KAXE / KBXE

06/11/2026

We want to see you at Festival Rialto!

Saturday, June 13, 2026
12noon - 11 p.m. CT
Rapids Brewing Co.
Grand Rapids, MN

06/11/2026

For Keith Secola, music has never been about being on stage.

“The stage is really wherever you play,” Secola said in our conversation on Headwaters before the Rangers performed at Kick It With KAXE on May 28. “It’s a matter of singing the songs and being present in the present moment.”

That philosophy led a chat about community, songwriting, the Iron Range and Rangers — the collective of musicians Secola recently reunited for a new album, which, as it turns out, was decades in the making.

KAXE's Kari Hedlund shares more insights from Secola and a great gallery of photos from our Kick It With KAXE event that featured the Rangers. Don't miss this feature!

https://www.kaxe.org/2026-06-09/the-present-tense-is-where-the-medicine-is-keith-secola-brings-rangers-to-kaxe

Photos: Lorie Shaull

06/10/2026

Romance is at the heart of Bemidji's newest bookstore.

Forbidden Love stemmed from Olivia Pack’s love of reading romance novels.

“I love being surrounded by books and being able to work in it every day and chat with people and bond over books is kind of a dream come true," Pack said during an interview on the KAXE Morning Show.

The whole conversation, hosted by KAXE's Andrew Dziengel and Dan Gannon, is available online now: https://www.kaxe.org/show/91-7-kaxe-90-5-kbxe-morning-show/2026-06-10/where-were-reading-forbidden-love-bemidji

06/10/2026

As the days grow longer, more and more communities begin their season of outdoor concerts across Northern Minnesota.

The Bemidji Area Community Band's 2026 season begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, outside the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex at Bemidji State University.

The Bemidji Area Community Band hosts about five concerts per year and is made up of both students in high school and lifelong musicians. Though they may have different backgrounds and age groups, it’s a chance for area musicians to perform music through the summer.

KAXE's Andrew Dziengel spoke with conductors Ryan Webber and Katrina Stewart. You can hear the whole conversation and find more about the series on our site: https://www.kaxe.org/show/91-7-kaxe-90-5-kbxe-morning-show/2026-06-10/area-voices-bemidji-area-community-bands-2026-season-begins-june-14

Photo: Contributed / Bemidji Area Community Band

06/10/2026

The Level 3 of 5, or enhanced risk of severe weather, has shifted east to Wisconsin, but much of Northern Minnesota is still at a Level 2 for Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service have been monitoring the potential for severe storms through the Midwest for several days.

The Level 3 of 5, or enhanced risk for severe weather, now includes areas east of the I-35 corridor, including most of Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.

Most of Northern Minnesota is still at a Level 2 risk of severe weather for Wednesday afternoon and evening, with the best chance of storms from 3-9 p.m.

Megan Buffington of KAXE News has more on this story.
https://www.kaxe.org/local-news/2026-06-10/scattered-severe-storms-expected-wednesday-area-of-concern-shifted-east

Map: Contributed / National Weather Service

06/10/2026

A man injured during a shooting incident Monday, June 8, in Fosston has died.

The Cass County, North Dakota, Coroner's Office reported that TeeJay Alvarez, 31, of Fosston, died Tuesday morning as a result of injuries from a gunshot wound.

The suspected shooter, a 22-year-old Fosston man, was arrested without incident Monday and is being held at the Northwest Regional Correctional Center in Crookston. Formal charges are pending. KAXE typically does not name people accused of crimes before they've been charged.

More on this story available at KAXE News:

The Cass County, North Dakota, Coroner's Office reported that TeeJay Alvarez, 31, of Fosston, died June 9, 2026, as a result of injuries from a gunshot wound.

06/10/2026

"We do this work because we feel access to high-quality local journalism is vital to maintaining strong communities. Our KAXE News team prioritizes explanatory journalism and accuracy, and multimedia offers us additional formats to convey facts with clarity and quality." - KAXE News Director Chelsey Perkins

We so proudly announce that our KAXE News team won a 2026 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for its excellence in digital reporting, the second Regional Murrow the team has won since it launched in 2023.

Full info on our site
https://www.kaxe.org/kaxe/2026-06-09/kaxe-regional-edward-r-murrow-award-2026

The awards come from RTDNA,the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism.

Of the awards given to journalists, the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards are among the most respected journalism awards in the world.

06/09/2026

Northland athletes took home 87 medals at the state track and field meet June 4-6 at St. Michael-Albertville High School.

Three belong to Ely sophomore Violet Udovich, who took home two golds and a silver, setting records in the 200 and 400-meter.

More results and details on this story from Erin Bowman of KAXE News:

Sophomore Violet Udovich of Ely took home two golds and a silver, setting records in the 200 and 400-meter.

06/09/2026

A 47-year-old man who appeared to be attempting to help a dog in the water died in an apparent drowning Sunday, June 7, in a rural Aitkin County lake.

The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call at 12:33 p.m. from a neighbor on Gun Lake, who heard calls for help and saw a person struggling in the water. Other neighbors were summoned to help and found an unoccupied boat.

More about this story available at KAXE News

A neighbor on Gun Lake called 911 after hearing calls for help and seeing a person struggling. Other neighbors joined rescue efforts and brough Randy Benson to shore.

06/09/2026

Four rural Northland baseball teams are set to compete in the state tournament, which kicks off Thursday, June 11.

The Aitken Gobblers won a close 1-0 game against the top-seeded Duluth-Marshall to advance, while Red Lake County looks to defend the title and Grand Rapids makes its 6th-straight appearance.

More about the tournament on KAXE News:

The Gobblers won a close 1-0 game against the top-seeded Duluth-Marshall to advance, while Red Lake County looks to defend the title and Grand Rapids makes its 6th-straight appearance.