Author: Dan Hanger

School Closings, Delays For April 16

The following school district are closed or have a delay for Monday, April 16, 2018. Duluth School District: Closed Marshall School: Closed Superior School District: Closed Ashland School District: Closed South Shore School District: Closed Solon Springs School District: Closed Washburn School District: Closed Winter School District: Closed Mellen School District: Closed South Ridge School: Closed Bessemer Area School District:…

City Of Duluth To Launch Sales Tax Agreement With Airbnb

DULUTH, Minn. (Press Release) – The Duluth City Council passed a resolution Monday evening authorizing the Mayor and Chief Financial Officer to enter into what would be a historic tax collection agreement with Airbnb, the world’s leading community-driven hospitality company. Once signed, the tax agreement allows the company to collect tourist taxes on behalf of its Duluth hosts and remit…

Snowboarder Dies After Accident At Spirit Mountain

DULUTH, Minn. – An investigation is underway involving a snowboarder who died after an injury at Spirit Mountain over the weekend. The accident happened during the one-o’clock hour Sunday afternoon, according to executive director Brandy Ream. Emergency crews were called to the bottom of the Big Air Terrain Park where the snowboarder was located. The unidentified male was transported to…

St Luke’s Comes Out Against ‘Earned Sick and Safe Time’ Ordinance

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Luke’s — one of Duluth’s largest employers — sent a detailed letter to city councilors Wednesday with their disapproval of the proposed Earned Sick and Safe Time ordinance.  This comes after more than 20 restaurants in Duluth came together to oppose ESST. April 3, 2018 Dear City Councilors: Despite the robust process around the proposed Earned…

Online Fundraisers Set Up For I-35 Crash Victims

Duanda Robinson and daughter DULUTH, Minn. – Online fundraisers have been set up for the victims involved in Monday’s wrong-way head-on crash on I-35 in Duluth. One of those fundraisers is for 26-year-old Duanda Robinson of Duluth and her 2-year-old daughter. Click here for their GoFundMe page. They were killed when an SUV driven by 23-year-old Aaron Dame of Duluth…

Man On Probation For DWI Kills Self, 2 Others In Alcohol-Related I-35 Crash

Driver Was Going Wrong Way On Interstate Before Accident

DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth man on probation for a 2016 drunken driving conviction is now dead along with two others in a wrong-way alcohol-related crash on Interstate 35 in Duluth. The accident happened 1 a.m. Monday on southbound I-35 near 40th Avenue West. The Minnesota State Patrol says a 1997 Toyota 4Runner was traveling north in those southbound lanes…

New Affordable Housing Development Planned For Lincoln Park

DULUTH, Minn. — Plans are moving forward for a new affordable housing complex in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The location is at 10 Piedmont Avenue, which is where West Superior Street and Garfield Avenue connect. The 51-unit, one-bedroom residential building called “Garfield Square” will include 40 Section 8 rental units, according to Rick Klun, executive director of Center City Housing….

Councilor Jay Fosle Addresses Controversial Statements

DULUTH, Minn. –  Duluth city councilor Jay Fosle read a prepared statement during Monday night’s city council meeting in response to those who felt offended by comments he made toward a woman who was speaking at the podium in support of Earned Sick and Safe Time.  The woman talked about how her miscarriage from 31 years ago — at the…

Superior City Councilor Craig Sutherland Shares Battle With MS

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Multiple sclerosis MS is believed to affect more than 2.3 million people across the world, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. And one of those people is Superior city councilor Craig Sutherland. As FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reports, Sutherland shares his struggle with the disease to help cope and also give some hope for others. “My…

Sugar Ray To Headline “Rock The Big Top” During Grandma’s Marathon Weekend

DULUTH, Minn. – Come for the race, stay for the party and “Rock The Big Top” with the best live entertainment Canal Park has to offer! Grandma’s Marathon is excited to present Sugar Ray as the headliner for the Big Top Tent on Friday, June 15. The entertainment lineup will also include supporting artist Belfast Cowboys, and the after-party will…

Policy Change: Duluth Police Allowed To Sport Beards — With Conditions

For 120 Years, Officers Could Only Sport A Mustache Or Clean-Shaven Look

DULUTH, Minn. – What turned out to be a facial-hair fundraiser for local non-profits this past November has turned into a permanent policy that now allows Duluth police officers to sport beards from here on out. This change in policy is truly historic because for the last 120 years officers could only sport a mustache or a clean-shaven look. But after…

