Dan Hanger, Author at Fox21Online

Transparency Concerns: Duluth School Board Members Flag Hiring Process For New Superintendent

Supt. Bill Gronseth Will Leave After Contract Expires In June Of 2020

September 11, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The search to hire a new Duluth school superintendent to replace Bill Gronseth when he leaves in June is already being called into question. Board members like Nora Sandstad say there’s still a serious lack of transparency between Board Chair Rosie Loeffler-Kemp and the administration. And this comes even after FOX 21’s Dan Hanger broke the story…

Letter Details District’s Reasons For Firing Former Duluth Denfeld Principal

September 11, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Through a data request with the Duluth School District at a cost of 75 cents to obtain, FOX 21 was given the termination letter Wednesday of now-former Denfeld High School Principal Tonya Sconiers. It’s the first time we’re getting a sense of the reasons the school board fired Sconiers after 19 years with the district. A summary…

Former Denfeld Principal Blasts Dist., Top Leaders In Federal Lawsuit

Tonya Sconiers Claims Retaliation, Violation Of First Amendment Rights For Criticizing Dist. Policies, Practices

September 9, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Former Duluth Denfeld High School principal Tonya Sconiers — who the school board voted to fire back in July — has filed a federal lawsuit against ISD 709, Superintendent Bill Gronseth and Asst. Superintendent Jeffrey Horton. The lawsuit claims Sconiers was retaliated and discriminated against for speaking out against district leadership about policies and practices violating her…

Man Accidentally Shot While Bird Hunting in Wisconsin

September 8, 2019

Dan Hanger,

TOWN OF RED CEDAR, Wis. (AP) – Authorities in western Wisconsin say a 60-year-old man was accidentally shot while bird hunting with family members at a game farm. Dunn County sheriff’s authorities say the four family members were hunting together in the Town of Red Cedar on Sunday morning when one member set a shotgun down against some brush to…

Duluth Schools Supt. Gronseth Reacts To FOX 21’s Report On DWI History of Asst. Supt.

August 30, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Public Schools Superintendent Bill Gronseth released a statement Friday one day after a FOX 21 report about Asst. Superintendent Jeffrey Horton’s past criminal record of three DWI cases, which was never shared with the school board — except to the previous Board Chair David Kirby — before they signed off on the new hire in June…

Duluth School Board Wasn’t Told Of Asst. Superintendent’s Criminal History When Hired

August 30, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 has learned Duluth School District Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Horton is on probation through 2022 for a third DWI offense he was sentenced for just months before being hired for the No. 2 job in the school district in July of last 2018. And while DWIs are not a deal breaker for hiring administrators in the…

Police: Man Falls Into Creek Running From Attempted Robbery

August 25, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police are investigating an attempted robbery that left a man seriously injured. Police say the 26-year-old victim fell into the creek near the 500 block of Lincoln Park Drive while running away from the suspects. Investigators believe the suspects are known to the victim. No arrests had been made Sunday. The victim’s injuries are not life…

Arrest Made In Duluth Home Invasion, Robbery, Auto Theft

August 25, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police have made an arrest in a home invasion, robbery and auto theft. The suspect is a 32-year-old man from Duluth who was in jail Sunday held on preliminary charges of burglary, kidnapping, robbery and auto theft. His name will be released when formal charges are filed. The crime happened Aug. 22 around 10 p.m. on…

Train Collides With Car; Authorities Blame Driver, Believe Alcohol A Factor

Driver Sustained 'Substantial' Injuries. Passengers, Crew Not Injured.

