Author: Dan Hanger

3 Men of Palestinian Descent Shot, Injured Near University of Vermont

Three young men of Palestinian descent who were in Burlington for a Thanksgiving holiday gathering were shot and injured — one seriously — near the University of Vermont, police said Sunday. Authorities said the attack may have been a hate crime. The shootings occurred at about 6:25 p.m. Saturday near the UVM campus, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad….

MN State Patrol: Driver Of I35 Rollover In Duluth Arrested For DWI

DULUTH, Minn. (Thursday) — The Minnesota State Patrol told FOX 21 on Thursday that the driver who rolled his vehicle on I-35 in downtown Duluth last week was arrested for DWI. Video from a MnDOT camera on Southbound I-35 near the Lake Avenue exit shows a 2022 Dodge Charger rolling multiple times. A public information officer for the Minnesota State…

Mayor-Elect Roger Reinert Visits Duluth Police, Fire on Thanksgiving

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth firefighters and police officers got a visit this Thanksgiving from Duluth Mayor-elect Roger Reinert. The Duluth Fire Union and the Duluth Police Department posted pictures on social media Thursday of Reinert’s visits. Both agencies thanked Reinert visiting them on Thanksgiving. The fire and police unions endorsed Reinert for mayor this past election. Categories: Minnesota, News, Political,…

Man Seriously Injured In Garage Fire

BREVATOR TOWNSHIP, Minn. — A structure fire in Brevator Township seriously injured a man. The fire broke out around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 3500 block of Nelson Road. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said the 64-year-old man was injured while trying to save items in a burning garage. The man was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in serious…

Glensheen Mansion Flips For Christmas; Santa, Reindeer Arrive At Fitger’s Friday

DULUTH, Minn. – Christmas has arrived at the historic Glensheen Mansion with candlelight tours! Marketing Manager Mike Mayou said visitors will experience the magic of Christmas and be taken back to the early 1900s when Glensheen was built. The rooms and hallways are full of Christmas lights, 27 trees and hundreds of feet of garland. There are even 25 elves…

Coast Guard Fries Turkeys For St. Scholastica’s Free Thanksgiving Buffet At DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — Thanksgiving may be two days away, but a massive cooking operation is well underway at the DECC for the annual St. Scholastica free Thanksgiving Buffet. Volunteers from Minnesota Power took over the DECC’s big kitchen Tuesday to help prepare more than 6,000 cups of cranberry and help peel 1,800 pounds of potatoes. The turkeys weight in at…

Snowmaking Begins At Spirit Mountain, Mont Du Lac

DULUTH, Minn. — Snowmaking season began at Spirit Mountain Tuesday evening.   This comes after frustrations from staff because of the unseasonably warm weather for much of November.  Usually the ski hill opens on Black Friday, but that won’t be happening this season.  None the less, opening day will arrive soon, as temperatures are forecast to continue to be well below…

Duluth Firefighters Battle Garage Fire, Vehicles Driving Over Hydrant Line

DULUTH, Minn. –  A structure fire in Duluth’s Lakeside/Lester Park neighborhood has turned into another plea from firefighters to residents, after vehicles once again got in the way of fighting a fire. The department said five vehicles drove over one of the hydrant lines being used to fight the fire Monday afternoon. Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Edwards told FOX 21,…

Clinton Fire Dept. Accepts 2,352 Cans Of Drinking Water From Anheuser-Busch

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The Clinton Volunteer Fire Department & EMS received thousands of cans of drinking water from Anheuser-Busch. Fire Capt. Eric Monson said the 2,352 canned waters will help first responders stay hydrated when they battle wildfires and other disasters. “This generous donation will significantly enhance our emergency response capabilities and ensure that we can better serve and…

Update: Superior Firefighters Battle Wind-Driven Fire On Wisconsin Point

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior firefighters battled a wind-driver wildfire on Wisconsin Point Thursday evening. Multiple fire department units responded around 4:30 p.m. in the area of Moccasin Mike Road and Lake Shore Drive. Fire crews arrived on scene and reported “a sizable” fire on the beach area between Schafer Beach and Wisconsin Point Lot #1. “Fire crews utilized bladder packs,…

Cenovus Superior Refinery Responds To Third-Party Railcar Leak

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Cenovus Superior Refinery responded to an emergency railcar leak Tuesday. Cenovus Energy told FOX 21 the railcar was not theirs but belonged to a railroad company with cars at the plant. On Wednesday, Cenovus said the issue had been resolved and no external emergency response was required. Superior Fire Chief Cam Vollbrecht told FOX 21, it’s his…

Joel Sipress On Duluth Mayoral Race: ‘State DFL’s Hit Job On Roger Cost Emily Votes’

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s been a week since one of the most contentious mayoral races in Duluth’s history came to an end with Roger Reinert defeating incumbent Emily Larson. And now, leaders in the DFL Party who backed Larson are analyzing what went right and what went wrong. One of those people is Joel Sipress, former Duluth city councilor of…

Superior Mayor, Some Councilors Now Against Proposed Natural Gas Plant; Labor Not Happy

