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May 15, 2026: The Brainerd translator at 89.9 FM is down. Parts have been ordered and it will be fully operational as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience. Listen at kaxe.org!
Top Stories
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
About a half-inch of rain fell across the area overnight into Tuesday, and crews are expected to return to work on securing and improving the fire lines again.
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.
Jobi Riccio’s second album, Face the Feeling, comes after her acclaimed debut, Whiplash, shifting from coming-of-age stories toward the challenges and possibilities of early adulthood.

Co-produced by Riccio alongside longtime collaborators and friends Isaiah Beard and Jesse Timm, the album blends mellow, tender folk songs like “A Little at a Time,” “Pilar, NM,” “Coyote,” “Easy,” with “Idaho” channeling the warm spirit of Joni Mitchell.

She then dips into indie rock with songs like “Buzzkill,” “Wildfire Season,” and “Doesn’t Matter,” all while keeping the storytelling of the Americana genre centered. With themes of self-growth, love, and grief running throughout the album, Riccio marks a new chapter in her burgeoning music career. - KH
Latest Stories
Beyond the Voice: Julie Crabb
Get to know the volunteers behind the mic on KAXE. This week, we find out more from the longtime "Green Cheese" and "The Dark Side of Love" host and volunteer Julie Crabb.
Flanders Fire burns 1600 acres near Crosslake; Stewart Trail Fire caused by power line
And: A rural Orr man was arrested for allegedly shooting a firefighting plane; the Legislature passed a bonding bill; and filings open for public office Tuesday.
Breaking down the Legislature's $1.2 billion bonding bill
Here’s what made it into the Legislature's infrastructure package and what lawmakers and others had to say about it May 17, 2026.
Rural Orr man arrested for allegedly shooting firefighting plane
Firefighters responded to a wildland fire between Orr and Crane Lake on Friday, May 15, 2026. After returning to the airport, it was learned a bullet appeared to have struck one of the planes.
Flanders Fire estimated at 1600 acres, 20% contained; County Hwy 11 reopens
Evacuated homeowners will be able to return to their properties for the day, Monday, May 18, 2026. Crow Wing County declared a local emergency, the first step toward state disaster aid.
Virtual book club connects rural Minnesota teens
Reaching Rural Readers sends free books to rural Minnesota high school students. This summer's list includes books by Dawn Quigley, K. Woodman-Maynard, and Kenneth Cadow.
Up North Lookback 1976: Worst fire danger in history; Poodle saves master
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 18.
More details emerge on Hermantown data center plans amid discourse
As next steps for a proposed data center are considered, Liz Schwab from Google addresses some of the concerns raised at a recent Hermantown City Council meeting.
Updates on Crow Wing County's Flanders Fire
Wildland firefighters are working on containment and mopping up hot spots for a wildfire that began Saturday afternoon, May 16, 2026, southeast of Crosslake.
Senate votes to cut funding for Friends of the Boundary Waters; Klobuchar's Rural Broadband Protection Act becomes law
Plus: Minnesota partners want you to help track wildlife collisions; and DNR upgrades four fishing piers in Northern Minnesota.
Crews battle wildfire threatening Gilbert amid extreme fire danger
St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said the fire was one of at least a half-dozen blazes in the county as high winds, low humidity and drought conditions persisted.
Minnesota partners want you to help track wildlife collisions
Researchers are asking Minnesotans to count roadkill during Wildlife Casualty Count Week of Action, May 22-29, 2026, to help inform problem areas so that protections can be added.
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With The Setlist, KAXE's Music Team curates the best live music to catch each week across Northern Minnesota and beyond.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
During the Phenology Report for the week of May 12, 2026 Staff Phenologist John Latimer remarks on drought tolerance in trees and the eruption of spring wildflowers.
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