HACKENSACK, Minn. — October 24, 2026 (Minnesota Nice News)
Minnesota news from across nice region of Minnesota for the week, summarized and linked to the outlet that reported it. Pour a cup of coffee and grab a bar. This goes quick. Every story in the Memo links to its original source. Click through and give those reporters a little Minnesota nice.
Lots of it this week, so we’ll keep the visiting short.
Statewide
Leech Lake students make big reading gains
Students at Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School on the Leech Lake Reservation made close to four years of progress in basic reading skills after two years with a structured reading program, MPR News reports. Some upper-elementary students who had been three or four grade levels behind are now reading at grade level, sixth-grade teacher Bambi Brown told the reporters.
Source: MPR News
Lakes Country
Bear hunters post the third-best season on record
Hunters registered 4,168 bears through Oct. 18, up 30% from 2025 and 40% above the five-year average, Outdoor News reports. Only 1995 and 2001 produced bigger bear harvests, according to the DNR’s Dan Stark.
Source: Outdoor News
Deer harvest runs ahead of last year
Hunters had taken 24,170 deer through Oct. 18, the close of the youth and early antlerless seasons, Outdoor News reports, citing DNR deer coordinator Paul Burr. That’s about 19% ahead of last year at the same point.
Source: Outdoor News
Winnie walleyes feast in 4 to 6 feet
Fishing guide Jeff Sundin found Lake Winnibigoshish walleyes in 4 to 6 feet of water over sparse weeds on Oct. 20, feeding on young perch as the water warmed to 54 degrees. Wiggle worming with cut crawlers matched or beat a jig and minnow.
Source: Fishrapper
Community
Brimson Strong keeps neighbors on their feet
More than a year after the Camp House fire, the nonprofit Brimson Strong is still raising money and sending it to families who lost homes and cabins north of Duluth, Valley News Live reports. Founder Mikala Schliep started with donation drives that grew to Bassett Hall, and Diane Knaffla, who lost her century-old home, received a $5,000 check.
Source: Valley News Live
Skipped loan payments fill St. Cloud classrooms
A St. Cloud credit union gave $7,730 to St. Cloud Area School District 742 for classroom supplies, adding $15 for every loan payment its members skipped during a recent promotion, KNSI reports. [MORE INFO NEEDED: KNSI names the credit union as St. Cloud Financial Credit Union in the story and St. Cloud Federal Credit Union in the photo caption; confirm which] The money supports the district’s Ready, Set, School program, which now stocks preschool through fifth-grade classrooms.
Source: KNSI
Moorhead city staff move back into City Hall
Moorhead City Hall offices reopened in the building Oct. 19 for the first time in more than two years, KFGO reports. Facilities employee Anthony Manzella called the move fantastic, and the full reconstruction is expected to wrap up in November.
Source: KFGO
Duluth reopens 40th Avenue West
Duluth reopened 40th Avenue West to traffic Oct. 23 between 8th Street and the railroad tracks, finishing the first phase of a two-year rebuild, WTBX reports. Work picks back up in spring with a mini roundabout at Grand Avenue.
Source: WTBX
Business
AirCorps Aviation lands state help for a Bemidji hangar
AirCorps Aviation in Bemidji received a $175,000 Job Creation Fund award toward a $4.65 million hangar that is expected to add 14 jobs, Minnesota Business reports. It was one of five expansions DEED announced Oct. 21, together expected to create or retain 141 jobs.
Source: Minnesota Business
Cirrus grows in Grand Forks and Duluth
Cirrus Aircraft finished a 30,000-square-foot expansion of its Grand Forks, North Dakota, plant, which builds composite parts for its piston planes and the Vision Jet, AIN reports. The Duluth planemaker also opened a new warehousing center at home.
Source: AIN
M State and Alexandria Industries team up on training
DEED awarded $49,000 to M State for leadership and professional development training with Alexandria Industries, the precision aluminum maker, KFGO reports. The package includes a 30-hour leadership program and a 15-hour course for employees across the company.
Source: KFGO
Dave’s Hot Chicken opens in St. Cloud
Dave’s Hot Chicken held its grand opening Oct. 23 at Rivertown Village Shopping Center, the first one in Central Minnesota, KNSI reports. The family-run franchise group hired about 50 people, and the first 100 guests were promised coupons for a free slider.
Source: KNSI
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