DULUTH, Minn. – After nearly 12 years as the city of Duluth’s top attorney, Gunnar Johnson has decided to resign amid complaints filed against him by employees in the attorney’s office. Johnson was placed on administrative suspension two months ago. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger takes a look at the findings from an investigative report into those complaints, what Johnson is…
DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth shined blue Thursday night to recognize healthcare providers and essential workers during the pandemic. The Aerial Lift Bridge and Enger Tower went blue with other buildings and landmarks throughout Minnesota and the country as a way to thank workers for all they are doing right now. The Lift Bridge will be lit back…
DULUTH, Minn. — During a time when so many people are turning to television and newspapers for the latest on this historic pandemic, media companies are experiencing a drastic loss of advertising revenue from businesses facing their own uncertainties. And the Duluth News Tribune’s parent company – Forum Communications Co. out of Fargo, North Dakota — is one of those…
DULUTH, Minn. – Spring clean-up has begun in Duluth with sand and salt collection sites now open. The goal is to collect as much sand and salt as possible from sidewalks, curbs and gutters before spring rainfall moves in and washes it all into our streams, which could damage critical trout habitats, according to a city spokesperson. The city has…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The coronavirus pandemic has brought Minnesota to a grinding halt. Schools have closed, events have been cancelled, and many businesses have shut down as leaders have worked to slow the spread of the disease and prevent hospitals from being overloaded. Governor Walz issued a stay-at-home order that took effect starting March 27, urging Minnesotans…
DULUTH, Minn. – The final phase of the Superior Street reconstruction project begins on Monday, April 6, and it includes the busy intersection of Lake Avenue to 3rd Avenue West. Signs will be posted through the project area, and barricades will be in place beginning Monday morning. 3rd Ave. East to 4th Ave. East delayed until Spring of 2021 because…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police are investigating after a report of “shots fired” overnight in an alley in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The report came in just before midnight Saturday between West 1st Street and West 2nd Street near 26th Avenue West. When police arrived, they found spent shell casings, according to a spokeswoman. Nobody was injured and no arrests…
DULUTH, Minn. – To continue to show solidarity during these tough times involving the coronavirus outbreak, the city of Duluth has lit the Aerial Lift Bridge purple. The iconic bridge connecting Canal Park to Park Point will be lit purple for the foreseeable future, according to a city official. The option to change the bridge different colors is part of…
CARLTON, Co. – The Fond du Lac Band is trying to avoid layoffs of its employees as its two casinos sit dark with zero cash flow. The tribe’s secretary treasurer, Ferdinand Martineau, addressed the financial concerns in a Facebook video Wednesday. He said leadership is discussing when and who could be laid off if the governor’s closure order lasts longer…
DULUTH, Minn. – The owner of the popular At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe in Duluth says she’s fully closing her restaurant until further notice. In a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page Tuesday, owner Carla Blumberg said take-out and delivery is no longer an option. She said cost and logistics “overwhelmed us.” Sara’s Table is just one of dozens…
DULUTH, Minn. – Essentia Health announced Monday a plan to reduce non-medical staffing levels by 500 employees next week as the company prepares for a surge of COVID-19 patients in the communities it serves. The employees affected are not involved in direct patient care, according to hospital officials. “These plans include redeploying our workforce to best position Essentia Health to…
NEW YORK (AP) – Country singer Joe Diffie, who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping, rock-tinged singles such as “Home” and “Pickup Man” has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 61. A spokesman for Diffie on Friday announced he had contracted the coronavirus, becoming the first country star to go public with such a…
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Recorder’s Office in Duluth will begin offering drive-up service on Monday, March 30. The service is available by appointment between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Officials say the service is for people with an immediate need for a vital record, including marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and real estate…
MINONG, Wis. – Small-town grocery stores are getting slammed with unusual demand amid the coronavirus outbreak. And for one grocery owner in Minong, there’s a fear there won’t be enough inventory out there to be stocked up for summer tourism season — a time that carries many small businesses through the slow winter months. “I don’t think anybody is prepared…
SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP) – Husky Energy has suspended rebuilding its oil refinery in Superior that was damaged by an explosion two years ago because of the coronavirus outbreak. A spokeswoman for the Alberta, Canada-based company said Tuesday that Husky has “begun a systematic and orderly suspension of major construction activities related to the Superior rebuild project.” The fire and explosion…
