Today in Brainerd / Baxter
The last of three Brainerd Public Schools operating levy information sessions is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 22, at Harrison Elementary School.
Stage North opens Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 22, at the Franklin Arts Theatre.
Crossing Arts 8x8 online bidding closes at 5 p.m. Sunday, October 25; a free reception is 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, October 23.
Essentia's last listed Saturday flu shot hours at the St. Joseph's-Brainerd Clinic are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, October 24.
Brainerd is taking requests for the old Lions Park playground equipment through November 7.
Brainerd Public Schools is gathering Brainerd 2.0 feedback ahead of a School Board decision December 14.
NEW: newly reported developments or upcoming opportunities. UPDATE: later substantive information on a covered story. ONGOING: continuing useful information. RESOLVED: the reported issue has ended. BACKGROUND: dated historical context, not a new development or confirmation of current availability. UNCONFIRMED: a story, continuing story or detail that could not be confirmed against its cited source on the edition date; the note under the headline says what is not confirmed. Today and countdown lines carry "(unconfirmed)" for the same reason. All local times are Central Daylight Time.
Schools & Youth
ONGOINGBrainerd
Brainerd schools build action plan after Forestview bullying review
Brainerd Public Schools is building an action plan from an independent review of bullying policies and practices at Forestview Middle School, the district announced October 13. The School Board has the report, and the district's legal counsel is reviewing it.
The review found that District Policy 514, Bullying Prohibition, meets Minnesota law and that practices at Forestview are reasonable, and it identified areas where the district can do better. "This summer two families lost their daughters, and our whole community felt it," Superintendent Chip Rankin said in the announcement.
Planned steps include staff training built around Forestview's own people and process, one system for tracking bullying reports, investigation training for building administrators, clearer student handbook language and a review of counselor and administrator staffing at Forestview. Anyone who is struggling can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Last school levy information session is Thursday at Harrison Elementary
Brainerd Public Schools holds the last of three community information sessions on its proposed operating levy at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 22, at Harrison Elementary School, 1515 Oak Street, Brainerd. Earlier sessions were held October 19 in Brainerd and October 20 in Nisswa.
District administrators will talk about the district's financial needs, what the referendum covers and how the outcome would affect classrooms and programs, the district says. The levy question is on the Tuesday, November 3, ballot. Early in-person voting is under way, and the last day to vote early in person is Monday, November 2.
Arts, Culture & Events
ONGOINGBrainerd
Crossing Arts 8x8 online bidding is open through October 25
The Crossing Arts Alliance's annual 8x8 community art exhibition and fundraiser is on display through Saturday, November 7, at the gallery in downtown Brainerd. Nearly 200 artists take part, the organization says.
Online bidding opened Sunday, October 18, and closes at 5 p.m. Sunday, October 25. A free public reception is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 5 to 7 p.m. Proceeds support the organization's arts programming in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
ONGOING
Teen and tween studio nights are back for the school year
The Crossing Arts Alliance lists donation-based studio nights for students in grades 5 through 12. Registration and payment are not required.
The posted dates run from September 17, 2026, through May 20, 2027, with arrival from 3:30 to 4 p.m. and art instruction from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sessions run almost every night there is school in the Brainerd School District; there is no studio night when there is no school, and some sessions are canceled because of space limits.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Brainerd Winter Wonderland lights display will end after the 2026 season
The Brainerd Noon Sertoma Club says this year will be the last for its drive-through Winter Wonderland holiday lights display at the Northland Arboretum, Mix 108 reported September 11. The club said it decided to retire the event after evaluating several long-term challenges.
The display has been held at the arboretum since 2006. Mix 108 reported it traditionally opens on Thanksgiving and runs Thursdays through Saturdays until Christmas, then nightly from Christmas Eve through New Year's Eve. 2026 dates were not given.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Stage North opens a Sherlock Holmes comedy Thursday, October 22
Stage North Theatre Company opens Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 22, with another 7 p.m. show Friday, October 23, and 2 p.m. shows Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25. The company's primary performance space is the Franklin Arts Theatre, 1001 Kingwood Street, Brainerd.
The comedy features more than 40 characters played by five actors, the company says. Tickets are $10 online, at Lakes Area Pottery in the Franklin Arts Center (cash or check), in limited numbers at B-Bay and at the box office one hour before each performance. Seating is general admission.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Storytime and a book club on the Brainerd Public Library calendar
Brainerd Public Library, 416 South 5th Street, holds Weekly Storytime at 11 a.m. Thursdays, including October 22 and October 29, with stories and crafts for ages 2 to 8; all are welcome.
