Today in Brainerd / Baxter
Today, Monday, November 2, is the last day to vote early in person; the Crow Wing County Elections Office in Brainerd is open until 5 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with Brainerd and Baxter City Council races and the Brainerd schools operating levy on the ballot.
Rain is forecast today, with 1 to 2 inches possible, the National Weather Service says; showers continue on Election Day.
Author Frank F. Weber speaks at noon today at the Brainerd Public Library.
The Crow Wing County Landfill is now on winter hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Highway 210 is open to four lanes between Pine Shores Road and South Sixth Street; 10th Avenue NE stays closed until mid-November.
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, student handbook language stating that bullying has consequences, better family education on reporting bullying 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, through Saturday, November 7. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; the gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.
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 book clubs on the Brainerd Public Library calendar
Brainerd Public Library, 416 South 5th Street, holds Weekly Storytime at 11 a.m. Thursdays, with stories and crafts for ages 2 to 8; all are welcome. The next session is Thursday, November 5.
The Brainerd Book Club for Adults meets at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month in the library's Small Meeting Room, next on Wednesday, November 11. The Books Burgers and Brews Book Club meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month at the Brainerd Eagles Club, next on Monday, November 23; the library asks people to RSVP. The library is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and closed Sundays.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Author Frank F. Weber speaks at Brainerd Public Library today
Author Frank F. Weber is scheduled to talk about his latest thriller, A Superior Affair, at noon today, Monday, November 2, at the Brainerd Public Library as part of the Brown Bag Author Series, KAXE listed in its October 29 events roundup.
The library is at 416 South 5th Street, Brainerd. Library phone: 218-829-5574.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Garth Brooks tribute show comes to Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts November 8
Garth Live!, a tribute to Garth Brooks, is on Central Lakes College's fall performing arts lineup for Sunday, November 8, at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts, 602 South 5th Street, Brainerd. The college's announcement does not list a start time.
Single tickets are sold at clcperformingarts.com or through the box office at 218-855-8199, and a $1 service fee applies to each ticket. Discounts are available for seniors, youth, veterans and first responders, the college says.
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 County
Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office uses AI-powered license plate readers
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. Photos not tied to an active investigation are kept for 30 days and then deleted automatically, the Sheriff's Office told Lakeland News.
Community: Crow Wing County, including Brainerd and Baxter. Status: Background on technology already in use; not a new deployment. Record date: June 26, 2026.
Community & Services
ONGOINGCrow Wing County
Crow Wing County Landfill is now on weekday-only winter hours
Winter hours at the Crow Wing County Landfill took effect Sunday, November 1: the landfill is now open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the county says. Saturday, October 31, was the last Saturday the landfill was open for disposal until spring.
The landfill is at 15732 State Highway 210, just east of Brainerd. Customers stop at the landfill office to talk with the attendant, pay any fees and get directions to the right drop-off area. The site takes household hazardous waste, mattresses, electronics, tires, appliances, scrap metal, brush and residential recycling. Solid Waste Office: 218-824-1010.
City, Roads & Planning
ONGOINGBrainerd
Highway 210 opens to four lanes through east Brainerd
Highway 210 (Washington Street) has been open to two lanes in each direction between Pine Shores Road and South Sixth Street since Monday evening, October 26, MnDOT says. The multi-lane roundabouts at Crow Wing County Road 3 and C Street/Highway 25 are open, 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 said CenterPoint Energy would close 13th Street SE/Crow Wing County Road 45 starting Tuesday, October 27, for gas-main work.
Highway 25 between Highway 210 and 10th Avenue NE stays on its temporary connection until it is reconstructed in spring 2027.
NEWBrainerd and Baxter
Last day to vote early is today; Election Day is Tuesday, November 3
Today, Monday, November 2, is the last day to vote early in person at the Crow Wing County Elections Office, second floor west wing of the Historic Courthouse, 326 Laurel Street, Brainerd. The office is open until 5 p.m. today, the county says. Absentee ballots must reach the Elections Office by 5 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, voters in mail ballot precincts can vote at the Historic Courthouse from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; other voters go to their assigned polling place, which the Minnesota Secretary of State's precinct finder at pollfinder.sos.mn.gov lists.
In Brainerd, Wayne B. Erickson and Dolly Wussow are running for an at-large City Council seat now held by Kevin Yeager, who is not running, KAXE reported. In Baxter, Douglas C. Francis, Joe Mussell, Jeff Phillips and Zach Tabatt are running for two City Council seats, KAXE reported. Brainerd Public Schools' operating levy question is also on the November 3 ballot.
Public Safety & Weather
ONGOINGBrainerd
Rain forecast Monday, with 1 to 2 inches possible and showers on Election Day
Rain is forecast for Brainerd today, Monday, November 2, with thunderstorms also possible after 3 p.m., 1 to 2 inches of rain possible and southeast winds gusting to 30 mph, according to the National Weather Service forecast updated at 6:16 a.m. Monday, November 2. Monday night brings another tenth to a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, showers are forecast, mainly after 10 a.m., with a high near 58 and temperatures falling to around 54 by 5 p.m. Winds turn from east to north, gusting to 25 mph, with a quarter to half an inch of rain possible.
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 November 2, 2026: all details: that the School Board ratified the teacher, food-service and interpreter agreements, and that the educational assistant and nurse agreements remain unsettled. 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 November 2, 2026: the September 29 vote raising the power cost adjustment to $0.010885 per kWh effective with October 2026 billing, and that the October 27 agenda listed those minutes for approval. 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 November 2, 2026: all details: that the Brainerd Zipline Tour is expected to close permanently this winter. 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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