Up North Report

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.

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 15.

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

And: A McGregor gas station was fined by the state Pollution Control Agency; the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission was given a transportation award; and Red Lake County will defend its baseball title Monday.

And: A missing Alexandria woman found alive in mud puddle near Backus; a nature-based early learning center opens in Coleraine; and Brainerd boys and Detroit Lakes girls are state golf champions.

Plus: the Brainerd City Council is considering a plan to redevelop the City Hall parking lot into a four-story apartment complex.

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: An Orr man was charged with two felonies for shooting a firefighting plane; and the Bemidji Chamber of Commerce recognized area businesses at its annual luncheon almost a year after the derecho.

Plus: Red Lake Nation residents cast ballots for the tribal council election; and bipartisan housing legislation made it across the finish line in the divided Legislature.

Plus: Flanders Fire in Crow Wing County nearing 100% containment; and Pequot Lakes Patriotics are once again the robotics state champions.

Plus: the DNR has identified the origin point and people of interest in the Flanders Fire; Bemidji bus drivers advocate for better pay before School Board; and Itasca County votes to fly two different state flags.

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.