Duluth’s Jowon Brand Turns 90 Years Old

DULUTH, Minn. – You don’t turn 90 years old every day, so it was a special surprise party for 90-year-old Jowon Brand of Duluth on Sunday. Jo, as her friends call her, is known for breeding, boarding and showing collies. She was even Miss Mankato in 1948. Mayor Emily Larson also proclaimed Sunday as Jowon Lee Brand Day in the…

Duluth East Daredevils Headed To Championship Despite Robot Issues

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth East Daredevils robotics team had a rough start to this weekend’s Northern Lights Regional Competition at the DECC. The team’s coach said their robot had some programming, mechanical and electrical issues. The Daredevils were defeated in the quarterfinals. However, the team will still go to the championship competition because the Daredevils were awarded the Chairman’s…

Minnesota Slip Reconstruction Moving Along

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s multi-million dollar seawall reconstruction project is moving along. Fencing is up and the big steel pillars for a new and improved seawall are going up after the old wall was deteriorating. The project is expected to be complete after Grandma’s Marathon weekend. The seasonal opening of the William A. Irvin will be delayed a bit, but…

Northern Lights Express Passes Environmental Review

DULUTH, Minn. – The Northern Lights Express high-speed rail line from Duluth to Minneapolis has cleared its environmental review. The federal review states the project will not have significant environmental impacts, according the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The project can now steam ahead to get funding for final design and construction. When completed, the passenger train will travel 90 miles…

Duluth Minit Mart Closes on Highway 53

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s closing time for the Minit Mart and convenience store on Highway 53 near the Miller Hill Mall. The gas station owners chose not to renew the lease with the owners of Hansen’s Auto Service, which owns the property and has that business there, too. Hansen’s will remain open. The owners hope to have a new tenant…

Special Report: Flying High With Life Link’s Life Savers

DULUTH, Minn. – Police, fire and medical are three professions where people are trained to help us – often during the worst times of our lives. In a special report called “Life Savers,” FOX 21’s Dan Hanger introduces you to some of the men and women who not only help on the ground but also thousands of feet in the air….

Monday Night At 9: “Life Savers”

DULUTH, Minn. – Emergency calls in the Northland can be tricky because of our landscape and rural areas. But Life Link III is designed to help save lives in those very places. In a special report Monday night at nine, FOX 21’s Dan hanger introduces you to a high-flying team of medical and aviation experts who go on the front…

Partial Demolition For Former London Road BP Gas Station

DULUTH, Minn. – Signs of demolition are happening at the former BP gas station on the corner of 21st Avenue East and London Road. Crews on scene told us Thursday that they’re take out the gas lines and tearing down the awning. The prime property is being offered up for lease for future development. Categories: News, News – Latest News

Wolf Snared By Wire Trap Shot, Killed

Courtesy: Kelly Looby DULUTH, Minn. – Animal activists are asking for your help after a police officer was forced to shoot a wolf in Duluth after it got entangled in wire from a trap set up by a human. Officials at the Wildwoods Rehabilitation Center say the wire was tightly wrapped around the wolf’s muzzle, causing it to starve. The…

Corktown Deli and Brews coming to Lincoln Park Craft Dist.

Business owner also owns Duluth Grill, OMS Smokehouse

DULUTH, Minn. – The businessman behind the Duluth Grill and OMC Smokehouse is getting ready to open up another restaurant in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The business is called Corktown Deli and Brews and will be located at 1906 West Superior Street, which is right across the street from OMC. Owner Tom Hanson describes the restaurant as a fast-casual dining experience…

Vulnerable Adult Missing In Eveleth

EVELETH, Minn. – Eveleth police need your help finding 70-year-old David Arneson. He was last seen wearing a camo jacket, blue sweat pants and a blaze orange baseball cap. Police say Arneson suffers from mental illness and is deaf. Categories: News, News – Latest News

Police Search For Suspect After Stabbing In Lincoln Park

Stabbing Happened In Victim's Residence

**UPDATE:  Duluth police are now saying this was not a random event.  The male victim was a guest at the residence and was stabbed by another guest of the renter. Police are sill looking for the suspect, described as a native male in his mid-20s, 5’8”, 150 pounds and wearing a white Chicago Bulls hooded sweatshirt. ********************************************************** DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth…

