Up North Report

The Brainerd lakes area city celebrates the Fourth of July before a quick turnaround to prep for its signature event: Bean Hole Days.

Plus: Sigurd Olson mural to be painted in Ely; and where to find fireworks, parades and more in the Northland.

And: 14 anti-ICE protesters plead not guilty in federal court; Water levels on Lake Ore-Be-Gone threaten Gilbert tourism; and 3M’s old Camp Wonewok is under new management.

We’ve partnered with ICTV to interview local candidates for the 2026 election. District 1 is in northwestern Itasca County, and three candidates are headed to a primary.

And: New domestic violence and social media laws.

Plus: Bemidji is the clay target state champion; and check out KAXE’s fireworks guide, The 4th Up North.

Plus: A allegedly intoxicated driver lands an SUV onto a building with a resident inside in Naytahwaush

Plus: Tourism-based businesses brace for slower summer amid high gas prices and consumer costs; Little Fork River watershed plan open for comment; and fireworks galore in the Northland.

And: Hubbard County and the city of Akeley disagree on non-emergency calls; and Leech Lake Community Tribal College announces a new president.

Plus: The state’s soon-to-be new city of Northern will elect a mayor and Council in November; and aerial spongy moth treatments will take place in a couple of weeks in NE MN.

And: A cannabis business has been approved for Second Harvest’s LaPrairie warehouse; and Rock Ridge has nearly depleted its reserves.

Plus: Changes are in the wings to the BWCAW permit cancellation policy; and the DNR is expanding a deer feeding and attractant ban in two Northern MN counties.

The three-sport athlete and recent graduate made an impact through her positive attitude, hard work and leadership — whether her team was winning or losing.

Plus: MnDOT begins projects near Park Rapids, Cotton and Cromwell on Monday.

Plus: Annual financial disclosure reports show Reps. Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber’s assets, broadly.

Plus: Hermantown opens another public comment period related to the proposed Google data center; and the sixth annual Juneteenth celebration is set for Friday in Virginia.

Plus: Minnesota nonprofit offers $25K reward for information on Wadena disappearance; and Bemidji Mayor Jorge Prince accepts award for disaster leadership.

Plus: Itasca County reuses flag poles to fly new and old state flags; Crow Wing County adds 10 license plate readers to Flock Safety network; and Red Lake County takes 2nd in state baseball tourney.

And: COVID learning woes still haunt MN kids’ well-being.

Plus: the Brainerd School Board votes to put a levy referendum on the ballot; and the DNR’s new electronic licensing system launches.

Plus: Causes of BWCAW-area wildfires determined; Brainerd educators reach tentative agreement on overdue contract; and rural Northland athletes take home 87 medals in track and field.

This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of June 8.

After a short 2024 season and skipping a season in 2025, the Paul Bunyan Playhouse is back with a full season in 2026.

Plus: A new conservation easement protects more than 900 acres on North Shore; Cohasset to host comprehensive plan meeting; and more Northland HS sports results.

Plus: the Rock Ridge boys’ tennis team took fourth at state and many Northland golfers will head to state next week after qualifying.

Plus: Grand Rapids hosts the state’s annual wildland firefighting academy.

And: Esports, girls team wrestling moving foward with MSHSL; Highway 6 bridge in Itasca County closes Monday.

And: Six Northland teams will compete in the state softball tournament and Northern Minnesota will have over 250 entries in the state track and field meet.

This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of June 1.

The city would be among the first to try the new money-making venture, which it estimates will make the city at least $500,000 a year.

Plus: the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will host public hearings on Otter Tail Power Co.’s proposed electric rate increase; and the Brainerd Area League of Women Voters will host a Crow Wing County election official.

Plus: Rep. Angie Craig abandons Democratic endorsement; MN cannabis office listening tour to stop in Bemidji and Duluth; state grants can help farmers buy electric equipment.

And: New MN law enacts guardrails for kids on social media; and Rock Ridge will compete in the boys state tennis tournament, as well as athletes from Cloquet, Thief River Falls and Crookston.

Plus: the Federal Aviation Administration is pressuring the Red Lake Nation to return a Roseau pilot’s vintage airplane; and the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District quickly dispersed thousands of trees in Bemidji.

Plus: Minnesota State’s board of trustees names new interim president for Central Lakes College; Gov. Tim Walz appoints Theodora Gaitas as next Supreme Court Chief Justice; and the U of M Extension is offering free well test kits in the Brainerd area.

This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of May 25.

The tick biodiversity project is driven by citizen scientists’ reports of all tick species. Similar research hasn’t been done since the 1940s.

Plus: Lockdown at Northwest Technical College; downtown Walker evacuated as natural gas line damaged; and a man missing in St. Louis County was found five days later by family.

And: Sen. Amy Klobuchar has raised almost $5 million in the first two months of her gubernatorial campaign; and three Northern Minnesota communities will get planning assistance from MnDOT.

Plus: A complex land dispute in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area leads to a developer turning to state lawmakers for a solution.

Plus: State lawmakers are considering bills to address Greater Minnesota housing needs; MnDOT has several road construction projects planned in the Northland; and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority awarded grants to five Northland communities.

Their schedules are booked solid, and graduation is only a few weeks away, but seniors Maddy and Abby Koivisto are engaged in class every day and always willing to lend a hand.

And: Minnesota-based nonprofit says Big Tech fight reminiscent of Big Tobacco crackdown; and National Weather Service offering free weather spotter classes.

And: Central Lakes College President Hara Charlier is leaving the school; and a new report is concerned with the DNR’s plans for electronic licenses this spring.

Plus: Minnesota to select first youth poet laureate; Beltrami County seeks parks committee members; and Superior National Forest to begin prescribed fires.

And: Experts say AI could have a big impact on Minnesota’s labor force.

Plus: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will accept comment on Minnesota Power’s proposed transmission line project; and the Minnesota Department of Health updated its guidelines for eating fish from Arrowhead lakes.

The cross-jurisdictional court includes the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and is intended to reduce recidivism among participants in a highly intensive, court-supervised treatment program.

Plus: The Grand Rapids Economic Development Agency will use state funds to demolish the former Itasca Farm Co-op.

Plus: St. Louis County to choose between local labor or risking federal funds.