Today our DFL commentator Colleen Nardone and Heidi Holtan talked with DFLer Rep. Rob Ecklund(Int'l Falls) from MN House District 3a.

Mackenzie Lindahl lights up when she talks about cheese. “I love talking about cheese,” she says with a laugh. That’s one of the reasons Mackenzie is considered Bemidji’s “Cheese Queen.” She is also cheese buyer and perishables manager at Harmony Natural Foods Co-op. The job includes frozen foods, meats, baked goods and dairy—which includes cheese—and cheese is the part of the job that has most captured her heart. “I’m responsible for selecting, purchasing, pricing, sampling, talking about

If you are looking for a new author - funny, touching with a midwestern bent (say David Sedaris if he'd grown up in Wisconsin and had a beard and wielded an axe) look no further than Matt Geiger. His new book "Astonishing Tales".

Steve Simon is MN’s 22 nd secretary of state – who just won reelection. That's not the only thing he can be proud of, once again Minnesota had the highest voter turnout in the nation. *In the conversation from last week, we asked about recount that would be happening in MN house District 5A between John Persell and Matt Bliss. There had been an 8 vote difference, and after this week's recount, 11 votes between the candidates, with DFLer John Pers ell winning the race.

Adam Swanson is a Duluth based painter and muralist. His vibrant works will be on exhibit at Frame Up in Grand Rapids this month. In this segment of Area Voices, he talks about his journey as an artist, his adventures to Antarctica and his recent art experience aboard a research vessel on the Pacific Ocean.

Every week we hear from regular listeners and school kids from all across our listening area as they call or email their nature observations. We were thrilled with the number of reports that flowed in during the past week and very much look forward next week! What are you noticing outside? We would love to hear from you whether you are in a classroom or your living room! Don't hesitate to email or give us a jingle and leave a message at 218.999.9876. You might also consider joining our KAXE-KBXE

The Grand Rapids Human Rights Commission continues their conversation on immigration with #unitecloud - a nonprofit in Grand Rapids that began as a social media movement to resolve tensions and restore dignity to all people in the St. Cloud area. Today at noon at Itasca Community College's Chucker Auditorium they present "Green Card Voices of Central Minnesota" ....it will also be at the Stender Community Room at the Blandin Foundation at 7pm. Both are free and open to the public. The Green

This week on the Border News Roundup, we hear about the Tower City Council meeting and the fate of the harbor project and meet Marilyn Turnbull , school cook at Tower-Soudan schhool who is asking for fair pay. Marshall also talks about the impacts of climate change to northern MN and a recent federal report.

Senator Amy Klobuchar checked in with us from Washington DC for Making Sausage this week. We talked about the Farm Bill, USDA and Chronic Wasting Disease. Check out the Washington Post's recent article o n Senator Klobuchar and the potential of a presidential run in 2020.

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, Pat from Warba shared her seven-letter Scrabble-worded breakfast of scrambled eggs with onions and pepper, bacon, potatoes, and a little white cheese mixed in. 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