CogniLocal Your Community, More Completely.
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CogniLocal

Brainerd / Baxter

Your Community, More Completely.
Monday, October 26, 2026 · Permanent link to this edition
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Tuesday, October 27 (tomorrow): Crow Wing County Board meeting; 8x8 pickup beginsMonday, November 2 (7 days): last day to vote early in personTuesday, November 3 (8 days): school operating levy voteSaturday, November 7 (12 days): 8x8 exhibition closes; Lions Park equipment requests due
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Today in Brainerd / Baxter

The Books Burgers and Brews Book Club meets at 6 p.m. tonight, Monday, October 26, at the Brainerd Eagles Club.
The Crow Wing County Board meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, October 27, at the Historic Courthouse in Brainerd.
The Crossing Arts 8x8 exhibition is up through Saturday, November 7; pickup of won pieces starts Tuesday, October 27.
Voters decide the Brainerd school operating levy Tuesday, November 3; the last day to vote early in person is Monday, November 2.
Brainerd is taking requests for the old Lions Park playground equipment through Saturday, November 7.
Proposals for Brainerd's charter funding for community, senior and green space groups are due Friday, December 4.

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

Brainerd Public Schools asks for input on Brainerd 2.0 plan

Brainerd Public Schools is asking parents, students, staff and area residents to weigh in on "Brainerd 2.0," a proposed plan under Project True North to right-size the district for current enrollment, the district announced October 15. District officials say no final decisions have been made.

Participants can watch a short video on the plan and then respond in an online ThoughtExchange forum, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes; submissions are confidential. Feedback will be presented to the School Board ahead of its decision on Monday, December 14. The district did not give a closing date for the survey.

Arts, Culture & Events

ONGOINGBrainerd

Crossing Arts 8x8 exhibition stays up through November 7, with pickup of won pieces starting October 27

The Crossing Arts Alliance's annual 8x8 community art exhibition and fundraiser remains on display through Saturday, November 7, at the gallery in Brainerd. Nearly 200 artists take part, the organization says.

Online bidding closed at 5 p.m. Sunday, October 25. Purchased and won pieces can be picked up at the gallery from Tuesday, October 27, through Saturday, November 7.

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

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 tonight, 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.

Community & Services

ONGOINGBaxter

Lakes Area Food Shelf in Baxter is open Tuesday through Thursday

The Lakes Area Food Shelf's Baxter location, 7837 Excelsior Road, is open Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays 1 to 6 p.m. and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It uses 20-minute shopping appointments, and shoppers are encouraged to visit twice a month.

Any household under 300% of the federal poverty level is eligible, and no documentation is required. The Baxter site may close when Brainerd schools close for bad weather. Phone: 218-454-3456.

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

Crow Wing County Board meets Tuesday, October 27

The Crow Wing County Board meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, October 27, in the County Board Room at the Historic Courthouse in Brainerd, with a Teams call-in option at 218-302-1725, conference ID 235601745#, according to the county's committee meeting schedule.

The county's Personnel Committee meets at 9 a.m. Monday, November 2, at the Historic Courthouse. The schedule does not list agenda topics.

Still Developing

The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.

OPEN

Highway 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).

Sources: MnDOT; Drive 210
OPENUNCONFIRMED

Brainerd 2027 city levy

Not confirmed against the source as of October 26, 2026: that 9.9% is a maximum and that final adoption comes in December. Check the source before relying on it.

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.

Source: Brainerd Dispatch reporting via Muck Rack
OPEN

Baxter 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.

Source: Baxter budget process
OPENUNCONFIRMED

Remaining Brainerd school labor agreements

Not confirmed against the source as of October 26, 2026: all details. 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.

Source: Brainerd Dispatch, Brainerd teachers, school food workers reach contract agreement
OPEN

School operating referendum

Brainerd Public Schools' published proposal asks voters on Tuesday, November 3 to authorize $5 million annually for 10 years, with funds first available for the 2027-2028 school year. The district scheduled community information sessions for October 19, 20 and 22. The last day to vote early in person is Monday, November 2, the district says.

Still unresolved: Voter approval or rejection and resulting district decisions.

Next checkpoint: The November 3 election result.

Source: District referendum information
AWAITING RECORDS

Utility 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.

Source: BPU commission records
OPENUNCONFIRMED

September 9 CC’s Bar case

Not confirmed against the source as of October 26, 2026: all details. Check the source before relying on it.

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.

Source: Dispatch reporting cited September 27
OPENUNCONFIRMED

Brainerd Zipline Tour closure

Not confirmed against the source as of October 26, 2026: all details. 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.

Source: Visit Brainerd & Baxter fall guide

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Ojibwe / Anishinaabemowin resources: The Ojibwe People’s Dictionary is a language resource. CogniLocal welcomes community contribution and review at editor@cognilocal.com. This edition is not represented as an Ojibwe translation.

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