DULUTH, Minn.– With the school year right around the corner, a group of schools in Duluth are trying to build relationships with families and the community. Students and families from Myers-Wilkins Elementary, Lincoln Park Middle School, and Denfeld High School came out to the football field at the high school. They got the opportunity to interact with school staff and…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.– After technical difficulties the night before, the Hermantown School Board voted on their plans for the upcoming school year tonight. After some debate over what learning model seems to be the best, the school board voted unanimously to go with a hybrid model. According to guidelines from the state, the high school falls into the hybrid recommendations while…
DULUTH, Minn.– Reconstruction work on Duluth’s Lakewalk will reach the finish line soon, after it was ripped up by several severe storms over the last few years. The reconstruction features new designs like large rocks strategically placed along the shore to break up wave energy from Lake Superior, which will benefit both the Lakewalk path and businesses near it in…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.– The Hermantown School Board was going to vote tonight on the learning plan for the upcoming school year but has now pushed that back after technical issues. The vote was delayed after difficulties kept the public from seeing the meeting through Google Meet online. The school board decided to push the vote until tomorrow at 6 p.m. to…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– In Minnesota, COVID-19 cases are higher than in the spring but stable according to health experts. The state has around 280 people with COVID-19 in the hospital, which is the lowest number since July 26. State health officials say it’s hard to cite an exact cause but the trend does follow the time period when Governor Walz…
MANKATO, Minn.– The Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor party is responding to President Trump’s visit to the state today. One DFL senator has criticism on the president’s policies toward farmers. Assistant Minnesota Senate Minority Leader and District 19 Senator Nick Frentz says he’s glad to have any president come to the area to talk about key issues, including issues facing corn…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– In 2019, 89 people lost their lives due to drunk-driving related crashes in Minnesota, that’s the most since 2015. Now, state authorities are increasing enforcement efforts as the summer ends. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is sending out extra DWI enforcement on roads across the state through September 7. They also are sending a reminder to…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.– Schools around the Northland are now making their decisions on what learning will look like in the upcoming school year. Now, Hermantown is going to make their choice early next week. Last week, the Hermantown school board met to set the framework for distance learning, in person, or a hybrid of the two. And now they vote for…
DULUTH, Minn.– There is some big work getting done on the technical side of things at FOX21. A 20 man crew worked to add a new antenna head to our station’s transmitter. The new antenna weighs over 11,000 pounds and is 70 feet tall. A helicopter was called in to help install it. The station has been spending the last…
DULUTH, Minn.– There was a meeting to discuss plans for a new roundabout in Duluth Thursday night. St. Louis County Public Works and the city of Duluth held a virtual conference to talk about the roundabout planned at the intersection of Glenwood Street, Snively Road, and Jean Duluth Road in east Duluth. Currently, it’s an all-way stop that’s seen delays…
DULUTH, Minn.– Thursday morning, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference made the decision to suspend all sports for the rest of the calendar year, and the impact goes beyond the field or the court at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. UMD will soon have students back for the first time since March. One of the busiest places on campus during that time…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– Earlier today, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced an extension of his emergency powers that he has held since the beginning of the pandemic in March. This comes as lawmakers are in St. Paul for a third special legislative session. The governor is extending his emergency powers through September 11, streamlining the handling of the pandemic through the…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– Wisconsin State Representative Tom Tiffany is getting ready for November’s general election. Earlier today, he made a visit to UW-Superior to meet with university officials. The District 7 representative talked to the UWS administration about the challenges of educating students during the pandemic. Tiffany also met with other businesses around Superior. In his short time in congress, Tiffany…
DULUTH, Minn.– One of the more interesting races Tuesday night is for the DFL State Senate District 7 seat. Incumbent Erik Simonson, a more moderate democrat with nearly a decade in the legislature, is running against attorney Jen McEwen. Simonson has the endorsement of Governor Tim Walz but McEwen has the endorsement of the DFL. Simonson, who is currently in…
DULUTH, Minn.– While businesses try to navigate through the pandemic, one auto body shop in Duluth is just starting up. Zenith Auto Glass along Highway 53 in Duluth held their grand opening today. Located in the former Hanson’s Building, they offer auto glass replacement and repair along with a car’s advanced driver assist system. Management at the shop says they…
DULUTH, Minn.– Primary elections are being held in both Minnesota and Wisconsin today. But due to COVID-19, things are looking a lot different than usual at polling places. Traffic at polling places has been fairly light with many voters casting absentee or mail-in ballots. But in-person voting is also happening, with the goal of keeping everyone safe. “That’s our number…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– As the Superior School District prepares for the 2020-2021 school year in a hybrid model, two teachers will not be joining them this year as they worry about getting sick from the virus. Last month, the Superior School District decided its students will spend part of their time in the classroom, and the rest online in a hybrid…
