Author: Dan Hanger

Duluth Mayoral Race: Reinert No On Party Endorsements; Larson Says ‘Show Up’

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth mayoral candidate Roger Reinert, who has been endorsed by the DFL party in previous political elections, is bypassing any political party endorsements for his run for mayor. Reinert made the announcement Monday through a video release. He said the office of mayor should be non-partisan and open to all political views. Reinert said he’s had nearly…

‘Unprovoked Attack’ At Moose Lake Sex Offender Program Leaves Staff Member Seriously Injured

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – An “unprovoked attack” by a man committed to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program (MSOP) in Moose Lake on Monday left a staff member “seriously injured,” according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The call for help came in around 1:20 p.m. Carlton County sheriff’s deputies, Essentia Health Ambulance and Moose Lake fire personnel responded. The…

Duluth Native Curlers Secure Historic USA Gold Win Over Japan

DULUTH, Minn. – Two Duluth native curlers of Team USA have taken a historic gold win over Japan. Korey Dropkin, 27, and Corey Thiesse, 28, secured USA’s first mixed doubles curling world title Saturday in Gangneung, Korea. This is the same arena Team USA took home the gold in 2018. Team Coach Cathy Overton from Winnipeg and National Coach Phill…

Alborn Fire Chief Discusses Fatal Tanker Fire Response, Training

We’re learning more about that fatal fire fight involving a tanker that rolled Saturday in New Independence Township. The Alborn Fire Department was the lead agency and first on the scene. Fire Chief Jack Carlson told FOX 21 Sunday that the big rig was fully engulfed when his crews arrived on scene. The tanker spilled diesel and gasoline, according to…

Homegrown Music Festival Kicks Off For 25th Year

DULUTH, Minn. — Music is officially taking over Duluth for the 25th annual Homegrown Music Festival. Mayor Emily Larson kicked off the eight-day festival Sunday with a proclamation and toast at Hoops Brewing. Zeitgeist Teatro, Blacklist, Carmody Irish Pub and Pizza Luce are among the 36 venues supporting 171 sets through Sunday. There are dress-up themes every day. For more…

Superior Fire Dept. Takes Advantage Of Abandoned Building For Training

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The dangers of firefighting are very real, and that means dozens of hours of training every year. On Wednesday, Superior firefighters got an opportunity to get the best type of training possible by using an abandoned building. Superior fire officials said these opportunities don’t open up often, but when they do, they reschedule whatever they are doing…

Brother, Sister Of Fire Victims Thank Duluth Firefighters, Community

DULUTH, Minn. – A brother and sister who lost their sister and nephew in a weekend apartment fire in Duluth are thanking the firefighters who tried to save their relatives and for the outpouring of community support with the unexpected funeral costs. Fatal fires are not common in Duluth, especially fires that take the life of more than one person….

Victims In Fatal Duluth Apartment Fire Were Mother, Son; Firefighters Union Releases Statement

DULUTH, Minn. — We’re getting a new look at just how intense the flames were for firefighters and residents of an apartment building early Saturday morning in Duluth that killed two people and injured two firefighters. The fire victims were a mother and son who lived together, and that son, according to family, actually helped save lives in a 2020…

Last Twin Ports Grizzly’s To Close, ‘Boulder Tap House’ To Replace

SUPERIOR, Wis. — After 25 years in its Superior location, Grizzly’s Wood-Fired Grill is closing later this year to make way for a new eatery that owners hope will be just a popular, or more popular for the locals for years to come. Grizzly’s co-owner Rick Lampton told FOX 21 the 1969 building is starting to fail structurally. He said…

Man Accused Of Online Threats That Put Twin Ports On Alert Is Charged

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth man accused of Facebook threats earlier this week that put the Twin Ports on alert has been formally charged. Trevor Billings, 30, is facing two counts of Threats of Violence. Trevor Billings Each felony charge comes with a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The criminal complaint says Billings used a Facebook page called…

Mayor Again Asks Duluth Council To Avoid Budget Cuts, Use ‘Rescue Plan’ Funds

DULUTH, Minn. – Mayor Emily Larson is speaking up — through an email to councilors — about this year’s $383,000 in city wide budget cuts. She’s urging them to avoid the cuts by using American Rescue Plan funds. The $383,000 handles the one-percent levy cut the council made last December in Larson’s proposed property tax levy increase, which she said…

Mini Aussie Protects Younger Sister From Coyote In Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A doorbell camera in Superior picked up a pretty scary — but proud — moment for some dog parents. Coop Two Mini Aussies recently were approached by a coyote in Superior’s Billings Park neighborhood. Roxie Owner Dennis Johnson told FOX 21 that Coop, the 1.5-year-old male, sprang into action to protect his 10-month-old sister, Roxie. Coop did…

Duluth’s ‘Stepping On Up’ Launches ‘Safe Bay’ For Homeless Living In Vehicles

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth homeless organizations launched a first Monday night by creating a designated location for people who are living out of their vehicles to safely park overnight. The “Safe Bay” is an initiative through “Stepping On Up.” The Safe Bay is located in the Domiano Center’s parking lot.  It will be operating daily from 8 p.m. until 8…

