Dan Hanger, Author at Fox21Online

‘Unattended Candle’ To Blame For Duluth House Fire

March 30, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Department responded to a fire at a single-family home around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on the 2600 block of East 5th Street. Officials say the fire started in an upstairs office. “The homeowner had attempted to extinguish the fire, but the large amount of smoke made the attempt unsuccessful,” said Assistant Chief Brent Consie. Damage…

Superior Firefighters Train For High-Risk Rescues Involving Their Own

The department's new storage facility was filled with fake smoke as part of the drill.

March 29, 2021

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior firefighters got some real-world, high-risk training Monday to help rescue one of their own if they were to ever go down during a fire. Fake smoke was pumped into a 5,000-square-foot storage facility behind the new fire station on Tower Avenue. The drill included a two-person team searching through zero visibility for a fellow firefighter in…

6 Arrested After Locking Themselves To Line 3 Construction Site

March 25, 2021

Dan Hanger,

FLOODWOOD TOWNSHIP, Minn. – Six people are under arrest in St. Louis County after locking themselves to the Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline construction site. The arrests happened Thursday in Floodwood Township, just east of the city of Floodwood. When deputies arrived, as many as 30 anti-pipeline demonstrators were there. Four of them were locked to heavy machinery and two…

4th Of July Fireworks To Return To Duluth’s Bayfront Park

March 22, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth City Council has approved up to $50,000 to bring back the annual 4th of July fireworks display down at Bayfront Park. The city and DECC will work together to adapt the event within Bayfront Park as new state and federal guidelines are released involving COVID. “We would encourage people to come up, we would encourage…

2 Boys Injured In UTV Accident

March 7, 2021

Dan Hanger,

GNESEN TOWNSHIP, Minn. – Two boys were injured Sunday when their side-by-side utility terrain vehicle flipped on the frozen Boulder Lake in Gnesen Township. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says a 12-year-old boy was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital by LifeLink III with a broken femur. A 6-year-old boy suffered a head laceration and was taken by Mayor Ambulance…

Johnson Still Undecided On Seeking Third Senate Term

March 7, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he remains undecided on whether to seek a third term and may not announce his plans for as much as a year, even though keeping his pledge not to run again is “probably my preference now.” However, Johnson said when he made the pledge in 2016 he didn’t envision that Democrats…

‘Change Is Coming’ To Grandma’s Sports Garden

March 3, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — Grandma’s Sports Garden in Canal Park is officially changing its business model — saying goodbye to the college nightclub weekend vibe that the pandemic sidelined and saying hello to a unique, rentable space for all types of special events. Brian Daugherty, president of Grandma’s Restaurant Company Pictures were posted on The Sports Garden’s social media Wednesday with…

BCA: Duluth Standoff Suspect Who Killed K9 Luna Incited 2 Shootouts With Police

David Conwell, 37, was shot and killed by St. Louis County deputies when he pointed his gun at them from the house's porch after prior gunfire, according to the BCA.

March 3, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – New details were released Tuesday involving what went down during last week’s fatal 20-hour standoff in Duluth that ended with the shooting deaths of police K9 Luna and the suspect. David Conwell | K9 Luna The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says David Conwell, 37, of Duluth shot at Duluth police two separate times before his third attempt…

Levi LaVallee’s Snowmobile Recovered From Duluth Harbor After Stunt Mishap

City spokesperson could not confirm Tuesday if scheduled stunts for the week are still happening for LaVallee's next video release.