DULUTH, Minn. – Councilors took action Monday to help ease extra anxiety on grocery store workers during the COVID-19 outbreak by postponing the implementation of the 5-cent plastic bag fee. Councilors voted unanimously to wait until January of 2021 to enforce the new law that will charge customers 5 cents for each plastic bag used. Councilor Barb Russ was absent…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Curling Olympic gold medalist and Chisholm native John Shuster, 37, is self-quarantined with his family in Superior while his wife, Sara, awaits test results to see if she is positive for the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus. This comes after she competed in the USA Curling Club Nationals in the Washington, D.C. area in early March before government…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say Americans should cancel or postpone all gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks. That’s as experts say social distancing is imperative to curb the spread of coronavirus. The CDC says the new guidance applies to conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and any other…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra is canceling programming for the next two weeks. This comes as the CDC recommends all events with more than 50 people be canceled. This means the cancellations of two DSSO concerts — Beethoven Fifth on Mar. 21 and Beethoven Adventure Casual Concert on Mar. 22. DSSO officials say it was a difficult…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Emily Larson will be holding a press conference Monday at 10 a.m. with an update on the city’s plans regarding the coronavirus. The event will be closed to the public to honor the Minnesota Department of Health’s social distancing guidelines, according to Larson. The press conference will be streamed on the city and FOX 21’s…
DULUTH, Minn. — Conventions at the DECC are beginning to cancel because of coronavirus fears. And if business continues to drop out, the DECC could shut down for some time. “It’s possible that we would shut down, definitely. It depends on how long this goes. We have things we can do in the building to keep us busy. We have…
DULUTH, Minn. — The city of Duluth’s largest union – AFSCME Council 5 — is calling on Mayor Emily Larson’s administration to reverse its decision to cut two maintenance worker positions. And the union is asking for residents of Duluth for support because it says the city is not respecting public workers and access to critical services that the community…
DULUTH, Minn. – The College of St. Scholastica announced Wednesday it would be joining the University of Minnesota Duluth and the University of Wisconsin-Superior by extending spring break for students and moving classes online when those students return amid concerns about the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus. Below is the statement from the president CSS: Dear St. Scholastica Family, As…
DULUTH, Minn. — The University of Minnesota Duluth and the University of Wisconsin-Superior have announced they are extending spring break and moving classes online when students return because of the growing concerns involving the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus. Below are the two official releases from each university. UMD: Dear students, faculty, and staff, As the challenges presented by COVID-19…
DULUTH, Minn. – We’re learning more about two recent cuts to positions within the city of Duluth. Mayor Emily Larson’s office said Monday the positions were maintenance workers for the fleet and parks divisions. The two employees were making $47,096 a year. Both were offered new jobs within the city at similar salaries — one as a janitor and the…
Suspect: Sheldon James Thompson Cloquet, Minn. — Police say a Cloquet man is on the run and believed to be armed and dangerous after officers discovered the deaths of a mother and her child Saturday afternoon. The bodies of the 27-year-old woman and her 18-month-old son were found in a home on the 1600 block of Locke Lane in the…
DULUTH, Minn. – Thousands of people packed the DECC this weekend for the annual Women’s Expo, and the fashion show was another hit. Former B105 radio personality Cathy Kates and FOX 21’s Dan Hanger emceed the show again this year featuring fashion designs from local retailers. FOX 21’s Alexandra Burnley and Brittney Merlot were some of the models hitting the…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Miller Hill Mall announced Sunday that Glik’s will be opening there in April. The boutique store will be designed for women only with fashion, footwear and accessories. Glik’s will be located between Center Court and Caribou Coffee. The nearest Glik’s stores in the Northland are in Hayward and Grand Rapids. The first store opened in 1897…
DULUTH, Minn. — With a use-of-force policy now in place for Duluth’s newly purchased protective gear, officers are going through specialized training for those rare events when protesters can turn violent. And while full-blown riots are not a common occurrence in Duluth by any means, Chief Mike Tusken believes it’s his responsibility to be prepared for the worst to keep the…
DULUTH, Minn. – The NorShor Theatre has decided to allow controversial former MPR radio host Garrison Keillor to perform on stage at the theatre April 16. This comes after the NorShor Theatre pulled its announcement about Keillor’s performance from its Facebook page and website last Thursday amid negative backlash on social media. The comments pointed to his past sexual misconduct…
ASHLAND, Wis. — A 66-year-old man had to be rescued from a house fire in Ashland Saturday afternoon. The fire was reported around 3:35 p.m. in a home at 1618 4th St E. When firefighters arrived, they had to bring a ladder to the second floor of the structure to rescue the man who was trapped there. The fire was…
DULUTH, Minn. – A top to bottom outside assessment of the Duluth Police Department is now complete. And Chief Mike Tusken says he’s pleased that the recommendations for improvements were nothing overly unexpected. Tusken says one of the strengths highlighted in the report applauds the department’s mental health unit as innovative and progressive. On the flip side, the report concluded…
DULUTH, Minn. – Who needs to go to California, Florida, or Hawaii to surf when you can jump in Lake Superior in the middle of the winter? Some brave souls wet-suited up and rode the big lake’s waves near Brighton Beach recently. FOX 21 photojournalist Nathaniel LeCapitaine takes us there in this week’s Great Outdoors. Categories: Great Outdoors, Minnesota, News,…
