A Ham Lake man died after his vehicle left the road and hit several trees.

A portion of Kleffman Road in Hibbing has been temporarily closed due to a culvert failure. St. Louis County Public Works staff have determined that the joint connecting two box culverts has separated. Engineers are now evaluating the cause and how best to correct it. The road will likely be closed 6-8 weeks for repairs.

Julie Marinucci has been chosen as the new Land Commissioner and Director of the St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department. Marinucci first joined the county in 2018 as the Mineral Development Specialist. The following year, she was promoted to Deputy Director of Land and Minerals. Her appointment to lead the department follows the retirement of previous director Mark Weber earlier this spring.

On June 4th, 2021, at approximately 8:42 P.M. the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office along with the Gilbert Police Department, Biwabik Ambulance Service, Virginia Ambulance Service, Biwabik Township Fire/1st Responders, and St. Louis County Rescue Squad responded to an ATV accident with injuries in the 6300 block of Ajax Rd. in rural Gilbert, MN in Biwabik Township. Makela was driving his ATV westbound on Ajax Rd.  Makela failed to negotiate a left hand curve in the roadway.  The ATV left the roadway right side and collided with a tree.  Makela was not wearing a helmet and suffered facial and head injuries.  Makela was transported by ambulance to Northern Pines Hospital in Aurora, MN before being airlifted by Life Link III to Essentia Health- Duluth.  The accident is under investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.  Speed and Alcohol appear to be contributing factors in the cause of the accident. 

On November 29, 2017, The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office conducted a welfare check at 11072 S. Townline Road. Upon entering the residence they located the victim, Courtney Fenske deceased. The mail carrier noticed that the Decedent's mail had not been picked up since November 25, 2017. Finding that to be unusual she contacted her supervisor who advised her to call 911. Through their investigation, law enforcement determined the death likely occurred between November 26 and 27, 2017. An autopsy was conducted with the medical examiner ruling the death as a homicide attributed to asphyxia due to ligature strangulation and smothering.