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Contributed/Minnesota HouseDuran, a Republican from Bemidji, was first elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 2024. -
Contributed/Nicole Neri / Minnesota ReformerThe unprecedented federal incursion brought 1000s of immigration officers to MN over the objections of local Democratic leaders, and led to massive protests and two deaths. -
Plus: St. Louis County seeks resident input on updates to its hazard mitigation plan; and United Way of 1000 Lakes is accepting Volunteer of the Year nominations. -
Contributed/United Way of 1000 LakesThe Volunteer of the Year will be honored during United Way’s Community Celebration on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEMinnesotans Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin are the first Americans to medal in the event, and Thiesse is the first American woman to ever medal in Olympic curling. -
Chelsey Perkins/KAXERecent court decisions have given the Trump administration room to carry out its controversial actions, but legal experts point to ICE consistently ignoring release orders, drawing admonishment from judges. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe Bemidji Planning Commission, a largely citizen body, passed off the interim use permit to the board without recommendations after months of discussion. It passed Feb. 9, 2026, on a 5-1 vote. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEIgo was first elected in 2020. He represents the eastern Iron Range, northern Aitkin County and the St. Louis County cities of Hibbing and Floodwood. -
And: Republican Dr. Scott Jensen suspends his campaign for governor to run for state auditor; Rep. Spencer Igo is running for reelection; the Public Utilities Commission delays transmission line meetings; and ICE being watched for sharing health information.
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Contributed/Polk County Sheriff's Office/Emergency ManagementThe Polk County Sheriff's Office said 7-year-old K-9 Rex recently became very ill and had failing kidneys.
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 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.
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.