DULUTH, Minn.– Congressman Pete Stauber was in Duluth Monday in preparation for tomorrow’s primary. The incumbent from Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District spoke to a small group of supporters while on the campaign trail. Stauber acknowledged things will be different because of the pandemic but that it’s not going to stop him from fighting to keep his seat. “I’m excited about…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– The American Red Cross of the Northland announced their Partner of the Year award winner, giving the honor to a school whose students showed their support for veterans this year. Superior School District received the award for their Holiday Mail for Heroes project. Students of all ages and staff sent over 600 Christmas cards to veterans and service…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.– Back in 1980, the Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce was formed. To celebrate the milestone, leaders with the chamber had a small get-together. Chamber members and the community had a social distanced event in the parking lot Friday afternoon. Starting with just five businesses, the organization now has over 250 members from Cloquet to the Iron Range and…
DULUTH, Minn.– As road construction continues in downtown Duluth along with the pandemic, some businesses there are coming together to try and bring customers to the Historic Arts And Theater District, or the HART District in downtown Duluth. Formed in 2018 due to road construction in the area, HART Happy Hour is nothing new to businesses in downtown Duluth’s HART…
DULUTH, Minn.– For the second year in a row, the Rotary Club of Duluth has given a big donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northland to help them address mental health issues in the area. The check totals $25,000. The Rotary Club raised all that money online through community donations. It’ll allow the boys and girls clubs…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– This summer marks two years since severe storms ripped through Pattison State Park creating extensive damage. Trails and property of the pristine park were torn up after raging water from the rivers there tore through the area creating more than a million dollars in damage. But now, the popular trails will officially reopen this Saturday with new boardwalks,…
ASHLAND, Wis.– Officials from Madison came up to northern Wisconsin to spread the message for the state’s campaign to help businesses get through the tough financial times because of the pandemic. Wisconsin begins their We’re All In campaign to try and help small businesses across the state deal with the pandemic. That includes those in communities like Ashland. “By taking…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– Bayside Sounds has been a summer tradition in Superior for over 25 years. After a late start due to the pandemic, the city was able to hold its first concert Wednesday night. The band South of Superior kicked off the summer concert series over at Billings Park. Dozens of people came out to the park to enjoy some…
VIRGINIA, Minn.– A new era began earlier today on the Iron Range. Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert education officials joined forces to break ground for the new Rock Ridge High School. The historic project will not only bring the two schools together but will also ramp up efforts to help students get knowledge and experience in their potential career paths. The schools…
VIRGINIA, Minn.– A new era began earlier today up on the Iron Range as communities from Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert broke ground on the new Rock Ridge High School. The new high school, expected to be completed in two years, will feature four different academies that will give students hands-on experience to help them find a career path after graduation. Even…
WILLOW RIVER, Minn.– The Minnesota Department of Corrections has announced plans to close prisons in both Willow River and Togo. The reason is budgetary concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials for the DOC call it a difficult decision to close the facilities. Even though the two prisons are the smallest in the state, they have played a big role…
WILLOW RIVER, Minn.– The Minnesota Department of Corrections announced yesterday that it’s going to close the prisons in Willow River and Togo as they try to stay afloat with huge budget shortfalls caused by the virus outbreak. The department is facing a $14 million budget deficit that could grow to as much as $25 million over the next two fiscal…
DULUTH, Minn.– Area residents were able to get their hands on some fresh seafood Monday. Fabian Seafood made the trip up from Texas to Duluth, continuing the 40-plus year old tradition of coming to the Northland. Fabian workers say their biggest seller in Duluth is jumbo shrimp. While this isn’t the first time they have made the trip to Duluth…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.– An elderly man who went missing from an assisted living facility in Hermantown has been found safe and in good health about 60 miles away on the Iron Range. The 80 year old man was discovered missing around 2 p.m. this morning after he left at about 7:30 that evening from his home at the Golden Oaks Facility…
PROCTOR, Minn.– In Proctor, the school board met Monday night to discuss their plans moving forward after Governor Walz’s announcement last week allowing school districts to decide reopening strategies for themselves. The Proctor School District went through details of what each option could look like, whether they choose to go for distance learning, in-person, or a hybrid of both in…
CARLTON, Minn.– Governor Walz’s plan to for schools this fall will let districts choose one of the three options, in person, hybrid, and distance learning. All options can be shifted depending on if Coronavirus cases spike. Now, schools around the Northland are working hard find the best solution for their districts. “The whole thing is fluid. And we just need…
