WADENA — Astera Health and CentraCare hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new cancer center in Wadena on Tuesday, July 8.
The Coborn Cancer Center welcomed its first patient on Monday. Health care leaders say the goal of the center is to provide rural Minnesotans cancer treatment with a shorter drive.
Members of Astera Health and CentraCare leadership spoke at the ceremony, including Joel Beiswenger, president and CEO of Astera Health.
“This cancer center will have a massive impact on the quality of care available to the people in this region," Beiswenger said. "Traveling long distances during cancer treatment is difficult for patients and families. Their focus should be entirely on wellness and healing, and this cancer center accomplishes that."
Kenneth Holmen, president and CEO of CentraCare, and Paul Drange, chairman of Astera Health's board of directors, also spoke at the event, as well as Joanna Slominski, general manager at the construction and real estate company Mortenson.
Cancer deaths in the U.S. are on the decline, but rural areas are experiencing this trend at a slower rate than urban areas, according to the Rural Cancer Institute. A shortage and uneven distribution of cancer care in rural areas contributes to this gap of preventable deaths.
The cancer center includes eight private treatment rooms, six exam rooms, a PET/CT scanner and a linear accelerator, which is a machine that provides tattoo-free radiation treatment.
Planning for the cancer center began in 2021 with a focus on identifying opportunities to improve cancer care in the area, particularly improving access to radiation oncology.
The cancer center is attached to the west side of the Astera Health main campus. The building took two years to build and cost roughly $23.7 million paid through donations, grants and a tax-exempt loan.
The cancer center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 218-631-3510 or by scheduling online.
-
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe U.S. Forest Service will close its decades-old Grand Rapids research office as part of a national reorganization. The lab produces world-renowned work on woods and water. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEKlobuchar visited with Conservation Corps members, local and state fire officials and others during a follow-up on recovery from a devastating wind storm in June 2025. -
Contributed/NWSThe snow will likely stick around for at least a few days, with temperatures near zero possible Monday night, April 6, 2026, in the extreme north. -
Contributed/Minnesota Farmers Union via FacebookThe People's Town Halls are an opportunity for the public to share how elected officials can help them meet their needs and build strong rural communities, the union said. -
Contributed/U.S. Forest ServiceThe office is one of 47 research and development facilities closing amid a major reorganization of the agency. The Superior and Chippewa offices and their staffing are not impacted. -
Screenshot/St. Louis County via YouTubeThe federal government is behind schedule in approving the county's requirement of project labor agreements. County staff are asking for a temporary waiver to ensure they don't lose funds. -
Contributed/Ruby's Pantry - BemidjiRuby's Pantry, a faith-based nonprofit coordinating monthly pop-up food events with local churches, including 11 in Northern Minnesota, closed its operations as of March 31, 2026. -
Contributed/NWSHeavy and wet snow, freezing rain and mixed precipitation are possible. Highest snowfall rates of around one-quarter to a half-inch per hour are expected during the daytime April 2, 2026. -
Flooding in June 2024 closed the underground mine to tours for nearly two years, following another two-year closure in 2022 for restoration. -
Contributed/Minnesota Chippewa TribeCandidates who receive more than 50% of the vote in the primary win their elections; otherwise, the top two vote-getters face off in a general election June 9, 2026.
