Author: Emily Halling

Minnesota Senators tour UMD science labs to discuss federal impacts

DULUTH, Minn.– Minnesota senators toured UMD’s science labs to talk about potential cuts to grants and budgets. The legislators met with researchers to better understand how UMD science students impact research in the area. Professors told FOX 21 University Minnesota Duluth is filled with financial uncertainty under the Trump Administration. The tour itself was able to give senators an eye-opening…

Duluth Stakeholders gather to address Capitol Days agenda

DULUTH, Minn.– Preparations are underway for the annual “Duluth and St. Louis County days at the Capitol” City of Duluth, County Commissioners and the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce got together this morning to nail down a plan to advocate for key legislative priorities. Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert said the agenda will remain the same as last year including investment…

Halvor Lines breaks ground on new headquarters

DULUTH, Minn.– Halvor Lines, a trucking company employing nearly 500 drivers in Superior announced a game changing expansion. The company has purchased new property still in superior because of the conflicting Blatnik Bridge construction. Officials at Halvor Lines are calling it significant expansion to its headquarters with this new project. The new building will give drivers an upgraded living space…

UMD’s Tau Kappa Epsilon to Host Annual Fundraiser for St. Jude

DULUTH, Minn.– A fraternity chapter UMD has spent nearly a decade raising an impressive amount of money for St. Jude Research Hospital. Over the past eight years, the Tau Kappa Epsilon UMD Duluth chapter has kept busy with fundraising for the organization. Each yearly campaign involves collecting donations from friends, families, and local businesses. The first year they began, the…

Lake Superior Zoo announces birth of critically endangered cotton-top tamarin

DULUTH, Minn.– It’s been all monkey business at the Lake Superior Zoo when it comes to raising their newest little primate. The not yet named cotton-top tamarin was born 36 days ago and is thriving alongside mom “Mira” and dad Dino”. The species itself originates in Colombia and is critically endangered. Zoo staff said there’s less than 2,000 in the…

Upper Lakes Foods Show serving up hungry customers and guests

DULUTH, Minn.– The DECC in Duluth was packed with 60 Upper Lakes Foods vendors, showcasing a delicious sneak peek of what they’re offering. The bi-annual event was prepared to serve thousands of hungry guests. It’s meant to foster community connections and showcase standout products. Upper Lakes Foods caters to 24-hundred customers around Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. Many of their…

ABRA Auto Body begins annual winter clothing drive

DULUTH, Minn.– After a trend of successful winter clothing drives, ABRA Auto Body in Scanlon is proud to bring it back. Starting November 3rd, ARBA Auto Body will be accepting winter clothing donations. Last year, they received 188 clothing pieces. They’re looking for both child and adult winter gear. The inspiration for this drive came after the company noticed united…

UMD DEI winter clothing drive begins

DULUTH, Minn.– Happening now until the beginning of December, you can support the community, while supporting UMD bulldog games. The UMD DEI clothing drive aims at gathering donations for k-12 students. Over the past three years, they’ve accumulated over 200 bags of clothes. Drop boxes are available during all home UMD basketball games. The UMD ticket office, and Minnesota Power…

City of Duluth street maintenance gearing up for winter season

DULUTH, Minn.– Before you know it, the city of Duluth will be covered in a blanket of snow and ice. But before this happens, street maintenance workers still have their work cut out for them. “Right now, basically, we’ve wrapped up our construction season for the year. We’re still doing some spot repairs. We’re still doing some pothole patching. We’re…

Voyageur Donuts Opens in Canal Park

DULUTH, Minn.– A new donut shop is opening Friday in Duluth’s Canal Park. Voyageur Donuts is located in the DeWitt-Seitz building. The savory business focuses on unique and local flavors, like a ‘Superior’ chocolate donut and a ‘Forager’ blueberry donut. Owner Dan Neff said he’s done his research. “Voyager Donuts is about the experience where life takes us and what…

‘Minnesota Monsters’ rebrand introduced to Duluth community

  DULUTH, Minn.– For the first time today, the Duluth community got to experience the rebranding of the former ‘Duluth Harbor Monsters’. Now renamed to ‘Minnesota Monsters’, they have received a new name, new logo, and a new head coach. With their new involvement with AFL league, it is projected to put them on the map. They’re expanding to nationwide…

Animal Allies highlighting pet safety during Halloween festivities

  DULUTH, Minn.– With scary festivities taking place this week, it’s important to make sure you’re not scaring your pets too much. With seemingly spooky factors such as doorbells, costumes, and decor, we’re told it’s important to take steps to keep pets safe. On Halloween, it’s recommended to keep dogs and cats indoors, get secure collars, and make sure they’re microchipped….

