The people who call Brainerd the Minnesota Fourth of July Capital say the celebration is free and has family, fun and enjoyment written all over it.

BRAINERD/BAXTER

A Marine commander from Brainerd is playing a key role in the U.S. Marines' massive operation in Afghanistan.

Area health officials told state lawmakers Thursday how their institutions will be affected by the March 1 elimination of a state medical assistance program for low-income patients without private insurance.

The irrigation system and pavers should be complete at the end of next week in the downtown Brainerd reconstruction project, the contractor, Tom's Backhoe Service, reported Thursday.

The Brainerd Post Office will operate on a holiday schedule Friday in observance of the Fourth of July. The Post Office will only be open until noon on Friday. There will be mail delivery on Friday but not on Saturday. Regular mail service will begin again on Monday.

JULY 3 - 100 years ago (1909) - The usual rush of Fourth of July travel set in today. Every train had one extra car and the M & I had two. Nearly every train was behind time because of the large number of people traveling.

He'd be the 800-pound gorilla in the Republican field, no doubt it.