KAXE News earns 18 Eric Sevareid Awards at 2026 MBJA ceremony

The KAXE News team earned 18 Eric Sevareid Awards from the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association at this year’s 2026 Midwest Journalism Conference.

Among Medium Market Radio entrants, the team earned nine First Place awards and nine Awards of Merit.

First Place Awards

• Breaking News: Federal Grant Freezes 

•  Broadcast Writing: Up North Report Features — The unhoused in the Brainerd area have nowhere legal to sleep this summer; US Steel permit requests reignite debate over wild rice sulfate limits; 20 years after shooting, former Red Lake students closer to memorial goal 

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Frustration over racism at Rock Ridge 

• General Reporting: Sheriffs and ICE 

• Hard Feature: Homelessness in Brainerd 

• Investigative: Automatic License Plate Readers in Northern Minnesota 

• Morning Newscast: Up North Report — April 10, 2025 

• News Series: Severe Bemidji Windstorm (see summary from our Top 10 Stories of 2025) 

• Weather Breaking Coverage: Brainerd Lakes Area Tornadoes 

Awards of Merit

• Breaking News: State Sen. Justin Eichorn’s Arrest 

• Evening Newscast: Up North Report — Aug. 20, 2025 

• General Reporting: Essentia Health Advanced Practice Providers Strike; Tribal Colleges Face Funding Fluxes 

• Hard Feature: Mining, Wild Rice and Sulfate; Red Lake School Shooting Memorial Project 

• Soft Feature: GoMARTI 2.0 Launch Party; Lifelong Crane Laker Butch Eggen 

• Sports Reporting: World Junior Men’s Hockey Tournament 

News Director Chelsey Perkins and CEO/General Manager Sarah Bignall collected the awards at a banquet Saturday, April 11, at the InterContinential St. Paul Riverfront hotel.

"Feeling really proud of the news team at KAXE right now. They brought home 18 awards from this year's Eric Sevareid Awards for their reporting over the past year, which is incredible," Bignall said.

"The ceremony was a great reminder of the strength of local newsrooms across the Upper Midwest. So many talented journalists doing important work in their communities. Seeing our team recognized in such a big way was very special."

More local news

Deadline approaches for Bemidji derecho forest recovery help; State, U of M transfer Cloquet Forestry Center to Fond du Lac

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.

Rock Ridge advances to 1st state softball tourney; Brainerd, Esko are repeat qualifiers

Factoring in Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert's histories, it's still the first appearance for the area since 2001. Brainerd, Sebeka, Red Lake Falls, Esko and Barnum will also compete.

Public hearing on Otter Tail Power Co.'s rate hike set for June 4 in Bemidji

Otter Tail Power is proposing an 18% rate increase for customers as the utility invests in infrastructure, grid resiliency and the transition to renewable energy sources.

State grants available for farmers to buy electric farm equipment

Individual grants will range from $1,500 to $150,000. Eligible applicants include farmers and livestock producers and organizations that train or support farmers.

What you need to know about the DFL, GOP conventions this weekend

Klobuchar makes her pitch to progressive base; Flanagan will get the nod for Senate; GOP endorsement battle up in the air

Man's body recovered at Palisade Head; Brainerd graduation will include drum ceremony

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.

Application deadline upcoming for Bemidji blowdown recovery assistance

Private woodland owners impacted by the June 2025 windstorm can apply for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program for up to 75% reimbursement through June 5, 2026.

Brainerd graduation to include drum ceremony after community pushback

The drum ceremony planned for Brainerd High School's commencement will continue after all, despite previous communication that the district was pulling its support.

MN cannabis office's listening tour to stop in Bemidji, Duluth

The Office of Cannabis Management's listening tour stops June 4-5, 2026, are meant to give the general public an overview of the agency's work and an opportunity to ask questions.

Angie Craig abandons Democratic party endorsement in Senate bid

Rep. Angie Craig will instead take her pitch directly to voters in the August primary. Craig faced a serious challenge in the endorsement process from Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

Trek North hosts 3rd annual 'Honor the Youth' powwow

The charter school's students and several staffers participated in the annual event, which featured an afternoon of powwow staples in Bemidji.

Trek North hosts 3rd annual powwow; DNR electronic licensing system launch set for June 9

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.

Since 1976, KAXE has served the communities of rural Northern Minnesota with independent community radio, powered by people. The mission of KAXE News is to ensure we provide our listeners and readers with the highest-quality independent, fact-based news and information about Northern Minnesota. Our stations are located in Grand Rapids and Bemidji. Listen to us at 91.7 FM in Grand Rapids, 90.5 FM in Bemidji and 89.9 FM in Brainerd.

The Eric Sevareid Awards are named for the North Dakota-born and University of Minnesota-educated journalist best known for his work as a correspondent for CBS Radio and Television.

Each year, the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association presents awards to the best work done by broadcast news operations and journalists working in small, medium and large markets in its six-state region on radio, television and online.

A distinguished panel of judges is made up of journalists and educators who live outside of Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Iowa and Nebraska to help ensure impartiality.