Shows / Up North Report
Up North Report
Stay up to date on what's happening up north with KAXE / KBXE News, bringing you the top stories across Northern Minnesota. KAXE / KBXE is the oldest rural community radio station in the U.S. and an independent NPR affiliate.
Episodes
- Up North Report
6 new leaders elected to MCT tribal councils; MPCA takes comment on plan for former Hibbing gas plant
Plus: the Brainerd City Council is considering a plan to redevelop the City Hall parking lot into a four-story apartment complex.
- Up North Report
Shooting death reported in Fosston; Man drowns in Aitkin County lake
Plus: the Brainerd School Board votes to put a levy referendum on the ballot; and the DNR’s new electronic licensing system launches.
- Up North Report
Plane crashes into Coleraine lake; Enhanced severe weather risk on tap
Plus: Causes of BWCAW-area wildfires determined; Brainerd educators reach tentative agreement on overdue contract; and rural Northland athletes take home 87…
- Up North Report
Up North Lookback 1976: Murder suspect slashes wrists; Breezy Point supper club burns down
This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of June 8.
- Up North Report
Paul Bunyan Playhouse returns for 75th season of summer stock theater
After a short 2024 season and skipping a season in 2025, the Paul Bunyan Playhouse is back with a full season in 2026.
- Up North Report
Charges filed in case of shot Itasca deputy; BWCAW campfire ban in effect
Plus: A new conservation easement protects more than 900 acres on North Shore; Cohasset to host comprehensive plan meeting; and more Northland HS sports…
- Up North Report
Red Lake returns plane to Roseau pilot; MN to disenroll 3K Medicaid providers
Plus: the Rock Ridge boys’ tennis team took fourth at state and many Northland golfers will head to state next week after qualifying.
- Up North Report
Local primary elections take shape; Feds issue guidelines for Medicaid work rules
Plus: Grand Rapids hosts the state’s annual wildland firefighting academy.
- Up North Report
Birch Bay Fire burns 30-35 acres; Lisa Demuth to run in GOP primary
And: Esports, girls team wrestling moving foward with MSHSL; Highway 6 bridge in Itasca County closes Monday.
- Up North Report
Burnsville man drowns in Emily; Qualls, Schwarze endorsed by GOP; Klobuchar, Flanagan by DFL
And: Six Northland teams will compete in the state softball tournament and Northern Minnesota will have over 250 entries in the state track and field meet.
- Up North Report
Up North Lookback 1976: Arrest in murder of Bemidji teen; Escaped WV prisoner found in cabin
This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of June 1.
- Up North Report
Grand Rapids aims to open municipal cannabis dispensary by July 2027
The city would be among the first to try the new money-making venture, which it estimates will make the city at least $500,000 a year.
- Up North Report
Deadline approaches for Bemidji derecho forest recovery help; State, U of M transfer Cloquet Forestry Center to Fond du Lac
Plus: the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will host public hearings on Otter Tail Power Co.’s proposed electric rate increase; and the Brainerd Area…
- Up North Report
Man's body recovered at Palisade Head; Brainerd graduation will include drum ceremony
Plus: Rep. Angie Craig abandons Democratic endorsement; MN cannabis office listening tour to stop in Bemidji and Duluth; state grants can help farmers buy…
- Up North Report
Trek North hosts 3rd annual powwow; DNR electronic licensing system launch set for June 9
And: New MN law enacts guardrails for kids on social media; and Rock Ridge will compete in the boys state tennis tournament, as well as athletes from Cloquet…
- Up North Report
Near record-breaking heat expected in Northland; Kitchigami Regional Library System fires 2 managers
Plus: the Federal Aviation Administration is pressuring the Red Lake Nation to return a Roseau pilot’s vintage airplane; and the Beltrami County Soil and Water…
- Up North Report
Bankruptcy on rise for MN farmers; Crow Wing County warns of scams after Flanders Fire
Plus: Minnesota State’s board of trustees names new interim president for Central Lakes College; Gov. Tim Walz appoints Theodora Gaitas as next Supreme Court…
- Up North Report
Up North Lookback 1976: Man pulls gun on firefighter; Drought causes $600M in farm losses
This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of May 25.
- Up North Report
New research project aims to map, record Minnesota's dozen tick species
The tick biodiversity project is driven by citizen scientists’ reports of all tick species. Similar research hasn’t been done since the 1940s.
