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Contributed/St. Louis County Sheriff's Office Facebook pageJonathan David Polaski died Aug. 8, 2026, following a medical emergency in jail. -
Contributed/Sam Stukel / U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceThe invasive species damages boats, poses an injury risk to humans and harms native species. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe partial acquisition is slated to finalize in October 2026. Founders say the move means greater production and distribution capabilities for the Bemidji brand. -
Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXEFederal officials told the Minnesota Star Tribune that a person firing a gun was fatally shot during an encounter with police on Aug. 13, 2026. -
Contributed/iNaturalist user SofiewicklundRecent testing found elevated levels of the bacteria, which can cause illness if ingested. Leech Lake Division of Resource Management issued a warning Aug. 12, 2026. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe discussion comes months after an inaccurate news report listed Bemidji among places where data centers were being considered. -
Plus: Itasca County Board results; Bemidji contemplating data center moratorium -
Graphic/KAXELonny Witkofsky and Cory Smith are advancing to the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, based on unofficial results from Minnesota's primary election. -
Graphic/KAXETrina Swanson is advancing to the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, based on unofficial results from Minnesota's primary election. Stauber also won the Republican vote handily. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXETuesday’s record-breaking turnout was likely driven by competitive races for Minnesota governor on the Republican side and the U.S. Senate on the Democratic-Farmer-Labor side.
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.
