark and no blood in the leaves underneath.And the report this state produces more than any other, which is not a monster standing in a road at all, but a line of tracks that came out of the treeline, crossed a yard, stopped 10 feet from the back window, and turned around, left for a woman who had been standing at that sink in the night with the kitchen light on.Email BrianJoin Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteHave you experienced a Bigfoot sighting, Sasquatch encounter, Dogman experience, UFO sighting, or any unexplained cryptid or paranormal event deep in the woods? We want to hear your story.Email your encounter to brian@paranormalworldproductions.com for a chance to be featured on a future episode of Backwoods Bigfoot Stories.Backwoods Bigfoot Stories is a paranormal storytelling podcast featuring real Bigfoot encounters, Sasquatch sightings, Dogman reports, cryptid experiences, and true scary stories from the backwoods.Follow the show and turn on automatic downloads so you never miss a chilling encounter from the forest. Listen with the lights off… if you dare.

In this episode of Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, host Stephanie Hansen speaks with Jordyn Stocks from Paragis Outfitters Bookstore about the impact of recent wildfires on the Ely community, the role of the bookstore in supporting local culture, and the hidden gems of Ely. They discuss the diverse offerings of the bookstore, including popular book recommendations and the importance of community support during challenging times.Visit Ely, Minnesota for fun things to do year-round! Whether you are looking for a place to stay, a delicious meal, a hiking trail, or an immersion experience, we have businesses ready to meet your needs.Stephanie Hansen (00:00.824)Hello, everybody, and welcome to Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, the podcast where we talk to people in the food space, but I also talk to other people too. And I've been doing a little mini-series here for VisitElyMN.com to help you get to know some of the cool Ely businesses. Ely is my second home. It is the place where I wrote the True North Cabin cookbook, and it's very near and dear to my heart. And you may have heard that theyHave experienced some wildfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe area and around that area this summer. As of this recording, I think the fires are about 40 to 50% contained. Some of the evacuation areas have been lifted. And the town has just really done a great job of keeping people informed and safe. And I'm here today with Jordan Stocks. She is from Piragis Outfitters.And she particularly runs the bookstore that opened gosh, it was last summer already, wasn't it, Jordyn?Jordyn Stocks (00:59.77)Yes, yeah. So in the new space, we've been there since last May, but the bookstore itself has been around in some version for over 20 years now. So it'sStephanie Hansen (01:11.286)So what happened is is there was in the Piragis store, there was the bookstore on the second level, and they used to have another building down the street that they did some surplus kind of sales, and they've merged a lot of that together inside this building. And then you guys have paddle boards and canoes also across the street. Piragis sort of owns this corner that has a lot of fun stuff going on in Ely andI know that with the boundary waters permits being canceled and just opening up more recently to daytime. And I imagine we'll get some more areas that'll open up here as the summer progresses. Has it been a hard time for you guys at the store?Jordyn Stocks (01:54.437)It's it's yeah, it's been a little bit different. It's been a little quieter as you can imagine, in outfitting particularly without having the boundary waters open. We've definitely seen some slowdown in traffic there.Stephanie Hansen (02:07.315)And when you think about the bookstore, yeah. WhatJordyn Stocks (02:11.732)Yeah, the bookstore and the store have maintained like we've still been busy. We've still seen traffic. you know, not as busy as it would normally be. Blueberry festival would have been this weekend, as you know. that didn't happen. But yeah, overall it's still been we're hanging in there. It's still been still been a good weekend, but yeah, quieter.Stephanie Hansen (02:35.286)It's a good example of how smart it is for businesses to kind of silo to. Like, you know, you start with one thing that maybe is your core competency, but then to support the business through non-trip times, you know, you've got the clothing store and then you add the bookstore, which is kind of a year-round service business for the town in and of itself. It's cool to have so many different facets. And I know you guys sell online too and have a pretty big online following.Jordyn Stocks (02:43.473)Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it it it does help that we have a few different things going on with the the clothing and the gifts and the gear and the books and the online presence. So that is that's been nice to have all of that going on. And we've definitely seen an uptick in in online sales and phone sales. So we're still shipping things out all over the country. We're still selling things to, you know, fire crews that are here, local folks that are out and about.People coming up for their cabins. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (03:37.612)What is your history with Paragas and how did you get started and land in the bookstore component?Jordyn Stocks (03:41.76)well I've been here. This is my third no 14th summer here. So I started out just kind of part-time evening shifts in the retail store. And then the bookstore manager at the time, she was she was moving on to I think she was going back home to Chicago or somewhere. So I was excited about the prospect of working with the books and here I am.Thirteen years later. Stephanie Hansen (04:13.856)And you are an Ely resident. Are there some features about Ely in particular or locations that you feel are like hidden gems?Jordyn Stocks (04:23.909)Yeah, so I was actually born and raised here. So I don't know, growing up I kind of kind of probably took a lot of it for granted, but now you know seeing it with fresh eyes, I guess through people who were coming here for the first time and you know coming here repeatedly year after year. one of one of my favorite things is the the Ely Witten Historical Society. They have this cute little museum in the Vermillion Community College.It's it's free, they just feel like goodwill donations, it's self guided. But there's a lot of really interesting historical things there. They have a lot of a lot of books that were written by local folks about history and like very specific history, like the Birdside River or Winton and the lumber industry. So that's pretty fun local history. I love the sedan mine. It's it's open now for underground tours again, which I'm excited to do this summer. I haven't goneYears. Yeah, we just went.Stephanie Hansen (05:19.384)I'm trying to think.I did go to the Sedan Underground mine tour. It's super cool. I think I went, gosh, probably when I first started coming to Ely. So maybe, you know, like gosh, 20 years ago, but it was so cool to be taken underground and through the mine system. And you went with a original miner. So they would talk about like what their day was like. That seems like a uniqueaspect of being in northeast Minnesota because mining was such a pillar of what was happening here at the time. And just like being underground and the constant temperature, that was one of the highlights of one of the things I've done in town.Jordyn Stocks (06:04.049)Yeah, yeah, it's a it's a very cool experience. I'd highly recommend doing that. but yeah, other than that, we've got a lot of great hiking trails, places to canoe and paddle and swim and do all those things. Berry picking. there's always something to do. We've got a great yeah, we've got a great you know, local art scene with the theater and art shows, we've got the movie theater.It's just a lot of fun stuff to do, always always something.Stephanie Hansen (06:38.12)Absolutely. And I know you guys for such a smallish town, your bookstore has like a big footprint. You guys have sold a ton of the True North Cabin cookbooks for me, so thank you. Also, the Moon Tav the Moon Tavern.Jordyn Stocks (06:49.271)Yeah. Yeah, of course. Thanks for coming and Yeah. Yeah, the the new one's been popular.Stephanie Hansen (06:58.964)And also Kurt's book, The Barrens, the Canoe Book has still done well too. So I wanna thank you for that. And I know you guys have a lot of artists that come through and authors that come through. When you're stocking the bookstore, like who would you say is your ideal customer that you're stocking for? Because you have like such a great romance section, a good kid section.Jordyn Stocks (07:21.126)Gosh, that that's a tough one. and it changes, I feel. a lot of people are just are looking for a book to take out on trip with them. Something something that's gonna like be engaging right away, something that's engrossing. they don't want a lot of heavy reading necessarily. But we've also got people who want, you know, the latest best sellers, the things they're seeing on on book talk or theYou know, Reese's book picks or all those things. but also a lot of people looking for local history, things about the area, just something to kind of you know put them in the mindset of being here in the woods. Yeah. A lot of lot of different customers, a lot of variety.Stephanie Hansen (08:07.916) I imagine maybe that changes as you get into the winter months too and it's more of the regular town folk versus the though you have a big visitors that come in the winter too, ‘cause we come and go snowmobiling, we cross country ski.Jordyn Stocks (08:19.792)Yeah. Yeah, yeah, totally. Yeah, there's definitely people coming all year round. It's it's of course, you know, a little a little more mellow in the winter, not as much foot traffic. But yeah, definitely a lot of locals will they'll special order things, you know, they heard about on the radio or they read about in the paper, or you know, they've gottheir favorite Minnesota authors having a new book come out and they want to pre-order that. So yeah.Stephanie Hansen (08:49.877)Yes. I love that. if you could pick three books that you think are kind of buzzy right now that you see that people are excited about, we'll we'll throw them out there because I think I'm always looking for new reads.Jordyn Stocks (09:05.333)Yeah, so people right now are looking for Theo of Golden. I'm blanking on the author's name, but they're also looking for the correspondent and Calamity Club. And then the newest William Kent Krueger book, which won't be out tillAugust, but you know, they're always looking for his latest. Stephanie Hansen (09:29.815)I think I'm the only one in the world that didn't love that Theo of Golden Book, but you know, everybody's got their own vibes.Jordyn Stocks (09:34.01)I haven't read it, but I've definitely that seems like a book that people are either loving or they're hating. There's no in-between on that, as far as I'm hearing.Stephanie Hansen (09:51.192)I feel like that's also what is the name of the book? And I bought it at your store about the social media influencer who gets dropped into the eighteen hundreds.Jordyn Stocks (10:00.429)Yesteryear. That one's been really popular too. Yeah, that's another love it or hate it one. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (10:02.347)Yes. Another book that I yes, like I totally hate read that book and read the whole thing and hated it, but kept going. It it was, you know how sometimes you don't love a book, but it's compelling enough to keep reading and sort of see what happens at the end.it's fascinating, I think, that that book got so much traction. But I don't know, like I I love the diversity of what you guys offer there. You have a ton of local too, like Abby Yaminez. I know you have a large section for her romance books. And romance is a big seller.Jordyn Stocks (10:36.246)We do. Yep. It is. We never used to carry much of it or like have much of a demand for it, but it's been like flying off the shelves lately. I I don't I don't know what it is, but and and that's not a genre that I typically read. So I I've been relying a lot on like s like coworker and customer recommendations, which has been fun. .Stephanie Hansen (11:09.793)It for your personal life, like you probably have to read a lot of books. Like how many books do you think you read in a month?Jordyn Stocks (11:17.462)And I I don't know. I also listen to a lot of books, but I don't know how many I read in a month. Probably like half a dozen, maybe. I don't I don't really know. I doStephanie Hansen (11:31.064)That's a lot. I listen to people talk about, you know, is listening to a book the same as reading or does it count? It's like who's keeping score number one? And yes, it counts. when you can think of a book that is narrated by someone that really makes it come alive, like I just listened to Whistler by Ann Patchett, which I don't know if I would have liked that book as much if she hadn't read it.Jordyn Stocks (11:58.966)Yeah, I totally get that. I I listen to more nonfiction, more memoirs and things, and I especially love when the author reads it. Like David Sederis will read his own, like Nick Offerman reads his own. They're both really great to listen to. And it's just I don't know, it it I think it brings a lot more to it in that circumstance. So but yeah. before we break here, I do want to mention that you guys have the catalog. And in the catalog are you have a lot of books in the catalog, a lot of the cookbooks, the seasonal books, there's also gear.Jordyn Stocks (13:16.393)We do. We do, yeah, and we have the website as well that's fully shoppable, the Boundary Waters catalog website. there's I mean certainly more than what was in the catalog, but not not as much as in the store. But there is quite a variety there and I'm I'm always happy to special order things too if someone's looking for something that they're not seeing in the store oron the website that's happy to look for things. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (13:43.949)That's good to know. That's good to know because I know there's been a lot of interest in supporting Ely in particular. I'm going to link there's a fund that's been established that the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is putting together and there's three pillars that you can donate to. One is nonprofits, one is Ely specific small business, which I appreciate. And also there is an opportunity to donate to the Wildfire Fund. SoI will put that in the show notes. Anything you want people to know specifically about Ely before we break?Jordyn Stocks (14:15.351)Great.gosh. it's just it's just such a great place to to live and to visit. There's you know great people here. Just the way you know you've mentioned people have been showing up for one another and supporting people during this just weird, uncertain wildfire time. It's it's been really cool. It's just a great place to be. Lots, yeah.Stephanie Hansen (14:42.423)I think so too. We're lucky. And we're lucky to have you, Jordan, be such a good supporter of books and reading. And I appreciate everything Piragis has done for our books. And I'm looking forward to seeing you soon. I always pop in to sign books and I'll see you, I'm sure, in the next week.Jordyn Stocks (14:59.62)Yeah, sorry I missed you yesterday. Hopefully we'll see you soon. All right. Wonderful. You too. Absolutely. Thanks for having me. Bye.Stephanie Hansen (15:02.34)Yeah. you will, you will. It's good to see you again, Jordan, and thanks for being a guest. Okay, bye-bye. Mm-hmm.Stephanie Hansen's @StephaniesDish Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stephaniehansen.