There are probably few places on the planet where the name "rutabaga" really resonates, but according to Rutabaga Projec t volunteer Marlise Riffel, Minnesota's Iron Range is one of them. "Rutabaga is such a Range thing...You know, pasties with rutabaga are 'real' pasties , and I know it has roots here on the Range...There are so many stories...how people liked them mixed with mashed potatoes, and how they used to grow them in their gardens. There are even other names for rutabagas." And yes,

This Saturday at 5pm Northern Community Radio will broadcast another edition of the Great Northern Radio Show LIVE from the Thompson Recital Hall on the Bemidji State University campus. Aaron Brown hosts the variety show, creates most of the skits in the production, and organizes the musical acts. We spoke with Aaron about what goes into planning it and how it all unfolds. Ron Arsenault & Dave Pengra will share their musical stylings as will Ingeborg von Agassiz and the band Babe and the

Nevada Littlewolf joined us this morning to talk about her experiences on the Virginia City Council and her new position as CEO/President of Tiwahe Foundation. Read more from Aaron Brown's blog Minnesota Brown .

Ron Plinske of Baxter called in on the most recent What's For Breakfast segment to offer up his recipe for coffee and whipped cream followed by some toast in honor of National Toast Day. While he was on the line, John and Heidi reminisced with him about the recent KAXE/KBXE event in Brainerd. Ron encouraged Heidi to take her belly dancing to the next level, perhaps at this summer's Mississippi River Music Festival. You never know what members will bring to our breakfast table. Next time, it

The Virginia Public Library holds their 2nd annual "Queen City Reads" this week. Events are Tuesday February 26th at noon, and the author will be at the library on Thursday March 1st at noon. The chosen book is written by MN mystery writer Allen Eskens . It is "The Deep Dark Descending".

In her essay "Simple, Sacred", Serenity Schoonover runs us through her process for being there.

Marshall Helmberger from the Timberjay newspaper joins us every week to talk about the big stories they have covered. This week includes schools, politics and wildlife study.

Program 59: Turning From Newsprint to New Kinds of Paper 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 1870s. In those early days

This episode further explores the ideas related to the environment of northern Minnesota and jobs and the economy. Specifically climate change. Take a listen to our liberal commentator Aaron Brown and our conservative Chuck Marohn . Sign up for the podcast!

Thank you to the Brainerd Community for planning the KAXE Tower fundraiser at the Roundhouse Brewery on Sunday, February 18th. The event was a great success raised a lot of money and was a great community gathering. John and Spoke with Sarah Hayden Shaw, owner of Sage on Laurel . Our heartfelt thanks to: Roundhouse Brewery Sage on Laurel Severt’s Woods Maple Syrup Harting Shoe Repair Crow Wing Food Coop Bridge of Harmony Life Preserver National Foods Yesterday’s Gone Almost Blue Tony Powers