BEMIDJI — The United Way of Bemidji Area's annual Holiday Gifts for Kids program is underway.
Two distribution days are planned for families who pre-register to participate in the program. Parents and caregivers "shop" for a gift for their child and will also receive a board game.
"In 2024, over 1,300 children ages 0-17 experienced a joyful Christmas thanks to the generosity and kindness of others," stated the United Way on its webpage.
The first event is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Sanford Event Center in Bemidji. This event is open to anyone living in Beltrami, Clearwater or Hubbard Counties, with registration due by Dec. 4.
Paper registration forms can be picked up at First National Bank locations in Bemidji, the Northern Dental Access Center, Beltrami County WIC office and the Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area.
The second event is 3:30-6 p.m. Dec. 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Laporte. This event is open to anyone living in the Laporte area, with registration due by Dec. 9.
Paper registration forms for the Laporte event can be picked up at Trinity Lutheran Church or at Laporte Public School.
New, unwrapped gifts for local children from newborn to age 17 will be accepted at First National Bank of Bemidji locations, L&M Fleet, Menard's, Walgreens, Bemidji Ambulance, MJB Home Center, and the Tourist Information Center in Bemidji through Dec. 8.
Toy donations will also be accepted at Trinity Lutheran Church in Laporte.
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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 25.
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The tick biodiversity project is driven by citizen scientists' reports of all tick species. Similar research hasn't been done since the 1940s.
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Plus: An Orr man was charged with two felonies for shooting a firefighting plane; and the Bemidji Chamber of Commerce recognized area businesses at its annual luncheon almost a year after the derecho.
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Contributed/Canva Pro graphicMark Smith, 66, died Thursday, May 21, 2026, after hitting a deer near Hill City in southern Itasca County while riding a dirt bike. -
Plus: Red Lake Nation residents cast ballots for the tribal council election; and bipartisan housing legislation made it across the finish line in the divided Legislature.
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Contributed/Max Nesterak / Minnesota ReformerFifteen people are charged with targeting over $90M across Medicaid programs aimed at helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people, children with autism and disabled people. -
As Bemidji Area Schools mediates with its bargaining units after a spring of budget cuts, Bemidji bus drivers and their supporters urged the Board for their support. -
Contributed/DSGW ArchitectureThe May 20, 2026, Tribal Council election resulted in four runoff elections set to take place in July and featured some very close contests in the sovereign nation.
