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Graphic/KAXERepublican state Sen. Steve Green will return to St. Paul in January 2027 after beating out two challengers for his seat. -
Graphic/KAXERepublican state Rep. Ben Davis will return to St. Paul for a third term in January 2027. -
Hermantown data center moves forward after Council approvals; Candidates make last pitches across MNPlus: Northland high school athletes compete in soccer and cross-country state tourneys. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe KAXE News Team shares live updates from the polls across Northern Minnesota as voters cast ballots for Senate, governor, sheriff and other races. -
Contributed/Brainerd High SchoolThe Hibbing, Park Rapids and Wadena Deer-Creek boys teams and the Crosby-Ironton and Hermantown girls teams also qualified, along with over 30 more student-athletes from across the Northland. -
Emma Krab/KAXE‘Twas the night before Election Day 2026, but Northern Minnesota election workers have been preparing for voters for months. -
Stella Mayerhoff/KAXE / Report for AmericaStaffing shortages can cause strain at polling locations, but new and veteran election judges are stepping up to help Election Day 2026 run smoothly. -
To make Election Day hassle-free for voters across the state, election officials work behind the scenes to bring the big day to life.
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Plus: Longtime election workers highlight need for more volunteers; and Rock Ridge is back-to-back state tennis champs.
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Contributed/Rock Ridge Public SchoolsRock Ridge's Ellie Dimberio was the singles consolation champion. In 1A, Pequot Lakes finished sixth, as did Staples-Motley's Madison and Kaylee Perius.
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 four 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.
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.
Stella Mayerhoff is a scientist-turned-journalist. She joined KAXE in July of 2026 as a Report for America corps member, and covers Minnesota’s headwaters region in partnership with the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk.
Emma Krab joined KAXE in July of 2026 as a news reporter covering Grand Rapids and the Arrowhead region.
