Today in Brainerd / Baxter
The Crossing Arts 8x8 reception is 5 to 7 p.m. today, Friday, October 23; online bidding closes at 5 p.m. Sunday, October 25.
Stage North's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery plays at 7 p.m. today, with 2 p.m. shows Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25.
Drug Take Back Day is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, October 24, at Brainerd Super One and Baxter Walmart, with free Narcan.
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.
The Brainerd City Council approved a MnDOT snow control agreement and a 1-inch downtown plowing threshold.
Brainerd football finished 7-1 and hosts a Section 8-5A semifinal at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 31.
Brainerd is taking requests for the old Lions Park playground equipment through November 7.
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.
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 today, Friday, October 23, 5 to 7 p.m. Won pieces can be picked up at the gallery from Tuesday, October 27, through Saturday, November 7, unless shipping is chosen. 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's Sherlock Holmes comedy runs through Sunday, October 25
Stage North Theatre Company's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery opened Thursday, October 22, and continues with a 7 p.m. show today, 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, next on 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
ONGOINGBrainerd
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.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Brainerd takes proposals for charter funding for community, senior and green space groups
The City of Brainerd is taking proposals from organizations that want to compete for money the city charter sets aside for three groups: community action programs and events, nonprofit senior citizen organizations, and arboretum or green space organizations within Brainerd city limits. The charter directs 1.5% of the previous year's total city levy to each category.
The city says it will have $111,530 for each organization in 2027 under five-year agreements; amounts in later years depend on the city levy. Proposals are due by 4:30 p.m. Friday, December 4, by email to City Administrator Nick Broyles at nbroyles@brainerdmn.gov or on paper at the third floor of City Hall, 501 Laurel Street.
A City Council subcommittee is scheduled to review proposals the week of December 7. Recommendations would go to the personnel and finance committee and then the full council in January 2027, with agreements presented for approval in February and services beginning April 1, 2027.
NEWBrainerd
Brainerd approves MnDOT snow agreement and a 1-inch downtown plowing threshold
The Brainerd City Council on Monday, October 19, unanimously approved a snow control agreement that would let city crews clear state roads in Brainerd before MnDOT crews can get to them and be reimbursed by the state, the Brainerd Dispatch reported. MnDOT must accept the agreement before it is formalized.
Public Services Director Zac Swarthout told the council the state expects limits on timely snow control on state highways and bridges in Brainerd over the next two or three winters because of staffing and equipment constraints. He said the Washington Street bridge is the main place the city would likely use the agreement. MnDOT remains responsible for snow removal on state roads.
City staff will again clear downtown Brainerd in-house this winter. Council members also unanimously agreed to a 1-inch threshold for that downtown service, the Dispatch reported.
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.
OPENRemaining Brainerd school labor agreements
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 scheduled community information sessions for October 19, 20 and 22. At a Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce meeting October 22, Superintendent Chip Rankin said that if the referendum does not pass, he will be back for a special election in April, the Brainerd Dispatch reported.
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 23, 2026: all details (that the Brainerd Zipline Tour is closing permanently this winter and that 2026 is its last season). 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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