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…
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, 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…
DULUTH, Minn. — Do you like the musical “Mamma Mia”? How about the 70s? Well, in about a week, you can mix the two together for a two-hour concert called “MANIA – The ABBA Tribute!” The excitement takes the stage at the DECC’s Symphony Hall Friday, Oct. 20th. The show is a recreation of one of Abba’s most memorable concerts,…
Joan Obey1938 – 2023 (FOX 21) Former longtime U.S. Representative Davey Obey, 85, who served northwest Wisconsin’s 7th District for four decades, announced late Tuesday that his wife, Joan Obey, died peacefully Sunday morning at the age of 85. Courtesy: Facebook Obey, who was honored in 2022 for being the longest-serving Wisconsin congressman, posted on social media shortly after 9…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s homeless advocates and the non-profits they work for say chronic homelessness has hit crisis proportions, and they need help to turn the problem around. “Shelters are overrun and as a consequence people have to be outside,” said John Cole, executive director of CHUM. Cole said there’s not enough affordable housing in Duluth to meet the demand…
The Minnesota Twins unfortunately lost to the Houston Astros Tuesday, but either way, the Twins got one big salute during the National Anthem. As part of the pre-game ceremonies, the Minnesota National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing conducted a flyover with two F-16 Fighting Falcons at Target Field. Click the video above to see the Falcons in action! Categories: Minnesota, News,…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Superior Police Chief Nicholas Alexander, who has been with the police department since 1998, is preparing to retire from the department. Alexander was just 26 when he joined the department as a police officer before climbing the ranks as captain of investigations and taking the chief position in 2015. Under Alexander’s leadership, he had a lot of…
DULUTH, Minn. – The board of directors at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center released an extensive public statement Monday on the DECC’s website explaining the entertainment venue’s financial situation, the responsibilities of the board and how they plan to move forward. The statement also provides a ‘question and answer’ section to help the public understand the challenges and successes at…
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel, as the death toll rose into the hundreds Sunday. “This was a planned, coordinated attack by Hamas, which is a terrorist organization, which is affiliated with Iran. And this has been Israel’s biggest fear because they are a democracy in a really tough neighborhood,” said Sen. Klobuchar. Klobuchar said Americans…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Twin Ports Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which has endorsed three Duluth city council candidates for the upcoming November election, is calling for support to “take to the streets to join a protest for peace and against funding the Israeli state.” The DSA released the following statement Saturday: “DSA is steadfast in expressing our solidarity with…
DULUTH, Minn. – AFSCME Council 5, the city of Duluth’s largest bargaining unit representing employees like plow drivers, librarians and utility workers, has chosen not to endorse any mayoral candidate for the upcoming November election. In a statement to FOX 21, AFSCME said: “While our union members have endorsed in this race in previous election years, our members have decided…
DULUTH, Minn. — There’s been a lot of attention on the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center over the past couple weeks involving financial troubles and job eliminations, like 28-year employee Jeff Stark. DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman, who has been on the job for 2.5 years, has said expenses are too high when it comes to increased wages and replacing failing…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – A woman was killed over the weekend after being struck by a tree branch while riding on a side-by-side ATV. The accident happened around 7:40 p.m. Saturday on an ATV trail located south of Hibbing, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. The 38-year-old woman from Meadowlands was struck in the chest by the…
DULUTH, Minn. — The summer season has past and so has another delay in a major seawall-waterfront reconstruction project behind the DECC. But, FOX 21 confirmed Thursday that construction is officially getting underway later this month. Rendering of what the area will look like come 2025 Jim Filby Williams, the city’s director of public administration, said all federal and state…
DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 has learned that multiple job eliminations have begun at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), just one week since Executive Director Dan Hartman asked and received a $1 million emergency line of credit from the city council. DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman during an interview with FOX 21 Sept. 24 Hartman said at the time…
DULUTH, Minn. — A water main break on Park Point has affected more than half of the residents there. Around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the city of Duluth said operations crews were responding to the break, which turned off water from 2230 Minnesota Avenue to the end of Park Point. “The duration of the repair is unknown at this time. Crews…
DULUTH, Minn. — A now-former youth pastor at The Vineyard Church in Duluth is charged with 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct involving five girls. Jackson Gatlin’s mugshot The criminal complaints against 35-year-old Jackson Gatlin say the victims were 12 to 16 years old at the time of the offenses. The complaints say Gatlin was between the ages of 19…