The Books Burgers and Brews Book Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Brainerd Eagles Club, which this month is Monday, October 26; the library asks people to RSVP. The library is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and closed Sundays.
AI in Your Community
BACKGROUND
Utility commission's earlier AI recommendation focused on public data
Brainerd Public Utilities commissioners voted unanimously on June 25, 2024, to recommend AI-use language to the City Council. The proposed guidance limited employee inputs to public, low-risk data, directed staff to seek advice when a data classification was uncertain and required AI-created records to follow the city's retention schedule.
The minutes record a recommendation only; they do not show whether the City Council later adopted it.
Community: Brainerd. Status: Background on local AI policy; a recommendation, not a newly announced deployment. Record date: June 25, 2024.
City, Roads & Planning
NEWBrainerd
Brainerd takes requests for old Lions Park playground equipment through November 7
The City of Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department is accepting requests for the existing Lions Park playground equipment, which has been declared surplus property. The equipment is being removed to make way for new playground equipment as part of the Lions Park Playground Improvement Project.
Individuals, organizations or other entities can submit the city's Surplus Item Request Form to parks@brainerdmn.gov by Saturday, November 7. The equipment is at the Parks and Recreation Garage. A request does not guarantee approval, and requests will be reviewed under city surplus property policies.
Still Developing
The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.
OPENHighway 210 reconstruction
Construction remains active through Brainerd, with the next major set of downtown, bridge and west-segment work scheduled for 2027.
Still unresolved: Ongoing traffic changes, business-access impacts and completion of the 2026 work segments.
Next checkpoint: MnDOT traffic, access and construction-completion notices.
Current work: 2026 railyard segment (August 10 through fall).
OPENBrainerd 2027 city levy
The City Council set a preliminary maximum levy increase of 9.9%, with possible reductions before final adoption in December.
Still unresolved: The final increase and related budget changes.
Next checkpoint: Budget revisions and the December final levy decision.
Preliminary maximum set September 21.
OPENBaxter 2027 budget and levy
Baxter says it typically holds a public informational meeting on the proposed budget and levy in early December, before final adoption.
Still unresolved: The levy, operating adjustments and enterprise-fund decisions.
Next checkpoint: Published budget figures, the December meeting and final adoption.
OPENUNCONFIRMEDRemaining Brainerd school labor agreements
Not confirmed against the source as of October 21, 2026: whether anything has changed since the last edition, because the source could not be opened when this edition was reported. Check the source before relying on it.
The School Board ratified teacher, food-service and interpreter agreements.
Still unresolved: Agreements for educational assistants and nurses, which Brainerd Dispatch reported were still unsettled at the time.
Next checkpoint: Ratification or published terms of the remaining agreements.
Latest movement: September 21.
OPENSchool operating referendum
Brainerd Public Schools' published proposal asks voters on November 3 to authorize $5 million annually for 10 years. The district holds community information sessions on October 19, 20 and 22.
Still unresolved: Voter approval or rejection and resulting district decisions.
Next checkpoint: The November 3 election result.
AWAITING RECORDSUtility commission
The commission's schedule lists the September 29 meeting and the next meeting on October 27. The September 29 action record is the next checkpoint for decisions affecting customers.
Still unresolved: The meeting actions and any votes.
Next checkpoint: Published minutes or another official record.
OPENSeptember 9 CC’s Bar case
The Brainerd Dispatch reported September 22 that a Brainerd man arrested September 9 after an alleged fight at CC’s Bar was charged with assault and threats. The charges are allegations.
Still unresolved: Later court proceedings and the outcome.
Next checkpoint: A dated court record or further local court report.
Charges reported September 22.
OPENUNCONFIRMEDBrainerd Zipline Tour closure
Not confirmed against the source as of October 21, 2026: all details, including that the Brainerd Zipline Tour will close permanently this winter, because the cited tourism guide no longer mentions it. Check the source before relying on it.
The regional attraction is expected to close permanently this winter.
Still unresolved: The final operating date and future plans for the site or equipment.
Next checkpoint: An operator closing-date or site announcement.
The joint tourism bureau reported that the 2026 season will be the attraction’s last.
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