Duluth’s Best Bread distributing free pastries for children during SNAP pause

DULUTH, Minn.– With SNAP benefits on pause, Duluth’s Best Bread has quickly stepped up to the plate. Starting on Tuesday November 4th, the bakery will be distributing free pastries and day-old bread to support children in need. No IDs are necessary, but children 12 and under must be present for this program. This opportunity is for dine-in guests only, and…

Harbor Highlands Development wraps up Phase 6, introducing 40 units

DULUTH, Minn.– A major milestone to help tackle the housing crisis in Duluth is finally complete and was celebrated this afternoon. Harbor Highlands, a diverse complex in Duluth catering to backgrounds such as low income, and disability accommodations, finally wrapped up its sixth and final phase. The 19-million-dollar investment introduced 40 units. In addition, a tot lot playground was built…

Scares That Care: ‘Alice B’s Tour of Terror’ Raises Funds for Breast Cancer

SUPERIOR, Wis.– If you’re in the Superior area tomorrow, prepare to be scared! Tucked in the alley right next to the DC testing building on Tower Avenue, a spooky tour filled with tricks will be lurking throughout the basement. ‘Alice B’s Tour of Terror’ got its start back in 2019 and was inspired by the coordinator’s mother and her fight…

Drug Take-Back Day Educates and Assists with Safe Medication Disposal

  SUPERIOR, Wis.– For anyone who had old medications lying around today was an opportunity to dispose of them safely. The Superior Public Library welcomed in the Douglas County Drug Prevention Coalition. They came prepared with free resources such as Narcan, medication lock boxes, and medical disposal bags. The event not only gave the opportunity to safely dispose meds, but…

CHUM Urgently Seeks Food Donations as SNAP Benefits Pause Impacts Families

DULUTH, Minn.– With many families around the Twin Ports relying on snap benefits to stay ahead, the recent changes have begun to impact local resources. With the news of the SNAP program benefits being put on pause, food shelves are in crunch time. Chum officials told FOX 21 they help out around 300 people weekly. That number increases daily, with…

Musician Todd Eckart Killed in Head-On Crash, Music Community Mourns

DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth community is grieving after the unexpected passing of local musician Todd Eckart. Wednesday afternoon, Eckart was killed in a wrong way head on collision in Hawthorne Township. Channeling the soul, and tunes of the era of Buddy Holly, his voice and impact was heard around the Twin Ports. “He played the music that they kind of…

Large Turnout for MN State Fire Chiefs Association Conference

DULUTH, Minn.– The DECC is seeing quite a large turnout for its annual Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association Conference. Over 540 fire chiefs from around the state are gathering to network and develop connections and strategies. It’s also an opportunity for the attendees to learn about new technology, leadership skills, and resiliency. With the conference, it gets all of the…

Essentia Health Mammogram Trucks Seeing Trend of Success

CLOQUET, Minn.– October is known as breast cancer awareness month. And Essentia Health has been bringing opportunities for testing in rural communities. For the past three years, Essentia health has introduced a fleet of trucks traveling to rural and tribal areas. It began with three locations, but now they have over twenty stops. Thursday alone, Cloquet’s stop was booked up…

First Indigenous Coast Guard Unit Inducted in Grand Portage

GRAND PORTAGE, Minn.– A ceremony on Wednesday in Grand Portage celebrated a new beginning for the reservation and surrounding areas. They’ve been hard at work to bring in additional support for marine safety, patrol, and rescue. The first ever Indigenous Coast Guard unit was officially inducted in Grand Portage. After the Grand Marais coast guard unit discontinued back in 2022,…

Topics Of Transparency, NDAs Take Over St. Louis County Board Meeting

DULUTH, Minn.– The topic of transparency boiled over Tuesday at the St. Louis County Board meeting in Duluth. What was supposed to be public comment about banning commissioners from signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) turned into residents feeling silenced. The St. Louis County board meeting included a motion by Commissioner Ashley Grimm to prohibit commissioners from signing non-disclosure agreements going forward,…

Trail Access Restricted Due to Crosby Fire

FINLAND, Minn.– When the Crosby Fire began last week, the DNR and Superior Hiking Trail officials wasted no time implementing safety measures. “We just got word of the fire, kind of beginning yesterday, kind of coordinated with the DNR. We didn’t hear until about 5:30 kind of in the evening, about looking to close a section of the Superior Hiking…

