Dan Hanger, Author at Fox21Online

One-On-One: Mayor Larson Explains Choosing Minneapolis Agency Over ‘Visit Duluth’ For Tourism Marketing

Visit Duluth is being offered a significantly smaller second contract for "convention and visitor center operations."

August 11, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – After 85 years as Duluth’s main tourism marketing arm, Visit Duluth will no longer have that title come 2022 — pending council’s approval — as Mayor Emily Larson continues to scrutinize how millions of dollars in tourism tax revenue is handed out every year. Larson made the big announcement Tuesday by saying her team has chosen Minneapolis-based…

Larson Chooses Minneapolis Agency Over ‘Visit Duluth’ For City’s Main Marketing Contract

Visit Duluth is being offered a significantly smaller second contract for "convention and visitor center operations."

August 10, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – After 85 years as Duluth’s main tourism marketing arm, Visit Duluth will no longer have that title come 2022, as Mayor Emily Larson continues to scrutinize how millions of dollars in tourism tax revenue is used every year. Mayor Larson made the announcement Tuesday saying her team has chosen Minneapolis-based Bellmont Partners and its partner, Lawrence &…

Evers OKs Use-Of-Force Bill, Vetoes Plan To Defund Cities

August 8, 2021

Dan Hanger,

(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Gov. Tony Evers has signed a bill that establishes a uniform use-of-force policy for police across Wisconsin. Evers announced he signed the bill on Friday. Under the bill, police can use force based on a situation’s circumstances and whether a suspect is fleeing or resisting arrest. Deadly force is…

Duluth Police Union Calls Lack Of Qualified Officer Candidates A ‘Crisis’

July 25, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s police union is calling the struggle to hire qualified officers a “crisis” for the police department and the city. In a post on Local 807’s Facebook page, the union said they recently were not able to fill all open police officer positions because there weren’t enough qualified candidates interested in working for the Duluth Police Department….

Authorities Identify Victims In Wisconsin Triple Homicide

July 25, 2021

Dan Hanger,

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) – Authorities have identified the victims of a triple homicide in far western Wisconsin. The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office says the bodies of 24-year-old Peng Lor, 24-year-old Nemo Yang and 23-year-old Trevor Maloney were discovered shortly before 5 a.m. Friday by two workers of the Milestone Quarry. The quarry is located near West Salem, about…

Nearly 3 Dozen Athletes With Wisconsin Ties In Tokyo Games

July 25, 2021

Dan Hanger,

Credit: Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Nearly three dozen athletes with ties to Wisconsin will be going for the gold as the Olympics get underway in Tokyo. The Badger State athletes will represent Team USA in competition that includes trap shooting, track and field, rowing and sailing. Alie Rusher, from West Bend, will be participating in the quadruple sculls…

Visit Duluth, DECC Among Finalists For City’s 2022 Destination Marketing Contract

July 14, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth’s main tourism marketing arm since 1935, known as Visit Duluth, is a finalist for next year’s one-year contract, as Mayor Emily Larson looks to possibly go a different direction with a mission to “elevate the brand of Duluth,” according to the Request for Qualifications document put out by the city. The Mayor’s Office…

Ammonia Leak Forces Evacuation Of DECC, Curling Club

July 13, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – An ammonia leak forced an evacuation Tuesday evening at the DECC, according to Duluth Fire Chief Shawn Krizay. The fire department got the call for help around 7 p.m. Tuesday for the leak at the Curling Club. Crews confirmed the leak and began evacuating the Curling Club, DECC and Pioneer Hall. Hazmat crews were called in to…

Douglas Co. Maintenance Employee Killed While Working In Government Center

July 12, 2021

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. — There were heavy hearts in Superior Monday after learning a Douglas County employee was killed while working in the Government Center over the weekend. The employee worked with the “Buildings and Grounds” crew. The work-related accident happened sometime Sunday in the Government Center building on the corner of Hammond Avenue and 14th Street. The name of the…

Employee Stabbed ‘Multiple Times’ In Babbitt, 2 Arrested

"The victim and the suspect were acquainted," according to Police Chief Mike McGregor.

