Hello Brainerd! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Pizza and puppies fundraiser, let’s talk at the zoo, and family pizza and games cruise + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Regional roofing expansion: A St. Cloud roofing company expanded across Greater Minnesota, adding Brainerd alongside Bemidji and the Twin Cities, offering replacements, inspections, metal roofs, storm damage assessments, and repairs -- see the roofing expansion.
Summer fun at the library: Pequot Lakes Library’s Summer Reading Program is underway. A $5-per-bag book sale will run July 3-10. Track reading for a grand prize drawing on Aug. 17. Volunteers needed -- see the summer reading plans.
From sports to city hall: Pine River city clerk Nicole Coler, a racing fan with a head for statistics, studied sports management in Mankato and was hired a year ago, balancing policies and projects -- read her full story.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Game night, solved: Big Jay's Pizza Arcade brings legit pies, wings, beer, wine, and a lineup of arcade classics under one roof. Grab a slice, let the kids conquer cabinets, or snag a party room with friends, because sometimes Brainerd needs dinner that comes with high scores.
Let ’em zoom: Buster Park- A Playground for Dogs is Brainerd’s off-leash, fenced acre at the south end of Kiwanis, with separate spaces for more social and less social pups. Built in memory of a local Boston terrier named Buster, it’s where your dog gets the wiggles out and you meet dog people.
Leafy pick-me-up: Crazy Plant Company is the local plant nursery for hardy perennials and greenhouse-grown finds, plus the occasional fun event that gets plant folks chatting. Pop in this week, swap care tips, and snag something that actually thrives in Brainerd without constant babysitting.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Need cash but can't take on another monthly payment? This gets you a lump sum from your home's equity with no monthly bill and no interest, because it isn't a loan. Use the funds for anything, whether that's home improvements, paying off debt, or a large purchase, and pay it back by the end of your 30-year term. Checking your offer is easy, fully online, and won't affect your credit score. *See your cash offer →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🍖 Cragun's BBQ Dinner Cruise @ Cragun's Resort | Wednesday (6/24) at 7:00 PM – Whether you’ve got a "special occasion" or just need a night where someone else does the grilling, Cragun’s BBQ Dinner Cruise brings bold, smoky flavors, Gull Lake views, and zero cleanup. Expect a hearty feast, easy vibes, and familiar faces.
🍕 Pizza & Puppies Fundraiser @ Papa Murphys Take N Bake Pizza (Baxter) | Thursday (6/25) at 10:00 AM – Thursday calls for take-and-bake that does good. Order Papa Murphy’s online with code CARE, all day, and 20% goes to The Babinski Foundation, then pop by the Baxter Papa Murphy’s 4 to 6 to meet adoptable pups and ogle $10,000 raffle temptation. Pizza, puppies, zero guilt.
🦁 Let’s Talk at the Zoo! @ Safari North Wild Life Park | Friday (6/26) at 9:00 AM – If your kid is a unique communicator, this is your crowd at Safari North with The Speech Cabin. SLP volunteers, core boards, a core word scavenger hunt, and animal-themed sign language meet giraffe feeding, parakeets, and that rare thing, shared wins for the whole family.
🏍 Friday Night Motocross @ Crow Wing County Fairgrounds | Friday (6/26) at 5:30 PM – Friday Night Motocross brings roaring bikes, rumbling grandstands, and locals chasing checkers under the lights. Fifteen bucks gets you flying dirt, the perfume of race fuel, and the satisfaction of leaving yardwork for Saturday, plus an inside voice you will not use.
🚢 Brunch On The Lake Cruise @ Craguns Resort | Sunday (6/28) at 11:30 AM – Gliding around Gull Lake, Cragun’s brunch cruise pairs classic plates, mimosas, and that cabin weekend breeze with postcard views. It is the rare morning where the only thing on your agenda is a refill and pretending the shoreline is your yard.
🐻 Cub Camp @ Camp JIM (Pillager) | Sunday (6/28) at 6:00 PM – Nothing beats a week where your 6 to 8-year-old comes home gloriously tired. Cub Camp is for grades 1 to 3, with crafts and the good kind of chaos, a free shirt if you register May 1, $12 after, and a $7 downloadable photo pack.
🍕 Cragun's Family Pizza & Games Cruise @ Cragun's Resort | Monday (6/29) at 12:00 PM – Gull Lake is calling for an easy win with the Family Pizza & Games Cruise, a low-stress float where the kids wear themselves out and you get pizza without dishes. Expect Above Deck pies, lake breezes, and competitive UNO you can pretend not to hear.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Brainerd report Weather forecastToday — High: 71°F — Low: 50°F — Precip: 74%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11am, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 11am and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 71, with temperatures falling to around 68 in the afternoon. Northwest wind 0 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind 0 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 74°F — Low: 51°F — Precip: 6%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind 0 to 5 mph. This house is wildSet on 40 acres of wooded and pasture land near Upper South Long Lake, this 4-bedroom plus office home blends country charm with everyday function. Upstairs, all bedrooms sit together, including a spacious primary suite and laundry. The property also includes a fully insulated 3-stall garage, an unfinished basement with in-floor heat, and a pole shed workshop.
Take a peek inside → |
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