Brady Slater

1 week ago | pineknotnews.com | Brady Slater

School officials surveyed locally say they will adhere to state advice when it comes to a federal government directive to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in publicly funded K-12 schools. Leaders with Cloquet, Wrenshall and Esko schools say they have not signed or returned a compliance order from the U.S. Department of Education, which extended a deadline for compliance to April 24, lest districts face a loss of federal funding, which supports programs such as special education.

2 weeks ago | pineknotnews.com | Brady Slater

Year 3 of a $3.69 million opioid settlement was the topic of an annual update Tuesday at the county board meeting in Carlton. The settlement is being paid out across 18 years by multiple pharmaceutical manufacturers and providers, including Walmart and CVS, said Carlton County health educator Ali Bachinski, who explained that the class action settlements are in place in states and counties across the country.

2 weeks ago | pineknotnews.com | Brady Slater

Goodwill between the Carlton and Wrenshall school districts ruled the day Wednesday during a joint session of the two school boards as they work toward consolidation into one district. The listening session drew fewer members of the public than total board members (12), but the attendees were vocal and seemed to reflect a general consensus in favor of making consolidation, at long last, a reality.

3 weeks ago | pineknotnews.com | Brady Slater

Carlton County's plans for a 5.6-mile stretch of Highway 61 in Esko came to light Tuesday, when transportation officials proposed a two-lane divided highway featuring a series of J-turns designed to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes. The project is targeted for 2027 and will cost up to $11 million, but saves money compared to alternatives. "This is new to me - that it's going to stay a divided highway," commissioner Marv Bodie said.

3 weeks ago | pineknotnews.com | Brady Slater

The Carlton County Board of Commissioners is expected to agree Tuesday to partner with a Seattle-based solar energy contractor on a roughly $4 million project partly covered by the federal government.