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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Plus: Health coverage affordability is top of mind for many Minnesotans; new nonprofit sets sights on Grand Rapids downtown branding process; and KAXE compiled a food resources list. -
Plus: A winter-hardy cover crop is being explored as a sustainable jet fuel source; and the Esko girls finished 4th place at the state soccer tournament.
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And: Hotel, event center and restaurant planned for Bemidji's rail corridor; and Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship applications close Nov. 1, 2025.
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Plus: Tips for supporting food shelves as SNAP benefits run out; and DNR sets Upper Red Lake winter walleye limit at four.
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The Pequot Lakes organization's leaders said the decision to expand comes from discussions with Brainerd lakes area nonprofits aiming at address growing food insecurity. -
Seventy more stops, expanded hours and more vehicles in the fleet makes the free AV service available to more MN communities, including those on Leech Lake Reservation. -
Plus: 13 school districts in Northern Minnesota are going to voters for financial support on Nov. 4, 2025; and scores of Northland athletes will compete at the state cross country tournament this weekend.
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Seventy more stops, expanded hours and more vehicles in the fleet makes the free AV service available to more communities, including those on Leech Lake Reservation.
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Plus: Gov. Tim Walz has now signed four cannabis compacts with tribal nations, the latest being the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; and the girls' state tennis tournament wrapped up with a few Northland consolation champions.
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Plus: Bipartisan legislation for a land transfer in the Chippewa National Forest cleared a key Senate committee; and the Esko girls' soccer team will advance to the state semi-finals on Oct. 29, 2025.
