[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6216522,"mediaKeyId","3651052-8cd1342feab395682c6bf288e26d084c","parentId",3651052,"title","Community leader announces mid‑June memorial and Family Freedom Center program for children","audioSeconds",55,"startMs",20000,"endMs",75000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3651052-8cd1342feab395682c6bf288e26d084c&start=20&end=75","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3651052-8cd1342feab395682c6bf288e26d084c/thumbnail_20000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6216522/St-Louis-County/Minnesota/Community-leader-announces-midJune-memorial-and-Family-Freedom-Center-program-for-children","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216522-8f67cc71ec9e7abfb021cd3bc20b3c40/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588353&Signature=eE3CrRLZ9zJaOdx0VF60e-7lYvw310PrjdmlasjOZJODuPQIKpTonXWkTw6jGUpxw-yqhshV8EZRoBl0omCVsdgZCl~w3RLQ1tt92-GE7SMLVsK4RTf0EMHo-RNxY1119g0X460hA8MqMesQWjQQEufy3zZU1VxEvPBZop6xy34HnZYXr~OUZ2Q9f7wAtayD-0KbLopHGbHo4lHmsOdYZ4lyT0M30kAEw0VG3gb6l73APvXkk2Qfy4QXvquqo8z8wNgMCBOounn3DildB0wbI-zHMSriQoFLA46O58j-XooVhaKv50ASjwX11MqjKZns~arLzfO77SOUZFjWson6dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Louis County, MN","date","2025-06-03T17:47:25Z","article","Henry Banks, introduced by the board as a community leader and elder, used the meeting’s public comment period to share two upcoming community events.

Banks said the Clayton Jackson McGee Memorial commemoration is scheduled for two days in mid‑June; he referred to the dates as “the 12th and 13th” during his remarks. He also said the Family Freedom Center will start an educational program in June called “Unapologetically African,” for children ages 5 to 12 and their families.

Banks described the presenters for the Family Freedom Center program as professors from UMD and contributors from the state of Michigan who will lead learning sessions for children and families in Duluth and the surrounding region. He said the series is open to the public and intended to help “our kids get to know and learn where they came from.”

There were no questions from commissioners following Banks’s remarks. The announcements were made during the board’s public comment window for items not on the agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Comment - 06-03-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Community leader Henry Banks told the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners about a Clayton Jackson McGee memorial commemoration and a Family Freedom Center educational series called 'Unapologetically African' aimed at children and families starting in June.","taxTitle","St. Louis County, Minnesota","taxId",3768,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6216526,"Resident raises wildfire and smoke concerns; commissioner says US Forest Service, DNR managing burns",112,162000,274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3651052-8cd1342feab395682c6bf288e26d084c&start=162&end=274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3651052-8cd1342feab395682c6bf288e26d084c/thumbnail_162000.jpg","/articles/6216526/St-Louis-County/Minnesota/Resident-raises-wildfire-and-smoke-concerns-commissioner-says-US-Forest-Service-DNR-managing-burns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216526-5bfda5dacc9709a662944c6fbc608c1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588353&Signature=LBEK5vTAHyngmuKodN2faB~Zv4ZNz3tJJHGRPlSJHzsVY7ue8NPdG2HXiaXtolM~xFAnu9PpAGs6Opxn~6cEQvkj~2O1eErAJGMGMlC3lDBG1DZc~xXLPX8kRD9HZCvCCaYLXahqObRhsHEVk2kiEf4tpWv-ZCpusrOuF2gCIuW1LeY8o0uaVja7Ck5XNjroFXyKBv4YJGw736cuWvq5L4WGjG9eUuaBLl8esx17PRUyEOsMso-hMZF1XaiIOUt3aYvb2v46z6S8HIsHKpt6vRvQdyIOqdOEqBSlSysH6xPUmvCVoijA45nD5K8ZgChWA6I77DCQA2ah-rBodFIALg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Duluth resident told the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners during the meeting’s public comment period that ongoing wildfires and cross-border smoke remain a concern for local households.

Lisa Fitzpatrick, who identified herself as a Duluth resident, said she understood the fires were “not out” and that they appeared to be largely contained. “I don’t know. I think they’re 98% controlled,” Fitzpatrick said during her three-minute comment.

The county response emphasized interagency management and the remoteness of the fires. A St. Louis County commissioner said, “The U.S. Forest Service is still managing those burns in their lands, and then the DNR is also managing some of that area,” and added that the county manages significant forest land and continues to support response efforts.

Fitzpatrick also raised the impact of smoke from Canadian fires and asked what the county can do to help reduce the risk of large burns. The commissioner noted that some fires remain distant from homes but may persist for an extended period because of the difficulty of access and remoteness.

The comment occurred during the board’s designated public comment window, when speakers may address items not on the agenda for up to three minutes. The commissioner offered to have county staff or an official follow up with Fitzpatrick to “unpack that with you shortly.”","During the public comment period, Duluth resident Lisa Fitzpatrick urged the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners to address ongoing fires and smoke; a county commissioner said the U.S. Forest Service and the DNR are managing the burns and the county is coordinating support.","actionData","errors"]

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Community leader announces mid‑June memorial and Family Freedom Center program for children

Resident raises wildfire and smoke concerns; commissioner says US Forest Service, DNR managing burns