March 2, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – It was unclear Tuesday if professional snowmobile stuntman Levi LaVallee is continuing production in Duluth this week after a stunt went bad in the Duluth Harbor Monday. www.facebook.com/LeviLaValleeFanPage/ LaVallee was jumping off the old Railroad Interstate Bridge and onto a barge on Rice’s Point when he somehow landed in the water. Firefighters on standby for the stunt…

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Snowmobile Stunt Rider Levi LaVallee Rescued in Duluth Harbor During Filming

March 1, 2021

Dan Hanger,

Facebook: @LeviLaValleeFanPage DULUTH, Minn. — Professional snowmobile stunt rider Levi LaVallee had to be rescued from the waters of the Duluth Harbor Monday during a filming shoot for an upcoming video. The water emergency happened at 4:35 p.m. off Rice’s Point. “The Duluth Fire Department was on scene as a precautionary measure and was able to retrieve Levi in under…

Snowmobile Stunt Rider Shuts Down Lake Avenue For Filming

February 28, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Professional snowmobile stunt rider Levi LaVallee shut down one of Duluth’s steepest streets Sunday to film some of his skills. Police closed down sections of Lake Avenue for LaVallee to set up ramps for some jumps. LaVallee is in Duluth all week to film with Red Bull as part of a video release to the world on…

9 Residents Displaced in Downtown Virginia Apartment Fire

February 28, 2021

Dan Hanger,

Courtesy: Northland FireWire VIRGINIA, Minn. – An apartment went up in flames in downtown Virginia Sunday morning. Fire officials tell FOX 21 nine residents were inside at the time of the fire. All got out uninjured, including one of the tenants who needed to be rescued by firefighters. Two cats were also safely rescued. The fire was reported around 10…

Over Half Of Wisconsinites Age 65 And Up Have Begun Vaccines

February 28, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – State data shows over half of Wisconsin residents age 65 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the state is on track to begin vaccinating teachers, child care workers and other eligible groups Monday. Some of the newly eligible groups include public transit workers, utility workers and food supply chain…

US Bombs Facilities In Syria Used By Iran-Backed Militia

February 25, 2021

Dan Hanger,

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. military conducted airstrikes against facilities in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said were used by Iran-backed militia groups, in response to recent attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq. The airstrikes were announced by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who said the action was authorized by President Joe Biden. Kirby said the U.S. attacks destroyed multiple facilities…

Adventure Seekers Take On Lake Superior’s Ice Chunks

February 24, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Two guys decided to have a little fun on Lake Superior Wednesday. Cheryl Deloach captured video up the North Shore past Brighton Beach of two guys in their wet suits hopping from ice chunk to ice chunk. They even jumped in the water a few times. Cheryl says she was “pretty impressed with them! It looked like…

70-Year-Old Pedestrian Struck By Hit-And-Run Driver

Victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

February 23, 2021

Dan Hanger,

RICE LAKE, Minn. – A pedestrian was fighting for her life Tuesday night after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Rice Lake. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the 70-year-old woman was struck by an SUV around 4:30 p.m. on the 5000 block of Arnold Road. She was hospitalized with a life-threatening head injury. The 33-year-old male driver…

Snowmobile Accident Kills Man In Iron County

February 21, 2021

Dan Hanger,

TOWN OF KNIGHT, Wis. – A 51-year-old man is dead after a snowmobile accident in the Town of Knight, which is in Iron County, Wisconsin. The Sheriff’s Office said the snowmobile left Duck Lake Road and struck a tree. The accident was reported around 11:15 p.m. Saturday. The name of the victim was not immediately released. Categories: News, News –…

Aerial Lift Bridge Maintenance Work This Week

February 21, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Routine maintenance work on the Aerial Life Bridge will continue Monday, Feb. 22 and run through Thursday, Feb. 25. Traffic across the bridge will be limited to one lane at times. Crews will be working in 10-hour shifts to complete the job as soon as possible to minimize the number of disruptions to neighboring communities, according to…

Appeals Court Denies DNR Request To Stop Wisconsin Wolf Hunt

February 21, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin Court of Appeals has dismissed a Department of Natural Resources request to stop the wolf hunt, which is scheduled to begin next week. The DNR was appealing a court order that requires a hunt this month. But the appeals court says that the order was not a final judgment, so the appellate court has…

