5+ day, 22+ hour ago   (235+ words) BAXTER — Cheery faces and excited educators met students for the first day at Brainerd Public Schools. Exclamations of “welcome back” echoed through the entry of Baxter Elementary School on Tuesday, Sept. 8, as staff greeted both new students and familiar faces....

5+ day, 23+ hour ago   (114+ words) Brainerd Dispatch Feedback wanted for child support program This opportunity closes Sept. 15. Minnesota’s child support program helps children receive the financial support they need. County child support agencies and the Minnesota Child Support Division (CSD) work with parents, caregivers, employers,…...

6+ day, 44+ min ago   (205+ words) BRAINERD — Brainerd High School juniors Emily Bjerkness and Nolan Jendro were selected to serve on the Special Olympics Minnesota Student Board of Directors, becoming the first students from Brainerd Public Schools to serve on the statewide board. The Special Olympics…...

1+ week, 23+ hour ago   (376+ words) Over the past two and a half years, I’ve written about the many changes baby boomers have faced. This column is about accepting change and using it to our advantage. Old dogs can learn new tricks, and most of us…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago   (210+ words) I attended an information meeting Aug. 17 in Brainerd by the Tamarack Water Alliance. Talon Metals/Rio Tinto plans to remove more than 8.2 million tons of material as part of a proposed high sulfide underground mine in Tamarack (Aitkin County). This…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago   (181+ words) Central Lakes College is offering new support for students entering robotics and other high-demand career programs. That focus on practical workforce preparation should shape how Brainerd employers adopt AI too. Stanford’s August employment update found that employment among U.S. workers…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago   (208+ words) No Minnesotan should have to choose between fighting for their health and fighting for their job. Yet that’s exactly what happened to a worker in Brainerd who took disability leave to receive cancer treatment. Instead of being supported, they were…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago   (192+ words) Brainerd Dispatch Reader Opinion: Don’t forget about pickleball Maybe it’s time to give attention to a sport that is enjoyed by all ages. Brainerd Parks are receiving funding for improvements. This is always a good use of tax money. What…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago   (482+ words) The freedom of the press is one of America’s greatest protections against unchecked power. But freedom carries responsibility, and journalism cannot demand the public’s trust simply because the Constitution protects our right to publish. We must earn it. That responsibility…...

2+ week, 6+ day ago   (899+ words) Hello lakes area neighbors, if you're feeling worried or sad about the world, you're not alone. If you're choosing between doctor visits and healthy groceries, you're not the problem. The system is. And systems can be changed. After 20 years working…...