Author: Dan Hanger

Tickets On Sale: Musical Bingo Fundraiser Feb. 6

SUPERIOR, Wis. – If you like Bingo and supporting local musicians, there’s a perfect fundraiser happening soon. The event is called Musical Bingo.  It’s happening Thursday, Feb. 6 at Barkers Island in Superior. The Mackie Brothers will perform snippets of popular songs over the decades, instead of calling numbers.  The names of those songs are on the Bingo cards. FOX…

Duluth Mayor’s Girlfriend Speaks Out After Being Cleared Of Any Political Wrongdoing

DULUTH, Minn. — An outside investigation has concluded Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert and his girlfriend, Amber Gurske, acted legally and ethically with city business during Reinert’s first four months in office.  And for the first time, Gurske spoke to FOX 21’s Dan Hanger Thursday to talk about it all. (Video of the full interview at the bottom of this story)…

Deadly Los Angeles Wildfires Rage On; FOX 21’s Perspective Of Fires On Northland Map

DULUTH, Minn. — Click the video above to watch FOX 21’s coverage at 9 p.m. Wednesday of the raging, fatal wildfires in the Los Angeles area.  Plus, Meteorologist Rusty Mehlberg gives a perspective of what the size of the fires over Los Angeles would look in Duluth and other parts of the Northland.  It’s a perspective that really opens your…

Teen In Custody After ‘Shooting Incident’ In Bayfield County

TOWN OF KEYSTONE, Wis. — The Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 16-year-old after a “shooting incident” Dec. 30. According to a news release issued Jan. 8, the shooting happened in the Town of Keystone. The release did not provide details about the incident time, whether anyone was hit by gunfire, what the sex of the suspect is or…

Elderly Woman Dies After Scooter Starts On Fire

ELY, Minn. — An elderly woman burned to death after her motorized scooter started on fire. Ely police said the 80-year-old was outside the Boundary Waters Care Center when the flames ignited. Emergency crews were dispatched around 4:30 p.m. Monday after a witness reported the fire to 911. The report stated the victim was engulfed in flames before staff members…

Tensions Between AFSCME, City Of Duluth Still Strong After Tentative Contract Agreement

DULUTH, Minn. — The potential for a historic strike by hundreds of key Duluth city workers, including the all-important plow driver, has been averted.  A tentative deal between AFSMCE Local 66 and the Mayor Roger Reinert’s administration was reached late Monday night.  And now, a vote by union members will happen next week. But on Tuesday, one day after reaching the…

Annie Harala Becomes First Woman To Chair St. Louis County Board In 20 Years

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County Board Commissioner Annie Harala has become the first woman in 20 years to serve as the county’s board chair. Harala was appointed by the board Tuesday for 2025. Harala joined the county board in 2023. Commissioner Mike Jugovich will serve as vice chair through the end of the year. Annie Harala Below is the…

Duluth’s Largest Employee Union Reaches Tentative Deal With City

The vote comes after tense negotiations that lasted months.

DULUTH, Minn. — The city of Duluth’s largest employee union, AFSCME Local 66, reached a tentative agreement Monday night with the city of Duluth that includes “no major concessions,” according to the union. The union announced the news to its nearly 500 members at 9 p.m. after 12 hours of “long, hard negotiations.” The tentative agreement came after historic tensions…

Chicken Coop Starts On Fire, All Animals Survive

Courtesy: Northland Fire Wire COLVIN TOWNSHIP, Minn. – Chickens and ducks survived a coop fire Sunday. The fire happened in Colvin Township, Minnesota. The Northland Fire Wire reported that firefighters from multiple agencies responded around 11:20 a.m. in the 2700 block of Lowe Road. The building was destroyed, but every single animal got out alive. The cause of the fire…

Man Burned, Dog Killed In Rice Lake House Fire

RICE LAKE, Minn. – Fire injured a man and killed his dog after a house fire in the city of Rice Lake Saturday night. The structure fire was reported around 6:45 p.m. in the 4200 block of Schultz Road. When firefighters arrived, the home was full of flames. The homeowner suffered burns to his hands and possible smoke inhalation, according…