Wisconsin Lists No Virus Deaths For 1st Time Since September

February 21, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MILWAUKEE (AP) – The daily update on COVID-19 numbers posted by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services listed no deaths for the first time since late September. Health officials on Sunday confirmed 403 new cases, the lowest count since 324 positive tests were registered in late June. The new case average continued its decline with a mark of 610, the…

Minnesota Public School Enrollment Drops 2% Amid Pandemic

February 21, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Public school enrollment in Minnesota has dropped by about 17,000 students as families turned to home schooling, private schools and delaying entry into kindergarten amid the pandemic. The figures from the Minnesota Department of Education represented a 2% drop. Because of the per-pupil formula the state uses to allocate school funding, that aid will drop by about…

Wisconsin DNR To Recommend Harvest Quota Of 200 Wolves

February 14, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The state Department of Natural Resources says it will propose a harvest quota of 200 wolves when the the group’s policy board meets Monday to discuss launching a wolf hunt immediately. The Journal Sentinel reports the agency considered several factors in coming up with the number. Those include the most recent population estimate, the public response…

Preliminary Data Shows Temp Of 50 Below In Boundary Waters

February 14, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A weather station in the Boundary Waters recorded a temperature of 50 degrees below zero on Saturday, which will be a record low for Minnesota for the day of Feb. 13 if it is verified. The 50-below zero temperature was recorded at a station about 25 miles east of Ely. The overall state record low is 60…

Minneapolis To Spend $6.4M To Recruit More Police Officers

February 14, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minneapolis will spend $6.4 million to hire dozens of police officers, even as some City Council members and activist groups are advocating to replace the police department following George Floyd’s death. The council voted unanimously on Friday to approve the additional funding, which was requested by police. The department says it only has 638 officers available to…

Duluth City Crews Tackle 5 Water Main Breaks In Less Than 72 Hours

February 7, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Officials with the city of Duluth said crews have dealt with five water main breaks in less than 72 hours. The most recent break happened Sunday evening on the 2800-block of Hagberg Street in the Piedmont neighborhood. As of around 9:30 p.m., a city spokesperson said “crews have shut off the water and are in the process…

Duluth Firefighters Battle 2 Fires During Deep Freeze

February 7, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth firefighters battled two fires within 24 hours – and during the city’s coldest air of the year. The first fire happened around 12:15 a.m. Sunday on the 2200-block of West 2nd Street. A garage caught on fire. Officials believe the fire was caused by leaking propane near a heat source. Nobody was injured. Lakeside fire. The…

Evers’ Budget Proposal Would Legalize Recreational Marijuana

February 7, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers says his budget plan will include a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana. The Journal Sentinel reports that the idea will likely be blocked by the Republican-controlled Legislature but could be a catalyst to allow the use of medical marijuana. Evers says the recreational marijuana measure could generate $166 million in revenue that…

Gov. Walz Deploys Guard For Chauvin Trial Security

February 7, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz has authorized the Minnesota National Guard to deploy in preparation for potential civil unrest during the upcoming trials of four ex-Minneapolis police officers charged in the killing of George Floyd last summer. The Democratic governor’s executive order authorizes the deployment of an unspecified number of troops in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They would serve…

Hospitals Criticize Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

February 7, 2021

Dan Hanger,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota hospitals are criticizing the state’s coronavirus vaccine distribution system as inequitable, leaving some clinics and hospitals without doses for older, vulnerable patients. The Minnesota Hospital Association, in a letter to state health officials, says some clinics haven’t received vaccine doses in days. In January, the state opened up vaccinations to people 65 and older…

Superior Police Chief Talks 2021 Priorities For Department

February 4, 2021

Dan Hanger, Marcus Asmus,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior Police Chief Nicholas Alexander sat down with FOX 21’s Dan Hanger to talk about his priorities for 2021, which include an increased focus on the department’s community policing efforts while investing in a virtual training simulator for officers. The company behind the simulator is called Survivr – and Alexander says his department will be the first…