DULUTH, Minn. — Separate healthcare mergers for Essentia Health and St. Luke’s are getting a closer review by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Ellison announced Tuesday it’s his responsibility to consider whether a healthcare transaction is in the public interest, and seek court intervention if he finds that it is not. Essentia Health is in the process of merging with…
SAGINAW, Minn. – A day of Partridge hunting turned into an eye-popping view of a Barred Owl for a Minnesota teen. Taylin Brouse, 17, was hunting in Saginaw when he spotted the owl and was able to capture a few pictures. Nice work, Taylin! Categories: Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
MOOSE LAKE, Minn. — A 95-year-old woman from Moose Lake got a big birthday surprise Sunday in the form of a parade! Eleanor “Tootie” Duckal A fire truck lead the way of the parade full of family and friends. Eleanor “Tootie” Dockal was all smiles from all of the attention. Her granddaughter, Madeline, said Eleanor still drives and loves to…
SILVER BAY, Minn. — What a way to retire! Custodian Joe Preston got an earful — in a good way — from students Thursday as he left the halls of Lake Superior School District for the last time. Principal Dan Johnson: “Joe Preston has been with Lake Superior School District for 11 years. He took care of everything from general…
A Wisconsin senator is exploring Minnesota’s cannabis legalization efforts in hopes of changing the law in the state. Sen. Melissa Agard, a democrat from Madison, visited Minnesota lawmakers Thursday to talk about their successes around legalizing marijuana. Sen. Agard released a statement saying in part: “Visiting with neighboring legislators who led the charge to legalize cannabis in Minnesota was invigorating….
DULUTH, Minn. — Disappointment from the crew at Bentleyville Tour of Lights, which has become victim again to vandals before it’s even set up for the season. Vandals destroyed thousands of dollars of cords and equipment from the 128-foot Bentleyville tree. Crews noticed the damage while starting to set up Bayfront for the popular display. The tree structure was stored…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — A truck driver was recovering from his injuries Wednesday after being struck by a train in Ault Township. The accident happened around noon Wednesday in the 1800 block of Brimson Road. When deputies arrived, logs were all over the roadway and tracks. The 57-year-old semi driver from Two Harbors was taken to St. Luke’s in…
Caretakers from the Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota are back on home base with new rescues after the vehicle they were transporting the wild animals in hit a deer so hard the air bags deployed. Thankfully, none of the rescued cats or the sanctuary staff was injured. The accident happened around 5 a.m. Wednesday in Missouri. But by the evening…
DULUTH, Minn. – The DECC is getting its $1 million safety loan from the city of Duluth, but councilors don’t want it to happen again. DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman has said the entertainment venue’s current business model needs to be reimagined. Hartman has been the DECC’s new leader since 2021. He said the DECC’s reserves are at around $891,000,…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth School District is asking for the community’s patience as it continues to investigate Duluth East head football coach Joe Hietala. Duluth police said Hietala was asked to leave school grounds Saturday morning after complaints by parents and staff that he was “intoxicated.” Police confirmed he had “signs of impairment.” Hietala voluntarily left on foot without…
DULUTH, Minn. – The staff at Grandma’s Restaurant up by the Miller Hill Mall spent the day mopping up Monday after flood waters moved inside Sunday. Water surrounds the restaurant along Mall Drive Sunday. Tony Boen, the restaurant’s director of operations, said the staff started getting chairs and other items off the floor Sunday morning when they saw the water…
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth East High School’s longtime head football coach, Joe Hietala, has been placed on administrative leave due to what the district calls “alleged violations of our polices and ethics.” The district said Coach Hietala, who had been in that position since 2002, will be prohibited from participating in any coaching activities, attending team events, or having any…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth City Council will decide whether to loan the DECC a $1 million line of credit. This comes as the DECC’s executive director, Dan Hartman, said the entertainment venue’s current business model needs to be reimagined. Hartman has been the DECC’s leader since 2021. He said the DECC’s reserves are around $891,000, which is usually at…
DULUTH, Minn. — Inches of rain fell across portions of Duluth Saturday night into Sunday. Roads were flooded up by the Miller Hill Mall, and St. Louis County reported multiple washed-out roads. Click the video above for more. Categories: Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
This weekend’s heavy rainfall has led to flooding in several areas of southern St. Louis County, especially at the intersection of Maple Grove Road and Mall Drive in Duluth, which has remained closed Sunday. Several other lesser traveled county roads also have been damaged due to washouts, including portions of: Cant Road south of Lismore Road Pioneer Junction Road between…
DULUTH, Minn. — The city of Duluth continues to feel the effects of heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours that has caused creeks, streams and some sanitary sewers to overflow. The information below is a news release from the city about road closures, as of 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Chester Creek: -Niagara Street -Norton Road at the crossing nearest…
