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Up North Report

Spring storm to bring snow, rain and T-storms; Becker County judge dismisses wild rice charge for White Earth man

By Chelsey Perkins,

Larissa Donovan, Megan Buffington

Published March 14, 2025 at 3:00 AM CDT

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Plus: Megan Buffington recaps a candidate forum for the special Itasca County Board elecion.

More from KAXE News

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Emily LeClaire

Former MN House candidate announces plan to run for Eichorn's vacant seat

Emily LeClaire made the Senate District 6 announcement on her candidate Facebook page, which was originally for her 2024 run for the Minnesota House District 6B.
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Grand Rapids MN Fire Department Facebook page

GR fire chief rescues woman lying on floor inside burning house

Travis Cole used a thermal imaging camera to locate the woman through the bedroom window of the home on Sunny Beach Road in Grand Rapids.
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Aaron Brown

630 employees to be laid off with idling of Hibtac, Minorca mines

Cleveland-Cliffs says the temporary idles "are necessary to re-balance working capital needs and consume excess pellet inventory," according to a statement.
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IRRR

IRRR Board to name new chair after Eichorn's resignation

Rep. Roger Skraba, vice chair of the board, initiated the call for a special meeting to reorganize the board and select a new chair.
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Minnesota State Senate

Eichorn resigns from Minnesota Senate after minor solicitation arrest

The resignation means a vote to expel the senator will no longer take place, and lays the groundwork for a special election to fill the vacancy in Senate District 6.
Weekly News Team update with the KAXE Morning Show

Chelsey Perkins

This week, News Director Chelsey Perkins talks about the latest updates on the arrest of state Sen. Justin Eichorn and discusses her story on Cass and Itasca counties' cooperation with ICE.
State and fed complaints detail Eichorn's alleged attempts to coerce a minor; Rock Ridge HS dean awaits extradition to Georgia for child exploitation

Chelsey Perkins

Plus: Attorney General Keith Ellison announced new discussions about the future of academic medicine in the state between Essentia Health, Fairview Health and the University of Minnesota; and the Bemidji High School mock trial team will be honored in a Thursday ceremony with Beltrami County judges.
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Bemidji High School | Facebook

Beltrami district court judges to honor Bemidji mock trial team

Bemidji High School's mock trial team placed seventh of 16 schools at the state tournament in St. Paul. Beltrami judges will honor them with a reception on March 20, 2025.
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Hennepin County

Charge: Eichorn repeatedly asked for paid sex rates, age from undercover officer

Chelsey Perkins

Police arrested the 40-year-old Grand Rapids Republican on March 17, 2025, in Bloomington after he arrived to meet who he apparently believed was a 17-year-old sex worker.
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St. Louis County Sheriff's Office

Rock Ridge HS dean of students arrested in child exploitation investigation

A press release late Tuesday, March 18, 2025, stated Chad was awaiting extradition to Georgia, stemming from the investigation, where he will face criminal charges.

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Up North Report KAXE Minnesota Weather Treaty Rights Wild Rice Itasca County White Earth

Chelsey Perkins

Chelsey 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.

See stories by Chelsey Perkins

Larissa Donovan

Larissa Donovan has been in the Bemidji area's local news scene since 2016, joining the KAXE newsroom in 2023 after several years as the News Director for the stations of Paul Bunyan Broadcasting.

See stories by Larissa Donovan

Megan Buffington

Megan Buffington joined the KAXE newsroom in 2024 after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Originally from Pequot Lakes, she is passionate about educating and empowering communities through local reporting.

See stories by Megan Buffington

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