Lake Superior Zoo Worker Spots Owl Stuck In Car’s Grill At Bentleyville

DULUTH, Minn. — What was supposed to be a stroll through Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Bayfront Festival Park Monday evening turned into quite the rescue of an owl. Annabell Whelan, guest experience manager at the Lake Superior Zoo, spotted the owl stuck in the grill of someone’s car in Bayfront parking lot as she was leaving Bentleyville. Whelan said…

Former MN Rep. Mary Murphy Moving To Hospice Care After Stroke

Former Minnesota Rep. Mary Murphy, the state’s longest-serving female lawmaker, will soon be placed in hospice care after suffering a stroke last week, according to Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman. Hortman shared the news Monday evening on social media. She said Murphy’s family felt hospice was the best path forward after the stroke left Murphy with a series of…

Thousands Take In The ‘Christmas City Express’

DULUTH, Minn. — The Christmas City Express performances and train rides finished up this weekend at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. More than 5,000 people attended the story performance over the past month, which includes a train ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad. It’s an important event to the museum, with the annual tradition putting smiles on kids of…

Arrest Made In Superior Hit-And-Run That Injured Woman Celebrating Birthday

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior police made an arrest Thursday in a weekend hit-and-run that seriously injured a woman. Police said the name of the suspect will be released when formal charges are filed. Authorities also said they recovered the suspected vehicle involved. The call for help came in around 3:45 a.m. Saturday about the hit-and-run in the alley of TJ…

Sheriff’s Office Puts Out Warning After Man Flips Snowmobile In Rice Lake

RICE LAKE, Minn. – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is reminding snowmobilers to use cause and wear a helmet. The reminder comes after a 79-year-old man flipped his snowmobile on Wild Rice Lake Reservoir in the city of Rice Lake Thursday. The accident happened around 4:15 p.m. When first responders arrived on scene, the man was breathing but was…

Police: 2 People Found Dead In Vehicle At Duluth Airport

UPDATE, (December 20)- Police have identified the two individuals found dead at the Duluth International Airport Thursday. The bodies of 75-year-old Duluth resident Lawrence Roscoe and 77-year-old Duluth resident Ann Roscoe were found inside a vehicle in a parking ramp at the airport. Police say the incident remains an active investigation. DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police are investigating after two…

Building, Vehicle Struck By Gunfire During Bar Close In Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Superior police are searching for a shooter after bullets went flying at bar close early Sunday morning. Police responded to the area of North 7th Street and Tower Avenue at 2:17 a.m. for reports of shots fire. A large group of people were leaving the bars when police arrived. Vehicle starts on fire after taking on gunfire…

DECC Dir.: Managing Bayfront Again Ensures Non-Competing Events Among All DECC Venues

DULUTH, Minn. – DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman is pleased management at Bayfront Festival Park is coming back under the DECC’s control in a new five-year contract agreement beginning in January 2025. The council approved the RFP process Monday night lead by city staff who chose the DECC as Bayfront’s next manager. The contract is worth around $443,000 over five…

Mayor Wants ‘Visit Duluth’ Back In Control Of Tourism Marketing After Arizona Firm

DULUTH, Minn. – As the city of Duluth gets ready to welcome in its new tourism marketing agency, Madden Media of Arizona, for the next two years, Mayor Roger Reinert told FOX 21 Monday that the goal during this new contract is to build Visit Duluth back up to a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) that will once again handle all…

Sen. Hauschild Asks President To Rescind Clemency Of Former Duluth Headshop Owner Jim Carlson

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) is calling on President Joe Biden to rescind his clemency ruling for former Last Place On Earth owner Jim Carlson. Carlson is among roughly 1,500 people whose sentences have been commuted by Biden — people who were “serving sentences in home confinement during the pandemic and who have successfully reintegrated into their…