Rising St. Louis River Closes Swinging Bridge At Jay Cooke State Park

CARLTON, Minn. – The St. Louis River within Jay Cooke State Park is raging so high that park officials have closed the Swinging bBridge to pedestrians for the time being. Visitors braved the snowy conditions Sunday to check out Mother’s Nature at her best there. Signs and tape blocked off the famous bridge over the St. Louis River until conditions…

Sleeping Bags, Tents Wanted As Duluth’s Warming Shelter Closes For Season

DULUTH, Minn. — The CHUM drop-in shelter in Duluth is asking for donated sleeping bags and tents as more of the homeless population will be out in the elements with Duluth’s Warming Shelter closing for the season on Monday. This comes as CHUM and MnDOT are planned to clean up a growing homeless encampment in Duluth sometime this week. The…

Homeless Encampment, Debris Grow Near Bayfront Park; Cleanup Effort Planned Next Week

DULUTH, Minn. — A homeless encampment across the street from Bayfront Park has grown into a public health hazard, and a CHUM official confirms MnDOT will be cleaning the property sometime next week. There are two growing sections along Railroad Street with about five tents and other items across from Playfront Park next to I35. The second section that’s most…

Dept. By Dept. Breakdown Of 2023 Duluth Budget Cuts, City’s Reason Why

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 has gathered new details involving city wide budget cuts in Duluth worth $383,000. City administration says the cuts involve this year’s status-quo budget. The Duluth Police Department, which has the largest portion of the city’s budget, is being asked to cut $98,402. The Duluth Fire Department holds the city’s second-largest portion of the yearly budget….

Wildfire Season Begins In Wisconsin, National Guard Deployed

Wildfire season has begun in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin National Guard Black Hawks have been deployed to multiple large wildfires in the southern part of the state. Juneau and Monroe counties are being affected. The Jake Pine Fire is affecting more than 80 acres, as of Thursday. Residents have been evacuated there. The fire is contained. The second fire is near…

Two Harbors Voters Choose Their Next Mayor

TWO HARBORS, Wis. — The people of Two Harbors headed to the polls Tuesday to vote for their next mayor. This comes after now-former embattled mayor Chris Swanson was recalled by more than 1,000 votes last august. The unofficial results Tuesday evening from the Clerk’s Office showed Lew Conner as the city’s next mayor. Conner is a retired educator who…

City Of Proctor: ‘Immediately Reduce Water Usage’; Sanitary Sewers, Manholes ‘Full’

PROCTOR, Minn. — The city of Proctor is asking citizens and businesses to immediately reduce water usage, according to a news release just before 8 p.m. Tuesday. This is not a boil notice. “At approximately 4:20 PM Tuesday, April 11, 2023 City of Proctor wastewater staff notified city administration the city sanitary sewer lines and manholes are full because of…

Duluth Fire Union: Budget Cuts Will Compromise Safety, Services

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Firefighters Local 101 is speaking out against budget cuts they say are being ordered by Mayor Emily Larson. Union V.P. Pete Johnson said the cuts will “have a negative impact on our firefighters’ safety and their ability to provide the level of service that the citizens of Duluth deserve.” The department is being asked to cut…

Two More Candidates Announce Run For Duluth City Council

DULUTH, Minn. — Two more people have announced they’re running for Duluth City Council seats. Wendy Durrwachter is running for Dist. 1. She says she will “focus on doing the work to ensure Duluth stays a great place to call home.” Durrwachter was a single mother of two who supported her family mostly as a restaurant server. She’s now a…

Discussions Continue Between City, P&R Properties To Keep ‘Lincoln Park Flats’ Fully Residential

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 learned Tuesday that the city of Duluth is continuing discussions with a one-year-old housing development to try to avoid the second floor from converting into boutique hotel units. The development is known as the Lincoln Park Flats on West Superior Street, which is owned by P&R Properties out of Duluth. The city remains firm that…

Protest Over Duluth Apartment Building’s Partial Hotel Changes While Management Gives New Insight

DULUTH, Minn. – People protested Monday outside a one-year-old housing development in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The protesters said they don’t want to see one floor of the building converted into boutique hotel units. Lincoln Park Flats on West Superior Street is owned by P&R Properties. Company officials told FOX 21 Monday that turning the second floor into 24 short-term…

Northern Lights Express Funding Closer Than Ever At MN Capitol

DULUTH, Minn. — The idea of a passenger rail service from the Twin Ports to Minneapolis has gained its best steam yet at the Minnesota Capitol. On Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee set aside full funding for the Northern Lights Express in its omnibus bill. The amount is $194,300,000, which is the state’s 20-percent share of the project. The remaining…

MN Film Festival Kicks Off With Duluth Screenwriter’s Film With The Late Bob Saget

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Film Festival opens Wednesday at Zeitgeist in downtown Duluth featuring independent films from our region and even around the world. On the FOX 21 morning show Tuesday, Duluth screenwriter Matthew Dressel gave us the lowdown on the festival and the festival’s opening film “Daniel’s Gotta Die,” which Dressel is the screenwriter for. The film features…

Miller Hill Mall Management Informs Tenants Of Phased Reopening After Roof Collapse

DULUTH, Minn. —  Management for the Miller Hill Mall sent the following email to its tenants late Sunday evening about the phased reopening of the mall property after a partial roof collapse last Tuesday shut the mall down. Thank you for your continued patience as we work to safely reopen the Miller Hill Mall. We are returning leased premises to…