July 12, 2021

Dan Hanger,

BABBITT, Minn. – Police in Babbitt have arrested two men after a woman was stabbed multiple times Saturday evening inside a local business. Police Chief Mike McGregor says the call for help came in around 7:45 p.m. Saturday. While officers were responding to the scene, a shooting was reported in the same area. McGregor said nobody was shot and both…

Man Arrested After ‘Shots Fired’ Incident In Virginia

July 11, 2021

Dan Hanger,

VIRGINIA, Minn. – A man is under arrest after a “shots fired” incident in the city of Virginia over the weekend. The shooting was reported around 4:20 p.m. Saturday on the 1200 block of 5th Avenue North. When officers arrives, they were informed by witnesses that the shooter left the scene and went into a residence on the 500 block…

Hibbing Police K9 Ready For A&E’s ‘America’s Top Dog’

July 11, 2021

Dan Hanger,

HIBBING, Minn. (FOX 9) – Chase, a police K9 from Hibbing, Minnesota is one of 16 Police K9s selected to compete in this season of A&E’s competition show “America’s Top Dog.” Chase was selected out of thousands of dogs after his handler, Hibbing Police Officer Joey Burns, put in an application after watching an episode of the show. “I was sitting there…

Blow-Up Movie Screen On Irvin, Projection Art Just A Few Ideas From New DECC Exec. Dir.

July 11, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Entertainment Convention Center’s newly hired executive director, Dan Hartman, says he’s ready to rebrand the venue inside and out to become truly the central hub of Duluth. Hartman say his leadership team at the DECC is mostly made up of 20-plus-year employees. They’ve been brainstorming on ways to bring new life to the DECC, like creating…

Campfires Banned in Boundary Waters, Fire Danger High

July 11, 2021

Dan Hanger,

Delta Fire ELY, Minn. (AP) – Forest Service officials have temporarily banned campfires in the Superior National Forest, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and closed some lakes and access points because of four wildfires burning in the area. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reporting high or very high wildfire danger across most of northern Minnesota. The…

Minnesota To Close All But One Mass Vaccination Sites

July 11, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota is planning to close all but one of its COVID-19 mass vaccination sites by Aug. 7. A statement from Gov. Tim Walz says the state will focus on the several hundred smaller vaccination sites around the state, at pharmacies and health care providers. The state’s COVID-19 vaccination rate has been stagnant in recent weeks, at about…

DECC Needs New Energy, New Use Of Spaces Inside — And Outside, Says New Exec. Dir.

Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman has his eyes on Harbor Drive behind the DECC for live entertainment, food trucks and special events, among other ideas.

July 7, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Excitement is building at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center as its new executive director of just a few weeks is already brainstorming ways to bring new energy to spaces within the DECC – and especially outside. Hartman, who most recently had a successful eight-year run rethinking the experience at Glensheen Mansion, says the level of opportunities at…

Woman Trapped In Rip Current Off Park Point Rescued

July 7, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – A woman was hospitalized Wednesday evening after being pulled under the waters of Lake Superior by a rip current off Park Point. The call for help came in around 7 p.m. near the Beach House at the end of the point. When crews arrived, a 20-year-old woman from St. Paul was found on the shoreline after bystanders…

Canada’s Border Closure Partly To Blame For Dragon Boat Festival’s Cancellation

July 6, 2021

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – It’s a no-go for this year’s Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival, and we’ve learned timing and the closure at the Canadian border are partly to blame. The popular festival on Barker’s Island in Superior was set for the end of August, but committee members felt there wasn’t enough time to get boat teams of 20 together to…

Eveleth Fireworks Show Starts Hillside On Fire

July 5, 2021

Dan Hanger,

Courtesy: Katy Haus EVELETH, Minn. – The fireworks show in Eveleth got a little out of control Saturday night. According to Fire Chief Guy Spurlin, fireworks ignited dry grass of an old mine dump hill on the south edge of town. The Eveleth Fire Department was already on scene ready to respond during the show. “Due to safety reasons, we…

Visit Duluth’s Future Uncertain As Mayor Larson Reevaluates City’s Tourism Marketing Vision, Dollars

The city has typically given Visit Duluth $2 million in tourism tax revenue every year.