August 22, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Alcohol is believed to be a factor in a crash involving a vehicle and a train with the North Shore Scenic Railroad. It happened around 7 p.m. on McQuade Road just outside of Duluth in Lakewood Township. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the driver, Kurt Vanhala, 67, of Duluth failed to yield to all warning…

Essentia Health, Minn. Nurses Assoc. Reach Tentative Agreement

St. Luke's Nurses Remain Without An Agreement

August 21, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — One day after Essentia Health and St. Luke’s nurses hit the streets of Duluth for an informational picket over failed contract negotiations that call for “safe” staffing levels, Essentia announced a tentative agreement late Wednesday with the Minnesota Nurses Association. Below is the statement from Essentia: Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association have reached a tentative…

Fire Marshal Seeks Public’s Help After 3 Fires At Leif Erikson Park

August 20, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating after three fires were started in Leif Erikson Park Tuesday evening. The call for help came in around 8 p.m. Two of the fires were put out by firefighters. The other went out on its own. The fires were near the amphitheater, according to a city spokesperson. If you know…

Cloquet Police Chief Resigns After 4-Month Voluntary Leave; City Admin. To Exit In Sept.

August 9, 2019

Dan Hanger,

CLOQUET, Minn. – It’s over and out for Cloquet Police Chief Jeff Palmer who has chosen to leave the department – making him the third chief to do just that since Wade Lamirande in 2014. Cloquet City Administrator Aaron Reeves said Palmer was not being investigated for any complaints while he was on leave for the past four months leading…

Owner Expects Beijing Restaurant To Reopen Before End Of Year After Fire

August 7, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The popular Beijing Restaurant in Duluth that was shut down by fire is expected to reopen by the end of the year. The owner Cindy Lee told FOX 21 Wednesday that she’s hoping to serve her loyal customers in possibly two months at the earliest. Crews are working on the inside of the building on London Road….

Carter Hotel Officially Replaced With Casino Parking Lot

August 7, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s condemned Carter Hotel is officially a parking lot — at least for now. The lot is behind the Fond-du-Luth Casino in Downtown Duluth along 2nd Avenue East. It includes 16 new parking spots and improved lighting. The Fond du Lac Band owns the property and could turn it into an expansion of the casino or even…

Apartment Building Proposed For Lincoln Park Craft Dist.

August 7, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — A new apartment building is in the works for Duluth’s growing Lincoln Park Craft District. The plans call for a 75-unit four-story complex on the corner of the 2100 block of West Superior Street. The location used to be home to Robert’s Furniture, which is two blocks from OMC Smokehouse and a handful of other new establishments….

Superior Hit-And-Run Suspect Waives Right To Challenge Evidence Against Her

July 31, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. — A Duluth woman accused of a hit and run in Superior that injured a boy has waived her rights to challenge evidence against her. Mary Trea, 38, is facing one felony charge of hit and run. 11-year-old Cassius Carey in the hospital the night of the accident. Photo courtesy of his mother. In the criminal complaint, witnesses…

Duluth BizPac Threatens To Sue City, DTA Over Removal of Its Bus Ads

July 31, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth BizPac — a political action group with a goal to support and attract local businesses — is threatening to sue the city of Duluth and the Duluth Transit Authority after their bus ads were abruptly taken down. “If we’re going to have open dialogue, this is not the way to do it,” said Rob Stenberg, president…

Douglas Co. Dist. Atty. Reviewing Auto Theft Case Against Ashland Police Officer

July 30, 2019

Dan Hanger,

ASHLAND, Wis. – The case against a longtime Ashland police officer accused of auto theft is now in the hands of Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf for possible charges. The 18-year veteran of the Ashland Police Department retired in May – the same month Ashland Police Chief Jim Gregoire sent out a press release about the allegations against the…

BCA Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in Moose Lake

July 30, 2019

Dan Hanger, Andrew Kirov,

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – An investigation has been launched into an officer-involved shooting in a Moose Lake mobile home park that left a suspect injured. Monday’s shooting happened as officers were attempting to arrest a person on felony warrants. A suspect was shot as an emergency response team entered a Moose Lake home. We’re told there was an open…

Father Accidentally Runs Over, Kills Son On Wisconsin Farm

July 28, 2019

Dan Hanger,

TOWN OF DANE, Wis. (AP) – Authorities say a man accidentally ran over and killed his 8-year-old son on a farm in south-central Wisconsin. Dane County sheriff’s authorities say the accident happened late Friday in the Town of Dane. The initial report was that the boy apparently had been trampled to death by a cow, but authorities determined the boy’s…

Police: 50-Plus Complaints Against Hermantown Lumber Co. Totaling $290K In Unfulfilled Work