Man Who Carved “Snitch” Into Victim’s Body Is Sentenced

WRENSHALL, Minn. – A Wrenshall man who kidnapped and carved the word “snitch” into his victim’s body is sentenced for the crime. The Carlton County Attorney’s Office says a judge sentenced 21-year-old Scott Lindgren to 50 months in prison. Lindgren pleaded guilty to tying a 17-year-old boy to a chair, beating him and carving the word “snitch” into the boy’s…

Police To Release More Details Tuesday In “Random” Stabbing

DULUTH, Minn. – Charges were pending Monday night against a man accused of randomly stabbing another man in West Duluth multiple times while he was sleeping in his bedroom. The attack happened 6 a.m. Saturday inside an apartment building at 4731 Grand Avenue. Authorities believe the 23-year-old suspect went through an unlocked door before stabbing the 20-year-old victim at least…

New Duluth Police Officers Train For Field Sobriety Tests

DULUTH, Minn. — The culture of drinking and driving in Minnesota has changed since the 1980s when more than 250 people died every year in alcohol-related crashes. Since 2010, that number now averages around 127 deaths every year. But authorities stress even one death a year is far too many. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger gives you a look inside the Duluth…

Weekend Spotlight: Feb. 26-28

It’s time to “Warm Up to the Brews” this Friday night.  Bent Paddle Brewing, Carmody Irish Pub, Earth Rider Brewery, Lake Superior Brewing and Moose Lake Brewing will be sampling over 15 delicious craft beers at the Rex bar.  After tasting these local beers, be prepared to dance the night away with Kind Country and Black River Revue.  Kind Country…

Some Summer Tourism Uncertainty For Irvin, Vista With Delayed Seawall Reconstruction

City Projects Seawall Project Complete After Grandma's Marathon Weekend

DULUTH, Minn. – There’s some slight uncertainty involving the summer tourism season for Duluth’s Vista Fleet and William A. Irvin. This comes as the multi-million dollar seawall reconstruction project is roughly two months behind schedule and won’t be complete until sometime mid-summer after Grandma’s Marathon weekend. Last week, the Irvin was moved away from the seawall in the Minnesota Slip…

Former ‘Chicken Spur’ Showing Signs of Demolition

Owner of the property is taking down the canopy and digging out old gas tanks.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The former longtime home of the Chicken Spur gas station in Superior is showing signs of demolition. Superior city planner Jason Serck said Wednesday the owners of the property are simply tearing down the gas station’s canopy and digging out the old gas tanks. Serck says it’s all in an effort to better market the prime property on…

‘Visit Duluth’ Launches Minneapolis Marketing Campaign Ahead Of Super Bowl

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth’s convention and visitor’s bureau – Visit Duluth – has all eyes on the upcoming Super Bowl in Minneapolis and the thousands of visitors that’ll be there. A marketing campaign all about Duluth has launched on Metro Transit’s blue line to U.S. Bank Stadium. Visit Duluth has wrapped a light-rail train showing off what…

Local Engineers Design New Fitger’s Pedestrian Bridge

Bridge Investment Is Focused On Access to Fitger's From Superior Street

  DULUTH, Minn. – The old corroding bridge from the Pick Wick parking lot to the Fitger’s ramp is being replaced. The new and stronger bridge will soon be painted bright red and installed for easier pedestrian access from Superior Street to the lower level of the historic Fitger’s complex. AMI Consulting Engineers in Superior is behind the design and…

Duluth City Golf Courses Face Debt, Uncertain Future

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth city council discussed a resolution Monday that would encourage the privatization of Lester Park and Enger Park golf courses. The golf courses are facing $2.2 million of debt and $12.7 million of deferred maintenance. The resolution was sent back to administration because the group Friends of Duluth Public Golf would like to be part of…

Duluth City Council Approves $1.8M In Upgrades For City Hall

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s City Hall has been approved by the city council for $1.8 million in upgrades. The money will go toward replacing inefficient, non-compliant building systems like lighting and electric, as well as information technology infrastructure. Carpets, ceiling tiles and paint will also be part of the deal, while improving space that’s currently not being used to the best…

Hotel For Millennials Planned Along Central Entrance in Duluth

Planning Commission To Vote On Project Feb. 13

DULUTH, Minn. – Plans are in the works to bring a new hotel to Duluth that’s nothing like any hotel in the area. The hotel chain is called Tru by Hilton. Parent company Hilton Worldwide describes Tru as the company’s newest brand designed with millennials in mind and affordable prices at around $100 a night. The rooms are smaller to…