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KAXE News earns 5 Page One Awards from MN Society of Professional Journalists

KAXE
Published June 18, 2026 at 5:03 PM CDT
KAXE Reporter Megan Buffington, left, News Director Chelsey Perkins, Volunteer Photographer Lorie Shaull and regular contributor and awards banquet host Aaron Brown pose with the station's awards June 16, 2026, at the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards banquet in St. Paul.
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Chelsey Perkins
KAXE Reporter Megan Buffington, left, News Director Chelsey Perkins, Volunteer Photographer Lorie Shaull and regular contributor and awards banquet host Aaron Brown pose with the station's awards June 16, 2026, at the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards banquet in St. Paul.

The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists highlights the best work from around the state. KAXE News reporting and photography won five awards at the 2026 Page One Awards ceremony.

ST. PAUL — The KAXE News Team won five 2026 Page One Awards from the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists.

The team won three awards in the Radio tier and two in Photography/Graphics.

News Director Chelsey Perkins swept the Local Politics/Government Reporting category in radio with first place for her reporting on the Brainerd City Council and its 2025 decision to not allow the city's homeless shelter to remain open year-round. She earned second place for the story headlined "Itasca, Cass sheriffs first in MN to agree to ICE’s revived task force model."

Perkins also secured second place in Breaking News Reporting (Radio) for coverage of former state Sen. Justin Eichorn’s arrest.

Photographer Lorie Shaull was awarded first place for Northern Minnesota Portrait Photography and third place for Northern Minnesota Sports Photography. See her winning photos in the gallery below.

Russ Thompson poses in front of the grills cooking up wild game at the 42nd Annual Wild Game Dinner at the McGregor Community Center on Oct. 4, 2025.
1 of 10  — Russ Thompson at the Wild Game Dinner at the McGregor Community Center.jpg
Russ Thompson poses in front of the grills cooking up wild game at the 42nd Annual Wild Game Dinner at the McGregor Community Center on Oct. 4, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Audience members watch Margo Price perform during Grand Rapids Riverfest on Sept. 6, 2025.
2 of 10  — Cool kid watching Margo Price.jpg
Audience members watch Margo Price perform during Grand Rapids Riverfest on Sept. 6, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Kim Keating dancing at Kick It with KAXE at Rapids Brewing on May 22, 2025.
3 of 10  — 02 A KAXE supporter dancing at Kick It with KAXE at Rapids Brewing on May 22, 2025.jpg
Kim Keating dancing at Kick It with KAXE at Rapids Brewing on May 22, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Christian Paquette of Bemidji holds a "Resist Tyranny Defeat Fascism" sign at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji.
4 of 10  — Christian Paquette of Bemidji holds a Resist Tyranny Defeat Fascism sign at the No Kings Day protest in Bemidji.jpg
Christian Paquette of Bemidji holds a "Resist Tyranny Defeat Fascism" sign at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
The US flag reflected in Rebecca Ouvry's sunglasses at the opening day ceremony at Crane Lake Visitor Center, Voyageurs National Park on June 6, 2025.
5 of 10  — The US flag reflected in Rebecca Ouvry's sunglasses at the opening day ceremony at Crane Lake Visitor Center on June 6, 2025.jpg
The US flag reflected in Rebecca Ouvry's sunglasses at the opening day ceremony at Crane Lake Visitor Center, Voyageurs National Park on June 6, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Abby Daman stands for a portrait at a practice session at Bemidji High School on Oct. 22, 2025.
6 of 10  — Abby Daman at a practice session at Bemidji High School on Wed., Oct. 22, 2025 .jpg
Abby Daman stands for a portrait at a practice session at Bemidji High School on Oct. 22, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Henry Weller rides a bull at Rice Rodeo Company's Bulls N Barrels event at the Crow Wing County Fair in Brainerd on July 29, 2025.
7 of 10  — 03 A bull rider at Rice Bull Riding's Bulls N Barrels event at the Crow Wing County Fair in Brainerd on July 29, 2025.jpg
Henry Weller rides a bull at Rice Rodeo Company's Bulls N Barrels event at the Crow Wing County Fair in Brainerd on July 29, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Cherry guard Isaiah Asuma (10) drives to the basket against Dawson-Boyd in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.
8 of 10  — Cherry guard Isaiah Asuma (10) drives to the basket against Dawson-Boyd in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.jpg
Cherry guard Isaiah Asuma (10) drives to the basket against Dawson-Boyd in the Class 1A championship game at Williams Arena.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Grand Rapids' Christian Jelle wrestles Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus' Parker Zutter for the championship title in Class AA 139-pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
9 of 10  — 02 Christian Jelle of Grand Rapids Parker Zutter of Pequot Lks-Pine River-B in Class AA 139 State Championships.jpg
Grand Rapids' Christian Jelle wrestles Pequot Lakes-Pine River's Parker Zutter for the championship title in Class AA 139-pounds at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull
Staples-Motley's Gage Bjerga wrestles Pipestone Area's Miklo Hernandez for the Class 1A 121-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
10 of 10  — 02 Gage Bjerga of Staples-Motley wrestles Miklo Hernandez of Pipestone Area in the Class A 121 pound State Championships.jpg
Staples-Motley's Gage Bjerga wrestles Pipestone Area's Miklo Hernandez for the Class 1A 121-pound state title at the MSHSL State Individual Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Xcel Energy Center.
Lorie Shaull

"Lorie is this team's secret, or maybe not-so-secret, MVP," Perkins said. "Her phenomenal photography adds so much to our storytelling. Northern Minnesota is lucky to have her, and so are we!"

The Page One Awards highlight the best work in journalism from around Minnesota. Recipients are honored at an annual banquet.

Sarah Bignall, KAXE's CEO/general manager said, "I am so proud of our team. Chelsey's reporting and Lorie's photography help people better understand what's happening in Northern Minnesota and the communities we serve. These awards are a wonderful recognition of the care and dedication they bring to their work every day."

Listeners can hear more stories from the KAXE News Team on the award-winning Up North Report. This year, their work has also won a prestigious Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, 18 awards from the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association and seven awards from the Public Media Journalists Association.

In total, the team has earned 50 awards for its work since the department was added to KAXE in 2023.

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