Duluth Public Schools Announces Plan For Secondary In-Person Learning

February 4, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Public Schools has announced some in-person classes will return next month for middle and high school students. Supt. John Magas says the update comes at the approval of the state health and education departments. “We learned a lot over the past nearly six months, from our own experience with elementary in-person and from other districts,” Magas…

Duluth Police Chief Talks 2021 Priorities For Department

February 3, 2021

Dan Hanger, Marcus Asmus,

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken sat down with FOX 21’s Dan Hanger to talk about his priorities for 2021 after a year of so many challenges. The goal this year is to try to get face-to-face interactions with police back — when safe from COVID — while taking a big step to modernize the police department even…

MN Court of Appeals Denies Lawsuit Against Line 3

February 2, 2021

Dan Hanger,

(Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP File) A Minnesota Court of Appeals judge has thrown out a lawsuit that was trying to stop the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline reconstruction project. Several activist and Indigenous groups were challenging a recent permit approval by saying the pipeline threatens Native American waters and climate change. Enbridge says it’s pleased with the court’s decision but…

Police: 2 Hurt in Wisconsin Mall Shooting

January 31, 2021

Dan Hanger,

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (AP) – Police say two people were injured Sunday in a shooting at a Wisconsin mall and the suspect remains on the loose. Police were called to the Fox River Mall in Grand Chute, a suburb of Appleton, at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Grand Chute Police Officer Travis Waas said two people were injured in the shooting….

Minnesotans Received Emails Canceling COVID Vaccine In Error

January 31, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Some Minnesotans enrolled in the state’s pilot COVID-19 vaccination program got multiple emails and texts that wrongly told them their appointments were canceled. State health officials say nearly everyone who got the erroneous message has been notified that their appointments are indeed confirmed. The messages came Saturday from the state’s vendor, Primary Bio, and were intended for…

Wisconsin Tops 1,000 Daily Virus Cases, Lists 3 New Deaths

January 31, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Wisconsin has recorded more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases and three new deaths due to complications from the coronavirus. The update released Sunday by state health officials increases the total number of positive tests to 542,415 and cumulative deaths to 5,896 since the start of the pandemic. The COVID Tracking Project ranks Wisconsin 39th in the country…

Minnesota Shows Nearly 1,000 New Virus Cases, 13 New Deaths

January 31, 2021

Dan Hanger,

Minnesota health officials are confirming 996 new COVID-19 cases and 13 new deaths to due complications from the coronavirus. The update released Sunday increased the total number of positive tests to 461,807 and cumulative deaths to 6,200 since the start of the pandemic. The COVID Tracking Project reports that Minnesota 48th in the country for new cases per capita in…

Judge Orders City To Secure Fire-Damaged Kozy; Demolition, Restoration Still On Table

January 27, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — The condemned Kozy building in downtown Duluth is saved again from demolition by the city — at least for now. St. Louis County Judge Eric Hylden has ordered the city of Duluth and the Duluth Economic Development Authority (DEDA) to immediately install braces against the walls of the building damaged by fire last November. After that, the…

Duluth Officer Charged In Shooting Wants Case Dismissed, County Attorney Disagrees

January 25, 2021

Dan Hanger,

2015 photo on City of Rosemount’s website congratulating Officer Tyler Leibfried on his new job with the Duluth Police Department. DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin is opposing a Duluth police officer’s request to dismiss charges against him in a shooting that injured an unarmed man. Tyler Leibfried, 28, is facing two felony firearm charges, including one…

Duluth Police Begin Vaccinations, Mourn Colleague Who Died Of COVID-19

January 19, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — Members of the Duluth Police Department have begun getting their COVID-19 vaccinations as they mourn one of the colleagues who recently died of the virus. Some of the department’s employees started getting their shots this past weekend. Shelly Meixsel A spokesperson said while the department is not requiring employees to get vaccinated or report when they do,…

