Author: Dan Hanger

Family From Hermantown Moves To Florida, Faces Hurricane Irma

DULUTH, Minn. – We’re learning about Northlanders who are riding out the storm in Florida, including the Pfingsten family of Hermantown who are hunkered down in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Gina and her husband Matt Pfingsten still own Pelican Coffee in Hermantown. They moved to Florida only three weeks ago, along with their five children. The family is staying in…

Iron Range Shines To Help Harvey Victims

VIRGINIA, Minn. – An overwhelming amount of donations on the Iron Range have poured in for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. And now, a truck load is headed to a church in the Houston area for distribution. It was an effort in Virginia organized by Eveleth firefighter David Poderzay who simply wanted to help and give the platform for others on…

Missing Deer River Girls Located

UPDATE: The two girls have been located by local authorities and appear to be in good physical condition. The Itasca County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public for their assistance. INITIAL REPORT 9/5: GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – The Itasca County Sheriff’s Office is looking for assistance from the public in locating two females from the Deer River area….

Eveleth Firefighter Holds Hurricane Harvey Relief Drive

VIRGINIA, Minn. – As clean-up efforts continue in Texas from Hurricane Harvey, Northlanders are continuing to step up to help, including those on the Iron Range. Eveleth firefighter David Poderzay and Virginia business owner of DMP Transport set up a drop-off site at the Miners Memorial Building Tuesday. People were seen donating items like baby products, dog and cat food,…

B105’S Cathy Kates To Leave Morning Radio After 20 Years

Kates Says She Will Become Admin. Assistant For Better Financial Stability

DULUTH, Minn. – A big name in Northland country radio is about to step away from the microphone. That person is B105’s Cathy Kates who has been on the radio in the Northland for two decades. But that’s all coming to an end – on her terms – at the end of the week. “Probably just the fact that I…

Great Outdoors: 4-H Fishing

DULUTH, Minn. – Throughout the year, 4-H offers a variety of community learning programs designed to help kids explore something new. In this week’s Great Outdoors, FOX 21’s Matt Van Winkle takes us to the St. Louis River for the club’s first hooked-on-fishing event. Categories: Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News

Duluth Vacation Rental Permits Reach Cap

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth city council unanimously passed new vacation rental permits for properties in the city on Monday. The approval brings the number of vacation rentals to 60. That number is the cap under a city ordinance that was put into place last year after councilors Zack Filipovich and Noah Hobbs heard from concerned residents. “One of the reasons…

Passenger Bus Gets Stuck In Duluth Neighborhood

DULUTH, Minn. – A passenger bus got stuck on the 2100 block of East Third Street after making a wrong turn. The Duluth Police Department says the driver was from out of town and got confused after driving through the construction on Fourth Street. The bus got wedged at the end of a one-way and damaged a fire hydrant. A tow…

Firefighter Faces Guilt After Double Drowning Off Park Point

Firefighter Kevin Haney: "You Get A Lot Of Different Feelings"

DULUTH, Minn. – A captain on the Duluth Fire Department is opening up about the relentless struggle to help rescue a missing father and daughter in the waters off Park Point earlier this month. The two victims would eventually be found without a pulse and later pronounced dead at a Duluth hospital. The purpose of this story is to get a…

Duluth Red Cross Deploys To Harvey, MN Power On Standby

DULUTH, Minn. – The Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross has deployed to Texas to help victims of Harvey. A total of six Northlanders are part of the effort. Financial help is also needed.  The Red Cross encourages you to donate $10 by texting the word “Harvey” to 90999. Meanwhile, Minnesota Power has about 30 lineworkers and support staff on…

IRS Auctions Off Ely’s Oldest Outfitter Business

ELY, Minn. –  Thousands of dollars in back taxes has prompted the federal government to seize the oldest standing outfitter business in Ely. In June, the IRS seized the store’s belongings because of tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes. The state of Minnesota also has two liens against Wilderness Outfitters, and American Band of the North has also…

Duluth Artist Embraces Disability With Creativity

Tony Adams was in a sereve motorcycle accident, leaving him in a coma for three months

DULUTH, Minn. – Most of Tony Adams’ life has been spent working with his hands. “I could work on any car motorcycle aircraft. I was a really good mechanic,” Adams said. On his way home from work one day, Adams was riding his motorcycle when he was struck by car who ran a stop sign. “After my accident I forgot…

Girl Seriously Injured During Carlton Co. Fair Horse Races

13-Year-Old Fell On Fence, Cut Artery

BARNUM, Minn. – There were frightening moments at the Carlton County Fair Sunday after a young horse racer from Barnum fell off a startled horse and then landed on a fence below. Grace Bartz, 13, had just finished a race when the horse she was riding decided to turn around quickly, according to her mother, Jill Bartz. Grace was then…

UPDATE: Victim’s Name Released in Androy Hotel Elevator Tragedy

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A 63-year-old man is dead after falling from down an elevator shaft at Superior’s Androy Hotel. The accident happened around 6 p.m. Tuesday at the hotel at 1213 Tower Avenue. According to the Superior Fire Department, the man, identified as Michael Steven Grigoni, fell 20 feet from the first floor to the basement. The Superior Police Department…

Larson Budget Proposal: $2.1M In Cuts, $1M Increase In Streets With Levy Increase