- Up North Report
Senate reverses mining ban near BWCAW; Iron Range manufacturer to close
Plus: Lockdown at Northwest Technical College; downtown Walker evacuated as natural gas line damaged; and a man missing in St. Louis County was found five days…
- Up North Report
S-M passes referendum, Aitkin's fails; St. Louis County finds workaround to use PLAs
And: Sen. Amy Klobuchar has raised almost $5 million in the first two months of her gubernatorial campaign; and three Northern Minnesota communities will get…
- Up North Report
Smith urges colleagues to protect BWCA in Senate floor speech; Rock Ridge sticks to 5 day week
Plus: A complex land dispute in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area leads to a developer turning to state lawmakers for a solution.
- Up North Report
Hibbing woman dies after self-inflicted fire; St. Louis County authorities seek missing man near Greaney
Plus: State lawmakers are considering bills to address Greater Minnesota housing needs; MnDOT has several road construction projects planned in the Northland…
- Up North Report
North Star Students: N-K's Maddy, Abby Koivisto are 'shining examples'
Their schedules are booked solid, and graduation is only a few weeks away, but seniors Maddy and Abby Koivisto are engaged in class every day and always…
- Up North Report
Reforest Bemidji sees 'overwhelming response'; Red Lake Nation College gets $7M grant
And: Minnesota-based nonprofit says Big Tech fight reminiscent of Big Tobacco crackdown; and National Weather Service offering free weather spotter classes.
- Up North Report
Hibbing School Board approves $1.5 million in staff cuts; Beltrami County seeks legislative fix to disaster aid
And: Central Lakes College President Hara Charlier is leaving the school; and a new report is concerned with the DNR’s plans for electronic licenses this…
- Up North Report
Carlton County sheriff to retire; Bill aims to protect wild rice from boaters
Plus: Minnesota to select first youth poet laureate; Beltrami County seeks parks committee members; and Superior National Forest to begin prescribed fires.
- Up North Report
Brainerd overnight shelter to remain open this summer; MN Chief Justice to retire
And: Experts say AI could have a big impact on Minnesota’s labor force.
- Up North Report
Aitkin School Board accepts principal resignation; Rural EMS crews push for state aid
Plus: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will accept comment on Minnesota Power’s proposed transmission line project; and the Minnesota Department of…
- Up North Report
Specialized mental health treatment court kicks off in Itasca County
The cross-jurisdictional court includes the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and is intended to reduce recidivism among participants in a highly intensive…
- Up North Report
Partners call Grand Rapids research office closure a major loss; Sen. Klobuchar visits Bemidji
Plus: The Grand Rapids Economic Development Agency will use state funds to demolish the former Itasca Farm Co-op.
- Up North Report
Remer grass fire burns 40 acres; USFS Grand Rapids research office to close
Plus: St. Louis County to choose between local labor or risking federal funds.
- Up North Report
Becker County IDs boy and his father in murder-suicide; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe bands host primary elections
Plus: Ruby’s Pantry will cease operations in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa; Hermantown will accept public comment on a study for the proposed Google data…
- Up North Report
2 shot to death in rural Becker County; Sebeka mourns woman killed in crash
Plus: Two local elementary schools meet their fates, with Bemidji’s J.W. Smith set to remain open for at least a year, while Greenhaven in Hibbing will close.
- Up North Report
2 killed in head-on crash on Highway 71 in Park Rapids; Train derailment near Warroad prompts evacuation
Plus: Minnesotans gathered in the thousands for “No Kings” rallies across the state; Aitkin Public Schools will soon have a new superintendent; Burning…
- Up North Report
Study provides greater detail on Northern Minnesota's housing needs
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund’s Nate Dorr discusses the next steps after a Beltrami County-specific housing study shows high demand for new housing builds…
- Up North Report
Cass Lake sawmill destroyed in fire; Hibbing Public Schools hosts hearing on closing Greenhaven
Plus: MnDOT will host an open house Tuesday ahead of its 2026 construction season in Brainerd; and the Bemidji Public Library hosted a send-off Friday as it…
- Up North Report
Deerwood mayor dies unexpectedly at age 74; Park Rapids woman pleads guilty as accomplice in stabbing
Plus: Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber’s bill for Great Lakes restoration funding passed the House with bipartisan support; Minnesota will no longer…
- Up North Report
MN sues over access to evidence in shootings by federal agents
And: Bemidji community urges Board to keep J.W. Smith open; and a Cuyuna rec area land dispute prompts road closure confusion, concerns.
- Up North Report
Nevis man pleads guilty to election crime; Incumbent state Sen. Paul Utke fails to gain party endorsement
Plus: An overnight shelter in Brainerd is again seeking city approval to operate year-round; and Paul Bunyan Communications is expanding in more locations in…
- Up North Report
Red Lake woman killed in rollover crash near TRF; Bemidji man ID'd as victim in Mississippi River crash
And: Lawmakers move to limit AI use in therapy; Sacred Bundle hosts first event in former Bemidji elementary school; and Grand Itasca redesignated Level III…
- Up North Report
Task forces on lowering health care costs take flight; MN contends with slower population growth
And: Bemidji’s Aircorps Aviation receives MN DEED grant; and Beltrami County seeks feedback for safer roads planning.
- Up North Report
Missing International Falls man confirmed dead; Hibbing union, school district make deal, avoid strike
Plus: Bemidji Public Library to cut hours, staff; a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by a former Rock Ridge School Board member; Northern Minnesota tribal…
- Up North Report
Hibbing school support staff to strike; MN North names new president
Plus: Blackduck considers disbanding its police force; spongy moth treatments are proposed in parts of Northern Minnesota; and the Detroit Lakes HS musicians…
- Up North Report
Bemidji Area Schools hosts J.W. Smith closure Q&A; Northern MN lawmakers introduce liquor bills
Plus: Leech Lake Tribal College selects three finalists in president search; and four Northland teams are heading to the boys basketball state tournament.
- Up North Report
Fire prompts evacuations of 3 Lutsen townhomes; Nearly 90 acres returned to Grand Portage Band
Plus: the Bemidji City Council rejected Northern Township’s wastewater connection request; and the Brainerd City Council selected its next Chief of Police.
- Up North Report
1 dead following Breezy Point fire; Flight cancellations cause improptu road trip for DL students
And: A new bill would ban municipalities from signing nondisclosure agreements; Otter Tail Power Co. had above-average profits last two years; Mountain…
- Up North Report
Bemidji Fire braces for spring wildfire season, months after major storm
Planning and preparation for the 2026 spring wildfire season began shortly after the major blowdown storm in the Bemidji region, which saw an estimated 9…
- Up North Report
Judge declines to dismiss charges in Beltrami County jail death; Stauber introduced Stop Fraud by SOMALIA Act
And: A new bill in the Minnesota Legislature would allow small school districts to shrink their school board size.
- Up North Report
Rural housing fixes included in US Senate bill; Cannabis plans in LaPrairie nixed
Plus: Some aquatic invasive species prevention efforts to prepare for the impending open water season in Minnesota are already taking place.
- Up North Report
MN accepts settlement with Lyft over disability discrimination; State lawmakers contend with federal Medicaid changes
Plus: The Cook County Sheriff is resigning in May 2026 to accept an early childhood education role; and Minnesota DEED awarded nearly $2 million to support…
- Up North Report
MDH study shows uninsured rate on the rise; state Senate considers bill giving inherent rights to wild rice
Plus: the Minnesota Legislature is considering a ban on cryptocurrency kiosks as the FBI reports these ATMs are connected to $333 million in reported losses to…
- Up North Report
Man dies in snowmobile crash north of Orr; 2 dead in apparent murder-suicide in I-Falls
And: Park Rapids man faces third charge for threatening lawmakers; former state Sen. Justin Eichorn’s trial pushed to June; Warroad boys win state hockey…
- Up North Report
North Star Student: 1 season left in S-M's Ronnie Noska's 'amazing' tennis career
Staples-Motley junior Ronnie Noska is KAXE’s second-ever North Star Student. Noska’s hard work has led to a successful career on the court, and she continues…
- Up North Report
Bemidji Day returns to the MN Capitol; Beltrami County seeks input on hazard plan
Plus: Townships across Minnesota will host their annual meetings on March 10, 2026; the DNR is seeking input on proposed changes to Itasca State Park; and the…
- Up North Report
At the Capitol: Fraud bills, slowing speeders, student cellphones, gun control
News Director Chelsey Perkins catches up on what’s happening in St. Paul with Report for Minnesota student journalists Abbey Mulcahy, Kendra Mobilia, Shay…
- Up North Report
Bomb threat closes Park Rapids restaurant; Hibbing moves ahead with school closure
Plus: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources awards Cass Lake conservation officer as 2025 officer of the year; and the high school boys hockey tourney…
- Up North Report
Meet the 2026 Report for Minnesota interns covering the state Capitol
Abbey Mulcahy, Kendra Mobilia, Shay Scanlan and Eleanor Steffen are reporting on the Legislature. New this year, intern Karina Kafka is also producing…
- Up North Report
Man dies after being trapped under snow groomer; Judge denies Bemidji's motion to reopen boundary trial
Plus: The Brainerd Police Chief will retire early due to cancer; a new solar cooperative is forming in north-central MN; and MN DEED recently awarded more than…
- Up North Report
Residents displaced after Staples apartment fire; Driver crashes into Lakewood ER doors
Plus: Bemidji School Board votes to close J.W. Smith Elementary; Hibbing considers closing Greenhaven Elementary; and Google revealed to be owner of propsed…