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Megan Buffington
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KAXE
The Itasca County Board plans to decide on May 19, 2026, whether to fly the previous Minnesota state flag, possibly in addition to the present flag.
KAXE News is preparing for the midterms, and we want your perspective.

We'll use the responses to this survey to help inform our coverage and what type of content we produce. All answers are anonymous and will not be shared outside our organization.
For the duo’s 18th album, Peaches! The Black Keys find their way back to the raw blues sound that first defined them.

The album features reinterpretations of songs by artists like Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside, and Wilko Johnson, reconnecting the band with some of their deep musical influences.

Recorded live with minimal overdubs, the sessions brought together Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach alongside slide guitarist Kenny Brown, bassist Eric Deaton, and multi-instrumentalist Jimbo Mathus. Brown and Deaton both are deeply embedded in the blues genre, sharing long histories with Kimbrough and Burnside as players and mentors.

The album came out of informal sessions Carney started as a way to give Auerbach a creative refuge while his father was terminally ill. Though The Black Keys have often leaned into a heavier rock with more production over the years, Peaches! ultimately brings the band back to where they began, with the blues. -KH
Latest Stories
Lueken's Village Foods sends off its longest-serving employee
Max Hites had been with Lueken's Village Foods since the store's beginning. Employees and customers joined in celebrating Hites' 60-year career at an open house on May 1, 2026.
Minnesota lawmakers look to standardize payroll reporting for state-funded projects
The bill’s proposed portal, accessible via the Internet, would provide contractors and subcontractors a place to submit payroll reports, which would be stored in a database for public or state use.
Fresh Picks: Sweaty soul, MN slowcore, Poet Laureate jazz, Queen in '76
The KAXE Music Team on new music from Brother Wallace, Willem Dafoe Fan Club, Joy Harjo, Oteil Burbridge & Lamar Williams Jr., Allison Russell, Lone Bellow and '76 Queen.
Minnesota firefighters at Level 4 for wildfire preparedness
As "green-up" slowly makes its way north, Minnesota's firefighters remain alert to conditions where wildfires can easily spread due to available fuels and dry weather.
Bright Spot: Grand Rapids NAMI chapter offers hope, help and healing
The Grand Rapids chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is offering webinars on May 13 and May 20, 2026. Learn when to seek mental health support and how to find it.
Minnesota voters will likely decide whether school funding will get a boost
The Permanent School Fund uses revenue from the sale of timber, minerals and land on 2.5 million acres of School Trust Lands to fund public school districts and charter schools around Minnesota.
Bill aims to keep medical waste from ending up in Minnesota trash
When infectious and pathological waste is found in any unauthorized refuse center, the facility has to shut down and open an investigation.
White Earth man dies following Becker County ATV pursuit
The cause of Michael James Azure's death remains under investigation. After a brief pursuit, deputies located an abandoned ATV, with Azure found unresponsive in the woods.
Up North Lookback 1976: Gov. Anderson at Grand View; Explosive fire danger
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 11.
Itasca County says gun fired in holster during struggle; MN House creates office of inspector general
Plus: PCA estimates 12-16 days of wildfire smoke this summer; and Lueken's Village Foods in Bemidji recently celebrated the retirement of its longest-serving employee.
MN Legislature passes office of inspector general bill aimed at preventing fraud
The office would be able to investigate any public or private entity that receives public dollars. It would also expand information-sharing between agencies and implement best anti-fraud practices.
Bemidji teen charged with shooting 3 family members; Virginia officer, man killed ID'd
Plus: The new conservation officer in Walker gives his predictions and tips for anglers ahead of his first-ever fishing season opener in the role.
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With The Setlist, KAXE's Music Team curates the best live music to catch each week across Northern Minnesota and beyond.
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During the week of April 28, 2026, we enjoy reports of bird calls, insects emerging, and spring wildflowers. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds.
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