DULUTH, Minn. – Longtime Duluth City Attorney Gunnar Johnson confirmed to FOX 21 Wednesday that he’s been placed on administrative suspension. Johnson said he was “shocked” to learn about his suspension last Wednesday and never saw anything of this magnitude coming from Mayor Emily Larson and her administration. Johnson said it’s his understanding a Twin Cities law firm has been…
DULUTH, Minn. — Mayor Emily Larson announced Tuesday that she’ll be holding her State of the City Address March 30 at the West Theater in West Duluth. This will be Larson’s fifth address. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The program starts at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. More details will be released as the…
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police have increased patrols near Lester Park Elementary after a report of an attempted abduction involving an 8-year-old boy. It was reported around 4 p.m. Tuesday near the 5200 block of East Avondale Street. The boy ran away after a masked man reportedly asked the boy to get in his car. There’s no description of the…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Court of Appeals has upheld a manslaughter conviction of a Hibbing man who left his baby nephew home alone before a fire broke out. Jesse Bonacci-Koski, 27, left the home for several hours to use drugs the day of the 11-month-old’s death. He’s serving an eight-year prison sentence for the crime. Attorneys for Bonacci-Koski argued…
DULUTH, Minn. – The popular Beijing Restaurant in Duluth, which closed more than a year ago after a fire, is opening back up this week. Owner Cindy Lee told FOX 21’s Dan Hanger Sunday that repairs from the fire are complete and all the city permits are signed off to open Beijing Restaurant on London Road on Tuesday, Feb. 11…
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she’s plans to keep defying expectations heading into Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. Though she’s spent the last year behind the front-runners, Klobuchar has enjoyed a burst of momentum in the last few days thanks to a strong debate performance and infusion of cash. At a rally at Southern New Hampshire University…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The daubers were out and the music was flowing at the Spirit Room in Superior for a “Musical Bingo” fundraiser. It was all to support Siggy’s Musical Garden Incorporated. Sigrid “Siggy” Johnson The non-profit creates outreach programs that connect local musicians, like Similiar Dogs who played at the Bingo event, with elder care facilities, youth programs and…
DULUTH, Minn. – St. Luke’s Eye Care in Duluth is now open in a new location in the Medical Arts Building. The clinic is now on the second floor after being up on the eighth floor for more than 40 years. The change comes as the clinic nearly doubled in size and updated equipment to some of the newest technology….
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Polar Bear Plunge is Feb. 15 with a new plunge location at the end of Park Point across from the Beach House. The plunge has typically been held behind Endion Station in Canal Park, but construction of the Lakewalk got in the way this year. Pre-plunge check in is on Friday, Feb. 14 from 5…
DULUTH, Minn. — With temperatures around 40 degrees on Sunday, the city of Duluth closed the ice skating rink at Bayfront Park. Puddles of water could be seen on the ice on Sunday. The rink will reopen later in the week after colder air moves in and the rink freezes over, according to city officials. The public is being asked…
Tom Bakk MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota state Sen. Susan Kent defeated longtime Sen. Tom Bakk in an election for the leadership of the DFL Senate caucus. The two-term member from Woodbury was elected Senate DFL Minority Leader on Saturday, toppling longtime Iron Range leader to become the first woman ever to lead the caucus. Susan Kent The 32-member caucus is…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Superior’s 5th District will indeed have all candidates on the primary ballot in February after one candidate challenged the incumbent’s nomination papers and even the process the city clerk took to get the mistake corrected at the last minute. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reports. Incumbent Brent Fennessey reacted Tuesday to the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s conclusion that he…
Brent Fennessey | Amanda Foster SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Wisconsin Elections Commission made a conclusion Monday that Incumbent Superior City Councilor Brent Fennessey will be on the February primary ballot despite formal complaints from candidate Amanda Foster’s campaign. The Foster campaign said Fennessey didn’t have enough valid signatures to be on the ballot because he didn’t sign one of his nomination…
Ty Juoni ASHLAND, Wis. – A former Ashland police officer has reached a plea deal involving an auto theft charge against him before he retired from the force. Ty Juoni, 51, an 18-year veteran of the department, entered a plea of no contest Monday to the misdemeanor charge of auto theft and was found guilty. He won’t serve jail time…
TWO HARBORS, Minn. – A 14-year-old is under arrest after a stabbing over the weekend in Two Harbors. The juvenile suspect is accused of 2nd-degree assault against the victim. Their genders were not released by police on Monday. The age of the victim was not released either. The stabbing happened around 2:30 p.m. Sunday within city limits. The victim was…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – For the first time in at least 30 years, a candidate for council in Superior is being challenged by another candidate over his nomination papers for reelection. The candidate in question is incumbent Brent Fennessey — current president of the council. And now the Wisconsin Elections Commission is reviewing whether Fennessey should be allowed on the ballot…
Three separate snowmobile accidents over the weekend have taken the lives of two people and serious injured another. The latest accident happened around 2 a.m. Sunday just outside of Hurley, Wisconsin. The snowmobile went off the trail. The 47-year-old female driver was found unresponsive by authorities. She was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The cause of the crash is…
