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. "The review tells us our policy is sound, and it gives us clear work to do," 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.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Brainerd operating levy failed; Dondelinger, Lelwica and Heidmann won School Board seats
Brainerd Public Schools' operating levy question, which would have increased annual funding by $5 million, failed by several thousand votes in the Tuesday, November 3 election, KAXE reported November 4. KAXE did not give exact tallies.
In the School Board race, the district announced November 4 that DJ Dondelinger, Randy Heidmann and Mark Lelwica were the top vote-getters among seven candidates. Dondelinger led with 10,610 votes, followed by Lelwica with 8,400 and Heidmann with 7,868. Dondelinger and Heidmann return for second terms, and Lelwica joins the board as a newcomer; KAXE reported the terms begin in January.
KAXE said the district has told the community that if the levy failed it would need to make budget cuts, which could mean closing at least one more school.
Arts, Culture & Events
ONGOING
Teen and tween studio nights are back for the school year
The Crossing Arts Alliance lists open studio nights for middle and high school students (grades 5 through 12). Registration and payment are not required.
The posted dates run from Thursday, September 17, 2026, through Thursday, May 20, 2027, with arrival from 3:30 to 4 p.m. and art projects and instruction from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
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, Mix 108 reported September 11.
Mix 108 reported the display traditionally opens on Thanksgiving and runs Thursdays through Saturdays until Christmas, then nightly from Christmas Eve through New Year's Eve. The station gave no specific 2026 dates.
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, next on Thursday, November 12. The library describes it as stories and crafts for ages 2 to 8, with all welcome.
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, which falls 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.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Central Lakes College hosts free Lakes Band Festival on Friday, November 13
Central Lakes College presents its 6th Annual Lakes Band Festival at 7 p.m. Friday, November 13, at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd. Admission is free and open to the public, the college says.
The festival features high school and college concert ensembles from around Minnesota, chosen from 38 finalist ensembles. The concert ends with every musician performing a John Philip Sousa march.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Poet Cornelius Eady reads at Central Lakes College on Wednesday, November 18
Poet and musician Cornelius Eady will give a free Verse Like Water reading and concert with the Cornelius Eady Trio at noon Wednesday, November 18, in the Chalberg Theatre on Central Lakes College's Brainerd campus. A book signing and craft talk follow, the college says.
Attendees will receive a copy of Eady's book Hardheaded Weather: New and Selected Poems. Eady has led Cave Canem, a nonprofit supporting Black writers, since 1996 and is a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, according to the college.
ONGOINGBrainerd
Brainerd musician Kelley Smith releases debut album Flowers
Brainerd-based musician Kelley Smith released her debut full-length album, Flowers, on Friday, November 6, KAXE reported. She recorded it at several cabins and at Bellows Studio in St. Paul with producer Adam Krinsky, following her 2022 EP Moon Child.
KAXE reported that Smith plays a show with Kelly Hunt on Thursday, November 12, at Sampaguita in Aitkin, and that her album release show is Friday, January 8, 2027, at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis.
AI in Your Community
BACKGROUND
Utility commission's 2024 AI recommendation to the City Council
Brainerd Public Utilities commissioners voted unanimously on June 25, 2024, to recommend to the City Council the League of Minnesota Cities language on the use of AI, according to the commission's minutes.
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.
Lakeland News reported the office only receives alerts for stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, missing persons and officer alerts. Images not tied to an active investigation are kept for 30 days before being automatically deleted, the station reported.
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 open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the county says.
The landfill is at 15732 State Highway 210, just east of Brainerd.
City, Roads & Planning
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 and C Street/Highway 25 are fully operational, and MnDOT asks drivers to watch for pedestrians.
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.
Highway 25 between Highway 210 and 10th Avenue NE stays on its temporary connection until spring 2027. The downtown, bridge and west segments of Highway 210 are scheduled for 2027 work, MnDOT says; the schedule is subject to change.
ONGOINGCrow Wing County
Crow Wing County offices are closed today for Veterans Day; Budget Committee meets Thursday
Crow Wing County offices are closed today, Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day, the county says.
The county's committee meeting schedule lists the Budget Committee at 9 a.m. Thursday, November 12, at the Historic Courthouse.
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 County Road 3 and C Street/Highway 25 fully operational. The downtown, bridge and west segments are scheduled for 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 11, 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.
OPENSchool operating referendum
Brainerd Public Schools' proposal asked voters on Tuesday, November 3 to authorize $5 million annually for 10 years, with funds first available for the 2027-2028 school year. KAXE reported early Wednesday, November 4, that the question failed by several thousand votes. The district has said that without the funding it would have to cut its budget, possibly by closing at least one more school.
Still unresolved: Certified results and the district's budget decisions in response.
Next checkpoint: Official canvass results and School Board action.
AWAITING RECORDSUNCONFIRMEDUtility commission
Not confirmed against the source as of November 11, 2026: all details. 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 draft September 29 minutes say the commission agreed to move its November meeting to November 17, and the October 27 agenda ends with an adjournment to a special meeting on Tuesday, November 17.
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 17 special 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 11, 2026: all details (that the Brainerd Zipline Tour will close 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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