Mayor Jim Paine first supported the project in 2017

SUPERIOR, Wis. – If Superior Mayor Jim Paine has it his way, Minnesota Power and its partners will not be allowed to build a natural gas plant (Nemadji Trail Energy Center) near the Enbridge Energy Terminal and Cenovus Energy. “All this project will do is raise our utility rates, pollute our city, and desecrate a cemetery. I don’t know who…

St. Louis Co. Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrest In ‘Severe Animal Neglect Case’

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office announced an arrest Monday evening in what investigators call “a severe animal neglect case.” The Sheriff’s Office posted on social media to say a pit bull named Gio was brought to Animal Allies barely clinging to life.  And after attempts to save its life, Gio, who was also known as Lovebug, died. The suspect…

Duluth Police Union: 3 Council Candidates Have ‘Extreme Views’ Against Police; Candidates React

DULUTH, Minn. — In a rare move by the Duluth Police Union, and just days before the Nov. 7 election, its members are calling out three Duluth city council candidates — Jenna Yeakle, Miranda Pacheco and Wendy Durrwachter. The union says the three candidates have “extreme views against public safety and law enforcement officers.” Below is the union’s full statement,…

2 Days To Go: Larson, Reinert Race To The Duluth Mayoral Finish Line

DULUTH, Minn. – The General Election is two days away on Nov. 7, and Duluth mayoral candidates Emily Larson and Roger Reinert were out Sunday continuing to door knock for votes. Both candidates posted to their social media Sunday about the campaigns. Larson posted a video saying in part: “Hey everybody, it’s Emily. It is Sunday night and, why yes,…

Mother, Son Suffer Severe Burns In Cabin Propane Tank Explosion

Courtesy: Northland FireWire BALKAN TOWNSHIP, Minn. — A mother and her son are being treated for severe burns after a propane tank exploded inside a cabin in Balkan Township. The accident was reported around 10:45 a.m. Sunday in the 11600 Block of Countryside Lane. Northland FireWire “Investigation of the incident revealed that a 20lb propane tank had been attached to…

Update: Missing Man In Itasca County Found Deceased

6 p.m. update:  The BCA released the following statement Sunday involving John Derrick’s disappearance: “***CANCELED*** The Itasca County Sheriff’s Office has canceled the missing person alert for John Derrick. He was located deceased. Thank you to everyone who assisted in locating him and for sharing the information.” The cause of death was not immediately released Sunday night, as of 6…

Adam Johnson’s Aunt Speaks Out; Public Funeral To Be Held At Hibbing Hockey Arena

HIBBING, Minn. (FOX21/FOX 9) – After his tragic death on the ice, funeral plans have now been set for hockey star Adam Johnson in Hibbing. Johnson, who was a hometown hockey hero before playing for Duluth and later in the NHL, was killed last weekend after his neck was slashed by another player’s skate. Johnson was playing in the United…

Vandals Strike Superior Home’s Halloween Display

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A homeowner in Superior said vandals destroyed about $300 worth of his Halloween decorations Tuesday night. Surveillance video shows at least two males tackling inflatable characters and running a bicycle through the set-up. Homeowner Aaron Bourdon said the inflatables aren’t fixable because they either have big holes or exploded. Bourdon told FOX 21 he starts putting up…

Adam Johnson’s Death: Neck Guard Sales Rise; NHL Tribute Video; Panthers Set Up GoFundMe

WARROAD, Minn. — Neck guards for hockey players are selling out in some Minnesota stores after the death of professional hockey player and Hibbing native Adam Johnson over the weekend. Video of the game in Sheffield, England showed Johnson suffering a serious neck injury from a skate after colliding with another player. After Johnson’s death, British hockey officials announced neck…

Duluth City Councilors ‘Unequivocally Condemn’ Hate Speech During Monday’s Public Comments

DULUTH, Minn. — Racist and anti-Semitic remarks took taking the Duluth city council off guard Monday night during the public comment period of the council meeting.  “The Jews are parasites and they’re taking over our country,” said one man who called in. He went on to say, “Diversity means fear of white people, inclusion means the exclusion of white people,…

Child, 5, Dies In Rollover Accident On Vermilion Trail

A 5-year-old child died Tuesday in a weather-related rollover accident in St. Louis County. The accident was reported around 4 p.m. near Vermilion Trail and Harris Bay Road. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said the vehicle ended on its side with the child stuck underneath. Officials said the roads were packed with ice after recent snow and freezing temperatures….

