Today in Brainerd / Baxter
Highway 210 is open to four lanes between Pine Shores Road and South Sixth Street; the Oak Street mini roundabouts are to be removed by Thursday evening, October 29.
Greenwood Street stays closed between Woodland Hills Lane and Highway 371B through Friday, October 30.
The Brainerd Public Library's board meets at 5:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, October 28.
Crossing Arts 8x8 pieces can be picked up through Saturday, November 7, when the exhibition closes.
Brainerd is taking requests for the old Lions Park playground equipment through Saturday, November 7.
Crow Wing County sets a public hearing on Recreational Use Ordinance updates for 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, November 24.
Crow Wing County takes comments on its 2027 aquatic invasive species plan until 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 25.
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 exhibition stays up through November 7, with pickup of won pieces under way
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, 711 Laurel Street, from Tuesday, October 27, through Saturday, November 7, unless shipping was selected and paid for online. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
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, a library board meeting 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 Thursday, October 29, with stories and crafts for ages 2 to 8; all are welcome.
The library's Local Library Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the library's small conference room, which puts this month's meeting at 5:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, October 28. Its finance committee meets at 5 p.m. before each meeting.
The Books Burgers and Brews Book Club meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month at the Brainerd Eagles Club; the next meeting is Monday, November 23, and 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.
BACKGROUNDCrow Wing CountyUNCONFIRMED
Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office uses AI-powered license plate readers
Not confirmed against the source as of October 28, 2026: the Lakeland News details: the June 26 report date, the camera locations on Highway 169, County Highway 3 and Highway 371, Lt. Craig Katzenberger's comments on which alerts the office receives, and the 30-day photo deletion (the Lakeland News page would not load today; only the sheriff's Policy 420 and its 60-day destruction rule were confirmed). Check the source before relying on it.
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office uses Flock camera systems, which Lakeland News described in a June 26 report as AI-powered automatic license plate readers that send alerts to the agency operating them. Cameras are placed on Highway 169, County Highway 3 and Highway 371, among other locations, Lakeland News reported.
Operations Lieutenant Craig Katzenberger told Lakeland News the office receives alerts only for stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, missing persons and officer alerts, and the office has said photos not tied to an active investigation are deleted after 30 days. The office's written policy (Policy 420) says such data must be destroyed no later than 60 days after collection.
Community: Crow Wing County, including Brainerd and Baxter. Status: Background on technology already in use; not a new deployment. Record date: June 26, 2026.
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.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Highway 210 opens to four lanes through east Brainerd
Highway 210 (Washington Street) opened to two lanes in each direction between Pine Shores Road and South Sixth Street on Monday evening, October 26, MnDOT says. The multi-lane roundabouts at Crow Wing County Road 3 (Mill Avenue) and C Street/Highway 25 are fully operational, and MnDOT asks drivers to watch for pedestrians crossing there.
Some closures remain. 10th Avenue NE stays closed until mid-November, and Gillis Avenue/13th Street SE is limited to right-in, right-out turns until the Highway 210 signal system is installed in early December. MnDOT says CenterPoint Energy is closing 13th Street SE/Crow Wing County Road 45 starting Tuesday, October 27, for gas-main work; questions about that closure go to CenterPoint Energy.
The temporary mini roundabouts on Oak Street at Eighth Street and 13th Street SE are to be removed by Thursday evening, October 29, with a detour on local streets while that work is done. Highway 25 between Highway 210 and 10th Avenue NE stays on its temporary connection until it is reconstructed in spring 2027.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Greenwood Street stays closed through October 30
Greenwood Street stays closed between Woodland Hills Lane and Highway 371B (South Sixth Street) through Friday, October 30, the City of Brainerd says. The closure began October 5 for Kuepers Construction's work at the Greenwood Street and Highway 371B intersection.
Kuepers and its utility contractor, Pratt's Affordable Excavating, have finished the utility work, but road patching was not scheduled until around October 28, so Kuepers asked for a one-week extension. The city suggests alternate routes such as Buffalo Hills Lane. Questions go to Brainerd Public Works at 218-828-2307.
NEWBrainerd
Crow Wing County sets November 24 hearing on Recreational Use Ordinance updates
The Crow Wing County Board has scheduled a public hearing for 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, November 24, to consider updates to the county's Recreational Use Ordinance. The hearing is in the County Board Room on the third floor of the Historic Courthouse, 326 Laurel Street, Brainerd, and can also be joined by Microsoft Teams at 218-302-1725, conference ID 235601745#.
The notice, dated October 27, does not describe the proposed changes. More information is available from the Crow Wing County Administrator's Office at 218-824-1067.
Still Developing
The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.
OPENHighway 210 reconstruction
Highway 210 opened to four lanes between Pine Shores Road and South Sixth Street on October 26, with the roundabouts at Mill Avenue and C Street/Highway 25 fully operational. The downtown, bridge and west segments are scheduled for May through November 2027.
Still unresolved: 10th Avenue NE reopening (mid-November), the Gillis Avenue/13th Street SE signal (early December) and the 2027 downtown, bridge and west segments.
Next checkpoint: MnDOT notices on the 10th Avenue NE reopening and the Highway 210 signal installation.
Four lanes opened October 26.
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 28, 2026: all details; this item was carried over unchanged and its source (Brainerd Dispatch) was not rechecked today. 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 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.
AWAITING RECORDSUNCONFIRMEDUtility commission
Not confirmed against the source as of October 28, 2026: that the draft September 29 minutes were part of the October 27 meeting packet and were listed on the October 27 agenda for approval (the meeting-file site blocks the checker; the automatic check found the power cost adjustment motion in that file, and the utility's own page confirms the October 27 and November 24 meeting dates and that no minutes are posted yet). Check the source before relying on it.
Draft minutes of the commission's September 29 meeting, included in the packet for its October 27 meeting, show the commission voted to raise the power cost adjustment to $0.010885 per kWh effective with October 2026 billing, among other actions. The October 27 agenda listed those minutes for approval; the outcome of that meeting is not yet posted. The next scheduled meeting is November 24.
Still unresolved: Approval of the September 29 minutes and the actions taken at the October 27 meeting.
Next checkpoint: Approved minutes or another official record of the October 27 meeting, and the November 24 meeting.
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 28, 2026: all details; this item was carried over unchanged and its source was not rechecked today. 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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