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, host Stephanie Hansen speaks with Jordyn Stocks from Paragis Outfitters Bookstore about the impact of recent wildfires on the Ely community, the role of the bookstore in supporting local culture, and the hidden gems of Ely. They discuss the diverse offerings of the bookstore, including popular book recommendations and the importance of community support during challenging times.Visit Ely, Minnesota for fun things to do year-round! Whether you are looking for a place to stay, a delicious meal, a hiking trail, or an immersion experience, we have businesses ready to meet your needs.Stephanie Hansen (00:00.824)Hello, everybody, and welcome to Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, the podcast where we talk to people in the food space, but I also talk to other people too. And I've been doing a little mini-series here for VisitElyMN.com to help you get to know some of the cool Ely businesses. Ely is my second home. It is the place where I wrote the True North Cabin cookbook, and it's very near and dear to my heart. And you may have heard that theyHave experienced some wildfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe area and around that area this summer. As of this recording, I think the fires are about 40 to 50% contained. Some of the evacuation areas have been lifted. And the town has just really done a great job of keeping people informed and safe. And I'm here today with Jordan Stocks. She is from Piragis Outfitters.And she particularly runs the bookstore that opened gosh, it was last summer already, wasn't it, Jordyn?Jordyn Stocks (00:59.77)Yes, yeah. So in the new space, we've been there since last May, but the bookstore itself has been around in some version for over 20 years now. So it'sStephanie Hansen (01:11.286)So what happened is is there was in the Piragis store, there was the bookstore on the second level, and they used to have another building down the street that they did some surplus kind of sales, and they've merged a lot of that together inside this building. And then you guys have paddle boards and canoes also across the street. Piragis sort of owns this corner that has a lot of fun stuff going on in Ely andI know that with the boundary waters permits being canceled and just opening up more recently to daytime. And I imagine we'll get some more areas that'll open up here as the summer progresses. Has it been a hard time for you guys at the store?Jordyn Stocks (01:54.437)It's it's yeah, it's been a little bit different. It's been a little quieter as you can imagine, in outfitting particularly without having the boundary waters open. We've definitely seen some slowdown in traffic there.Stephanie Hansen (02:07.315)And when you think about the bookstore, yeah. WhatJordyn Stocks (02:11.732)Yeah, the bookstore and the store have maintained like we've still been busy. We've still seen traffic. you know, not as busy as it would normally be. Blueberry festival would have been this weekend, as you know. that didn't happen. But yeah, overall it's still been we're hanging in there. It's still been still been a good weekend, but yeah, quieter.Stephanie Hansen (02:35.286)It's a good example of how smart it is for businesses to kind of silo to. Like, you know, you start with one thing that maybe is your core competency, but then to support the business through non-trip times, you know, you've got the clothing store and then you add the bookstore, which is kind of a year-round service business for the town in and of itself. It's cool to have so many different facets. And I know you guys sell online too and have a pretty big online following.Jordyn Stocks (02:43.473)Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it it it does help that we have a few different things going on with the the clothing and the gifts and the gear and the books and the online presence. So that is that's been nice to have all of that going on. And we've definitely seen an uptick in in online sales and phone sales. So we're still shipping things out all over the country. We're still selling things to, you know, fire crews that are here, local folks that are out and about.People coming up for their cabins. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (03:37.612)What is your history with Paragas and how did you get started and land in the bookstore component?Jordyn Stocks (03:41.76)well I've been here. This is my third no 14th summer here. So I started out just kind of part-time evening shifts in the retail store. And then the bookstore manager at the time, she was she was moving on to I think she was going back home to Chicago or somewhere. So I was excited about the prospect of working with the books and here I am.Thirteen years later. Stephanie Hansen (04:13.856)And you are an Ely resident. Are there some features about Ely in particular or locations that you feel are like hidden gems?Jordyn Stocks (04:23.909)Yeah, so I was actually born and raised here. So I don't know, growing up I kind of kind of probably took a lot of it for granted, but now you know seeing it with fresh eyes, I guess through people who were coming here for the first time and you know coming here repeatedly year after year. one of one of my favorite things is the the Ely Witten Historical Society. They have this cute little museum in the Vermillion Community College.It's it's free, they just feel like goodwill donations, it's self guided. But there's a lot of really interesting historical things there. They have a lot of a lot of books that were written by local folks about history and like very specific history, like the Birdside River or Winton and the lumber industry. So that's pretty fun local history. I love the sedan mine. It's it's open now for underground tours again, which I'm excited to do this summer. I haven't goneYears. Yeah, we just went.Stephanie Hansen (05:19.384)I'm trying to think.I did go to the Sedan Underground mine tour. It's super cool. I think I went, gosh, probably when I first started coming to Ely. So maybe, you know, like gosh, 20 years ago, but it was so cool to be taken underground and through the mine system. And you went with a original miner. So they would talk about like what their day was like. That seems like a uniqueaspect of being in northeast Minnesota because mining was such a pillar of what was happening here at the time. And just like being underground and the constant temperature, that was one of the highlights of one of the things I've done in town.Jordyn Stocks (06:04.049)Yeah, yeah, it's a it's a very cool experience. I'd highly recommend doing that. but yeah, other than that, we've got a lot of great hiking trails, places to canoe and paddle and swim and do all those things. Berry picking. there's always something to do. We've got a great yeah, we've got a great you know, local art scene with the theater and art shows, we've got the movie theater.It's just a lot of fun stuff to do, always always something.Stephanie Hansen (06:38.12)Absolutely. And I know you guys for such a smallish town, your bookstore has like a big footprint. You guys have sold a ton of the True North Cabin cookbooks for me, so thank you. Also, the Moon Tav the Moon Tavern.Jordyn Stocks (06:49.271)Yeah. Yeah, of course. Thanks for coming and Yeah. Yeah, the the new one's been popular.Stephanie Hansen (06:58.964)And also Kurt's book, The Barrens, the Canoe Book has still done well too. So I wanna thank you for that. And I know you guys have a lot of artists that come through and authors that come through. When you're stocking the bookstore, like who would you say is your ideal customer that you're stocking for? Because you have like such a great romance section, a good kid section.Jordyn Stocks (07:21.126)Gosh, that that's a tough one. and it changes, I feel. a lot of people are just are looking for a book to take out on trip with them. Something something that's gonna like be engaging right away, something that's engrossing. they don't want a lot of heavy reading necessarily. But we've also got people who want, you know, the latest best sellers, the things they're seeing on on book talk or theYou know, Reese's book picks or all those things. but also a lot of people looking for local history, things about the area, just something to kind of you know put them in the mindset of being here in the woods. Yeah. A lot of lot of different customers, a lot of variety.Stephanie Hansen (08:07.916) I imagine maybe that changes as you get into the winter months too and it's more of the regular town folk versus the though you have a big visitors that come in the winter too, ‘cause we come and go snowmobiling, we cross country ski.Jordyn Stocks (08:19.792)Yeah. Yeah, yeah, totally. Yeah, there's definitely people coming all year round. It's it's of course, you know, a little a little more mellow in the winter, not as much foot traffic. But yeah, definitely a lot of locals will they'll special order things, you know, they heard about on the radio or they read about in the paper, or you know, they've gottheir favorite Minnesota authors having a new book come out and they want to pre-order that. So yeah.Stephanie Hansen (08:49.877)Yes. I love that. if you could pick three books that you think are kind of buzzy right now that you see that people are excited about, we'll we'll throw them out there because I think I'm always looking for new reads.Jordyn Stocks (09:05.333)Yeah, so people right now are looking for Theo of Golden. I'm blanking on the author's name, but they're also looking for the correspondent and Calamity Club. And then the newest William Kent Krueger book, which won't be out tillAugust, but you know, they're always looking for his latest. Stephanie Hansen (09:29.815)I think I'm the only one in the world that didn't love that Theo of Golden Book, but you know, everybody's got their own vibes.Jordyn Stocks (09:34.01)I haven't read it, but I've definitely that seems like a book that people are either loving or they're hating. There's no in-between on that, as far as I'm hearing.Stephanie Hansen (09:51.192)I feel like that's also what is the name of the book? And I bought it at your store about the social media influencer who gets dropped into the eighteen hundreds.Jordyn Stocks (10:00.429)Yesteryear. That one's been really popular too. Yeah, that's another love it or hate it one. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (10:02.347)Yes. Another book that I yes, like I totally hate read that book and read the whole thing and hated it, but kept going. It it was, you know how sometimes you don't love a book, but it's compelling enough to keep reading and sort of see what happens at the end.it's fascinating, I think, that that book got so much traction. But I don't know, like I I love the diversity of what you guys offer there. You have a ton of local too, like Abby Yaminez. I know you have a large section for her romance books. And romance is a big seller.Jordyn Stocks (10:36.246)We do. Yep. It is. We never used to carry much of it or like have much of a demand for it, but it's been like flying off the shelves lately. I I don't I don't know what it is, but and and that's not a genre that I typically read. So I I've been relying a lot on like s like coworker and customer recommendations, which has been fun. .Stephanie Hansen (11:09.793)It for your personal life, like you probably have to read a lot of books. Like how many books do you think you read in a month?Jordyn Stocks (11:17.462)And I I don't know. I also listen to a lot of books, but I don't know how many I read in a month. Probably like half a dozen, maybe. I don't I don't really know. I doStephanie Hansen (11:31.064)That's a lot. I listen to people talk about, you know, is listening to a book the same as reading or does it count? It's like who's keeping score number one? And yes, it counts. when you can think of a book that is narrated by someone that really makes it come alive, like I just listened to Whistler by Ann Patchett, which I don't know if I would have liked that book as much if she hadn't read it.Jordyn Stocks (11:58.966)Yeah, I totally get that. I I listen to more nonfiction, more memoirs and things, and I especially love when the author reads it. Like David Sederis will read his own, like Nick Offerman reads his own. They're both really great to listen to. And it's just I don't know, it it I think it brings a lot more to it in that circumstance. So but yeah. before we break here, I do want to mention that you guys have the catalog. And in the catalog are you have a lot of books in the catalog, a lot of the cookbooks, the seasonal books, there's also gear.Jordyn Stocks (13:16.393)We do. We do, yeah, and we have the website as well that's fully shoppable, the Boundary Waters catalog website. there's I mean certainly more than what was in the catalog, but not not as much as in the store. But there is quite a variety there and I'm I'm always happy to special order things too if someone's looking for something that they're not seeing in the store oron the website that's happy to look for things. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (13:43.949)That's good to know. That's good to know because I know there's been a lot of interest in supporting Ely in particular. I'm going to link there's a fund that's been established that the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is putting together and there's three pillars that you can donate to. One is nonprofits, one is Ely specific small business, which I appreciate. And also there is an opportunity to donate to the Wildfire Fund. SoI will put that in the show notes. Anything you want people to know specifically about Ely before we break?Jordyn Stocks (14:15.351)Great.gosh. it's just it's just such a great place to to live and to visit. There's you know great people here. Just the way you know you've mentioned people have been showing up for one another and supporting people during this just weird, uncertain wildfire time. It's it's been really cool. It's just a great place to be. Lots, yeah.Stephanie Hansen (14:42.423)I think so too. We're lucky. And we're lucky to have you, Jordan, be such a good supporter of books and reading. And I appreciate everything Piragis has done for our books. And I'm looking forward to seeing you soon. I always pop in to sign books and I'll see you, I'm sure, in the next week.Jordyn Stocks (14:59.62)Yeah, sorry I missed you yesterday. Hopefully we'll see you soon. All right. Wonderful. You too. Absolutely. Thanks for having me. Bye.Stephanie Hansen (15:02.34)Yeah. you will, you will. It's good to see you again, Jordan, and thanks for being a guest. Okay, bye-bye. Mm-hmm.Stephanie Hansen's @StephaniesDish Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stephaniehansen.substack.com/subscribe

