Ruby's Pantry — a nonprofit organization that operated pop-up food pantries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Iowa — announced on Tuesday that operations ended effectively immediately. Pop-up locations included Access Church in North Branch, New Hope Community Church in Isanti, Memorial Drive Bible Fellowship in Askov, and New Life Church of Foley. A statement from Ruby's Pantry reads, in part: "Over the past several months, we have been thoughtfully realigning the w

MnDOT announced its 2026 road construction projects on Tuesday, including multiple that will impact motorists in east-central Minnesota. The projects include: Striping and pavement marking along I-35 in Pine County, which is expected to wrap up by May. Resurfacing and updating over 10 miles of Highway 65, starting between Stanchfield and Cambridge after the Fourth of July. A second segment between Stanchfield to north of Braham will start in spring of 2027. The project is est

The CEO of the Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia said there’s “light at the end of the tunnel” after an issue with the Medicare and Medicaid billing system led to millions of dollars of withheld reimbursements since Jan. 1. In an interview on Monday, Andy Knutson explained that in July of 2025, the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) turned on an edit designed to reduce fraud in the system. "We felt we were ready for the switch to flip in July," Knutson said. "W

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is restricting the open burning of vegetative debris starting Monday, March 30, due to increased wildfire risk. According to the DNR, the increased risks result from warm temperatures and dry conditions in parts of the state. The restrictions apply in Pine, Kanabec, Chisago, Isanti, and Mille Lacs counties. The DNR will not issue permits for open burning of brush or yard waste in those counties until restrictions are lifted. “Wild

This weekend's snowstorm brought less accumulation than was initially forecast, according to snowfall reports from the National Weather Service . Chisago City was on the high end of accumulation tallies, with separate locations reporting 6.4 and 6.2 inches, respectively. Isanti was one of multiple municipalities reporting over 4 inches of snow, with 4.9. Others include Foreston with 4.4 inches, Pine City with 4.3, and Milaca and Luck with 4. Other area snowfall totals include

Braham's Hometown Liquor Store will be closed until Monday, March 16 after a vehicle drove into the building on Saturday afternoon. According to a news release from the Braham Police Department, a personal injury accident was reported at the liquor store just after 1:30 p.m. Braham's police and fire departments responded to the scene and located a vehicle inside the building, with a male driver still stuck in the vehicle. The release states that emergency crews pulled the veh

A winter storm warning is set to take effect from 10 p.m. Saturday through 7 p.m. Sunday in much of east-central Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service. Kanabec and Mille Lacs counties could see total snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches, with between 10 and 15 inches possible in Chisago and Isanti counties. The National Weather Service also says winds could gust as high as 40 miles per hour. According to the NWS, the heaviest snow is expected on Saturday

A two-vehicle crash resulted in a fatality on Wednesday morning in Isanti County. According to a news release from the Isanti County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a crash at the intersection of Durant Street Northeast and 269th Avenue Northeast just after 9:30 a.m. Emergency personnel determined an adult female was deceased at the scene. Her identity will be released upon positive identification by the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office. A female party from the secon

An open house at Mora City Hall on March 11 will officially kick off the design phase of a MnDOT project to reconstruct and update Highway 65 in Mora. On Thursday, MnDOT development project manager Eric Schiller joined KBEK to share details about project planning, with construction to start as early as 2030. Schiller explained that the project was initially only planned for pavement rehabilitation from Ann River/Fish Lake to Mora Lake, but now includes four single-lane rounda

A head-on collision on Highway 169 in Mille Lacs County resulted in four deaths and one passenger sustaining life-threatening injuries on Wednesday. According to the state patrol incident report, a Buick LaSabre was traveling just north of Shakopee Lake Road in Kathio Township around 7 p.m. when it crossed the center line and struck a southbound Saab sedan. The Buick's driver, 21-year-old Isle resident Samantha Ajax, died in the crash. It's unknown if she was wearing a seatbe

