We the People [the Video]

From loving to brag about cold weather to believing in the power of local, community radio, we the people of Northern Community Radio need you.

From $5 a month to $1 a day, pledge your support at whatever level you can afford and keep independent radio strong in Northern MN. What do you believe?

Pledge online at http://www.kaxe.org
Or call 800-662-5799 / 218-326-1234

Listener support is our single largest source of funding and it's people just like you that make it all possible. Thank you!

BSU: Liberal Arts Without Art?

Last month President Richard Hanson at Bemidji State University released a plan to overcome a $5 million budget shortfall. That plan included cuts to Art, Theater, Music and other programs.

On Monday, protesters gathered at the BSU campus to show their disapproval of the cuts.

BSU: Liberal Arts Without Art?
Charlie Parson is a retired Professor who taught at BSU for 28 years. Charlie was at the protest rally, and talked with us on the 91.7 KAXE Morning Show about the recent decision by Bemidji State University to drop theater and visual arts.

Raw or Pasteurized

A bill in the MN Legislature (HF255) would expand opportunities for farmers to sell their milk directly to consumers. The new proposal created a big on-line discussion of the health and economics of raw vs. pasteurized milk.

The current law allows consumers to buy milk products at the farm. The new bill would allow farmers to sell at farmer markets,  through consumer buying groups, home delivery, and farm stands.  Most dairy producers and Department of Health and Agriculture officials worry the expansion of direct sales could lead to more illness from raw milk products.  Raw milk advocates tout the health benefits of raw milk and the economic opportunities for small dairy farmers.

Raw vs Pasteurized
On 91.7 KAXE's Local Food Report Maggie Montgomery talked to Mark Kastel, co-director and senior policy analyst at the Cornucopia Institute, a small farm advocacy organization based in southwest Wisconsin. The Cornucopia Institute supports small farmers who sell pasteurized and raw milk, and does not advocate for one over the other.

How KAXE and KBXE Will Coexist

Thank you for your interest in 90.5 KBXE! We hope this will answer some of your questions about KBXE.

KBXE is a new, noncommercial community radio station that will serve people in Bagley, Bemidji and surrounding areas.

Northern Community Radio will own and operate KBXE, using the same structure that it uses to operate 91.7 KAXE in Grand Rapids (105.3 in Bemidji). This shared structure will help KBXE operate frugally. When you make a membership pledge to Northern Community Radio, you will automatically be a member of both KAXE and KBXE.

KBXE and KAXE will broadcast together. Each studio will create outstanding programming and each station will broadcast a regional signal. KAXE and KBXE will serve most of northeastern and north central Minnesota. Sometimes the programming will originate at KBXE and sometimes at KAXE, but everyone who listens to either station will hear all of it! We are looking forward to a great influx of volunteer energy from KBXE that will be heard from Fosston in the west to the hill overlooking Duluth in the east!

KBXE will operate from studios at 305 America Ave. NW in Bemidji, in space leased from Harmony Food Co-op, adjacent to their new grocery. KBXE’s tower will be located between Bemidji and Bagley, to cover both communities with a strong signal.

The best way you can help build KBXE is to give generously to the building fund. Your capital pledge can be paid over a 3 to 5-year period. KBXE has to be ON THE AIR by MARCH 2012, or we will lose the license. Time is of the essence!

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about this project.  We always want to hear your questions and comments. 800/662-5799 or comments@kbxe.org.

Sincerely, Maggie Montgomery, General Manager, Northern Community Radio

The Women of Roller Derby

The Women of Roller Derby is an intimate view into the life of derby girls. Produced by Doug MacRostie of Northern Community Radio for Culturology on 91.7 KAXE.
 

The Women of Roller Derby
Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby has exploded across northern MN, with the Babe City Rollers in Bemidji, and the Iron Range Maidens. Derby is a very physical sport, known for hard hits and short skirts. Producer Doug MacRostie wondered, ‘who are these derby girls, and what draws them to this sport?’, and it isn’t who he expected. Doug set out to find a dominatrix derby girl, and instead discovered The Women of Roller Derby.

I Hulk said, "That was awesome and dare I say I got a bit teary. Which says a lot since I hate crying and being emotional!". Sarah Whalin' said, "I. M. Hulk, Olive Mayhem, Piece MakeHer, Vroom Vroom and the others give such an accurate portrayal of what it means to be a derby girl, it will give you goosebumps! Totally amazing. Go Maidens!!" and Butterscotch Bitch told us, "I was just sitting in my car the last 20 minutes listening. I wish I had my skates with to wear at work...".

Preflash Gordon, online manager of the North Star Roller Girls, said, "KAXE in Northern Minnesota does a documentary on derby women ... and by golly, it's like listening to This American Life! Absolutely fantastic! Give it a listen, or download the MP3 and podcast it later. Brilliant stuff. Congrats to Douglas MacRostie and everyone who made this wonderful show."

Read more about The Women of Roller Derby:
"Roller Derby Rockin' Northern MN" on 91.7 KAXE Notes
"Talk Derby to Me" on Doug MacRostie's Macedelic Studios

Photo donated by Jimmy Digital of the Sioux City Roller Dames.

WoRD was made possible with support from the MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.