BAYFIELD, Wis.– The city of Bayfield created its own mask ordinance last night. In part it’s because more tourists are still traveling to the area than expected this summer. After Bayfield County issued a mask advisory earlier this week, the city of Bayfield is going further by establishing a city mask ordinance. “We did get a little bit surprised with…
IRON RIVER, Wis.– While the games, rides and food stands at the Bayfield County Fair won’t be taking place this year, organizers introduced a way for farmers and 4-H kids to showcase their animals virtually. All competitors will have to do is take pictures or a video of their entries online or through their app, ShoWorks Passport. There will also…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– COVID-19 cases continue to increase around the country. Now, 20 states, including Michigan and Illinois, have made wearing masks mandatory. In Minnesota, many cities around the state like Duluth, have put up their own mask mandates. Since the pandemic began in mid-March, Governor Walz has always been in discussions with state leaders on a mask mandate in…
ASHLAND, Wis.– With the unemployment rate at 12 percent in Wisconsin, area workforce leaders are pushing for more businesses to hire young people ages 15-19. The youth unemployment rate right now is at 32 percent. Experts say that number has been going up over the years but has grown during the pandemic. They say getting into the workforce early can…
MADISON, Wis.– Tuesday, Wisconsin broke its own record for confirmed new COVID-19 cases for four out of six days, with 964 confirmed new cases. Governor Evers said more than 650,000 tests have been completed in the state so far. But state health officials said it’s not just more testing causing case numbers to rise, but that the public continues to…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– Financial impacts from the pandemic have made it harder than ever for some Minnesotans to pay rent. But Governor Tim Walz and other state leaders are doing what they can to help in the form of a multi-million dollar housing assistance program. More than 140,000 households in Minnesota making less than $50,000 a year and are paying…
DULUTH, Minn.– Essentia Health is stepping up to make sure as many people have masks as possible during the mask mandate in Duluth and as cases continue to rise. Essentia is donating 20,000 procedure face masks to local organizations. Most masks will be going to the Duluth branch of the NAACP and Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. Hospital officials…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– The Superior City Council met Monday night to discuss the potential of a city-wide mask mandate for indoor public places. This comes after the area has seen an increase in cases over the last few weeks, forcing some businesses to voluntarily shut down. As of Monday, there are 63 positive COVID-19 cases in Douglas County and over two-thirds…
DULUTH, Minn.– Owners Nathanael and Anna Bailey have been looking to add a second location. And they believe they’ve found one in an old funeral home. Bailey Builds has been a jack of all trades type of business. With a store featuring local artwork, a gallery and small venue space, along with an Airbnb upstairs. A different building ended up on…
DULUTH, Minn.– Today, a new store in east Duluth held its grand opening. Duluth Studio Company and Market sells local and fair trade artisan goods and other items. They are only letting six customers in the store at a time, with a stop and go sign out front to let customers know if they can come in. While the original…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– Over the last couple weeks, cases of COVID-19 have been increasing in the Twin Ports. With a new total of 48 cases in Douglas County, Superior businesses are doing what they can to keep their customers and employees safe. So far at least nine businesses in Superior have voluntarily closed temporarily after the establishments came into contact with…
DULUTH, Minn.– As people are trying to find new ways to spend their time this summer the city of Duluth is hosting a challenge to do just that. The Parks Passport Project is a contest to get kids outside and do new activities all over the city. Just go to the city’s website and download their list of 20 challenges….
DULUTH, Minn.– For the first time since 2017, the S.S. William A. Irvin will be letting visitors back on the ship. The museum will open their doors back to the public starting this Friday. Guests will be required to wear masks and gloves as they tour the 83-year old ship. Guides will lead smaller tour groups while maintaining social distancing….
