Local issues take center stage

Name an issue of local interest and it probably came up Monday at the Grand Ely Lodge.

For roughly two hours, the area’s two state legislators shared their views and heard the requests of area leaders during the annual legislative meeting convened by the Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board.

State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D-Hermantown) and State Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely) addressed everything from wolf management to funding for local governments, schools and projects, in addition to touting their bipartisanship and addressing Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to drop out of the 2026 election (see related stories).