Chelsey Perkins
News DirectorChelsey Perkins became the News Director in early 2023 and was tasked with building a new local newsroom at the station. She is based in Brainerd and leads a team of two reporters covering communities across Northern Minnesota from the KAXE studio in Grand Rapids and the KBXE studio in Bemidji.
The news team launched the Up North Report in August 2023 — a five-minute newscast airing daily on KAXE, WTIP and available as a podcast on Apple, Spotify and more. They also publish original stories at KAXE.org and make regular appearances on the KAXE Morning Show to dive deeper into their work.
In a short time, the team earned three second-place awards in the Public Media Journalism Association 2024 Awards in digital writing, daily newscast and interview podcast episode. In 2023, Chelsey was named a fellow of the Poynter Institute's Public Media Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative.
Chelsey grew up in Crosslake, Minnesota, where most of her family continues to live. She spent the first 15 years of her journalism career as a print journalist, primarily as a newspaper reporter and editor for the Brainerd Dispatch. There, she covered Crow Wing County government and served on the FCC Editorial Advisory Board.
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And: Brainerd senior Ty Nelson wins a second triple jump title, and Red Lake County will play for a baseball title Saturday. -
Plus: the Northland has nine more state champs in golf, track and field after state tournaments.
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Plus: Essentia Health will soon take full ownership of its facility in Virginia; and Bemidji Heritage Preservation Committee hosts a sidewalk celebration on historic Third Street.
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And: Itasca County cannabis company not selected in license lottery; Hawley appointed in 9th Judicial District.
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Plus: Stakeholders of Voyageurs National Park are celebrating a new Crane Lake visitor center; a detour is in place on Highway 73 east of Cook; and Northland athletes in softball and tennis placed at state tournaments last week.
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And: Minnesota Pride events look to genuine community support under political storm; and despite budget constraints, the Legislature gives affordable housing a bump.
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Plus: Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders appear to agree on a one-day special session for June 9, 2025; and the Minnesota Incident Command System wrapped up a week of wildfire training in Grand Rapids this week.
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Plus: Summer EBT is now SUN Bucks and eligible families enrolled in certain programs will automatically be mailed new cards per school-age child; and nine Northland golf teams will compete at the state golf tournament next week.
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And: Construction begins on a Highway 37 intersection near Cherry; northwestern MN landowners can apply for a conservation program; and 10 area organizations get Age-Friendly grants.
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Plus: Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School's commencement ceremony included 12 students holding space for their missing and lost classmates; St. Louis County is looking for residents to serve on its mental health advisory board; and post-season softball and track sections are wrapping up with several Northland athletes heading to state.