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows 76 percent of Minnesota is in drought. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard says recent heat waves have dried out soils across the state. The Twin Cities metro area is in the abnormally dry to moderate drought category. Parts of north-central Minnesota are even drier, in the severe drought category.The Forest Service is reopening some entry points at the end of the Gunflint Trail to day trips Friday. Cook County and Forest Service officials say recent rainfall and increased staffing on the Little Knife fire are allowing authorities to lift more evacuation orders and reopen more entry points near the Gunflint Trail. Canoe outfitters and resort owners have been hit hard by recent Boundary Waters closures due to wildfires. More than 40 percent of the area is now reopened.St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her says she is cooperating with an independent investigation into allegations that she sexually harassed city employees. In a statement Wednesday, Her said she takes her responsibility to treat every employee with professionalism and respect seriously. Police Chief Axel Henry filed a complaint in April over text messages Her sent to city employees. Her says the texts were “attempts at humor” that fell short of the standard she expects of herself.Temporary Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner John Connolly says the agency has not had adequate oversight to identify fraud in its social services programs. Federal prosecutors say Medicaid fraud in Minnesota has been happening at an industrial scale. Connolly told MPR News the agency did not have the right policies, infrastructure or capacity to prevent it. Last week, federal officials announced they are withholding an additional $200 million in Medicaid funding.A company working to open a copper mine on the Iron Range has submitted updated plans to Minnesota environmental regulators. NewRange Copper Nickel is proposing several changes to the controversial project, including changes to how it stores waste tailings. The company also says it will release much less wastewater into the environment. The project earned state permits eight years ago, but lawsuits filed by environmental groups have since stalled it.