Two Canoeists Missing In Wascott

Rescue crews are searching for two men reported missing on the Minong Flowage in Wascott. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said the men went out in a canoe Saturday evening. Family members called 911 just before 1 a.m. Sunday after locating the capsized canoe. Multiple agencies are helping in the search effort, as of Monday evening. Categories: News, News –…

Man Stabbed In Coleraine Bar Fight

A man was stabbed in a bar fight in Coleraine early Saturday. The crime was reported around 1:30 a.m. at the Locker Room Bar, according to the Itasca County Sheriff’s office. The victim was stabbed in the face. The suspect is from Coleraine.  He was arrested at his residence after police said he left the scene. Formal charges were pending…

Reinert Endorsed, Larson Accepted For Duluth Mayor In 2015; Both Candidates Respond

DULUTH, Minn. – The last live Duluth mayoral debate before the Nov. 7 election was last week on PBS North.  The gloves came off in that debate between incumbent Mayor Emily Larson and opponent Roger Reinert.  But the tension between the candidates, as seen in the PBS debate, was the complete opposite in 2015 when Reinert, a state senator then, endorsed…

Barges, Equipment Move In On $18M DECC Seawall Reconstruction Project

DULUTH, Minn. – The $18 million reconstruction of the seawall behind the DECC is officially underway. Rendering of what the reconstruction project will look like when complete Construction crews have moved in on land and by barge. The rebuilding will happen throughout the winter. The new seawall is expected to be complete by the end of next year 2024. The…

Naked Man Shuts Down Traffic On I-35

DULUTH, Minn. — A naked man caused a big backup on  I-35 in Duluth Sunday. Video from a driver showed a man running onto I-35 without any clothes near 27th Avenue West. Traffic was blocked off for some time until the man could be detained and transported to a local hospital for an evaluation. Nobody was hurt. Categories: Minnesota, News,…

Former Duluth Mayor Don Ness Endorses Larson For Reelection; Larson, Reinert Respond

DULUTH, Minn. — Former two-term Duluth Mayor Don Ness publicly endorsed Emily Larson for a third term Monday. Ness posted on social media saying Duluth is lucky to have “two good candidates” to choose from Nov. 7.   He called Larson’s opponent, Roger Reinert, a friend but said Larson has a better understanding of the city’s operational realities and knows how…

Longtime Duluth Prosecutor Jon Holets Named St. Louis County Deputy Attorney

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki has named her first-ever Deputy County Attorney to help manage all operations of her office in four locations. Veteran prosecutor Jon Holets has prosecuted high-profile cases for the county, like former Last Place on Earth owner Jim Carlson. Holets will now oversee personnel actions, coordination with law enforcement, the courts, and…

Canadian Labor Strike Halts Duluth-Superior Port, Seaway Operations

DULUTH, Minn. — A historic halt in seaway operations has sent a ripple effect throughout the system, including the Duluth-Superior Port. “Definitely a cascading series of effects throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system. It’s a system that it prides itself on reliability. And right now that reliability is being impaired by this unfortunate issue,” said Jayson Hron, communications…

Harbor Drive Temporarily Closes For DECC Seawall-Waterfront Reconstruction

DULUTH, Minn. — Harbor Drive behind the DECC is temporarily closing for the next 12 months. It’s all part of the seawall-waterfront reconstruction project. Crews will work through the winter to build the new seawall. When all is said and done in early 2025, the public space between the wall and the DECC will be transformed into a new plaza…

Patty Wetterling Releases Book About Son Jacob’s Kidnapping, Death; Book Event At Fitger’s Tuesday

(FOX 21/FOX 9) – It’s been more than three decades since 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was kidnapped at gunpoint while riding his bike home from a Minnesota convenience store. And now, Jacob’s mother, Patty, is putting pen to paper to honor her son’s life. Patty will make a stop at Fitger’s Tuesday, Oct. 24, as part of her book release, “Dear…

DLH: Direct Flights To Phoenix Not Returning, But Nonstop To Fort Myers Will

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth International Airport has announced direct flights from Duluth to Phoenix are not returning this winter. But Sun Country service is returning with direct service to Fort Myers, Florida. The non-stop flights will start back up Feb. 2 and end April 24. Sun Country service to Fort Myers will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays….

Seawall-Waterfront Reconstruction Behind DECC Officially Begins

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth city leaders, the Chamber, project managers and labor representatives were among the many taking the shovel to the dirt Monday for the official start of the seawall-waterfront reconstruction project behind the DECC. Mayor Emily Larson described the area behind the DECC “tired” and “old.”  But she said after years of planning, it’s now time for that…

West Duluth Business Club Hosts Duluth Candidate Forum, Promotes Civility

DULUTH, Minn. – The November election is less than a month away in Duluth, and the president of the West Duluth Business Club, Susan Coen, is promoting civility over divisiveness. Coen hosted a public form Wednesday for the West Duluth community involving the mayoral race between incumbent Emily Larson and opponent Roger Reinert, and the council races. Coen said she…

WI Sen. Agard’s Cannabis Bill: Prohibition Not Working With Marijuana

Wisconsin State Sen. Melissa Agard is continuing her push to legalize recreational marijuana for adults through a bill in the state legislature. Sen. Agard (D-Madison) told FOX 21 Wisconsin is living on a disserting island when it comes to cannabis.  Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan have laws on the books allowing adult-use of cannabis. Agard said the state is losing out…

Duluth Housing Development Stalled For 2nd Month At Former Seaway Hotel Site

DULUTH, Minn. – It was in the middle of August when FOX 21 broke the news about construction temporarily halted on a new housing development in Duluth’s Lincoln Park. Now two months later, the structure remains just a frame of wood. Merge Urban Development is behind the 45-unit apartment building (Urbane 218) on the former West Superior Street site of…