July 23, 2019

Dan Hanger,

HERMANTOWN, Minn. (Press Release) – The Hermantown Police Department has received numerous calls from victims who have ordered products such as windows or lumber packages from the Hermantown Lumber Company, which was located at 3707 Lavaque Road, Hermantown, Minn. The Hermantown Lumber Company ceased operations on June 28, 2019, and many orders that were fully or partially paid have gone…

Duluth Police Chief Says Violent Crime Is Not On The Rise

July 23, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken is talking crime statistics in the city, and how public perception – often times on social media – is far from reality. The chief says violent crime is not on the rise, but that any crime is one too many. “You see it on social media. I see it where people say…

St. Louis County Social Worker Charged With Sex Crimes Involving Patient

July 17, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – A longtime St. Louis County social worker is facing serious sex crime charges involving one of his patients with the county. Michael Bryant, 46, of Wrenshall is accused of demanding and even forcing sex on the female client in her own home. The criminal complaint says Bryant would make the woman strip naked, get down on her…

Duluth Police Investigate Stabbing in Lincoln Park Neighborhood

July 15, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police are investigating a stabbing in the city’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. A spokesperson alerted the media about the basics on the case at about 8:50 p.m. Monday. The stabbing happened on the 500 block of 22nd Avenue West. It appears to be a domestic incident, according to police. We’ll bring your more information as officials release…

Mayor Larson Talks .5% Sales Tax For Streets, Mandate For Medical Dist.

$500K From Sales Tax, $500K From Utilities Fund Mandated By State For Medical Dist. Streets For 10 Years; City Receives $100M From State In Return

July 10, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth City Councilor Joel Sipress sounded off at Monday’s city council meeting by saying Mayor Emily Larson and her administration could have been more transparent involving the new half-percent sales tax and a portion of that funding now being required by the state to go to the Medical District over a 10-year period. “I have to say…

Officials Say Relief On The Way From Smoke Due To Wildfires

July 7, 2019

Dan Hanger,

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A smoky haze continues to hamper many areas in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota as a result of the wildfires in Canada. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert through Sunday for the northern part of the state. The agency says conditions were expected to improve later in the day as winds…

Superior Council Overturns Mayor Paine’s Censure Veto Of Councilor Van Sickle

July 2, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – It was another vocal and passionate council meeting in Superior Tuesday night. Councilors voted 8-2 to overturn Mayor Jim Paine’s veto involving the censure of Councilor Jenny Van Sickle and her negative social media comments about City Attorney Frog Prell. Those comments called Prell incompetent, lazy and a manipulator in response to Prell’s legal opinion that concluded…

Longtime City of Superior Fire Chief, Finance Director Retiring

Mayor Paine Congratulates Retirees, Says Change Can Bring Fresh Perspective

July 2, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Longtime Superior Fire Chief Steve Panger and Finance Director Jean Vito are retiring after more than two decades each with the city. Panger, a 26-year veteran of the fire department, made the announcement official to councilors and Mayor Jim Paine Tuesday. Panger told FOX 21 he has reached the age of retirement at 53 years old and…

Superior Mayor Paine Confirms Relationship With Councilor Van Sickle

July 1, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – For the first time publicly, Superior Mayor Jim Paine says he is in a relationship with Councilor Jenny Van Sickle. This comes after a FOX 21 report three months ago about that relationship when Paine endorsed Van Sickle for re-election — something that got critical reaction from some fellow councilors. Paine would not confirm or deny the…

Van Sickle Pulls Back Social Media Posts Mentioned in City Attorney’s Legal Notice

June 25, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior City Councilor Jenny Van Sickle of Dist. 2 has pulled back social media posts that City Attorney Frog Prell claims are libelous against him and could result in a civil suit. Sometime late Monday night after FOX 21 aired a story about Prell’s legal notice to Van Sickle with claims of defamation, her Twitter page was…

Superior City Atty. Prell Puts Councilor Van Sickle On Legal Notice For Claims Of Defamation

Late Monday, Van Sickle changed her Twitter account from public to "protected."