Barry family DULUTH, Minn. — It’s been about a year and a half since the Barry family was killed in their Duluth home by a relative. And now, the community is close to celebrating improvements at Chester Park in the name of the Barry’s daughters – Shiway and Sadie. The community helped raise $22,000 to install a new spinner element,…
DULUTH, Minn. – New workforce housing is coming to a prominent location in downtown Duluth. But it won’t be in the form of a new building. Duluth-based Titanium Partners will soon be transforming the historic Ordean Building across from Maurices on West Superior Street into 35 new apartments, according to Brian Forcier, owner of Titanium Partners. The units will be…
DULUTH, Minn. – A downtown Duluth housing study shows the potential for as many as 2,500 new housing units within the next five years. It’s a welcomed projection for a downtown that’s seen undesirable vacancy rates since the pandemic, like other cities have experienced across the country. The outside firm, Zimmerman-Volk Associates, presented its findings publicly Tuesday, which shows downtown…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Playhouse — one of the nation’s oldest non-profit theatres — has officially been handed the key to the historic NorShor Theatre as the new owners of the state-of-the-art facility. Sherman Associates, the developer that took on the $29.5 million overhaul of the theatre in 2017, officially closed its chapter on the project Tuesday with a…
DULUTH, Minn. — Believe it or not, it’s time to talk Christmas and Bentleyville Tour of Lights! On Tuesday, some of the storage trucks and equipment – even some decorations — were already in the parking lot at Bayfront Festival Park. The first day of volunteering starts this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. That schedule will continue every…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Superior Mayor Jim Paine is touting his 2024 budget proposal as the largest public investment in the city in decades. Mayor Paine on Tuesday said the city is well positioned to invest in city services and public infrastructure, while decreasing taxes. Paine said the growing local economy, a restructured budget he and his predecessor designed to function…
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber have joined forces to help rebuild Duluth’s aging air traffic control tower. The two have sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his team to urge the FAA to expedite any reviews and approvals necessary for the Duluth International Airport to pursue a federal grant to help get a…
DULUTH, Minn. — Another growing homeless encampment in Duluth got torn down and moved out Monday. It comes as local and state leaders try to strike a balance between public health and safety, and caring for those facing their worst days without a roof over their heads. The lack of affordable housing in Duluth continues to be highlighted by the…
TWO HARBORS, Minn. — Two Harbors police are investigating a “shots fired” incident near townhomes. Police responded to the Rustic Creek Townhomes around 7 p.m. Sunday for the report of gunshots. Police called in assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office to conduct a search of the immediate and surrounding…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department issued an update Monday involving an assault of a woman at the Rustic Bar in West Duluth. Investigators reviewed surveillance video from inside the bar, which they say shows two females getting into a physical fight with each other before two men get involved by assaulting the 39-year-old female victim. The woman went…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police are investigating a bar fight in West Duluth that sent one woman to the hospital for injuries to her head and face. The call for help came in around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the Rustic Bar on the 400 block of N. Central Avenue. “Initial investigation shows that a fight occurred between two…
LAKE VERMILION, Minn. — Nighttime darkness, speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in a boating accident on Lake Vermilion over the weekend, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said two people from the Twin Cities were vacationing on Lake Vermilion when their pontoon slammed into Rainbow Island. The female passenger was thrown from the…
The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating a hit-and-run in Itasca County that killed a pedestrian. The incident happened between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday on Highway 6 between Highway 2 and County Road 19 near Deer River Township. The State Patrol is asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Virginia District Investigator at (218) 735-3729. Officials…
DULUTH, Minn. — The weather was perfect for this weekend’s NorthShore Inline Marathon — the largest of its kind in North America. Tone Coughlin Photography The 26.2-mile course is much like the course for Grandma’s Marathon, starting in Two Harbors and taking racers along the Scenic North Shore before entering the tunnels of I-35 and ending by the DECC. The…
A Hibbing man who admitted to killing his girlfriend in 2022 will spend the next 8.5 years in prison for the crime In August, Eric James Jarvis, 47, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in connection to the death of 43-year-old Kari Jo Petrich. Police arrested Jarvis in June of 2022 after he called 911 about the woman’s death. When police…
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s mayoral candidates were side-by-side Wednesday for their first candidate forum ahead of the general election Nov. 7. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and the Duluth News Tribune are behind the forum. The mayoral race between incumbent Emily Larson and Roger Reinert is clearly the top of the closely watched races in Duluth, among council and…