DULUTH, Minn.– With the push to get outside during the pandemic, more customers are roaring into small engine vehicle dealers. Local motorcycle and ATV dealers say more foot traffic is coming into their stores after so many people were pent up indoors during quarantine and leaving with some new wheels to enjoy this summer. “Springtime is always our busiest season…
DULUTH, Minn.– The combination of hot weather and the COVID-19 pandemic have a lot of people getting outside and on Lake Superior, rivers and streams. Including families from the middle of the country. Management at Spirit Lake Marina and RV Park didn’t know what to expect coming into this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But halfway through the summer…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– On this day four years ago, Philando Castile was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop in a suburb near the Twin Cities. Monday, state officials are offered more clarity for drivers and officers on what to do if a driver is legally carrying a weapon in their car while being pulled over by…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– Minnesota health experts gave an update Monday on COVID-19 in the state. They also included information on the state seeing lower death numbers in recent weeks. Minnesota has seen single digit deaths in 13 of the last 15 days. Health officials attribute this to new treatment options, a higher number of young people getting COVID-19 who recover,…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– The city of Superior has welcomed a new addition to one of the city’s top administrative positions since late May. Nick Raverty is the newest Chief of Staff for the city after being named to the position in early May. He has spent the last six years as an administrator for non-profits near his hometown in Windom, Minnesota…
DULUTH, Minn.– The naked man who decided to take a dip into the sewer system in downtown Duluth yesterday was located Thursday night. A passerby heard him yelling for help around five under a manhole by the Wells Fargo building. Yesterday, multiple agencies were searching for the man on Michigan Street by the Duluth Transit Center downtown. His clothes were…
DULUTH, Minn.– As the Fourth of July weekend is coming up, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is encouraging other ways for people to show their enthusiasm for the holiday. All you need to do is draw a patriotic message on your sidewalk or driveway and encourage neighbors to do the same. They also want people to share the designs…
DULUTH, Minn.– As the Duluth City Council prepares to vote on an ordinance later this month requiring masks be worn in all public places, one Duluth restaurant owner isn’t waiting to mask up his staff and customers. Starting this weekend, two well-known Duluth restaurants are going to be taking an additional step to keep customers healthy. “We don’t want to…
DULUTH, Minn.– Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar in Duluth announced Wednesday they are voluntarily closing, explaining that staff has been exposed to a person with COVID-19. It’s also located in Canal Park, where the popular tourist destination has been seeing bigger crowds over the last few weeks. After a number of bars and restaurants in Superior closed yesterday due to…
DULUTH, Minn.– Today is the first day on the job for new Duluth Superintendent John Magas, who was named to the position in March. Magas has been spending the past few weeks transitioning virtually as the 30th superintendent in the district’s history. He says his long term goals include forming strategic plans on the district’s boundaries and finances. But Magas…
DULUTH, Minn.– A suspected naked man led authorities on a search effort in the downtown Duluth sewer system Wednesday. The Duluth Fire Department got the call for help at 12:17 p.m. about a man who reportedly was crawling into a sewer near the DTA Transit Center at 3rd Avenue West. Multiple agencies responded, looking through pipes and manholes. A remote…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– In Minnesota, COVID-19 cases coming from bars are becoming a growing concern. Governor Tim Walz and health department officials say so far bars in the Twin Cities and in the Mankato area have had the most cases linked to them. “Bars are hotspots. And I think there is people saying ‘wow that’s really insightful, that bars are…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– At least five bars in Superior, South Superior and South Range have voluntarily shut their doors for the time being after getting notified they’ve each had a customer in their establishment recently who has tested positive COVID-19. The bar closures come as the health department recorded 30 positive cases in Douglas County since the pandemic began. Log Cabin…
DULUTH, Minn.– There are now more than 150 cases in St. Louis County. After seeing a decline around late may, county officials are a slight uptick in cases. Officials say they are still preparing for a surge in cases and working with healthcare systems, long term and congregate care facilities, and Minnesota Health Department to put a plan in place…
ST. PAUL, Minn.– In late May, Minnesota Governor Walz announced a partnership with two of the state’s top healthcare providers to help increase COVID-19 testing capacity. The ambitious partnership including the University of Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic, and the state announced that they have tested over 600,000 people after ramping up their efforts in late May. “This puts us in…
DULUTH, Minn.– The band One Less Guest was going to perform tonight at Ursa Minor Brewing Friday night but when they heard the news of the fire this morning they found a way to help. The band reached out to other breweries in town and tonight they performed at Wild State Cider in Duluth to help raise money for Ursa…
CLOQUET, Minn.– Kevin Schroeder served the community for more than three decades and today the long time fire chief for the Cloquet Area Fire District received a nice send-off into his retirement. Schroeder’s been fighting fires since he was 17 years old. And his many years of service to his hometown were honored Friday afternoon. “He’s been a just such…
DULTUH, Minn.– The city of Duluth is eligible for more than $6.5 million in aid from the federal CARES Act after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order allowing cities to receive that funding. Duluth’s share of the money can only be used to cover COVID-19 expenses like PPE, hand sanitizer, technology equipment, and overtime for police officers whose…
DULUTH, Minn.– St. Ann’s Residence in downtown Duluth knows all too well the tragic effects the Coronavirus can have on a living care facility. It had its own outbreak in April that took the lives of 11 residents. It has been over two months since St. Ann’s had almost 30 cases of COVID-19. The fear of another spike is still…
DULUTH, Minn.– The city of Duluth is encouraging alternative ways to vote during the pandemic as the early voting period for state primaries and other local elections opens Friday. The city says to avoid long lines and prolonged contact while people try to vote on Election Day, they can come into city hall starting tomorrow to vote or by mail-in…
DULUTH, Minn.– Duluth Mayor Emily Larson introduced the city of Duluth’s newest attorney, who she says will bring a unique perspective to the position. Rebecca St. George was introduced during the city’s weekly presser earlier today. She has spent over six years as an attorney for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Some of St. George’s other…
Leaders from Minnesota’s Indigenous communities are discussing the impact of COVID-19 on their communities. It happened at a virtual gathering today along with state and federal leaders. Senator Tina Smith and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan held a virtual roundtable with leaders from Indigenous tribes around the state to discuss COVID-19’s impact and problems they are having with the CARES Act….
