Up North Report

Plus: Grand Rapids K9 attacks dog while off-duty; Man who escaped custody pleads guilty in St. Louis County; Cohasset joins group of cities flying old state flag; and a survey to examine long-term impacts of the June 2025 Bemidji derecho.

Plus: MN voters will likely decide whether school funding will get a boost; and Brainerd educators rally after nearly a year without a contract.

Plus: The producers of "Ghost Lake" are filming in a new location after the Bois Forte Band revoked its approval; and one year after Cleveland-Cliffs laid off 600 miners, Iron Range leaders are sounding the alarm on an economic downturn.

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 11.

Plus: PCA estimates 12-16 days of wildfire smoke this summer; and Lueken's Village Foods in Bemidji recently celebrated the retirement of its longest-serving employee.

Plus: The new conservation officer in Walker gives his predictions and tips for anglers ahead of his first-ever fishing season opener in the role.

Plus: Lawmakers seek to renew funding to replace lead service lines; International Falls set a new daily low record in recent cold snap; and 30 Northland student artists will have their work featured in Wayzata.

Plus: Community members from Walker and Onigum gathered to commemorate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Awareness Day.

Plus: Hermantown City Council tables a vote on agreements related to the controversial proposed Google data center.

Plus: Former Bemidji teacher sentenced for child sex abuse material; Firefighters in region respond to grass fires; Eighth District Democrats endorse Trina Swanson; and Bemidji State alumni brave cool weather to replant the campus.

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 4.

The Iron Range Child Care Task Force says employer contributions, public wage subsidies and philanthropic support can save struggling providers and build capacity.

Plus: Bemidji State University celebrates an $8.1M gift from an alum's trust; and 40,000 seedlings are planted in forests burned last year by the Munger Shaw Fire.

Plus: Cougar kittens are captured in footage for the first time ever in Minnesota, first evidence of breeding population in a century; and Bemidji YMCA plans gain steam.

Plus: Cloquet-Esko-Carlton sports co-op to end; state grants to fund workforce development programs with Central Lakes College, Consolidated Equipment Group and Lexington Manufacturing; and Sec. of State Steve Simon to host elections town hall.

Plus: the federal government approved St. Louis County's public labor agreements for road and bridge projects; an additional 5,000 trees will be distributed in the ReForest Bemidji event; and four Northern Minnesota fire departments will host Women Explore Fire Day events on May 2, 2026.

Plus: Local and regional political organizers have been endorsing candidates for state and federal office; and a Hermantown speaker wins category while 22 other Northland speakers earned medals in state tourney.

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 April 27.

And: Experts say Minnesota has tools to counter growing wildfire risk.

Plus: Essentia Health recently broke ground on a $12 million expansion of the Fosston hospital's emergency room.

And: Minnesota Outdoors Recreation Industry Partnership will share economic impact report at Brainerd event Tuesday, April 28.

Plus: Bemidji Area Schools approved a 3-year teaching contract along with $2.7 million in staff reductions; Gov. Tim Walz signed the nursing home "happy hour" bill into law; and the Lakes Area Food Shelf opened a new location in Baxter.

Plus: The city of Virginia will begin removing and replacing ash trees in a proactive move against the invasive emerald ash borer.

And: Most of Northern MN under spring burning restrictions; SNF open houses Thursday, Monday; and Northland students to compete in speech, robotics state meets.

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 April 20.

Plus: Industry data show Minnesotans seeing large spikes in car and house insurance premiums; and the Bemidji community gathers for Officer Chad Museus' final escort after 28 years in law enforcement.

Plus: Cuyuna rec area trails will fully reopen soon as easement dispute drags on.

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.