Public Affairs
House committee introduces broadband bill
-Last week the House Telecommunications Regulation and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill that sets goals from the final report of the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force. Th
EDA struggles with finances; board considers director layoff
Carah Thomas-At the monthly meeting of the Cook County-Grand Marais Joint Economic Authority, or EDA, on Tuesday, Feb.
County board to continue Alternative Work Site program
-The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to approve an Alternative Work Site (AWS) plan for Public Health and Human Services Director Sue Futterer on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
County board to review Alternate Work Site plan
-Cook County Commissioners will consider a plan that would define the on-site and off-site responsibilities of the Public Health and Human Services Director.
Local firefighters get federal grant
-Members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation have announced that 21 communities across the state will receive $1,444,938 as part of The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. 
County lodging taxes down over 8 percent in 2009
-Last year was not a good one for Cook County tourism. According to the Auditor-Treasurer’s year-end lodging tax report, 2009 was down 8.3 percent from 2008.
Manpower is the only backup system for communications on the North Shore
-When people along the North Shore last week found themselves without the usual communications tools, they began asking, “What happened and where’s the back-up?” Residents along th
Cook County caucus results stray from state trends
-Republicans and Democrats gathered Tuesday evening for party caucuses. The attendance numbers were down from 2008, but there was still plenty of political business accomplished.
Grand Portage unites with other northern tribes in concern over PolyMet mine proposal
-Tribal governments are coming together in concern over the PolyMet mine proposal. There’s been a flurry of interest recently by companies that want to mine copper, nickel and other prec
Local 2007 high school grad contributes to relief effort in Haiti
-On Jan. 12, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, leaving thousands dead and hundreds of thousands homeless.
