Bemidji

Watch the most compelling speech from the House gay marriage vote

On Thursday afternoon, the House voted 75-59 in favor of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota. The tally came after a three-hour floor session. The bill was expected to pass, and many legislators wanted to put their mark on the historic moment with a few words. SEE ALSO: When will ga ... More >>

Two arrested on suspicion of murder following booze-fueled Bemidji-area melee [MUGSHOTS]

When officers responded to the scene of a brawl in Ten Lake Township at about 6:30 p.m. yesterday, about 13 miles east of Bemidji, they found "a large group of extremely intoxicated individuals who were bleeding and in various states of distress," according to a Beltrami County Sheriff's Office pres ... More >>

Tea Party leader: "I don't hate Obama because he's black. I hate him because he's red"

Bill Whittle, the self-proclaimed "virtual president" of the Tea Party movement, was invited up to Bemidji by the Northern Minnesota Tea Party Patriots to give a speech Saturday.SEE ALSO: Michele Bachmann: Contraception mandate step toward one-child policy [VIDEO] If the roughly 100 attendees at a c ... More >>

John Wangberg, longtime Bemidji teacher accused of sexually abusing students, found dead

Eight days ago, former Bemidji Central Elementary School teacher John Wangberg was arraigned on two felony counts of criminal sexual conduct and a gross misdemeanor charge of non-consensual sexual conduct. He posted $5,000 bail and was released from custody without being booked into jail.SEE ALSO: J ... More >>

John Wangberg, longtime Bemidji teacher, allegedly sexually abused kindergarten girls

John Wangberg was a physical education teacher at Bemidji's Central Elementary School for 30 years. He resigned on March 16, 2011, and two days later the family of a student came forward to report the girl had been sexually abused by him.SEE ALSO:-- Matthew Ellsworth gets probation for having sex wi ... More >>

Atmosphere unveils Welcome to Minnesota 2013 dates

Atmosphere's yearly Welcome to Minnesota Tour brings in its third installment with five performances around the state this March. Supporting Slug and Ant will be Brother Ali, Get Cryphy, Carnage and Haphduzn. The shows will hit venues in Bemidji, Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, and Minneapolis. To mark ... More >>

"Santa Claus"-like Bemidji man gives away his business, gets national attention

Bemidji may be the town worried about beaver sculptures painted like genitalia and profanity in Newsweek, but it's also the town of small business owners with hearts of gold.Joe Lueken, a 70-year-old soon-to-be-retiree and 46-year grocery store veteran, offers an antidote to Black Friday corporate m ... More >>

Bemidji cross burning: Two white men, ages 19 and 20, arrested [MUGSHOTS]

Yesterday, Beltrami County deputies made two arrests in connection with a cross-burning incident that took place on the Bemidji-area property of a biracial family last month, and surprise! Two young white guys are allegedly responsible. Deputies arrested Derek Barnes, 20, and Ryan Fairbanks, 19. The ... More >>

Biracial Bemidji-area family finds burning cross in yard

Around 12:40 a.m. last Friday, a Bemidji-area woman was sitting in her rural Northern Township home when see saw the sky seemingly catch fire.She ran outside, and there was an 8-foot-tall burning cross propped against a tree. The woman, who has a black husband and two adult biracial children, saw so ... More >>

Rick Santorum gives Bemidji Woolen Mills a shoutout, concedes to Romney

In the moments after Rick Santorum announced he's suspending his presidential campaign, effectively surrendering the GOP nomination to Mitt Romney, a local Twitter personality offered up the following analysis: "I'm devastated that Rick Santorum has suspended his Presidential campaign." -- No one.Bu ... More >>

Twin Cities overrated as a hipster haven, according to Travel Leisure

Last year, Minnesota was named the Most Hipster State. We would've assumed 'Sota's hipsterness is concentrated in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, but a new list put together by Travel Leisure suggests that's not the case.Either that or both lists should be taken with a grain of salt. Actually, that's ... More >>

Atmosphere unveil video, Current session & Rhymesayers scholarship before homecoming

