Author: Jadie Jones

Annual Energy Expo Brings Community and Resources Together

It’s Energy Awareness month and the Annual Energy Expo kicked off to help inform the community about the resources available to them. The expo was designed to inform attendees what resources are available to them. OneRoof, Ecolibrium3, Citizens Utility Board, and many other representatives were there. They had a free hot lunch, the opportunity to sign up for energy assistance,…

6th Avenue East Re-opens with Safety in Mind

DULUTH, Minn. — 6th avenue east is officially open now. The resurfacing project added vegetated medians, reduced the lanes to 3, updated crossings for ADA compliance, and replaced lead water service lines. These changes make walking and crossing 6th avenue much safer for pedestrians. According to the project webpage, 20% of Duluth’s Pedestrian deaths in the past ten years have…

St. Louis County Launches Shutdown Update Webpage

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Louis County has launched a website where you can track the impacts of the federal shutdown. The page also highlights resources for help. Currently, the page is updating for Snap, The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), and WIC. Those programs help families and individuals access healthy food and other resources. For Snap and MFIP, funding for…

Minnesota Disenrolling Inactive Medicaid Providers

DULUTH, Minn. — Inactive Medicaid providers are being removed from the Medicaid program.  This only applies to providers who have not billed Medicaid for services in the past 12 months. It’s designed to reduce fraud and ensure Medicaid resources are focused on active providers. Roughly 800 providers were disenrolled in the first round of removals on Oct 15th, with more…

Minnesotan Man Carves Giant Jack-O-Lanterns

DULUTH, Minn. — One man is carving up something spooky for the Halloween season at Pier B. Michael Rudolph, a giant pumpkin carver, was commissioned to carve two giant pumpkins for display at the resort. Using improvised tools and 17 years of experience, Rudolph spends several hours perfecting his creations. “The best part is seeing the faces of people and…

Woman Charged in Fatal 2023 Accident

DULUTH, Minn. — 31-year-old Kayla Polaski has been charged after a fatal car accident in 2023. Polaski was driving with her mother when she drifted across the center line and struck another vehicle. Polaski’s mother was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was transported to the hospital for their injuries. A blood test revealed Polaski had amphetamines and…

Imagine Downtown Unveils 5 Year Plan

DULUTH, Minn — After a year of focus groups, surveys, tours and more the Imagine Downtown plan is finally unveiled. The 5-year plan addresses the pressing concerns of the downtown area. Those concerns included safety, housing, amenities and services, and infrastructure. MIG Consulting has been the firm spearheading this initiative. The plan involves enacting changes over the next 5 years,…

Garfield Avenue Concrete Repairs Begin

  DULUTH, Minn. — Concrete repairs on Garfield Avenue in Duluth have begun. The work will extend from Railroad Street to Nelson Street. Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout the repairs, with lanes being shifted around the work area. The project is expected to run through the end of October. Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, Road Construction/Traffic

Apple Cider Fest This Saturday!

DULUTH, Minn. — Spirit of the Lake Community arts center is celebrating fall with their Apple Cider Fest tomorrow! From fresh pressed cider to puppet making, art and more, this event is all ages fun. The Orla’s and Jon Edwards will be providing live music throughout the event. There will also be soup and mac and cheese from Dovetail cafe’s…

Human Services Corridor Tour Provides View into Local Organizations

DULUTH, Minn. — Local human services organizations gave the public a chance to see the Human Services Corridor and its impact in Duluth. CHUM, the Damiano Center, AICHO, Union Gospel Mission, Life House, and the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial presented as part of the tour. Attendees got to see how the organizations operate, work together, and address the needs of…

Jeffrey Boucher takes over as Interim County Attorney

CARLTON COUNTY, Minn. — Carlton County has a new interim attorney. Jeffrey Boucher has been sworn in as the county attorney. He’ll be finishing the term of Lauri Ketola who announced her resignation over the summer. Boucher has working in the attorney’s office for 13 years and has been working with Ketola to ensure a smooth transition. “I feel excited…

Cook County Land Services Scam Alert

COOK COUNTY, Minn. — Cook County is warning residents of a scam involving Land Services. Scammers are targeting people who apply to or contact the Cook County Land services department. They are impersonating staff by email and asking for $7,000 via wire transfer. Land services will never contact you by email requesting payment via wire transfer. Emails from government officials…

Fundraiser Gala Celebrates 10 Years of Sol House

DULUTH, Minn. — People were partying for a good cause last night at a fundraiser gala for Life House. The gala featured live music, a raffle, games, and more. This fundraiser was a celebration of 10 years of the Sol House program. Sol House offers a safe supportive home for teens who’ve experienced sexual exploitation or trafficking. They’ve provided specialized…

Donate Downtown Helps Fill the Need for Blood

DULUTH, Minn. — Downtown businesses have come together to support blood donations in the Twin Ports. The Memorial Blood Bus will be parked outside of one of the 8 currently participating businesses every 8 weeks. 8 weeks being the safe minimum amount of time you can go between donations. Wednesday, September 24th, the bus was parked outside the Giant office…

EV charging station opens, 1st of 16 to be installed by Minnesota Power

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Power celebrated the first of many Electric Vehicle fast chargers being installed across the region. A network of 16 fast chargers is planned to be finished by the end of the year. The goal is to reduce Range Anxiety – the fear of running out of battery because no chargers were nearby. “There will be four…

The Needle Art Guild Kicks Off its 52nd Year

DULUTH, Minn. — The Needle Art Guild held their first meeting of the year September 22nd, continuing a 52-year tradition. The Guilds’ goal is to foster and contribute to art and crafts in the community. They focus on needle arts, including embroidery, needlepoint, and more. