WELY News

And: Bemidji’s Aircorps Aviation receives MN DEED grant; and Beltrami County seeks feedback for safer roads planning.

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 leaders testified in the nation’s capital; and Minnesota Forest Industries’ Tom Radovich was appointed to the state’s Forest Resources Council.

Plus: Blackduck considers disbanding its police force; spongy moth treatments are proposed in parts of Northern Minnesota; and the Detroit Lakes HS musicians have returned from their unexpected road trip.

Plus: Leech Lake Tribal College selects three finalists in president search; and four Northland teams are heading to the boys basketball state tournament.

Plus: the Bemidji City Council rejected Northern Township’s wastewater connection request; and the Brainerd City Council selected its next Chief of Police.

And: A new bill would ban municipalities from signing nondisclosure agreements; Otter Tail Power Co. had above-average profits last two years; Mountain Iron-Buhl is girls basketball runner-up.

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 million trees downed or damaged.

And: A new bill in the Minnesota Legislature would allow small school districts to shrink their school board size.

Plus: Some aquatic invasive species prevention efforts to prepare for the impending open water season in Minnesota are already taking place.

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 Youthbuild programs.

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 fraud.

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 title, and Kelliher/Northome, Mountain Iron-Buhl and Rock Ridge to compete in girls basketball tourney.

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 to grow as a leader off of it.

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 Superior National Forest will host a Tofte Ranger District open house on March 12.

News Director Chelsey Perkins catches up on what’s happening in St. Paul with Report for Minnesota student journalists Abbey Mulcahy, Kendra Mobilia, Shay Scanlan and Eleanor Steffen.

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 is underway.

Abbey Mulcahy, Kendra Mobilia, Shay Scanlan and Eleanor Steffen are reporting on the Legislature. New this year, intern Karina Kafka is also producing photojournalism.

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 $7 million in housing infrastructure grants.

Our No. 1 and No. 2 stories of year follow the wide-ranging local impacts of sometimes swift and surprising decisions in Washington, D.C., and a severe natural disaster changes the landscape in the Bemidji area. The Up North Report is a product of KAXE and can be found at https://www.kaxe.org/upnorthreport .

Our No. 3 and No. 4 stories of year examine the state’s wild rice sulfate standard as U.S. Steel seeks a variance from the MPCA, and the arrest and subsequent resignation of former state Sen. Justin Eichorn. The Up North Report is a product of KAXE and can be found at https://www.kaxe.org/upnorthreport .

Our No. 5 and No. 6 stories of year break down what it means for local sheriffs to help enforce immigration laws, and the impact of budget cuts to library systems across the region. The Up North Report is a product of KAXE and can be found at https://www.kaxe.org/upnorthreport .

Our No. 7 and No. 8 stories of year cover the proliferation of automatic license plate readers as a law enforcement tool in Northern MN, and spring wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres and hundreds of structures. The Up North Report is a product of KAXE and can be found at https://www.kaxe.org/upnorthreport .

Our No. 9 and No. 10 stories of year include an unusual strike over whether a wide range of Essentia Health providers can form a union and the controversial sale of an MN utility company. The Up North Report is a product of KAXE and can be found at https://www.kaxe.org/upnorthreport .

Staff and residents at Havenwood Care Center celebrate the holidays throughout December in Bemidji. The Up North Report is a product of KAXE and can be found at https://www.kaxe.org/upnorthreport .

It was a packed house for Misty Jarvi, Rhys Britt and their two daughters’ home dedication one week before Christmas 2025. The Up North Report is a product of KAXE and can be found at https://www.kaxe.org/upnorthreport .