State legislators from across the country are vowing to introduce legislation that makes it possible for residents to directly sue federal agents who violate their constitutional rights. State lawmakers also plan to introduce similar legislation in Illinois, Colorado and other states.Parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area are reopening to overnight camping today. With firefighters making good progress containing several wildfires in the region, the Forest Service is opening about 40 percent of the Boundary Waters to overnight visitors.The Forest Service says it's monitoring conditions daily for opportunities to open more of the wilderness. Many of the most popular entry points, including those at the end of the Gunflint Trail, remain closed. This summer, blood donations have hit a four-year low, worsening the ongoing emergency blood shortage. The American Red Cross declared a national "blood crisis" in early July as the number of donations have not kept pace with hospital demand. Extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses have led to lower donor turnout this season. The Red Cross for Minnesota and the Dakotas is asking individuals to donate all blood types, but there is an urgent need for O negative and O positive blood.St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her is under investigation for alleged sexual harassment. According to reporting by the Star Tribune, Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a complaint against Her for allegedly sending sexually suggestive text messages to a city employee.A new report finds that federal immigration agents misused force more than 400 times since last summer. Physicians for Human Rights and the Human Rights Center at the UC Berkeley School of Law went through hours of video, legal filings and news accounts in their investigation. According to the report, Minneapolis accounted for a quarter of all cases where federal agents misused force on protesters. Minnesota, other states, will push for ICE protectionsBack into the BWCA: Canoeing campers return to the wilderness after wildfire closureThe American Red Cross for Minnesota and the Dakotas declares blood crisis due to shortageSt. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her under investigation for sexual harassment allegations