DULUTH, Minn. – Mayor Emily Larson has released her proposed city budget for 2018. It includes cuts to all departments, including $700,000 combined from the fire and police departments, as well as a heavy investment in city streets. Larson wants $2.1 million in cuts to city expenses, an $895,000 investment into a community solar garden and a $1 million increase…

Buhl Man Drowns Trying To Save His Dog

BUHL, Minn. – A Buhl man is dead after trying to rescue his dog from a water-filled mining pit. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man as 56-year-old Gary Paternoster. The drowning happened around 6 p.m. Saturday. Authorities said the dog got caught on something in the water. Paternoster was swimming out in the mine pit to…

Jet Skiers Collide With Yacht In Duluth Harbor

DULUTH, Minn. – There were some scary moments for jet skiers in the canal of Duluth Saturday after the machine they were riding slammed into a yacht. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said the 21-year-old Duluth females on the jet ski were leaving under the Minnesota Slip Bridge at roughly 30 mph when they lost control and rammed into…

‘Can Of Worms’ Reconstruction Project Hits Financial Snag

DULUTH, Minn. – Federal funding for the Interstate 35 ‘Can of Worms’ reconstruction project has been halted. MnDOT officials say the Trump administration’s $1 trillion infrastructure promise is shifting greater responsibility onto states and municipalities, which means the $205 million Can of Worms project can now only be awarded up to 20 percent worth of federal dollars compared to 80 percent…

Thousands Face ‘Night of Mayhem’ At Proctor Speedway

FOX 21's Dan Hanger Took First Place In Celebrity Bus Race

PROCTOR, Minn. – It was a successful “Mid-Summer Night of Mayhem” at the Proctor Speedway Saturday night. More than 3,000 people filled the stands to watch trailer races, reverse races and of course the school bus races. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger was back behind the wheel for the “celebrity” bus race for the third time in a row, and this…

Duluth Communities Celebrate ‘National Night Out’

DULUTH, Minn. – It was a perfect summer night Tuesday on so many levels for communities across the Northland that celebrated National Night Out. Neighbors were out of their homes and in the streets to build better relationships with each other and their police departments. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger takes you to Duluth’s Lincoln Park for a “street bash” there….

Lincoln Park Celebrates ‘National Night Out’

DULUTH, Minn. — Dozens of communities throughout the Northland celebrated National Night Out Tuesday evening, including different organizations in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reported live on the news at 5:30 p.m. at a “street bash” on west 4th Street put on by Spirit of God Church. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News

Police Search For Missing Duluth Couple With Medical Needs

DULUTH, Minn. (Press Release) – The Duluth Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating 82-year-old Ronald Tarnowski and 78-year-old Mary Tarnowski. Ronald and Mary were last seen yesterday, July 29th at around 9:00 a.m.  They may be driving a silver 2005 Chevy Tahoe 4 door SUV with MN license plate 852JXG with black plastic fender flares. Also, they left…

Bent Paddle Brewing Co. Looks To Expand — Again

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s largest brewing company, Bent Paddle, is hoping to expand again in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Renderings submitted to the city’s planning office shows an upgrade to a building on the 1800 block of West Michigan Street. That is the same building Bent Paddle has been housing its offices, which is across the street from the company’s…

Grand Motel Demolished For Acme Expansion

DULUTH, Minn. – Bulldozers have begun to take down the longtime Grand Motel in West Duluth. The motel property was sold in June to Acme Tools for $365,000. The realtor for the property told FOX 21 Acme plans to expand its current store and parking lot onto the old motel property. Categories: Business, News, News – Latest News

Special Report: The Science, Madness Behind Potholes

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s the same old problem that plagues the Northland year after year – those tire- eating, car-breaking potholes. In a special report, FOX 21’s Dan Hanger introduces you to MnDOT workers who work tirelessly to prevent and patch our crumbling roads.  And you’ll also get an inside look at the science behind this type of never ending…

Victim Identified In Fatal Boating Accident; Driver Faces Criminal Charges

Authorities Say Dark Night, Speed, Alcohol Were Factors

ELLSBERG TOWNSHIP, Minn. – A criminal investigation is underway after a late-night boat ride for four friends on a lake in St. Louis County turned fatal. Ann DeLanghe, 54, of Burnsville, Minn., died from her injuries after being ejected from the boat, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Her husband, Ernest, was also a passenger.  His condition was…

Hibbing Homicide Investigation Continues

JULY 18, 2017- Authorities in Hibbing are seeking the public’s assistance as they continue to investigate the death of Brian Nelson. Investigators are interested in speaking to anyone who may have had any contact with Nelson between Saturday evening July 8 through Monday July 10. The investigation is ongoing at this point, and authorities indicate that they believe this to…

Two Arrested in July 9 Lincoln Park Shooting

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police are investigating after a 34-year-old woman was shot in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The call for help came in at 2:36 a.m. Sunday around the 2100 block of West 6th Street. Officers arrived on scene to find the woman lying in the street with non-life threatening injuries. On Thursday, July 13, the Duluth Police Department…

Kwik Trip Could Buy Boundary Ave. Land At Auction

DULUTH, Minn. – A proposed Duluth Kwik Trip could get one last chance to build on controversial property near Proctor. That’s because the St. Louis County Board is putting the tax for-forfeited property up on the auction block as early as October. On Tuesday, the county board voted unanimously against selling the land on Boundary Avenue to the Duluth Economic Development…