July 1, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Visit Duluth, the city’s main tourism marketing arm since 1935, could be no more when its contract is up with the city at the end of the year. This comes after Mayor Emily Larson and her administration opened the job up through a new application process for a one-year contract through 2022. The “request for qualifications,” as…

Cover Band ‘Hairball’ Ready To Rock Bayfront Park July 3

Bassist Brian "HBK" Hollenbeck visited Duluth growing up and has a son who just graduated from UMD.

June 29, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – A 4th of July weekend staple at Bayfront Park in Duluth is coming back this Saturday bigger than ever. We’re talking about one of the — if not the — most popular cover rock bands in the country known as Hairball. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger talked with bassist Brian “HBK” Hollenbeck Tuesday from his home in the…

Minnesota Bracing for Extended Drought, Wildfire Conditions

June 27, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota authorities are bracing for an extended wildfire season, saying the typical summer reprieve is looking more and more unlikely. Wildfires are typically at their worst in the spring and fall, slowing down in the summer when trees and plants are fully green and rain increases. But more than half of the state is experiencing drought conditions…

Minnesota Lawmakers Reach Deal On Policing Measures

June 27, 2021

Dan Hanger,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota’s top Democratic and Republican lawmakers have reached agreement on the highlights of a public safety bill after a contentious debate over police accountability. The deal was reached a day after former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison the death of George Floyd. Some details have yet to…

Mechanical Issue Closes Minnesota Slip Bridge For Repairs

June 27, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — A very important connection between Canal Park and the DECC has been temporarily shut down because of mechanical issues. We’re talking about the Minnesota Slip Bridge, which is also known to many locals as the “little blue bridge.” A city spokesperson says a brake on the bridge is not releasing properly. The bridge was pinned up Sunday….

1 Injured In Downtown Duluth Shooting

The condition of the victim was not immediately known.

June 20, 2021

Dan Hanger,

Duluth police on scene of the shooting Sunday night. DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police are investigating a shooting that injured one person in downtown Duluth Sunday night. The report of the shooting came in around 9:15 p.m. on the 100 block of East 3rd Street. One male was shot and taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries. At last…

Duluth Man Accused Of Apparent Random Fatal Shooting In St. Cloud

June 20, 2021

Dan Hanger,

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) – St. Cloud police say a 45-year-old Duluth man is accused of shooting another man to death in an apparent random act. Police received a report at 6:16 a.m. Sunday that a man was shot while standing inside the door of a St. Cloud residence on the 2600 block of Island View Drive. The man…

Police: 5 People Shot, Wounded Near University of Minnesota

June 20, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Police say five people were shot late Friday in the Dinkytown neighborhood near the University of Minnesota. Just before midnight Friday, police responded to a call of shots fired. Officers found three men and two women had suffered noncritical gunshot wounds. Police spokesman John Elder says the five victims were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. Elder…

Defendants Unlikely To Pay For Torching Minneapolis Precinct

June 20, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Legal experts say it’s unlikely that the four men convicted and ordered to pay for setting fire to a Minneapolis police station during protests over the death of George Floyd will meet their financial obligations. Four defendants have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in starting the fire. They were also ordered to collectively pay…

Family Remembers Ambulance Crash Victim, 17, As ‘Gentle Giant’

June 10, 2021

Dan Hanger,

A GoFundMe account has been set up to support the family of a teen who was killed in an ambulance crash in Itasca County earlier this week. The family of Joseph Latimer, 17, of Grand Rapids was in the MED-1 ambulance for a seizure when a dump truck t-boned the emergency vehicle around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of…

Man Falls 35 Feet Into Duluth’s Chester Creek

May 24, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – A man was rescued by Duluth firefighters Monday after falling into Chester Creek. Officials say the 21-year-old man fell 35 feet into the creek after a branch he was leaning on snapped. The incident happened around 7 p.m. “Fire crews had to use a basket to reach the man and pull him out of the ravine,” according…

‘Giant Addition’ Coming To Bentleyville Tour of Lights

The walk-thru experience will also be returning.