Management Of Bayfront Festival Park Set To Return To DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — Management of Duluth’s premier entertainment venue, Bayfront Festival Park, is headed back to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center for the next five years if the council signs off on Monday. For the last year, Winterfell Management has handled all promotions, productions and management of Bayfront with a one-year agreement with the city. Newly elected Mayor Roger Reinert…

AFSCME Local 66 Takes Duluth Mayor To Task Over Contract Offer

DULUTH, Minn.– Following a vote Tuesday, AFSCME Local 66 overwhelmingly authorized a strike as early as mid-January if the city of Duluth does not come back with an offer that they feel is fair and equitable. Union members held a press conference Wednesday to voice their frustrations, calling the city’s latest offer “insulting, inadequate, and unacceptable.” “We are being asked…

City Of Duluth’s Largest Employee Union Authorizes Strike Mid-January If Needed

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth’s largest employee union, AFSCME Local 66, voted Tuesday to authorize a strike, demanded “fair wages and dignity” and called on Mayor Roger Reinert to fix it. AFSCME called the city’s next contract offer “insulting, inadequate and unacceptable,” according to a news release. The union said the police and fire departments got 8% market…

Scores Released For Top 5 Finalists Of Duluth’s Next Tourism Marketing Contract

Council to vote for or against Madden Media of Arizona at Monday night's city council meeting (Dec. 9)

DULUTH, Minn. — We now know the scores for the top five marketing agencies that applied for Duluth’s next multi-million dollar tourism marketing contract. Below are the scores based off a 100-point scale: Madden Media of Arizona: 81.65 Hailey Sault of Duluth: 78.31 AIMCLEAR of Duluth: 78.29 Lawrence & Schiller of South Dakota: 75.20 Swim Creative of Duluth: 73.55 Any…

Duluth Federal Prison Shutting Down

DULUTH, Minn. — The decades-old Duluth Federal Prison is shutting down. The Federal Bureau of Prison said Thursday that it’s one of six prisons across the country being “deactivated.” The agency said the decision is being made to help deal with significant challenges, including a critical staffing shortage, crumbling infrastructure and limited budgetary resources. The Duluth camp is not only…

Bicyclist Stuck, Killed By 2 Vehicles At Busy Duluth Intersection

DULUTH, Minn. – A bicyclist was struck and killed by two vehicles at a busy intersection in Duluth Wednesday evening. Duluth police said the 60-year-old man was struck around 5 p.m. on Mesaba Avenue below West 1st Street. Investigators believe the man was riding westbound when he went through the crosswalk without checking for oncoming traffic, which is when the…

‘Tinsel Tavern’ to Shine at Duluth Winter Village

DULUTH, Minn. — This year’s Duluth Winter Village at the DECC is expanding to include a Tinsel Tavern. The tavern includes 1,000 feet of tinsel, 600 feet of wrapping paper and 36 strings of lights.  As for the tavern, Vikre Distillery will be creating holiday cocktails and mocktails, like a Gingerbread Old Fashion. The Winter Village is Saturday and Sunday…

Officers Assaulted, Student Arrested After Fight At Denfeld High School

DULUTH, Minn. — A fight at Denfeld High School Tuesday ended with one student arrested and officers assaulted. A school resource officer responded to help staff members try to separate the students. During the chaotic scene, one staff member and two officers were assaulted, according to a police spokesperson. Three other staff members suffered the effects of a chemical irritant,…

CAO: Arizona Firm’s Win For Duluth’s Tourism Marketing Is ‘Tremendously Fair’; Local Finalist Disagrees

In March, Mayor Roger Reinert said he believed Duluth talent was best to tell Duluth's story.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Chief Administrative Officer David Montgomery talked publicly Sunday for the first time since the Star Tribune broke the news Friday that a committee he appointed had chosen an Arizona firm to handle Duluth’s next multi-million-dollar tourism marketing contract – something Mayor Roger Reinert said earlier in the year should be handled by Duluth talent. “We feel…

Update: Duluth Tourism Marketing Finalist Chosen; Name Announced Dec. 5

DULUTH, Minn. (Nov. 21) — The city of Duluth announced Thursday that a special selection committee has determined its finalist for Duluth’s next two-year tourism marketing contract. The top-scoring finalist will be announced at a committee of the whole meeting on Dec. 5 before the council makes a vote to deny or approve during the council meeting Dec. 9. The…

Brad Is Back! Sheep Safely Captured After Weeks-Long Getaway

The sightings of Brad over the past weeks even caught the attention of Twin Cities media.

