BEMIDJI — The Community Resource Center for locals continuing cleanup efforts after the disastrous severe weather in Bemidji last weekend moved to a new location.
On Friday, June 27, resources and relief moved away from the initial crisis hub at the Sanford Center to a more accessible spot — a former bank building in downtown Bemidji. Whether in search of supplies, groceries or even a hot meal, Bemidjians flocked to the location at 429 Minnesota Ave NW as the first day of operations began for the new center.
Beltrami County Public Health Director Amy Bowles said during the first night at the Sanford Center, shelter was provided for around 100 people. The second night, only seven people needed shelter, and they've now been placed in area hotels.
The decision to move downtown to the former First National Bank, according to Bowles, made sense.
"Since people are kind of now in action mode and what we call the response mode right now, it's, 'OK, where can people come now that they can get out to get the resources and services that they need and get connected?'" Bowles said. "So really we're doing what Public Health does best, and that's connecting.”
Salvation Army will provide hot meals during lunch and dinner, with delivery services available for those who need it. American Red Cross volunteers are providing blankets, shelf-stable food and water, as well as cleanup supplies like tarps, shovels and rakes.
Sue Thesenga with the American Red Cross said she has been impressed by the community partners working together through this disaster.
"We help across the United States: hurricane disasters, flood disasters, wildfire disasters. So we are a national organization that helps wherever we're needed, and unfortunately, we're needed right here in Bemidji, Minnesota, right now," she said. "And so we're here and we're helping out. We're doing initial damage assessment so people know where the most damage occurred.”
The Community Resources Center will be open daily from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. through July 2.
-
Lorie Shaull/KAXEIn their final hours before the session ended, lawmakers passed a county hospital bailout, an infrastructure bill and small cuts to car tab fees and property taxes. -
Contributed/Ellen Schmidt / MinnPost / CatchLight Local / Report for AmericaHere’s what made it into the Legislature's infrastructure package and what lawmakers and others had to say about it May 17, 2026. -
Malachy Koons/KAXEThe KAXE Music Team on new music from Jobi Riccio, Genesis Owusu, Aldous Harding, Helado Tropical, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Angine de Poitrine and Brooklyn Funk Essentials. Our Pick from '76 is Dolly Parton's "All I Can Do." -
Contributed/St. Louis County Sheriff's OfficeFirefighters 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. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEEvacuated 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. -
Contributed/Danielle SullivanReaching 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. -
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. -
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.
-
Contributed/Doug MitchellWildland firefighters are working on containment and mopping up hot spots for a wildfire that began Saturday afternoon, May 16, 2026, southeast of Crosslake. -
Plus: Minnesota partners want you to help track wildlife collisions; and DNR upgrades four fishing piers in Northern Minnesota.