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is accusing Mayor Kaohly Her of sexual harassment. A spokesperson for the mayor confirmed that an investigation is underway. Henry's attorney says Her sent sexually suggestive text messages to a city employee and sexually harassed multiple members of city staff, including police officers. The mayor's spokesperson says the city will not comment further on an active investigation, and says Her “regrets any unintended impact her actions may have had.”Two summer camps in northern Minnesota are resuming activities as wildfire conditions improve. YMCA's Camp Widjiwagan and Camp du Nord, both near Ely, evacuated campers earlier this month as wildfires burned in and around the Boundary Waters. Camp Widjiwagan plans to reopen Friday for a closing ceremony for campers returning from the Arctic Circle, with more camping trips returning next week. Camp du Nord says it will reopen Sunday while continuing to monitor wildfire activity.Minnesota lawmakers say they're confident a federal judge will allow a new law to take effect that bans technology that can make someone appear naked without their consent. The law would allow people portrayed in AI-generated deepfake images to bring civil lawsuits. Elon Musk's company x.AI has sued to block the law from taking effect Saturday. X.AI argues the law is unconstitutional and could force the company to limit functions on its AI tool.Attorney General Keith Ellison has shut down a nonprofit after an investigation found hundreds of employees were misclassified as volunteers at concession stands in Twin Cities stadiums. Ellison's office says MN Fundraising Initiative was not operated for any charitable cause and instead operated as a staffing agency that saved on labor costs. The investigation found the nonprofit consistently paid workers “grants” in exchange for their labor, which Ellison's office says violates Minnesota law.The town of Wasioja near Rochester is celebrating the restoration of a Civil War recruiting station. Wasioja was home to one of Minnesota's first colleges, and 165 years ago, its students were among the first in the country to enlist in the Union Army during the Civil War. The recruiting station is the last remaining one in the state. The newly preserved buildings are now open to the public.

Forest Service officials have announced that parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area will reopen for overnight trips on Thursday, marking the first time visitors have been allowed back since the entire wilderness closed two weeks ago because of wildfires. The partial reopening includes nearly 40 percent of the BWCA, primarily near the Gunflint Trail. Entry points near Ely remain closed, leaving many businesses that depend on wilderness tourism waiting for more access to reopen. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Ely Mayor Heidi Omerza about the latest wildfire response, communication with officials and the ongoing economic impact on the community.

