Author: Dan Hanger

Woodstove To Blame For Duluth Township House Fire

DULUTH TOWNSHIP, Minn. — A woodstove is to blame for a house fire in Duluth Township, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. The fire broke out around 8:30 a.m. Sunday in the 5400 block of Ryan Road. Investigators said the homeowner inside got out without injury. The homeowner told authorities the fire started near the chimney before taking…

Duluth Police: Stabber Is Victim Of Domestic Assault

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police are investigating a stabbing at one of the city’s newest apartment buildings. The stabbing happened around 7 p.m. Friday at the Brewery Creek Apartments in the 600 block of East 4th Street. Investigators located a 29-year-old man with a non-life-threatening wound to the chest. The man stabbed ended up being arrested for preliminary charges of…

Man Arrested After Vehicle Prowls At Duluth Trailhead Parking Lots

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police arrested a 36-year-old man Friday related to multiple vehicle prowls. The break-ins happened at trailhead parking lots throughout the city. The suspect is facing multiple preliminary charges, including financial fraud and felony theft. Police are reminding drivers to keep valuable out of sight and lock your doors when out enjoying the trails. Categories: Crime, Minnesota,…

Superior Council Debates How To Fund Lead Pipe Replacements

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The Superior City Council had quite the lengthy discussion Tuesday night on whether to support a change to state statute that would allow federal dollars into the city to help replace lead water pipes. The discussion went on so long that a vote will happen at the next council meeting Feb. 18. The change in state statute…

Visit Duluth, Madden Media Talk 2025 Duluth Tourism Outlook

DULUTH, Minn. — Visit Duluth and the city’s new tourism market agency, Madden Media, are one month on the job together with a common goal of showcasing what makes Duluth the gem it is. Madden Media is a national tourism marketing organization tasked with promoting Duluth over the next two years. We spoke with Madden Media’s CEO, Daniel Janes, to…

‘Catastrophic Failure’ Of Pipe Causes Significant Water Damage At Keewatin Elementary

KEEWATIN, Minn. — A “catastrophic failure” of a pipe Sunday morning caused significant water damage at Keewatin Elementary, forcing the school to be closed through at least Tuesday, Jan. 28, according to Principal Dr. Rae Villebrun. Cafeteria “We are currently working with Service Master, IEA, our custodial/maintenance staff, and insurance company to ensure the building is ready for the students…

49 Days Later, Essentia Deer River Workers End Strike with Essentia Health

  DULUTH, Minn.  — A 49-day strike ended Sunday between Essentia Health and 70 employees at its Deer River Hospital. On Sunday evening, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents the Deer River workers, said Essentia “significantly” improved its latest offer compared to the original offer before the strike began. SEIU said the agreement includes a 12 percent raise…

Applications Now Open For St. Louis County Sheriff’s Citizens’ Academy

DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office has opened registration for its Citizens’ Police Academy. The academy is happening every Tuesday night from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. from March 4 until May 20. The free interactive presentations and tours will show you the inner workings of a dozen departments within the Sheriff’s Office, including the Jail, 911…

1880s Water Main Breaks At Busy Duluth Intersection

DULUTH, Minn. — One of Duluth’s oldest water mains caused quite a mess at one of Duluth’s busiest intersections Wednesday night, which went into a second night Thursday. The break was reported around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at West Superior Street and Mesaba Avenue. City utility crews were dispatched just before 11 p.m. Wednesday as bubbles were pouring out of the…

Officials: Man Shoots At Vehicle, Hits Woman In Duluth Township

DULUTH TOWNSHIP, Minn. — A 19-year-old man is accused of shooting a woman in Duluth Township in what authorities believe was a drug-related crime. The shooting was reported around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. A 19-year-old female was at Aspirus St. Luke’s with a gunshot wound to the foot. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened in the 6200…

Settlement Agreement: Burnt-Out Kozy Building Will Be Demolished

DULUTH, Minn. – Nearly 15 years after fire gutted the former Kozy Bar and Apartments in downtown Duluth, the burnt-out structure will finally be torn down. That tear-down decision is part of a settlement agreement between the city of Duluth, the building’s former owner Dr. Eric Ringsred, and Respect Starts Here, which is a preservationist group. In a joint statement…

2025 Outlook for Duluth Entertainment Convention Center

DULUTH, Minn.– Management at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center are ready for a stronger year ahead following operational challenges that lead to a million-dollar loan request from the city in 2024. “We had a lot of capital projects here that failed. So, when the DECC arena system broke, we then had to do an emergency fix for our entire AC…

Minnesota State Fair Ticket, Parking Prices To Rise In 2025

The Minnesota State Fair will hike ticket prices by $2 this year, bringing the cost of a regular ticket for an adult to $20. On Sunday, fair officials said ticket prices would go up as the fair looks to “fund extensive capital improvements and maintenance work and address rising operational costs.” The fair kept ticket prices flat in 2024 after…

Missing Snowmobiler Found Dead In Chequamegon Bay

ASHLAND, Wis. – A missing snowmobiler was found dead in the open waters of the Chequamegon Bay Sunday morning. The discovery came after a nine-hour search effort by the U.S. Coast Guard, Wisconsin DNR and the Ashland Fire Department, among other agencies. The 20-year-old male victim was reported overdue for ice fishing around 12:15 a.m. Sunday. The last known communication…

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…