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Lorie ShaullThe new 3-year contract includes wage increases for around 40 nurses serving the Deer River hospital and clinic. -
Contributed/cottonbro studio / PexelsThe project uses aeration and a gravity filter to treat iron and manganese. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEA misconduct complaint and investigation into Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk were not addressed at a Sept. 8, 2026, forum. His opponent, Deputy Aaron Ammerman, said the office is “fractured from within.” -
Contributed/Francesco Ungaro via PexelsAuthorities state they believe one adult and four pets died in a Wadena County mobile home fire on Sept. 7, 2026. -
Plus: Essentia Health, nurses' union reach labor agreement for Deer River hospital; DNR finds "gaps" in review for Hermantown data center; and the fall color finder map is now live. -
Contributed/Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesCones from the state tree are expected to be particularly prolific this year. -
Stella Mayerhoff/KAXEThe trail spans from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Ely. -
Contributed/Canva Pro graphicPolice say the incident at the annual Obaashing Labor Day Celebration was isolated, and there is no threat to the public. -
Contributed/Benedictine Living via MinnPostAging with Alzheimer’s and dementia in rural communities can be especially hard. -
Plus: The Mesabi Trail is complete after 30 years
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.
Megan Buffington covers North-Central Minnesota from the Brainerd lakes area. Originally from Pequot Lakes, she joined the KAXE newsroom in 2024. Megan previously covered the Arrowhead for KAXE. She is passionate about amplifying Northern Minnesota voices and educating communities through local reporting.
