Top Stories
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
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.
Contributed
/
Chelsey Perkins
KAXE News is preparing for the midterms, and we want your perspective.
We'll use the responses to this survey to help inform our coverage and what type of content we produce. All answers are anonymous and will not be shared outside our organization.
We'll use the responses to this survey to help inform our coverage and what type of content we produce. All answers are anonymous and will not be shared outside our organization.
In her first release in nearly ten years, North Carolina singer-songwriter Tift Merritt picks up right where she left off with the sweetness of Sugar.
Working with producer Lawrence Rothman (Amanda Shires, Lucinda Williams, Margo Price), the album is an expansive exploration of love. Not through classic love songs, but by considering how searching for love, and receiving or not receiving it shapes our world.
Merritt approaches the subject with warmth, grace, and a naked honesty, like when she sings "I've got nothing urgent but your mouth" on the terrific opener "Finest Feelings" or the joy she finds in the "Everyday Singing" of mothers and daughters.
Rothman and a talented group of Nashville musicians like Erick Slick (Dr. Dog), McKenzie Smith (Midlake), Audley Freed (Allison Krauss) and Robert Ellis bring the songs to life with a freewheeling Americana sound that matches Merritt's questing songwriting.
In a press release the singer described the album like this. “Sugar is about the surprising sweetness of being unequipped for showing up every day but trying anyway.”
I don't know about you, but that sentiment hits so hard for me. -Malachy Koons
Working with producer Lawrence Rothman (Amanda Shires, Lucinda Williams, Margo Price), the album is an expansive exploration of love. Not through classic love songs, but by considering how searching for love, and receiving or not receiving it shapes our world.
Merritt approaches the subject with warmth, grace, and a naked honesty, like when she sings "I've got nothing urgent but your mouth" on the terrific opener "Finest Feelings" or the joy she finds in the "Everyday Singing" of mothers and daughters.
Rothman and a talented group of Nashville musicians like Erick Slick (Dr. Dog), McKenzie Smith (Midlake), Audley Freed (Allison Krauss) and Robert Ellis bring the songs to life with a freewheeling Americana sound that matches Merritt's questing songwriting.
In a press release the singer described the album like this. “Sugar is about the surprising sweetness of being unequipped for showing up every day but trying anyway.”
I don't know about you, but that sentiment hits so hard for me. -Malachy Koons
Latest Stories
Hermantown accepting more public comment on proposed data center
Hermantown and Google jointly agreed to the updated study with current information allowing for greater specificity, the city reported.
Pedestrian dies after being struck by vehicle near Bemidji
The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office reported Floyd Cloud was hit June 21, 2026, on Division Street Northwest, west of Bemidji in Grant Valley Township.
Election judge gets jail time for allowing unregistered voters to vote
Timothy Scouton, 65, of Badoura Township in Hubbard County, pleaded guilty to accepting ballots from 11 unregistered voters in the 2024 general election.
53-year-old Baxter man dies after motorcycle collides with pickup truck
Dennis N. Hyatt was traveling north on a Harley-Davidson Cruiser at 4:49 a.m. June 18, 2026, on Highway 371, making a left turn on Pine Beach Road north of Baxter.
The power of friendship at the end of the world
Meg Charlton’s debut novel “Voyagers” examines the power of friendship while the world reels from a mysterious transmission from the solar system.
North Star Student: Win-E-Mac's Paige Breitbach is 'easy to cheer for'
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.
Tracking 2026 women gubernatorial candidates; Authentic rural connections aim of concert tour
Plus: MnDOT begins projects near Park Rapids, Cotton and Cromwell on Monday.
Nevis man sentenced for allowing unregistered voters to vote; Rep. Stauber visits Hibbing
Plus: Annual financial disclosure reports show Reps. Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber's assets, broadly.
A bashful Blanding's turtle eludes Belwin's careful watch
Charlie Mitchell is charmed by Blanding's turtles, delights in dragonflies, and learns about bees and wasps. Send us a voice memo through SpeakPipe!
When it comes to personal wealth, Minnesota’s members of Congress are not equal
Annual financial disclosure reports show that party affiliation in Minnesota is no predictor of wealth as both Democrats and GOPers report their assets and liabilities.
After a ‘hectic’ 2 weeks of drugs and violence, Gilbert eyes landlord accountability
The string of incidents was an uncommon run for the Iron Range city, which features a handful of locally owned shops and an active bar scene at night.
Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference's Evening Reading Series is back
The conference presents its Evening Reading Series on June 23-26, 2026, at Hagg-Sauer Hall on Bemidji State University campus. Readings are free and begin at 7 p.m.
With The Setlist, KAXE's Music Team curates the best live music to catch each week across Northern Minnesota and beyond.
Pam Perry, a retired non-game wildlife biologist, stopped by to talk about skinks, salamanders, swallows and more with our staff phenologist John Latimer.
Contributed
/
Don Leaon
More Local Stories
Stay up to date on what's happening up north with KAXE/KBXE News, bringing you the top stories across Northern Minnesota.
KAXE/KBXE is the oldest rural community radio station in the U.S. and an independent NPR affiliate.
KAXE/KBXE is the oldest rural community radio station in the U.S. and an independent NPR affiliate.
Don't miss a beat. 📻 Join our station's newsletter!
Check out our archives.
Join our Season Watch Newsletter!
"The mix of humor, solid information, and approachable science is perfect. It's like having a favorite neighbor who just happens to be a nature expert."
- Michelle from Northfield, MN
Check out what's been happening the past year!