DULUTH, Minn.– For the first time this year, Duluth residents and their dogs could enjoy a night out together. Yappy Hour was held for the first time this summer. The store A Place for Fido teamed up with The Boat Launch to host the event on the restaurant’s outdoor patio at Fitger’s in downtown Duluth. The event had dog-themed drinks…
DULUTH, Minn.– Duluth Mayor Emily Larson says most of the city’s COVID-19 budget shortfalls projections from April are in their predicted range right now. Larson and her team made headlines when they said the city could see a budget shortfall of $20-40 million for 2020. And with two additional months of data, the predicted loss of revenue is now around…
DULUTH, Minn.– The Minnesota Department of Transportation is pushing back the final phase of the restoration of a historic Native American burial site in the Fond du Lac neighborhood. MnDOT crews accidentally unearthed the site in 2017 while working to replace the Highway 23 Bridge over Mission Creek. With the partnership of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior…
DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth City Council tabled a resolution Monday night that halts Mayor Emily Larson’s push to remove the word “chief” from employee titles after she and her administration said it is offensive to Indigenous people. The vote specifically involved changing the title of Chief Administrative Officer to City Administrator. A unanimous vote by the council is required because…
DULUTH, Minn.– The Northland American Red Cross has launched a summer-long campaign to test blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The series of blood drives around the Twin Ports began today at the Duluth Red Cross. Reservations were full, with more than 30 people coming in to donate blood that will be sent to St. Paul to be tested for the…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.– One popular restaurant in Duluth is adding a second location up in Hermantown. The King of Creams opened their second location in Hermantown earlier this week. And there is a grand opening on Saturday. While COVID-19 did delay the opening of the new spot, management at the restaurant says they are excited to be open again and to…
DULUTH, Minn.– K-12 schools in Minnesota wrapped up their distance learning for the spring. But there still is uncertainty about what schools should do in the fall amid the pandemic. Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Department of Education have started laying out initial plans to schools for the fall. “Ultimately, we know that schools and families are…
DULUTH, Minn.– Financial shortfalls because of the pandemic have caused the city of Duluth to make budget cuts in several areas, including the city’s Snow Emergency Plan. The city is going to hold off from buying 2,800 new snow removal signs, saving over half a million dollars. Last fall, the city of Duluth updated its Snow Emergency Plan and found…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– With motorcycle season now on, dozens of bikers got together in Superior this evening to hold the annual Blessing of the Bikes. The event normally attracts hundreds of bikers at Vineyard Church in Duluth. But COVID-19 concerns scaled the tradition down this year with the location at Bird’s Bar in Superior. Organizers tell us it’s a time for…
DULUTH, Minn.– A St. Louis County organization dedicated to mental health and suicide prevention hosted a virtual meeting today to get feedback from the community. Thrive Range focuses on northern St. Louis county communities with high suicide rates. Leaders laid out their goals for the next couple of years, including expanding community outreach and offering more mental health resources at…
DULUTH, Minn.– It’s been an unprecedented time for tourism revenue in Duluth as the city navigates through financial issues related to the pandemic and its lack of tax revenue from businesses that are struggling. On Wednesday, the city of Duluth released the latest numbers contributing to its major budget shortfalls because of the pandemic. This is in preparation for when…
DULUTH, Minn.– Since the end of April, the Duluth Public Library has been doing curbside pickup and this week they introduced some new updates. Curbside pickup has been moved up from to Michigan Street to Superior Street, increasing the number of pickup spaces. The library also introduced new software for requesting books. Orders can be done online or over the…
DULUTH, Minn.– While it’s been getting easier to get tested for Coronavirus, there really hasn’t been an easy testing option for people wondering if they have the antibodies. That’s all changing with the help of the American Red Cross, these blood tests will go beyond curiosity. Starting this week, the American Red Cross is going to be using all blood…
DULUTH, Minn.– As wellness centers and other places to exercise open back up, the pool at the YMCA in downtown Duluth is getting ready to open up. The pool is set to reopen on June 22. They will be using an online reservation system for the lanes and other areas of the pool. Staff are being invited back to retrain…
DULUTH, Minn.– As the pandemic goes on, people are continuing to find different ways to get some fresh air. Leading biking to be as popular as it’s ever been in the Northland. “Driving around town I’m seeing more and more people out and about and on their bikes,” said Steve Meyer, Owner of Stewart’s Bike Shop in West Duluth. Stewart’s…