June 24, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior City Attorney Frog Prell has put Councilor Jenny Van Sickle on legal notice for allegations of defamation and libel. (Click here for Prell’s defamation notice) This comes after Van Sickle called Prell lazy, incompetent and a manipulator on social media in response to Prell’s research report that concluded the council could pick a council president with…

Police Investigate Shooting In Duluth’s Central Hillside

June 20, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. (Press Release) – At 9:30 PM, officers were dispatched to the 300 block of E 3rd St on the report of shots heard. Officers were unable to locate any victims or evidence of shots fired. Then, at 10:10 PM, officers were dispatched to the 200 block of E 6th St on the report of a 35-year-old male with…

Deck Of Cards Picks Council Pres.; Mayor Paine Vetoes Censure Against Councilor Van Sickle

June 19, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – It was a heated Superior City Council meeting Tuesday night that included a censure vote and a cutting of the cards to finally pick a council president after three failed votes at past council meetings. In a 6-4 vote, the council sided with City Attorney Frog Prell’s Report — against Mayor Paine’s Conclusion — that a deck…

Superior Councilors Sutherland, Van Sickle Call To Censure Each Other

June 17, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Heads are butting at Superior City Hall as two councilors have introduced resolutions to formally censure each other at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Acting Council President Craig Sutherland is calling to censure Councilor Jenny Van Sickle over her recent social media blast against longtime City Attorney Frog Prell after Prell concluded it is legal to select…

Superior Councilor Van Sickle Blasts City Attorney Prell As Incompetent, Lazy

Issue stems from City Attorney Frog Prell's conclusion that the council can vote in a president with a deck of cards.

June 16, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior City Councilor Jenny Van Sickle is blasting longtime City Attorney Frog Prell for his conclusion that it is legal to select a council president by drawing from a deck of cards — something Mayor Jim Paine has said is illegal. In a post on Twitter, Van Sickle calls Prell lazy and incompetent. “Prell has a long…

Cloquet Area Firefighter Resigns After FOX 21’s Report on Sexual Assault Allegations

June 6, 2019

Dan Hanger,

CLOQUET, Minn. – We have a follow-up to a story FOX 21’s Nikki Davidson brought you Wednesday night involving a Northland first responder who was accused but never charged in St. Louis County and Carlton County of two separate cases of sexual assault, which in one case involved a 16-year-old girl. Thursday at 6 a.m., that 29-year-old first responder with…

DECC: William A. Irvin Will Stay Closed For 2019 Season

June 6, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The popular William A. Irvin officially won’t be coming back for a second season in a row. And that means a no-go for the popular Haunted Ship in October. The Irvin, which brings in $200,000 a season as a floating museum, has been backed up in line for preventative maintenance work at Fraser Shipyards in Superior. The…

Cloquet Police Detective Fired; Officer’s Attorney Calls Out Council, County Attorney

June 5, 2019

Dan Hanger,

CLOQUET, Minn. – A longtime Cloquet police officer of 22 years has been fired from the job for what the city calls allegations of misconduct. K9 detective Scott Holman was terminated by the city council Tuesday in a 4-2 vote. Allegations against Holman were not made available by City Administrator Aaron Reeves because he said it was a personnel matter….

Strength In The Community $10K Scholarship Winner: Avantika D’Cruz-Wigren

June 3, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 and National Bank of Commerce announced the $10,000 Strength in the Community $10,000 scholarship winner Monday night as Ashland High School student Avantika D’Cruz-Wigren. This comes after 12 finalists were chosen from area high schools – all of whom will get $1,000 scholarships. Click the video to hear from the winner! Categories: News, News – Latest…

Updated: Missing Woman’s Body Discovered On Fond Du Lac Reservation

June 2, 2019

Dan Hanger,

The body of a missing woman, Wahbinmigisi “Pennie” Robertson, 31, of the Fond du Lac Reservation, has been found, according to tribal spokeswoman Makayla Telfer. The body was discovered by a search party around 6 p.m. Saturday near a rural community within the Brookston District of the Fond du Lac Reservation. The Fond du Lac Police Department and the St. Louis County…