Officials: Extremist Threat To Minnesota Capitol Has Faded

January 17, 2021

Dan Hanger,

Credit: KMSP/FOX9 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota’s public safety commissioner says authorities now believe there is no credible, immediate threat from extremists to Minnesota in the runup to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. But Commissioner John Harrington says law enforcement agencies won’t be taking any chances. The FBI this week warned of potential attacks at state capitols following the insurrection at the…

Minneapolis Council To Try Again With Plan To Replace Police

January 17, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Some Minneapolis City Council members are preparing a new plan that seeks to replace the city’s police department in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Phillipe Cunningham, Steve Fletcher and Jeremy Schroeder are working on a proposal to create a new public safety department that removes the police department as a standalone department from the city charter….

Wisconsin’s Average Daily Virus Cases Remain Mostly Constant

January 17, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Wisconsin health officials are confirming 1,606 new cases of the coronavirus, out of nearly 7,000 people tested in the last day. Nearly 522,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. The COVID Tracking Project reports that over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases in the state…

Minnesota Lists 1,364 New Virus Cases, 40 Additional Deaths

January 17, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota health officials are confirming 1,364 new cases of COVID-19 and 40 additional deaths due to complications from the virus. The COVID Tracking Project reports that the state’s death count is the 22nd highest in the country overall and the 28th highest per capita at about 107 deaths per 100,000 people. State officials said 24 of the…

Sheriff Litman Ready For Any Threat To St. Louis County Amid FBI’s Inauguration Warning

January 13, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman says he’s confident his office is prepared to handle any potential violence against county government buildings, amid an FBI warming of “armed protests” at all 50 state capitols before, during or even after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. Litman told FOX 21’s Dan Hanger Wednesday that his deputies are on a “heightened…

Gov. Walz To Provide Update Wednesday About COVID-19 Restrictions

January 4, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz will be holding a press call on Wednesday to discuss the next steps in the state’s response to COVID-19, including an update on restrictions for indoor dining. In a media advisory Monday evening, the Governor’s Office said, “As COVID-19 numbers improve following the pause on activities around the holidays, Governor Tim Walz will hold…

Superior Police Investigate Shooting Incident Inside Gas Station

December 30, 2020

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior police are investigating a shooting incident at the Kwik Trip on Hammond Avenue. Police were dispatched to the gas station at 623 Hammond Avenue around 5:45 p.m. after a report of a “possible discharge of a firearm inside the store,” said Sgt. Marc Letendre, police information officer. The preliminary investigation indicates a single shot was fired…

Semi Overturns on Highway 61

December 30, 2020

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – A semi lost control and overturned Wednesday afternoon on a somewhat snowy Highway 61 in Duluth. The Minnesota State Patrol responded, along with some other big rigs to help get that truck out of the way. A Department of Transportation employee on scene told FOX 21 the semi was carrying a heavy load of paper rolls at…

Duluth Police Investigate 41st Shooting of 2020; Victim Shot Multiple Times

December 29, 2020

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police are investigating a shooting that injured a person in the Central Hillside neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. The shooting was reported around 2:40 p.m. in an apartment on the corner of Lake Avenue and West 4th Street. “Upon arrival officers located one victim with multiple gunshot wounds,” according to Ingrid Hornibrook, police information officer. The condition, age…

Central Hillside Building Blocked Off By Duluth Police Tape

December 29, 2020

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police released new details around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday involving a shooting that injured a person in the Central Hillside neighborhood. The shooting was reported around 2:40 p.m. in an apartment on the corner of Lake Avenue and West 4th Street. “Upon arrival officers located one victim with multiple gunshot wounds,” according to Ingrid Hornibrook, police information…

Author: Dan Hanger

The department's new storage facility was filled with fake smoke as part of the drill.

David Conwell, 37, was shot and killed by St. Louis County deputies when he pointed his gun at them from the house's porch after prior gunfire, according to the BCA.

City spokesperson could not confirm Tuesday if scheduled stunts for the week are still happening for LaVallee's next video release.

Victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

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