A multi-county, multi-week search for Brad, the daring sheep on the run from city to city, came to a safe end Tuesday with one story to tell. Midway Township sighting Monday “Oh God. I don’t even feel like it’s real. I don’t think it’s real, but it is,” said Shana Roberts, a volunteer at the Lake County Humane Society in…

Superior Grain Elevator Explodes On Connor’s Point; No Injuries Reported

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior Fire Department is investigating an explosion at a plant on Connor’s Point in Superior Monday night. Doorbell video from a home on Duluth’s Park Point captured multiple bursts of flames around 6:15 p.m. Mayor Jim Paine told FOX 21 that fire crews responded to a grain explosion at the Viterra Grain Elevator at 400 Main…

On-The-Run Sheep Makes Visit In Midway Township; Backstory Revealed

Midway Township sighting Monday MIDWAY TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The on-the-run Northland sheep known as Brad has been spotted again Monday – this time in Midway Township, just outside of Proctor where he was spotted on Sunday. Midway Township sighting Monday The Midway Township homeowners are in contact with Shana Roberts who works at the Two Harbors animal shelter and is…

Decades-Old Barko Hydraulics Shutting Down In Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. – FOX 21 learned Monday that a decades-long manufacturing facility in Superior is shutting down. Barko Hydraulics is located on Banks Avenue. Employees found out Monday morning by mail that they are to not return to the office and are terminated Dec. 1. Barko President Justin Rupar said in the letter to employees that Superior’s operations are being…

Braaad The Sheep: Minneapolis’ FOX 9 Covers Duluth-Area Sheep On The Run

DULUTH, Minn. — Our friends at FOX 9 in Minneapolis had some fun today talking about Brad, the missing sheep, that’s been on the run for at least two weeks now — from Two Harbors to Proctor.  Click the video below to watch the segment with Anchor Amy Hockert and Senior Producer Amber Milner.  Click here to watch FOX 21’s…

Mother Of Teen Killed In W. Skyline Parkway Rollover Remembers His Love For Cars, Family

Duluth police said speed was a major factor in the accident.

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth mother is remembering her son, Tyriq Gordon, 19, who died over the weekend after his beloved Audi left West Skyline Parkway in what authorities believe was a high-speed accident. Tyriq celebrates 19th birthday Tyriq planned to celebrate his 20th birthday on Nov. 22. The one-vehicle accident happened around 1:15 a.m. Saturday on the 5-thousand block…

‘Rocket Deli’ To Open In Heart Of Downtown Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – A taste of New York is coming to downtown Duluth. The Rocket Deli is under construction right now at the corner of East Superior Street and 2nd Avenue, in the former T-Icy Roll location and next to Blacklist Brewery. The windows were covered Wednesday with the deli’s menu, which includes Rueben, Italian and pastrami sandwiches, along with…

E-Mailed Bomb Threats Target Minnesota Election Offices

E-mailed bomb threats have targeted more than half of Minnesota’s election offices since Nov. 8. St. Louis county has not been targeted, though, according to a county spokesperson Tuesday night. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon issued the following statement: “Threats of violence against election workers, aimed at disrupting our democracy, are absolutely unacceptable. Although election day is over, election…

Investigation of Superior Police Officer Leads to Dismissal of 40 Criminal Cases

Dist. Atty. Mark Fruehauf said he discovered serious inconsistencies between the officer's written report and body camera evidence.

SUPERIOR, Wis. — A Superior police officer is no longer on the force after Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf discovered the officer may have intentionally lied on a police report to raise a suspect’s charges to a felony. As FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reports, Fruehauf has been forced to dismiss 40 criminal cases because of credibility concerns involving the…