This week, Mike examines a string of reckless incidents in America's national parks, from Yellowstone "tourons" walking across fragile thermal features to dangerous wildlife encounters that could have been avoided.He also questions the RV industry's growing optimism after spending time in Elkhart and seeing signs that manufacturers are still slowing production while inventories remain high.Plus:• An AI-powered fake RV dealership scam targeting buyers on Facebook • Roadtrek's latest ownership change and what we do, and don't, know about Conestogo Partners • Major wildfires closing Minnesota's Boundary Waters and affecting summer travel • New investments aimed at easing congestion in America's national parksStay informed with practical RV news and analysis you won't hear anywhere else.Helpful Links• CampBuddy Setup & Departure Checklist https://rvlifestyle.com/campbuddy• Join Our Free Daily Newsletter https://rvlifestyle.com/newsletter• Florida RV Travel Guides https://rvlifestyle.com/allflorida• RV Lifestyle Community https://community.rvlifestyle.com

The National Forest Service says it will reopen nearly 40 percent of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to the public next week, barring significant wildfire activity. Overnight camping access is set to reopen Thursday at 37 of the 103 quota entry points. That would reopen more than 400,000 acres to the public. Some entry points in Cook County are also expected to reopen for day use Monday.Gov. Tim Walz says a special legislative session may be needed to address some of the fallout from wildfires burning in and near the Boundary Waters. Walz told MPR News that lawmakers may have to return to St. Paul next month if the fires continue burning. The governor declared a peacetime emergency to deploy additional resources to the firefighting effort. Lawmakers would need to weigh in if that declaration extends beyond 30 days.Dozens of people gathered Friday at the memorial for Alex Pretti, six months after he was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent. Flowers and artwork mark the spot on Nicollet Avenue where Pretti was killed in January. Community members who help maintain the memorial say they want to make sure Pretti and the response to his death are remembered. Hennepin County prosecutors are still investigating the killing, but no agents have been charged.Charges have been filed against a 25-year-old man accused of breaking into two Brooklyn Park homes over the past week and sexually assaulting two women. Darius Olson-Baker faces 10 felony counts. According to the criminal complaint, the women provided similar descriptions of their assailant, and DNA testing also allegedly pointed to Olson-Baker as the suspect. He was arrested Wednesday and remains in custody.Basketball superstar LeBron James will not be taking his talents to downtown Minneapolis. The 41-year-old announced Friday he will join the Philadelphia 76ers in a bid to end their 43-year championship drought. The Minnesota Timberwolves had actively recruited James, though Wolves star Anthony Edwards said earlier this week they were not among LeBron's top three choices.

When this episode was recorded and later posted on July 23, 2026, Ely resident and Wilderness guide LynnAnne Vesper had been evacuated from her home due to the Camp Fire--the closest of several fires burning in the Superior National Forest, the Boundary Waters Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park. The fires were ignited during a lightening storm that moved across the region and into Ontario, Canada on July 7th, 2026. When the evacuation order was issued, Vesper was on a Boundary Waters trip in the numbered lakes area east of Ely. In this candid conversation, she shares her thoughts on "the unprecedented nature of these fires," including her personal observations on the conditions that were present in the Wilderness before the storm moved through, including the prevalence of dead Balsam Fir trees caused by Spruce Budworm, unusually hot, dry weather and other factors that created explosive fire conditions across the region. Vesper also explains her understanding of the term "natural" fire and what she views as public misconceptions about the history of wildfire in the Boundary Waters, and gives an update on smoke conditions and community morale in Ely. We also speak with Erik Carlson, fire technician and "burn boss" for the Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe, who offers historical and cultural context about fires, prescribed burns and wildfire management as it relates to the BWCAW. To follow current wildfire and evacuation updates visit the Superior National Forest Incident Information page.

A federal judge sentenced Vance Boelter Thursday to two life sentences plus 40 years for the killings of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the attacks on state Sen. John Hoffman, his wife, Yvette, and their daughter, Hope. Boelter pleaded guilty in June to the attacks a year earlier. John and Yvette Hoffman and the Hortmans' two children were among those who spoke before the sentence was handed down. Following the sentencing, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said it will proceed with its prosecution of Boelter on state charges.The U.S. Forest Service says it will allow day-use permits to enter the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at some entry points starting Monday. Superior National Forest officials say a larger portion of the Boundary Waters in Lake and Cook counties could reopen for overnight use July 30, barring any additional fire activity.Republican Mike Lindell says President Donald Trump's endorsement has boosted his campaign for governor. Lindell says the endorsement led to a surge in fundraising and polling support. He is running against endorsed Republican candidate Kendall Qualls and House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the Aug. 11 primary. Early voting is underway.Minneapolis police are explaining why the department partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during the ICE surge this winter. MPR News first reported the agreement in April. Minneapolis police say 63 officers earned overtime while working with a federal task force focused on drugs and violence, not immigration enforcement. The collaboration has resulted in charges against 25 people.

A federal judge in Minneapolis will hand down the sentence for Vance Boelter, the man who pleaded guilty last month to fatally shooting former House speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and injuring Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.In court filings, prosecutors asked the judge to impose two life sentences, plus 40 years. They said Boelter caused, “astonishing damage to his victims and the state of Minnesota,” and said he should spend the rest of his life in prison.Boundary Waters permit cancellations will remain in effect through Friday, but federal and state officials say they are developing a plan that could reopen some areas of the wilderness to visitors. A memorial has been set up outside the St. Paul apartment leasing office where three people were killed there Monday. Apartment resident Tsegaab Binessu is charged with shooting that killed the three employees after a parking contract dispute.

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Hundreds of firefighters continue to battle wildfires that have burned tens of thousands of acres in the Boundary Waters. Those fire crews saw cooler temperatures and higher humidity Tuesday, which helped efforts to contain the fires — but there were also winds that gusted to near 30 miles per hour. The use of no-knock warrants by law enforcement agencies in Minnesota has declined dramatically since a state law restricting their use went into effect in 2023.After admitting to shooting Minnesota lawmakers, Vance Boelter is now asking to serve his time at a prison outside of Orlando, Fla. Sentencing memos filed by the federal government and Boelter's attorney lay out their positions ahead of a Thursday court hearing. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Boelter should never be free again for shootings that were "the worst form of political violence."

