Did you know there are nearly 3,300 artists and creative workers in Itasca, Lake and St. Louis Counties or that 25% of people who attend arts events in those counties travel more than two hours to do so? The Creative MN study is a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact the arts have across Minnesota. This year, 15 regions were assessed. Of those 15 regions, the Iron Range's nonprofit arts and cultural organizations brought $12.3M into the economic engine of the Itasca, Lake and St. Louis

Circles of Support's Alice Moren joined us today to talk about the "One Crisis Away" conversations that are taking place all month in Itasca County. As she said, "we are ALL one crisis away from poverty."

John and Heidi welcomed Cate Belleveau of Puposky on What's For Breakfast. She'd already polished off last night's leftovers of mushrooms, onions, herbs of Provence, spinach and cayenne pepper in coconut oil and a strawberry, yogurt smoothie, so she had time to talk about yurts, deer steak, and welding. Listen every Friday morning about 7:40 for one of our members as they share their breakfast and words of wisdom.

We continue talking about programs and ideas that work or could use reform this week on Dig Deep . In our final on-air conversation (there's a special podcast/online edition coming your way!) we look at the IRRRB. Sign up for the Dig Deep Podcast!

Aaron and Chuck needed extra time this month to discuss something Chuck feels pretty strongly about: should our U.S. senators be elected by state legislatures? Sign up for the Dig Deep Podcast!

Each week we talk with the publisher and editor of The Timberjay newspaper Marshall Helmberger. This week a report on a local meeting of the MPCA regarding the MinnTac tailings pond, KKK flyers that were left across the northland on MLK Jr. day and where exactly the icebox of the nation. (pssst it's not in Colorado) Also read more on the KKK flyers on Aaron Brown's blog .

Nick DeVries creates pottery that melds functionality with fine art. The skills he honed as a production potter throwing more than 300,000 pieces combined with his natural instincts of design and artistry have resulted in a body of work that is utilitarian while also gallery quality. In this segment of Area Voices, he discusses his artistic path.

This week our Dig Deep conversations are about what works and what doesn't work. Monday we talked Universal Basic Income and today electoral college . What do you think? Sign up for the Dig Deep Podcast!

Every Tuesday we hear from students and listeners across Minnesota as they send in their weekly Phenology observations. Even though it's been cold, our student and listener reports are full of action! From 800 eagles at a fish feed to barred owls killing rabbits, people are noticing some pretty incredible stuff! Click on these links to hear the reports and John's discussion of emails and posts on the KAXE-KBXE Season Watch Facebook page that came in this week. If you are a teacher wanting to get

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. This week, John's report includes his takeaways from a couple recent hikes and so much more. Hoarfrost, chickadees fighting over sap, a variety of woodpeckers, seeds on the snow, weasels, and even an eagle visiting a nest are just a sampling of the observations included in