​Eleven years after selling out First Avenue for the very first time, Atmosphere make a triumphant return to the Mainroom tonight as part of their second annual Welcome to Minnesota tour. The circuitous trek through their home state has already found Slug and Ant hitting up Mankato and Bemidji ... More >>

Bemidji public TV upset about profanity in Newsweek

​Newsweek's decision to include more profanity in the magazine is creating a bit of a shit-show. In recent years, public broadcasters have helped the beleaguered magazine increase its circulation by offering subscriptions in exchange for donations. But some broadcasters are now rethinking their re ... More >>

Santorum's trademark sweater vests are Minnesota-made

​Rick Santorum's unlikely surge in Iowa is paying dividends all the way up in Bemidji.Santorum has ordered hundreds of sweater vests from the Bemidji Woolen Mills. The vests -- complete with a campaign logo embroidered on the chest -- will be sent to anyone donating $100 or more to Santorum's fled ... More >>

Merwin Liquors contest giving away $2,500 worth of Surly [VIDEO]

​Piggy-backing on the Surly "price gouging" debate from earlier this fall, Merwin Liquors is taking the opportunity to point out that not only did it sell Surly Darkness for less, they're now just giving it away. The winner of a new fan video contest will take home $2,500 worth of Surly, or rough ... More >>

Bemidji Brewing needs a kickstart

Bemidji Brewing is state's newest brewery-to-be​For the Minnesota craft-beer world there's yet another new kid on the block; or at least on its way to the block. From up there near the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi comes the announcement of Bemidji Brewing Company. The brewery's three p ... More >>

Atmosphere plan second annual 'Welcome to Minnesota' tour

Photo by Denis Jeong Plaster​Slug was in St. Paul bright and early this morning for an appearance on the Current's morning show, where he revealed a new run of local ates that will find him reprising last year's successful "Welcome to Minnesota" tour. Atmosphere will bring Kill the Vultures, ... More >>

Bemidji's "Stoner Avenue" will not get a name change

Blood-shot eyes on the prize.​The name "Stoner Avenue" has been given a stay of execution by the Bemidji city council, to the secret delight of every druggie on the block. The council already approved changing the name to "Franklin Avenue" after city staff pointed out that in ten years, Bemidji s ... More >>

Got Flaxmilk? North Dakota farmers create a new dairy alternative

Flax USAA local alternative to soy or rice milk.​Health nuts like to sprinkle a little flax seed into granola, smoothies, and the like, to give their diet a boost of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, with the hopes of reducing cholesterol and helping their hearts, among other things. Historically ... More >>

Bemidji to change "Stoner Avenue" to something less awesome

This guy is upset, but can't remember why.​Stoner Avenue in Bemidji is set for a name change after years of stolen signs and giggling high school kids. The Bemidji City Council agreed unanimously last night to approve a change to something less weed-friendly. Craig Gray, a city engineer, said at l ... More >>

Owen Kosevich's awesomely inspiring bike riding video goes viral

Owen Kosevich: This kid is going places.​In these dark and uncertain post-Oprah times, we'll take a little inspiration wherever we can find it. And boy have we found it. Check out little Owen Kosevich and his gloriously over-the-top speech after finally learning to ride his bicycle. It's the ... More >>

Sen. John Carlson and the government health savings account piggybank

State Sen. John Carlson, planning for a grabber.​With some disturbingly audible heavy breathing, State Sen. John Carlson took to the floor at the Capitol yesterday to proudly declare that he doesn't bother seeing the doctor. Why? Because it may help him bag an annual $1,500, courtesy of Minnes ... More >>

Arthur Austin-Ellis Evan, ambulance employee, admits drugging and raping 13-year-old girl

Nightmare babysitter Arthur Austin-Ellis Evan​Bemidji EMT Arthur Austin-Ellis Evans says he's had a porn addiction "since the Internet was invented." Two weeks ago, he told Cass County deputies, he finally acted out a fantasy: Stealing drugs from his employer, Bemidji Ambulance Service, and u ... More >>