May 24, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Bentleyville Tour of Lights will return this winter with its traditional walk-thru experience, and a big announcement is expected Tuesday. This comes after last winter’s first-ever drive-thru Bentleyville experience. As for the big announcement, owner Nathan Bentley says he will be “announcing a partnership project with LHB Engineering, Ironworkers Local 512, and Braun Intertec Corporation on a…

Vandals Strike Again At Gary New Duluth Rec. Center

May 24, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Vandals have struck again at the Gary New Duluth Recreation Center, as a new skate park development is underway there. The vandalism this time came in the form of piles of mud being tossed all over the sport court, along with flipped benches and damage to the electrical outlets. This latest incident adds to the frustration of…

Duluth Council Forgives Spirit Mountain’s $900K Debt As Part Of Larger Plan

May 24, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth city council voted Monday to forgive $900,000 of Spirt Mountain’s $1.2 million line of credit after tabling the vote weeks ago. Councilors Derek Medved and Joel Sipress voted against the resolution. Mayor Emily Larson has previously said she agrees with the outside consultant’s recommendation to forgive most of Spirit Mountain’s debt to really move forward…

Duluth City Councilors Officially Lift Mask Mandate; City Hall Closure Update Wednesday

May 24, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth city council unanimously voted Monday to officially end the city’s mask mandate. Councilor Terese Tomanek was absent. The vote comes after Gov. Tim Walz announced earlier this month the statewide mandate was lifted per guidance from the CDC. The city of Duluth followed up by saying it would not enforce the ordinance any longer. Councilors…

Weekend Shooting in Duluth Now City’s First Homicide of 2021

The suspected shooter is a 17-year-old male from Duluth.

May 23, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – A man who was seriously injured during a shooting in Duluth Saturday has died, making his death the city’s first homicide of 2021. A spokesperson for the city said the victim is a 22-year-old male from Duluth. His name was not released Sunday pending notification of family members. The suspected shooter is a 17-year-old male from Duluth…

DHS Official: Herd Immunity May Come This Fall in Wisconsin

May 23, 2021

Dan Hanger,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A key state health department leader is hedging on whether Wisconsin can attain COVID-19 herd immunity by mid-2021. Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk has previously said that 70% of Wisconsin’s population would need to be vaccinated to attain herd immunity and the state could reach that benchmark by July. But vaccination…

Floyd Killing Prompts Some States to Limit or Ban Chokeholds

May 23, 2021

Dan Hanger,

(AP) – At least 17 states have prohibited or severely limited the use of chokeholds and neck restraints by police officers in the year since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis after being pinned under an officer’s knee. Data provided to The Associated Press by the National Conference of State Legislatures shows most of the actions were taken in states…

PCA Paper Mill in I-Falls Catches Fire

May 23, 2021

Dan Hanger,

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. – The PCA Paper Mill in International Falls caught on fire Sunday around the same time the city experienced a city wide power outage. The mill is located on the 400 block of 2nd Street. According to Mayor Harley Droba, the power outage happened right before the fire started at the mill. Power was restored to the…

Gone Forever? Superior Police, Fire Chiefs Evolve Mask Policies For Departments

While Superior police officers will wear masks when wanted by the public, masks may be the future for Superior firefighters under certain circumstances.

May 20, 2021

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior’s police and fire chiefs are thankful to see the faces again of their men and women in uniform. But masks aren’t completely leaving while on the job in the community, as FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reports. The city of Superior and its employees are no longer mandated to wear a mask. But Mayor Jim Paine is…

Duluth’s Tourism Tax Revenue Continues Rebound Ahead of Pre-Pandemic 2019

May 20, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Signs of a strong tourism comeback are continuing for Duluth. The city’s tourism tax revenue just in for the month of March is up nearly $290,000 or 27 percent compared to March of last year at $1.3 million. And that number is even more than pre-pandemic March of 2019 at $1.1 million. As for the year-to-date, the…

Grandma’s Sports Garden Now ‘The Garden’ Wedding & Event Center

May 20, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Grandma’s Sports Garden in Canal Park is officially no more and has transformed into the business of love and fun. The venue’s Facebook page has changed to its new name — The Garden. The 20,000-square foot building is now a wedding and event center for all types of occasions big or small, including reunions, private parties and…