A 50-year-old Garrison woman died in a crash on Highway 169 in Mille Lacs County on Tuesday morning. According to the state patrol incident report, a Kia Sorento was traveling north near 460th Street in Kathio Township just before 9 a.m. A southbound Subaru Impreza lost control during a light curve due to icy road conditions, crossed into the oncoming traffic lane, and was T-boned by the Kia. Both vehicles came to rest in the downward slope in the east ditch. The Subaru's dri

Rush City native Max Hageman is often known to east-central Minnesota venues as Relax With Max, but as the musician continues to write and release original songs — with plans to put out an album in 2026 — his work ethic outpaces his stage name. "I've been playing music since I was about six years old, playing guitar," Hageman said in an interview with WCMP on Feb. 18. "I got my first band when I was 14, and I've been playing music ever since." Hageman said he picked up his in

The Mora City Council officially approved the hire of Deb Steele as city administrator at Tuesday’s meeting. Steele has served as the fiscal officer for Clinton Township, located in Franklin County, Ohio, since October 2013. At a special meeting on Feb. 12, the council unanimously voted to offer Steele the position. Steele and Mora human resources director Mandi Yoder were interviewed as finalists for the role. According to public utilities general manager Joe Kohlgraf, Steel

The Kanabec County Fair will bring a supercross event to the grandstand on Friday, July 24. The fair is partnering with Berm Benders Raceway out of Brook Park for the event. “Motocross, in the past, has been very big for Kanabec County,” said fair board member Jeremy Ringler, speaking on behalf of the all-volunteer board in an interview on Monday. “When you start looking back, back in the 90s and early 2000s, that was the big event at the fair.” Redneck races have been schedu

MnDOT will host an open house on March 11 to share information about planned improvements for Highway 65 in Mora. According to a MnDOT news release, the open house will kick off the design phase for the project, and reflects findings from the Highway 65 and Highway 23 corridor study completed in 2024. The open house will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Mora City Hall. MnDOT plans to reconstruct Highway 65 in 2030 and 2031 to improve access and connections, including parts o

Voters rejected both ballot questions in a Chisago Lakes School District referendum election on Tuesday. The first question sought $48.1 million for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including safety and security improvements at the primary school, middle school, high school, and Taylors Falls elementary school. According to the unofficial results, it failed with 2,412 residents voting no, and 1,810 voting yes. The second question was contingent on th

The Vasaloppet Art Show saw a record number of visitors over the weekend, and area artists were recognized for their submissions. According to a news release from the Kanabec County Art Association, the art show — held in conjunction with the ski race — welcomed 733 visitors over the weekend of Feb. 6-8. The gallery featured 81 works created by 35 artists, including several first-time entrants. On Friday, Minnesota artist Surelle Strike served as the gallery guide. She select

The Mora City Council will conduct interviews with at least two finalists for city administrator at a special meeting on Thursday. The council interviewed four candidates for the position — Mandi Yoder, Debra Steele, Angela Grafstrom, and David Dubary — on Jan. 27. Yoder and Steele were selected to move forward with final interviews at that meeting. A fifth candidate, Natasha Segelstrom, was rescheduled to be interviewed on Feb. 9 after an unexpected cancellation due to a tim

The Kanabec County driver's license renewal office located at 903 E. Forest Ave. in Mora will no longer provide driver's license renewal services after March 6. According to a news release from Kanabec County Public Works director Chad Gramentz, the discontinuation only applies to driver's license and identification card services. It does not impact the local deputy registrar/motor vehicle office in Mora (located at 1855 Frontage Road), where residents can obtain vehicle tabs

Downtown Mora will welcome more than 1,000 cross-country skiers when Vasaloppet race weekend kicks off on Saturday. In an interview on Tuesday, Vasaloppet USA president Chip Gerdin said there's enough snow to make a Union Street start and finish line work for the 2026 schedule. "It's shaping up really good," Gerdin said. "It's going to be an absolutely fabulous, beautiful race course. The trails are really, really nice skiing now. Just fabulous." Gerdin said crews would put f