After three straight days at the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival, Lori is still officially the oldest teenager. Celebrity moments from the World Cup, Lori saw The Odyssey, Julia gets ready for her son's wedding, and a RHOSLC split—Angie and her hairstylist husband, Shawn. Plus: Ransom Canyon returns for Season 2, 5-Star Weekend, Spider Solitaire, Taylor Jenkins Reid's next novel, The Hawk on Netflix, Lucky on Apple TV+, girls' trips every 22 days, a Paris Couture fashion show coming to Minneapolis, Dutton Ranch anxiety, and our thoughts and prayers with Ely and the Boundary Waters as they face the wildfires.· 00:00 - Intro: Surviving the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival· 06:35 - Lori Reviews The Odyssey· 09:01 - World Cup Celebrity Sightings & Moments· 13:40 Julia mother-of-the-groom wedding prep· 23:44 - RHOSLC Drama: Angie Katsanevas & Shawn Breakup· 26:23 - TV Updates: Ransom Canyon Season 2 & Dutton Ranch Anxiety· 27:37 - Casual Gaming: Why We are Addicted to Spider Solitaire· 31:18 - Streaming Recs: The Hawk (Netflix), Lucky (Apple TV+) & The 5-Star Weekend· 38:59 - Why You Need a Girls' Trip Every 22 Days· 43:52 - Paris Couture Fashion Show Coming to Minneapolis· 49:20 - Book Talk: We Begin at the End & The Night We Lost Him· 54:09 - Wildfire Updates: Supporting Ely & The Boundary WatersTHANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:InVision Distinctive Eyewear: https://www.invision-optical.com/Borton Overseas: https://www.bortonoverseas.com/loriandjulia/Twin Cities Closet Company: https://www.tcclosets.com/LAK MedSpa: https://www.lakmedspa.com/ CONNECT WITH USInstagram: @loriandjuliaTikTok: @loriandjuliaListen on Spotify/Apple Podcasts: loriandjulia.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than 700 firefighters from across the country are working to contain wildfires burning in and near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Storms Monday brought rain to the fire zone, but also lightning and gusty winds. Crews are working to assess and protect structures near two large fires northwest of Ely and are preparing the Echo Trail as a control line. Forest Service officials say crews quickly responded to three new lightning-caused fires reported Sunday.A U.S. District judge has dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuits against state and local governments over what the Justice Department describes as “sanctuary city policies.” The Trump administration argued policies prohibiting local authorities from enforcing federal immigration law are unconstitutional. Chief Judge Eric Tostrud dismissed claims against the state, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and Attorney General Keith Ellison.The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is seeking public feedback on the social and economic impacts of large-scale dairies in the state. That follows the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's decision not to require an environmental impact statement for a proposed dairy expansion near Morris. The expansion would make it the state's largest dairy. The Department of Agriculture will host two online public meetings Tuesday, July 28, and will accept online comments through Oct. 1.A St. Paul iron foundry is due in court Tuesday as state regulators try to revoke its permit over pollution concerns. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says Northern Iron removed some pollution control equipment in 2023, violating its permit. The agency says that could have led to more pollution in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood. Foundry leaders say a shutdown is unnecessary and that the foundry is not violating its permit.

Wildfires are burning more than 60,000 acres and hundreds of firefighters from around the country have come to northeastern Minnesota to try and contain the flames. We got the latest from Ely and spoke to one crew that's helping to contain the fires.The Boundary Waters is a sanctuary to many Minnesotans. One writer shared more about the mental toll of seeing the area go up in flames. Plus, wildfires aren't the only thing impacting the border with Canada. We heard from some border businesses about deteriorating economic conditions. And Spain has won the World Cup! A local soccer reporter talked about the game and how the U.S. did as host. Also, if you're itching for more soccer, Minnesota United is back in action.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Leave No Trace” by Jerry Vandiver. “Call It What It Is” by Beginner's Luck was the Song of the Day.

As wildfires continue to burn across northeastern Minnesota, many people are worried about the smoke and air quality, as well as the danger to communities and the damage left behind.But for many who love the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the north woods, there's another overwhelming feeling: grief. Grief over watching a place filled with memories, traditions and a sense of peace change before their eyes. And not knowing when, or how, it will recover. Duluth-based nature writer Stephanie Pearson experienced that firsthand. She was forced to evacuate a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters because of the fires. She just published an essay about it in Outside Magazine. Pearson spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about her piece.

https://www.outdoornews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/July-18-long-show.mp3 Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein start the show recounting two big news stories this week: the fires in northeastern Minnesota, and the surprising news that Minnesota DNR Fish and Wildlife Division Director Kelly Straka has decided to leave the agency. Then back-to-back guests Tony Peterson and Melissa Bachman jump into the program to talk about summer scouting for deer, and Melissa shares details of her Fleet Farm Summer Seminar series, which kicks off in early August. Lesmeister and Drieslein close down the show with several national headlines, including their take on the man who suffered an attack from a surly bison in Yellowstone National Park. The post Episode 601 – Boundary Waters fires, a new DNR Fish and Wildlife director, summer deer, bison attack appeared first on Outdoor News.

Two YMCA summer camps are closing and sending campers home because of wildfires raging in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness area. The YMCA's Camp Widjiwagan and Camp du Nord, near Ely, are evacuating campers according to the camp's Facebook post on Wednesday, even though neither site has reached “Go” status in the Ready, Set, Go wildfire evacuation protocols.The Forest Service has closed the BWCA through at least Saturday with 17 wildfires burning in the region. Small businesses that help drive the tourism economy around the Boundary Waters are beginning to feel the strain from the canoe area's closure.Forest Service officials say they are monitoring conditions daily to determine when the BWCA can be reopened. There are about 500 firefighters battling the fires, which are expected to burn for weeks.State officials will keep new Medicaid provider enrollment paused in a dozen high-risk service programs for at least another six months.

Permits for entry into the Boundary Waters are canceled through Sunday as fires in the area continue to grow. The U.S. Forest Service told outfitters permit holders will automatically get refunds.If conditions continue to worsen, Tribal nations in northern Minnesota are preparing for evacuation.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

Code orange! It's a social media code that alerts users that Summerween has come to a particular store. Halloween. We also check in on the wildfires with a pair who narrowly escaped them in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. And we check in on kid and mental health.