Bemidji Pioneer newspaper offices shot at for the second time this year

BotheredByBeesThe right to bear arms against a free press?​Someone really has it in for their local paper up north. Sunday morning, while employees of the Bemidji Pioneer toiled inside, someone fired shots into the front door of the paper's offices. No one was hurt, and the shooting went un ... More >>

Republicans want "Choose Life" license plates

The "Choose Life" llicense plate being proposed by Republicans.​Republicans are busy in the culture warrior kitchen. Today, a group of them introduced H.F. 91, which calls for the creation of "Choose Life" license plates. Funds from the sale of the plates would be directed only to counties that a ... More >>

US Airways flight nearly hit cargo plane over Minneapolis

Photo: Michael BlechingerTragedy was narrowly averted over Minneapolis.​Modern airports and aircraft are packed with all kinds of technical safety wizardry. But some days, the clouds come down, some signals get crossed, and scary things happen. In this case, a US Airways Airbus 320 with 90 pa ... More >>

Gaea the vaginal beaver vandalized

Image via FacebookGaea and Deborah Davis​It appears the prudes may have struck again: Gaea the vaginal beaver has been defaced. Someone has painted a vertical black stripe on the sculpture, one of 10 beaver sculptures on display throughout Bemidji.

Gaea the vaginal beaver returned to Bemidji Sculpture Walk

Deborah DavisDoes this beaver look like a vagina to you?​Bemidji City Council just voted unanimously to return a controversial beaver to its rightful place on the Bemidji Sculpture Walk.Painted by artist Deborah Davis, "Gaea" is a celebration of womanhood and one of nine four-foot-tall ceramic bea ... More >>

Vagina on beaver sculpture causes controversy [PHOTO]

Deborah DavisIs that a vagina on that beaver's stomach?​Is that a vagina on that beaver's belly?At least 20 passersby on the Bemidji Sculpture Walk certainly thought so, and they called City Hall to complain.That led to City Manager John Chattin removing the offending beaver.Now some are crying ce ... More >>

Frenchman Adrien Massy splits ahead of sex charges at kids' camp

Photo: Esther GibbonsFrenchman Massey found an exit before he could arrested​When you sign your kids up for language camp, you don't expect them to be taught the finer points of posing nude in the shower for a perv with a camera, or hear about them getting felt up through their pajamas. But ... More >>

Bemidji lions escape for wrestling play date with neighbor dog

Photo by Tambako the Jaguar​Spring life in Bemidji got a little less sleepy yesterday when two lion cubs escaped for a little adventure in town. But wait a second. Lions in Bemidji? Where have we been? Last time we were there, Paul Bunyan and Babe were the top attractions. Marjan and Aslan, the 6 ... More >>

Tony Hawk throws in with Bemidji skate park boosters

It's one of three projects around the world this year to receive Tony Hawk Foundation's maximum grant of $25,000.

Drudge rips on Minnesota again for our snow issues

'Lizard Person' voter loves attention

Todd Palin will prove he is more sporty than Minnesotans

KQRS Morning Show: Losing its Edge?

Judgment Call

A former judge accuses retiring Supreme Court Chief Justice Russell Anderson of playing politics

To Catch a Masseuse

Statehouse continues its bold crusade against horny massage therapists

The Monks reunite in Northern Minnesota Saturday

Living Like a Monk

How Minnesota musicians revived '60s rockers the Monks

Twins Stadium: Verbatim testimony from the House

Death of a Monk

Hot Sossy

Brian Sostek and Megan McClellan's fiery tribute to old Hollywood

Summer Guide

Old School

Sweatin' to the local oldies with our favorite reissues

Crappie Days

One Week in an Ice-Fishing Shack in the Middle of the Middle of Nowhere

No Reservations

For 13 years publisher Bill Lawrence has specialized in tales of graft and greed on the rez. He knows it's a dirty job, but no one else is doing it.

On Purpose

The way we do the things we do

Dream Hoops

Over the last 40 years, the Red Lake Warriors have known high hopes, humiliation, and off-court tragedy. Now they're getting ready to make history.

Two Children, Mount Rushmore, and 5,000 Harleys

Biker gang meets family vacation