Standoff In Superior Ends Safely With Arrest

May 19, 2021

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A standoff situation in Superior ended peacefully with a felony arrest of a man. The call for help came in around 5 p.m. Wednesday for a disturbance at a residents on the 1600 block of Cumming Avenue. During the investigation, authorities learned a male suspect with several warrants for his arrest, including one for a felony charge,…

City of Duluth Employees Still Mandated to Wear Masks, City Hall’s Reopening Date Not Clear

May 19, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s been nearly a week since the city of Duluth said it would no longer enforce the citywide mask mandate following Governor Tim Walz’s announcement to do the same across the state. But that doesn’t mean Duluth city employees have been allowed to ditch their masks while on the job. Chief Administrative Officer Noah Schuchman released a…

Pro-Palestine Demonstrators March Through Downtown Duluth Amid Middle East Violence

May 19, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Roughly 100 pro-Palestine demonstrators marched through downtown Duluth Wednesday to make their voices heart involving the bloody Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East. The Duluth march comes as Hamas officials are hoping for a ceasefire soon as world leaders dial up pressure on both sides to end the fighting. And what’s happening thousands of miles away is…

BWCAW Wildfire Grows To 1,500-Plus Acres

May 18, 2021

Dan Hanger,

Photo is from Monday when the fire started SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, Minn. – A wildfire continued to burn Tuesday night in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Forestry officials believe a lighting strike ignited the fire Monday evening. The fire has grown from 10 acres Monday to more than 1,500 acres and was located about 16 miles north of Tower….

City of Superior Drops Mask Mandate

May 18, 2021

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Superior City Council voted Tuesday night to immediately lift the city’s mask mandate. Councilor Craig Sutherland said it was a unanimous decision by councilors. This comes as the state of Wisconsin hasn’t had a mask mandate for more than a month, and after the CDC announced last week that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing masks…

WITC To Become Northwood Technical College

The college will also have a mascot named Blaze the Bear.

May 17, 2021

Dan Hanger,

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, also known as WITC, will soon be called the Northwood Technical College, and Northwood Tech for short. The college took name and mascot submissions from the public last fall, with the board approving it all this past spring. Hundreds of students and staff members voted on their favorites. The new name, logo,…

City of Duluth Begins Installing ‘Snow Emergency Route’ Signs

May 17, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — It may be warm out, but the city of Duluth is already getting prepared for snow emergencies. City crews are right now installing 2,300 snow emergency signs along 120 miles of streets that are considered critical to keep clear of snow during a big weather event. The signage means whenever the city declares a snow emergency by…

Blacklist Brewing Co. Moving To Bigger Downtown Duluth Location

May 16, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Blacklist Brewing Company has announced it’s moving to a new and bigger location but staying in the heart of downtown Duluth. The new location is across the street from the NorShor Theatre on East Superior Street, which is just blocks away from its current location in the former Last Place on Earth building. Blacklist says the…

Cigarette Believed To Be Cause Of 1.3-Acre Fire At Forest Hill Cemetery

May 16, 2021

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Officials believe a cigarette is to blame for a 1.3-acre fire in the woods within the Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth. The fire started around 3 a.m. Wednesday. It took an hour to put out. Nobody was injured. Fire officials stress conditions continue to be very dry. They urge caution with recreational fires and to always be…

Author: Dan Hanger

Visit Duluth is being offered a significantly smaller second contract for "convention and visitor center operations."

Visit Duluth is being offered a significantly smaller second contract for "convention and visitor center operations."

"The victim and the suspect were acquainted," according to Police Chief Mike McGregor.

Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman has his eyes on Harbor Drive behind the DECC for live entertainment, food trucks and special events, among other ideas.

The city has typically given Visit Duluth $2 million in tourism tax revenue every year.

Bassist Brian "HBK" Hollenbeck visited Duluth growing up and has a son who just graduated from UMD.

The condition of the victim was not immediately known.

The walk-thru experience will also be returning.

The suspected shooter is a 17-year-old male from Duluth.

While Superior police officers will wear masks when wanted by the public, masks may be the future for Superior firefighters under certain circumstances.

The college will also have a mascot named Blaze the Bear.

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