Crosby Fire grows to 300 acres, 70 % Contained

Crosby Fire 10/11/2025 TOFTE, Minn.– This morning, a press release highlighted current stats for the Crosby Fire that happened last week. The fire is now at 300 acres and 70 % of it is contained. The reported stated that last night’s precipitation helped reduce the fire. Minnesota Incident Command System NICS, deemed lightning as the cause of the fire. Minnesota…

Fall Career Fair Brings Potential Internship and job Opportunities

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The start of the school year brought in the opportunity to showcase some potential at UW-Superior. More than 77 booths gave students the scoop on what their future could look like. Each booth offered careers ranging from healthcare, business and even law enforcement. Students spent the day networking and seeing what the Twin Ports have to offer,…

Senate Project Tour Highlights Need for State Matching Funds

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Senate members traveled across the state to discuss more than 20 proposed projects requesting state matching funds. For this tour, there were two projects discussed in St. Louis County. First, they discussed replacing a regional landfill leachate treatment system in Canyon, Minnesota. The 6 million dollar project aims to help protect ecosystem health, and remedy contamination….

Bookstore at Fitger’s Highlighting Banned Book Week

DULUTH, Minn.– The bookstore in Fitgers is showcasing novels that have been removed from schools, libraries, and other public spaces. Decorated with caution tape and explanation bookmarks, the bookstore is highlighting the growing trend of banned books, which has been happening since 1982. The bookstore manager told FOX 21 that last year alone 2,000 books joined the list. They’re included…

St Louis County Declaring October 9th as “Ageism Awareness Day”

DULUTH, Minn.–A proclamation involving the importance of a positive mindset with the aging population was highlighted in Duluth today. The St. Louis County will be recognizing October 9th as ‘Ageism Awareness Day’. City officials and the community alike is recognizing what they’re calling an ‘unnoticed societal issue’. That being said, this issue affects both older and younger people, giving each…

Ashland School District Impacted by Northland College’s Closure

ASHLAND, Wis.– The Ashland community is coming to terms with what they’re calling a significant loss after the Northland College closed its doors last spring. “We are definitely nervous about what it will do to our staffing and our entire community. About 15% of our staff is Northland College graduates, and over 20% of our staff is related to Northland…

Duluth Police Department Celebrates New Recruits and Promotions

DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth Police Department had lots to celebrate today during their ceremony. Today, 11 new recruits took the oath with the Duluth police department. In addition, they acknowledged two police officers who were promoted today. Duluth’s Chief of Police told FOX 21 right now this line of work is a competitive market, and he’s grateful so many are…

50th Grandma’s Marathon Anticipation Shatters Registration Record

DULUTH, Minn.–Registrations have hit an all-time high as anticipation builds for the 50th Grandma’s Marathon. For a process that normally takes around a month, last night alone over 19,000 people have signed up to cross this very start line. “To think that at seven o’clock our time yesterday, there were 10s of 1000s of people from around the world sitting…

Month of October Declared Domestic Violence Awareness Month

SUPERIOR, Wis.– October represents domestic violence awareness month, and this was addressed today in a proclamation in Superior. This year’s theme is ‘Survivors Always’, emphasizing community support surrounding domestic violence. The event began with Troy House of Superior, giving a heartfelt opening song. Superior mayor Jim Paine, for his 9th year, brought awareness, acknowledgement, and support for this cause. Education…

Bus Shelter Receives Colorful Makeover; First of Many

DULUTH, Minn.– The bus shelter on 6th avenue east and 3rd street in Duluth just got way more colorful, to celebrate and acknowledge local artists in the area. For this opportunity, Zeitgeist is partnering with the Duluth Transit Authority to beautify the city. This project is to help encourage ridership, all while showcasing local talent. Tiffany Fenner, the mastermind behind…

Lake Superior College Hosts Student Success Day

DULUTH, Minn. — Wednesday, classes at Lake Superior College were dismissed to give students the full scope of what the campus offers. Student success day is held twice a year at the college, and it celebrates all things success. The event gives participants the opportunity to learn about campus services, such as tutoring and advising. The event featured a clothing…

Essentia Health Bone Marrow Drive Leads to Success; Continues for Second Year

DULUTH, Minn.– Last year, when a nurse at Essentia Health was diagnosed with Leukemia and was eventually cured. Her friends and coworkers organized a bone marrow drive, and they’re now inspired to keep going. The bone marrow drive at Essentia is typically done every five years. But now, they’re bringing it back for the second year in a row. Recipients…

