BRAINERD — A fantasy novel challenged by a community member in the Brainerd School District will remain in the high school library.
The Brainerd Dispatch reported a committee established for the purpose of reviewing the Sarah J. Maas novel Empire of Storms unanimously agreed the book should remain as choice reading material available to high school students.
The challenge raised concerns about sexual content in the book, which is the fifth in a series. Committee members were tasked with reading the book and walking through a series of questions about its value as a resource for students. Children's Book Review, the book publisher Bloomsbury and Common Sense Media all rated the book for ages 14 and up.
As part of the examination, district officials shared that the book has been checked out just three times in its history in the high school library.
The committee decided to apply its ruling to all of the books in Maas' "Throne of Glass" series, some of which are facing separate complaints.
Challenger Shirley Yeager has a right to appeal the committee's decision to the full school board. She told the Dispatch she doesn't know whether she'll appeal this decision, but said she intends to fight the recommendation about the rest of the series.
Read the full Brainerd Dispatch story for more.
IM Care-Lakeview contract woes
As the contract termination between Itasca County's public health insurance provider and Lakeview Behavioral Health will be effective at the end of this year, about 700 IM Care patients at Lakeview Behavioral will be affected.
Lakeview Behavioral Health issued a call-to-action regarding this contract termination decision by IM-Care, Itasca County's agency that handles insurance coverage for those who qualify for Medical Assistance or Minnesota Care.
In an interview with KAXE/KBXE, Itasca County Commissioner Terry Snyder said the contract termination is a legal issue, being contemplated by attorneys on both sides of the arrangement.
IM Care Director Sarah Anderson wrote in an email that the agency has a plan in place to make sure all enrollees have continuity of care with other providers, and enrollees are encouraged to contact IM Care Member Services for assistance.
Snyder acknowledged disparities in access to mental health care in Northern Minnesota and said the county is continuing to work toward improving that access.
Lakeview Behavioral Health offers out-patient mental health and substance abuse disorder services in their offices in Grand Rapids, Hibbing and Brainerd. Lakeview also operates Reflections Recovery Residences, an in-patient type of facility that promotes recovery with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
KAXE/KBXE News is following this story and will continue to provide updates.
New drug use dashboard
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension launched a new dashboard today to help inform efforts to prevent and respond to drug overdoses, drug-related deaths and drug-related crimes in Minnesota.
In a news release, BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said the agency is hopeful collecting data on arrests, overdoses and deaths in a single location will be helpful to law enforcement, medical service providers and others working to understand illicit drug use and its impacts.
The BCA developed the dashboard in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board, both of which contribute data to the dashboard.
This program is part of the BCA’s Drug Monitoring Initiative, an effort funded through a federal Opioid Abuse Program Grant.
Find the dashboard at the BCA's website.
Oak wilt treatment research
Trained tree climbers in the Superior National Forest are testing a new technique to improve forest health against oak wilt disease, one of the deadliest diseases to red oaks in the Eastern U.S.
Oak wilt can spread in two ways: above the ground through the movement of fungal spores by sap-feeding beetles to wounds in oak trees, or below ground through the grafted roots of neighboring oaks.
Treatments for oak wilt disease are often costly and damaging. They involve cutting and removing trees with the disease, including many nearby uninfected trees and disrupting the root systems using heavy equipment.
To test the oak wilt rapid response treatment, researchers need to infect oaks with the disease. To accomplish this, climbers drill into the branch and add the fungal disease to mimic a natural infection.
Following artificial infection, forest health managers girdle the trees at predetermined times to prevent the oak wilt infection from advancing down from the crown into the roots and spreading throughout the root systems to other trees.
Girdling is when bark and some wood materials are removed from a ring around the tree’s trunk.
It has been shown in recent testing to be an effective means in stopping the spread of oak wilt into the tree’s roots and protecting other trees in that area.
The project includes several state and federal partners and is in effect in Michigan's Huron-Manistee National Forest and Wisconsin's Octonto River Seed Orchard as well.
The group will conduct one more summer of treatment, then monitor the select trees for five years for effectiveness.
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Dr. Joseph Corser, a medical director at Sanford Bemidji, and Nicole Kiesow, physician assistant from the Headwaters Health Clinic in Fosston, were recognized for their contributions to rural health. -
The two teen boys, ages 13 and 14, were reportedly trying to ice fish Nov. 18, 2025, when their sled fell into the water on Straight Lake near Osage. -
And: PotlatchDeltic lumber mills lose Forest Stewardship Council certification over Bemidji workplace harassment; and Nashwauk-Keewatin is hosting liquidation sales for its old schools. -
Two lawsuits filed Nov. 14, 2025, against PotlatchDeltic and a Bemidji supervisor come after the Forest Stewardship Council terminated the certification for all the company's mills. -
The Nashwauk-Keewatin school district said the one-day, cash-only sales are a chance to explore the old schools one last time. -
The Cass County Sheriff's Office said a 20-year-old man faces pending charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, second-degree assault and domestic assault. -
The United Way of Bemidji Area is coordinating toy drives to serve low-income families in Beltrami, Clearwater and Hubbard counties. -
A 911 caller reported the incident the evening of Nov. 18, 2025, near Snellman. No injuries were reported, but law enforcement is asking for help identifying a suspect. -
The deputy, also identified in the report, fired his department-issued weapon. He has three years of experience in law enforcement. -
Grand Itasca and several partners are putting on the event at the YMCA, which includes breast health education, bone density screening and memory assessment.
