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, KVSC 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.
The team has earned dozens of awards from the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association, Public Media Journalism Association and the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2025, the team earned a prestigious Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for its work in digital storytelling. 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 Forum Communications Co. Editorial Advisory Board.
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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. -
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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Plus: Flanders Fire in Crow Wing County nearing 100% containment; and Pequot Lakes Patriotics are once again the robotics state champions.
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County Attorney Ben Lindstrom says Deputy Aaron Ammerman violated policy and engaged in "unbecoming conduct," but Ammerman says Lindstrom is tampering with the election. -
Plus: the DNR has identified the origin point and people of interest in the Flanders Fire; Bemidji bus drivers advocate for better pay before School Board; and Itasca County votes to fly two different state flags.
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About a half-inch of rain fell across the area overnight into Tuesday, and crews are expected to return to work on securing and improving the fire lines again. -
And: A rural Orr man was arrested for allegedly shooting a firefighting plane; the Legislature passed a bonding bill; and filings open for public office Tuesday.
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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 18.
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Plus: Minnesota partners want you to help track wildlife collisions; and DNR upgrades four fishing piers in Northern Minnesota.
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Plus: Dry, windy weather creates dangerous conditions across the state; and Wrenshall school district voters give the OK for consolidation with Carlton.