Community Members Advocating for Civic Pledge for Stronger Minnesota

DULUTH, Minn.– Following what politicians are calling a rise in political violence, community members and city officials were invited today to sign a pledge to prevent this. The Civic Pledge for a Stronger Minnesota is dedicated to promoting civility and dialogue, over division and violence. The event is part of the ‘What Can We Do’ coalition. Which was inspired after…

Lutsen Fall Colors Experiencing Two Peaks This Year

LUTSEN, Minn.– Lutsen mountains is open year-round with different seasons bringing in different opportunities. But while the leaves are turning it’s the biggest turn out the resort has all year. “Last year, on our busiest day, we had a record day. We had 4,600 people here. We have a lot of people that come up from the cities. We’ll have…

Minnesota Discovery Center Unveils Brand New Fall Colors Tour

CHISHOLM, Minn.– The Minnesota Discovery center is making the most of their mine land reclamation site. With the shuttle already on deck, this opportunity was bound to happen. “We use it primarily for water recreation, and then we also pick up mountain bikers trail side with it. But this fall, we decided to repurpose it for fall color tours, and…

Duluth Fire & 148th Air National Guard Fire Team Participating in ‘Fill the Boot’ Program

DULUTH, Minn.– Over the course of three days this week Duluth will have some firefighter visitors around town. They are participating in the nationwide ‘Fill the Boot’ program. Since 1954, the International Association of Firefighters has helped raised money for Muscular Dystrophy Association. Duluth Fire as well as the 148th Air National Guard fire team will be scattered around numerous…

Study Highlights Strong Housing Demand in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn.– The results of a 2025 housing study was presented in Duluth today. The Maxfield housing study is conducted every five years for the city of Duluth. And the results show, that before 20-5, Duluth has a demand for over 8,000 housing units before 2035. During the presentation, Duluth housing officials are collaborating with staff and partners to create…

Breezy Point 5K Earns $148,000 for Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge

DULUTH, Minn.– The Breezy Point 5k has been an Island Lake tradition now for nearly two decades. And this year, they hit the finish line with quite the donation. The Breezy Point 5k got its start seventeen years ago in the organizer’s backyard, with only 75 runners. But now, this year over 500 runners helped contribute to Minnesota teen challenge….

‘La Ronde’ Brings Excitement to Zeitgeist Theater

DULUTH, Minn.– Zeitgeist, a theater in downtown Duluth is gearing up for what they’re calling an ‘exciting’ show. ‘La Ronde’ is adults only French play that centers around the concept of sexual encounters in society. Robert Lee, an actor in the Duluth community, adapted the script, to fit modern sensibilities. Lee said he has wanted to direct this show for…

Man Suffers Life-Altering Injuries After Rock Attack Near Canal Park; Teen Charged

DULUTH, Minn.– Milton Michael Myschack, 61, of Duluth was randomly attacked with a large rock while walking under an overpass bordering Canal Park, according to his brother, Philip Myschack. The entire altercation was recorded on a cell phone where you can see a group of teens cornering Myschack before being knocked to the ground with the rock. “I really believe…

Fall Hawk Migration in Full Swing

DULUTH, Minn.– Birders were ready with binoculars, cameras and counters, because right now, fall hawk migration is in full swing. Every fall, guests flock near and far to visit the cliffside birding site. Today specifically, counters kept busy with bald eagles, sharp shinned hawks, and broad winged hawks. This year, Hawk Ridge broke the state record with daily bluejay sightings….

Duluth’s Japanese Garden Lantern Vandalized, Yet Hope Shines On

DULUTH, Minn.– There is disappointment after vandals targeted one of Duluth’s pristine gardens that represents Duluth’s sister city in Japan. Over the weekend, the Japanese Peace Bell Garden’s Kotoji lantern — a symbolism of unity between people, cultures and views — was destroyed. Destroyed Kotoji lantern “So, all pieces were put apart. It’s a cemented granite piece put apart and…

Oktoberfest Returning to Bayfront Park this Weekend

DULUTH, Minn.– A little bit of Germany will be making its way to the Northland this weekend. Because the annual Oktoberfest celebration is coming back strong. ‘Oktoberfest’ is a family friendly weekend long celebration of all things Germany. For the occasion, authentic food, and imported beer from Germany is brought in for Duluth to enjoy. Guests can look forward to…