Code orange! It's a social media code that alerts users that Summerween has come to a particular store. Halloween. We also check in on the wildfires with a pair who narrowly escaped them in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. And we check in on kid and mental health.

On this week’s show, we talk Minnesota’s wildfires, Pike problem, ICAST, bait shortages and more. Steve Pennaz joins the show and talks about some of the issues MN-FISH is looking into right now including the abundance of small hammerhandle northern pike, a live bait shortage in the state, more invasive species. Dan Amundson starts the show talking about the wildfires in the Boundary Waters and Ontario right now. Joe Henry and Steve Pennaz remember the late Tom Neustrom, and Joe checks in from ICAST. Make sure you're “following” us on your favorite podcast streaming platform so you never miss a show, and if you like what you're hearing, leave us a rating and a review. We'd love to hear from you, and it helps us more than you know! Save 20% on a new OnX HUNT Membership with the code “SJR20” https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app/east https://fishhuntforever.com Find us on SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OVGMvd5vMvETdClc6ks6q?si=5bfeed6989d04b23 Find us on APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fish-hunt-forever/id1248475232 Find us on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/fishhuntforever Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/fish.hunt.forever/ Follow BRET on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bret.amundson/?hl=en Follow DAN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_amundson/?hl=en Find us on TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@fishhuntforever Follow DAN on TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@dan.amundson Follow BRET on TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bretamundson Get a NEW BOAT: https://www.raysmarinealex.com/ Take a trip to LAKE OF THE WOODS: https://lakeofthewoodsmn.com/ Take a trip to DEVILS LAKE: https://www.haybaleheights.com/index.html Get in on the Rainy River/Lake of the Woods FISH MIGRATION: https://riverbendresort.com/ Learn more about SPACE TRAILERS: https://spacetrailers.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooboQSOhbWZ18_wMvVzkAIZx0uGsJiClXI22XCheqrdD8SEIUHn Learn more about CHEF ROBERTS: https://chefroberts.com/ Get OnX FISH: https://www.onxmaps.com/fish/app Visit GRAND RAPIDS, MN: https://visitgrandrapids.com Get a TOWBOAT US Membership: https://xcapeboatrentals.com/towboatu-s https://fishhuntforever.com/feed/podcast/ The post Week 723: Minnesota’s Wildfires, Pike Problems, ICAST, and More appeared first on Fish Hunt Forever.

Code orange! It's a social media code that alerts users that Summerween has come to a particular store. Halloween. We also check in on the wildfires with a pair who narrowly escaped them in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. And we check in on kid and mental health.

Code orange! It's a social media code that alerts users that Summerween has come to a particular store. Halloween. We also check in on the wildfires with a pair who narrowly escaped them in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. And we check in on kid and mental health.

Wildfires in northeast Minnesota have exploded in size. We'll get the latest update from our reporter Dan Kraker in Ely. We'll also hear from an outfitter that sends people on trips to the Boundary Waters and normally counts on big summer business.The wildfires are bringing smoke and unhealthy air quality to much of the state. MPR's chief meteorologist, Ben Cathey, will share when and where smoky skies are spreading.We'll learn about a different approach to criminal justice called mental health court.A local chef is planning a special dinner to bring relief to Venezuela after back-to-back earthquakes.This weekend brings a big celebration for St. Paul's historic Rondo neighborhood: Rondo Days.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Tears in Voice” by Why Cry and our Song of the Day was “Don't Leave” by Peter Wolf Crier.

Alix Kendall is in for Jason. She talks with Christine Kolinski from the US Forest Service about the wildfires that have closed the Boundary Waters and their efforts to evacuate campers. Then she's joined by Matt Taraldson from the Pollution Control Agency about their "maroon" level air quality alert in NE Minnesota and when that smoky air will reach the Twin Cities.

Chad says the hot weather, fires and now evacuation of the Boundary Waters makes it very clear it's time to allow cell phone coverage across the BWCA.

Federal authorities have handed over evidence to state investigators in the January killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis.And months of planning for a Boundary Waters canoe trip came to an abrupt end for one Minnesota family after wildfires forced the U.S. Forest Service to close the area and cancel all entry permits this week.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Todd Melby. Music by Gary Meister.

Temperatures are going to be climbing across Minnesota through the weekend -- as another heat wave takes aim at the region.The Superior National Forest has closed access to a large section of the Boundary Waters because of several active wildfires and dangerously hot and dry conditions.The Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded 11 programs across the state grants to make child care more affordable.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Tonight's video features two terrifying skinwalker horror stories from deep in the wilderness, where isolation, darkness, and something pretending to be human turn ordinary trips into nightmares. In the first story, an old cattleman working alone near the Gila Wilderness begins finding his herd mutilated and hears familiar voices calling from outside his cabin at night. In the second, a group of friends canoeing through the Boundary Waters realizes something on the lake can copy their voices, follow their route, and wear faces it should not have. These are stories about remote places, wrong sounds in the dark, and the terrible moment when you realize the thing calling your name is not the person you think it is.The Thing That Knows Your Voice | Skinwalker Horror StoriesLinktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/its_just_creepy⁠Story Credits:►Sent in to ⁠https://www.justcreepy.net/⁠Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:00:18 Story 100:46:33 Story 2Music by:►'Decoherence' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au'Shadows and Dust' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.auBusiness inquiries:►creepydc13@gmail.com#scarystories #horrorstories #skinwalker

In this episode, Kenny and Jay are joined by Ryan Callaghan—CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, lifelong Westerner, hunter, and fierce public lands advocate—for a wide-ranging discussion on some of the biggest conservation battles happening right now. Ryan breaks down the controversial Oregon PEACE Act (Initiative Petition 28), a ballot measure that could criminalize hunting, fishing, trapping, livestock practices, pest control, potentially devastating rural economies, wildlife management, and generations of outdoor heritage in the state.He also dives into the fight over Minnesota's Boundary Waters, where efforts to open lands upstream for sulfide mining threaten one of America's most iconic wilderness canoe areas, pristine waters, and the recreation economy it supports.Plus, Ryan shares insights on wilderness in the West, shifting animal patterns and migrations, habitat challenges, public lands policy, and everything in between—from practical conservation wins to the cultural importance of hunting and fishing as tools for wildlife management.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.