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Contributed/Staples-Motley School DistrictStaples-Motley is asking voters to approve $55 million in new bonds that would replace old debt, thereby not increasing taxes. The money would be used to update both schools. -
Contributed/Minnesota House Public Information ServicesJohn Tobias, 58, of rural Park Rapids, was arraigned Feb. 25, 2026, after allegedly threatening an attack on the state Capitol. -
Contributed/C-SPAN YouTubeGov. Tim Walz describes the move as a "campaign of retribution." -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEVoters will decide on Aitkin's latest attempt to build a new elementary school on April 14, 2026. The new ask is about one-third less than the November 2025 referendum. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEMt. Itasca is hosting Snojam, a snowboarding event, as well as the Redwing Central Division Championships of Ski Jumping Feb. 28-March 1, 2026, in Coleraine. -
The free test kits from the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District check for bacteria, nitrates, lead, arsenic and manganese in private wells. -
Lorie Shaull/ContributedThe DNR adopted new rules in January 2026, changing the previously closed portion of the bass fishing season to catch-and-release, meaning fishing for the species is open year-round. -
Plus: Early voting opens Friday for Aitkin, Staples-Motley referendums; year-round bass season now in place; Beltrami County, Red Lake residents eligible for free well water test kits; boys swimming and diving state meet starts Thursday. -
Chelsey Perkins/KAXEThe state of Minnesota and Fleet Farm filed a settlement in federal court Feb. 24, 2026, in a lawsuit accusing the retailer of enabling straw purchases of firearms. -
Contributed/Hibbing Boys JV & Varsity SwimmingStudent-athletes from 10 rural Northern Minnesota schools will compete at the state swimming and diving meet Feb. 26-28, 2026, in Minneapolis.
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.
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.
