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PRAIRIE ISLAND INDIAN COMMUNITY, Minn. (AP) — Some Native Americans traditionally bestow bald eagle feathers at ceremonies to mark achievements, such as graduations, and as a form of reverence for the bird they hold sacred as a messenger to the Creator.

This year, many are doing so with elevated pride and hope. The bald eagle is now the official bird of the United States, nearly 250 years after it was first used as a symbol of the newly founded nation that’s deeply polarized politically today. 

“The eagle is finally getting the respect it deserves. Maybe when the nation looks at the eagle that way, maybe there will be less division,” said Jim Thunder Hawk. He’s the Dakota culture and language manager for the Prairie Island Indian Community, a small Mdewakanton Sioux band on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota...

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Public may see increased capture operations in the area this week

Invasive carp previously fitted with acoustic tags have led the Minnesota DNR and its state and federal partners to a school of invasive carp in Pool 8 of the Mississippi River at the confluence of the Root River in Minnesota, near La Crosse, Wisconsin.

“Tracking tagged invasive carp like these help us identify where the fish are gathering in the river and target them for removal. This surveillance and detection effort is one key strategy that the DNR and partner agencies are using to prevent and manage invasive carp,” said DNR Invasive Species Unit Supervisor Kelly Pennington.

A team of U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) biologists, who partner with DNR to share tagged carp monitoring data, notified the DNR last week of 10 tagged Grass Carp and Silver Carp in the location, with reports that invasive carp were observed jumping out of the water. Silver Carp sometimes jump out of the water when disturbed...

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LANSING, Iowa (WLAX/WEUX) – A key Mississippi River crossing between Iowa and Wisconsin is set to close this fall as part of a major infrastructure overhaul. The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation have announced that the existing Black Hawk Bridge, formally known as the Iowa 9/WIS 82 bridge—will be permanently closed and demolished in fall 2025 to make way for a new structure, expected to open in 2027.

The decision follows extensive discussions between the Iowa DOT, Wisconsin DOT, the project’s contractor, and engineering teams. The move is aimed at ensuring the safety of motorists, workers, river traffic, and train operations during the remaining phases of construction.

“The safety of everyone involved is our top priority,” said project officials in a joint release. “After in-depth analysis, it became clear that the existing bridge could not remain open safely as we advance key stages of the new bridge’s construction.”...

See Also:

Construction crews make major progress on Mississippi River Bridge

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  Local Fire Chief: `It`s so rare` for everyone to survive an incident like this

Seven people were rescued after being pulled into a dam on the Upper Mississippi River when their boat became disabled.

All seven, including a minor, escaped without injuries Monday afternoon in the incident at the Genoa Lock and Dam on the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota, according to a joint statement from sheriff’s offices in Vernon County and Houston County, Minnesota.

The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office was called to the dam after receiving a report that several people were sucked through the roller gates when their boat lost power, law enforcement said...

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Ken Notes: Please be carful this is a big working river. We are so glad to here everyone is OK!!!

Two Wisconsin men are on a bucket list adventure that`s been decades in the making. Troy Knudson and Aaron Jacobus are paddling the full length of the Mississippi river. Their journey started nearly a month ago at the river`s headwaters in lake Itasca. Now they`re headed for the Gulf. They`ve braved heavy winds, rough waters, and even a few storms. But they say the people they`ve met along the way have made the trip worth it. It`s not clear how long their journey will take, but you can follow along on the `Mississippi river paddlers` Facebook group. And this is not their first cross-country adventure. They bicycled across the country when they were younger...   ...Full Story Here

Ken Notes: Video at the link...

The first out-of-state fishing trip I ever took was to Yellow Lake near Webster, Wis. At eight-years-old, I sat straight up the whole way there in the big backseat of Grandpa’s 1986 Cutlass Supreme. While smiling from ear to ear, I soaked in every mile and each new view. It was the first adventure in a line of many. More so than I can count. But it was the first, so it’s special. Wisconsin is special.

The weather is a big reason why Wisconsin is such a great summertime destination. Cool mornings and evenings persist throughout the season. Especially in the northern tier of the state. There is more water than one could cover in two lifetimes. From Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, to the tiny southwestern streams of the Driftless Region, Wisconsin offers anglers an abundance of opportunities to experience world class fishing. These six are just a sampling...

Mississippi River Largemouth at La Crosse

Drive over the Mississippi River at St. Louis and you’d hardly believe largemouth bass live in “The Big Muddy.” The river looks a lot different up north than it does down south. Near La Crosse, it is an incredible fishery for bass, bluegill, northern pike, perch and more. In summer, largemouth stack up on points where the river braids or cuts back into bays. Spinnerbaits worked along weed lines will produce big number days in September. Panfish are found in the oxbows around brush and weeds. 

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MAP		Discover Wisconsin Great River Road Video
Here`s to Being Here: Great River Road | Sights to See Along the Mississippi

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Grant County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Wisconsin Great River Road Facebook Page	Crawford County Events Calendar Visitor Guide
La Crosse County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Trempealeau County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Buffalo County Events Calendar
Pepin County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Pierce County Events Calendar Google Map	Vernon County Events Calendar Visitor Guide

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Great River Road Resources

Wisconsin Great River Road Website

Wisconsin Great River Road 2025 Visitors Guide

All-American Great River Road National Scenic Byway

The Wisconsin Great River Road – Discover Wisconsin

Great River Road TripAdvisor

Explore La Crosse

Wisconsin Tourism Great River Road

National Website ExperienceMississippiRiver.com

MRPC Members Website National River Resources

Other Tourism Sites

Monroe County

Events Calendar

River Pool Maps

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