Carlton County Watch is an independent, citizen-driven online newspaper committed to exposing government waste, corruption, and incompetence across Carlton County, Minnesota. Our mission is to shine a bright and unrelenting light on local institutions and officials who betray the public trust. Through investigative reporting, public records research, and fearless truth-telling, we empower residents to hold their leaders accountable, demand transparency, and reclaim their community. We serve no special interests — only the public interest.
Carlton County Board Asked to Enter the Enbridge Property-Tax Fight
One of the most politically significant items before the Carlton County Board on July 27 is a request that the County endorse an op-ed concerning Enbridge Energy’s ongoing pipeline-property-tax litigation.
Before the Vote: What Carlton County Commissioners Will Consider on July 27
The Carlton County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet Monday, July 27, 2026, beginning with departmental budget presentations at 3:00 p.m. and an adjourned Board session afterward at the Carlton County Transportation Building.
When Transparency Becomes a Crime: Why Precision in Minnesota’s Data Practices Law Matters
In recent months, a criminal case arising from a government data request in Kettle River has drawn attention across Carlton County. What began as a dispute over access to emails and text messages under Minnesota’s Government Data Practices Act ultimately resulted in a misdemeanor charge and a stay of adjudication for an elected city council member. Beyond the personalities involved, the case raises broader questions about how Minnesota’s transparency law is interpreted and enforced -- questions that affect every resident who relies on open government.