SOLON SPRINGS, Wis.– As Wisconsin records another day of over 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, Governor Tony Evers issued a statewide mask mandate as cases continue to rise. This comes as cities and counties across the state have been setting up mandates themselves. Governor Evers declared a new public health emergency in Wisconsin for the first time since May, expanding…
TWO HARBORS, Minn.– At the halfway point of summer, it has been different for tourism communities like Two Harbors. As the pandemic continues, businesses are trying to find the right balance of staying busy and keeping tourists and locals healthy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at the beginning of summer, people in the Two Harbors community didn’t know what to…
CHISOLM, Minn.– With new COVID-19 cases continuing to cause concern, St. Louis County and the Minnesota Department of Health are ramping up their testing capacity on the Iron Range. In Chisholm, there is free community testing site now set up and the first day was a busy one. “We’re pleased with how many people have preregistered so far. And we’re…
DULUTH, Minn.– With baseball’s opening day last week, professional sports have returned to America after being sidelined since mid-March. While they weren’t playing on the field, fans have been finding some ways to keep following their teams during the break. Major League Baseball, along the WNBA made their returns last weekend. And with the NBA and the NFL gearing up…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– It could take weeks until health officials have results from the mask mandate across the state of Minnesota that started its first full week Monday for all indoor public places. Over the weekend, 80 complaints were filed with the health department about overcrowding, social distancing, and masking. This comes as the state is now recording 51,843 total…
DULUTH, Minn.– Earlier today, the US Army Corps of Engineers announced who will be helping restore Minnesota Point and the Interstate Island State Wildlife Management Area. Hired out of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for the project, it will dredge 120,000 cubic yards of material from the navigation channel in the harbor in Duluth. 52,000 cubic yards will then be spread around…
CARLTON, Minn.– Minnesota’s statewide mask mandate begins tomorrow. While cities like Duluth have some requirements already, this will be the first time masks will be required across the state. Minnesotans will now need to mask up at businesses or any indoor public spaces. This is the first time many small towns across the state will need to follow these restrictions…
DULUTH, Minn.– There’s disappointment within the Duluth Little League after their baseball field was damaged by a vehicle on a joy ride. Duluth Police are investigating. This comes at a time when the city’s resources are slim because of the pandemic’s financial effects. Officials from the Duluth Little League were notified Wednesday morning after someone drove their vehicle on the…
HIBBING, Minn.– Over on the Iron Range, one Hibbing business owner wanted to show his support for first responders and law enforcement in the area. So he got together with some community members to make it visible for all of them to see. After talking with community members, Perrella and Associates Owner Greg Perrella wanted to make sure local first…
DULUTH, Minn.– Despite some pushback, the Duluth School District is moving forward with the Duluth Police Department to negotiate a new one-year contract for school resource officers. The school board approved that decision last night after hearing some opposition from current and former students along with community members who don’t want officers in schools because they say it creates a…
MADISON, Wis.– As cases continue to increase across the country, Wisconsin announced today they have a new daily high with over 1,000 new cases of COVID-19. State health officials recorded 1,117 new cases Tuesday, breaking their previous high. These positive cases come after nearly over 14,488 tests were performed. They also recorded 13 deaths from Tuesday, the highest for a…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– The Minnesota Department of Health announced the first infant death in Minnesota caused by COVID-19. The infant was nine months old and was not hospitalized. State health officials believe the death was isolated to specific conditions but had no underlying conditions. The infant died from an upper and lower respiratory tract infection along with a nasal culture…
DULUTH, Minn.– After a slow start to the tourism season due to COVID-19, Visit Duluth is working to try and help bring people to the city this summer. “We’re not there yet,” said Visit Duluth President Anna Tanski. “We are seeing signs of recovery however.” Visit Duluth says tourism-reliant businesses in the city have been doing its best to adjust…
DULUTH, Minn.– It’s been three weeks since a fire damaged Ursa Minor Brewing in west Duluth and management says the brewery is now back to full strength. Ursa Minor was able to begin outdoor dining again just seven days after the fire. Curbside pickup was also brought back earlier this week. The fire caused $75,000 worth of damages and will…
VIRGINIA, Minn.– After summer sports started late due to the pandemic, one city on the Iron Range is now suspending their season after finding a positive case of COVID-19 in one of their players. The city of Virginia has temporarily shut down the season for their baseball and softball teams after one player tested positive earlier this week. The Babe…
DULUTH, Minn.– The Minnesota Alliance of the Boys and Girls Club donated 300 frozen pizzas to a chapter here in Duluth. And Thursday night, they had a giant drive thru pizza party. Families could pull up to the curb and grab a box filled with the pizza, along with other snacks. There were also bags of toys and books given…
SILVER BAY, Minn.– The Silver Bay Veterans Home is dealing with two positive COVID-19 cases in its building. Those cases involve two staff members. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is helping officials at the senior living facility. They don’t suspect there are any other positive cases there. Anybody who shows any symptoms are being tested as a precaution. “We’re…
