The U.S. Forest Service says it's downgrading an environmental review of a proposal to withdraw certain national forest land in Minnesota from minerals exploration for up to 20 years.
Researchers at St. Cloud State University say they have reason to believe that a site in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was home to a settlement as long as 16,400 years ago, which would make the habitation the oldest in Minnesota.
All wildfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northeastern Minnesota are contained, controlled or out. But the U.S. Forest Service says Saturday campfire restrictions remain for the entire wilderness area, and some lake and trail closures still are in effect.
A fire continues to slowly grow in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness northwest of Ely. A spokeswoman for the Superior National Forest said Tuesday the fire is now estimated to have burned across about 40 acres.
The U.S. Forest Service lifted campfire restrictions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness effective Wednesday. The Forest Service says continued precipitation over most of the Superior National Forest means the restrictions are no longer needed.
Firefighters now have a wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northeastern Minnesota more than 50 percent contained. A Monday morning update says the fire is 53 percent contained. The size remains about 146 square miles.