Duluth Police Investigate Shooting in East Hillside

Victim Suffered Non-Life Threatening Injuries

June 2, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police were investigating a shooting in the East Hillside neighborhood that injured a man. The shooting was reported around 12:30 p.m. Sunday at an apartment complex on the 600 block of East 4th Street. When police arrived, they located a 42-year-old man with non-life threatening injuries to the ear and surface of the head, according to…

Update: Pine County Shooting Suspect Found Dead

May 31, 2019

Dan Hanger,

UPDATE: On May 30th Pine County deputies recovered a body in the Little Sand Creek west of the residence where the shooting took place. The body was transported to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The deceased has been identified as Allen W. Hasser, the suspect in the shooting incident. A cause of death is pending and an updated…

Motorcyclist Killed After Hit-And-Run In West Duluth

May 29, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police are investigating a hit-and-run accident in West Duluth that killed a 31-year-old driver of a motorcycle. The accident happened around 6:50 p.m. Tuesday. Officials say the motorcycle was headed up 40th Avenue West “just below horseshoe bend” when it was struck by a car that apparently crossed over the center line. The “suspect vehicle” continued…

Speedway Gas Station Closes In Superior

May 28, 2019

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A gas station in Superior that was most known for being a SuperAmerica and recently became a Speedway has closed. The gas station is located on the corner of Hammond Avenue and Broadway Street. The last day of operation was Memorial Day. There was no official word from company officials Tuesday on why it closed. This comes…

ATV Crash Kills Man in Iron County

May 26, 2019

Dan Hanger,

Town of Pence, Wis. – A man is dead after a ATV crash early Sunday morning in Iron County, Wisconsin. The Iron County Sheriff’s Office says the 911 call was received around 12:10 a.m. about an ATV accident at the intersection of Spring Camp Road and Whiteside Street in the Town of Pence. When authorities arrived, they found a single…

Cloquet Police Chief Jeff Palmer Still On ‘Voluntary Paid Leave’ Since April 16

City Admin. Aaron Reeves Does Not Have A Return Date For Palmer

May 24, 2019

Dan Hanger,

CLOQUET, Minn. – There’s still no official word on why Cloquet Police Chief Jeff Palmer remains off the job or when he will return. Chief Palmer began his “voluntary paid leave” on April 16. City Administrator Aaron Reeves told FOX 21 this week that the leave “… can’t go on forever but I also can’t provide a set time frame…

Nearly 2 Months After Now-Former Fire Chief’s DWI, Mayor Larson Still Mum

Larson Appointed Dennis Edwards To Fire Chief In 2016

May 23, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s been nearly two months since Duluth’s now-former fire chief, Dennis Edwards, was arrested and eventually charged with DWI. But there’s still no comment from Mayor Emily Larson who hand-selected Edwards for that position. FOX 21 has repeatedly asked Mayor Larson for any type of response, including this Thursday and Wednesday, but her spokesperson, Kate Van Daele,…

Grandma’s Restaurant Company CEO Buys Lincoln Park Building

May 22, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The owner of Grandma’s Restaurant Company, Andy Borg, has purchased a building in the growing Lincoln Park Craft District. The building is the former Duluth Sheet Metal building across from Duluth Cider on the 2300 block of West Superior Street. Grandma’s President Brian Dougherty says there aren’t major plans for the building right now other than eventually…

1 Dead After Officer-Involved Shooting in Ashland

May 22, 2019

Dan Hanger,

ASHLAND, Wis. – One person is dead after an officer-involved shooting in Ashland. It happened sometime after 3 p.m. Wednesday on the 800 block of 4th Avenue West in the city limits. “The shooting is currently under investigation and it will be several hours until the crime scene is clear. Currently, there is no danger to the citizens of Ashland…

More Airport Infrastructure Upgrades Planned After Runway Reconstruction

May 21, 2019

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – More upgrades are in the master plan for the Duluth International Airport, as the final phase of the main runway’s reconstruction is underway. There are discussions to eventually extend the smaller “cross wing runway” to 8,000 feet from the roughly 5,700 it’s at now. Airport officials say a larger second runway would help to support aviation growth…