This morning we took a tour of northern MN in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week. Tourism is a $15 billion dollar industry in MN and generates more than 265,000 jobs - making up for 11% of private sector employment. Today we visited with the fine folks that work in the tourism industry in northern MN. Megan Christenson from Visit Grand Rapids Tim Johnson from Edge of the Wilderness Lodging Association Beth Pierce from Iron Range Tourism Cindy Beans from Visit Ely Susan Goudge from

Pam Perry talked with John Latimer this week about all the birds she's been seeing and feeding. She minds us to get out there and as the student phenologists tell us "be observant!" Join our Season Watch Page on FB and post your photos or send John Latimer an email!

Program 68: Post War Growth and Modernization; Uncertainty in the Paper Industry A radio series produced by historian Don Boese. Don is the author of eight books dealing with local history in Itasca County, including "John C. Greenway and the Opening of the Western Mesabi", and the main source for this series, "Papermakers: the Blandin Paper Company and Grand Rapids, Minnesota". The series begins with the arrival of the first Euro-Americans to the forested wilderness of Itasca County in the

This week Marshall gives us some of the stories from The Timberjay newspaper including Wild Rice Sulfate standards in the MN Legislature, the Orr Center, Ely's city silver maple tree tapping and the strong start at the Pike River Hatchery.

In the first in our Strong Women series – where we listen to the stories of the lives of women in northern MN. Today we talk to Susie Loeffler of Grand Rapids. Do you know a strong woman we should talk to? Do you have a comment you'd like to share? Send it along to [email protected] You also have the opportunity to be in our next focus group of women - limited to 20 women - we'll get together ask for your stories - about leadership and daily life. These stories will not be recorded. Email us if

We care deeply about the natural world around us here at KAXE-KBXE. Each week our resident phenologist John Latimer's Phenology Report provides a comprehensive look at what's happening in nature here in northern Minnesota. Lots of activity this week! It's spring! Yahoo! What are you noticing? Send us a note via email or leave a voicemail at 218.999.9876. We'd love to hear about it. If you love this stuff, you'll dig our KAXE-KBXE Season Watch Page on Facebook . Check it out! Listen to KAXE/KBXE

Every Tuesday we hear from students and listeners as they send in weekly Phenology observations. In this Phenology Talkbacks segment, we hear a wide array student reports as well as comments from avid listeners and nature watchers across the KAXE/KBXE listening area If you are a teacher wanting to get involved in our Phenology program, send John Latimer an email and he'll get you set in the right direction. We love hearing from students and knowing they are passionate about the natural world we

"From my perspective there are no bad sugarbush seasons," says David Manuel. "We always get something...or I should say we are given the gift of the sap to make into sugar, candy and syrup. To talk a little bit more in relevant and contemporary terms, it wasn't the best year, but it wasn't the worst - at least for me." David is Food Initiative Coordinator with the Red Lake Nation's 4 Directions Development Program. He began tapping maple trees on March 16th. "I tap in what would be my ancestral

The Cuyuna Rock, Gem & Mineral Society will host the 16th annual Agate and Mineral Show this Saturday and Sunday (May 5-6) at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds in Brainerd. In this segment of Area Voices, club president, Ed Opatz and longtime club member Sharon Smith discuss the beginnings of their agate addiction, the agates readily found in Minnesota and share details about this weekend's event. The agate and mineral show runs from 9a.m. to 5p.m. Saturday and from 10a.m. to 4p.m. Sunday.

In his poem Root River, poet Scott Lowery shows how a teachable moment can find resolution in a simple gesture