Let's Visit features communities in our listening area. We recently visited Park Rapids, MN! Liz Stone returned to her hometown of Park Rapids after many years away. She's now a city council member and passionate about the arts economy of her town. We caught up with her and chatted about it!

The holidays aren't always easy. Talking about grief is never easy. But life happens, and talking about it and writing about it helps. A.W. Barnes has a new book of personal essays, "The Dark Eclipse: Reflections on Suicide and Absence." He writes of his growing up one of eight children in a conservative Indianapolis home and how he didn't fit in as a gay man. His older brother Mike was also gay, but their relationship was complicated. He explained to us that he had been trying to write about

The latest in our Strong Women series is MN's Lieutenant Governor-elect Peggy Flanagan . She made not only Minnesota history,she is becoming the highest-ranking Native woman elected to executive office in the history of the United States.

Phenology is the biological nature of events as they relate to climate. Every Tuesday morning, our resident Phenologist John Latimer gathers his phenological data and reports his findings in the weekly Phenology Report. This week John considers black and grey squirrels, bald eagles, common ravens and much more...As always, we love to hear what our listeners are noticing out in nature. Give us a call at 218.999.9876 and let us know what is happening around your place. You can also send an email

Every week we hear from regular listeners and school kids from across our listening area as they call in or email their nature observations. It may be fridgid outside, but our woods, backyards and roadways are chock-full of animal activity and the wintery weather is inspiring some seriously memorable experiences! This week, we received some incredible reports! Grosbeaks around Park Lake, a snowy owl outside of Grand Rapids, an albino squirrel in Ely, ice like obsidian in Bemidji, coyote tracks

Louis Johannsen was back with us today to tell us about upcoming events with the MN Chippewa Tribe - comprised of the 6 bands Bois Forte , Fond du Lac , Grand Portage , Leech Lake , Mille Lacs and White Earth reservations. They have been in the process of reforming the constitution - and to decide if they continue to work together or separately. This Wednesday there's a dinner in Marble starting at 5pm - for info contact Louis at 218-929-0725. Also: January 10th at the Blandin Foundation Stender

Each week John and Heidi pull up a chair to one of our member’s kitchen tables and get to know them a little bit better. This week’s caller, Chuck, from Brainerd thrilled the Morning Show hosts with his boring breakfast of uncooked oatmeal with raising, banana, milk, and nuts. And, yes, uncooked. Hear the whole conversation by clicking below. Thanks to our sponsor Homestead Mills for their support of this program! Let us know if you want to be our guest on What's For Breakfast . All it takes is

This First Friday weekend in Bemidji promises all kinds of art, all over town. Pottery, jewelry, paintings, snowflake decorations, wood-turned bowls... there is something for everyone you might want to buy a gift for. From the 1st Anniversary Celebrations at the Watermark Art Center all weekend and the Holiday Boutique at Gallery North today to the Seven Sisters Design jewelrey sale at Wild Hare Bistro tomorrow and the Native American art at the Northwest Indian Community Development Center

We spoke with Betty Firth from the Ely Folk School about the upcoming classes and events at the Folk School this month! We learned what a capote is(a coat made from a blanket) and learned about upcoming classes on chaga mushrooms, wirewrapping jewelry and more. The Folk School will take a break from regular hours from December 15th thru January 13th, but will be open and offering a wide range of classes during the last half of January as they ramp up for the winter festival in Ely.

Katie Marshall of the MacRostie Art Center stopped in the KAXE studio and connected us with what is happening in Grand Rapids, MN this First Friday of December. A wreath auction, Bagpipe playing, woven painting techniques, jazz music, handmade ornaments, make and take art and a meet the author event are just a few of the highlights! Listen to the link for the full report and check out grandrapidsarts.org for a listing as well. The holidays are the perfect time to support local artists! Shop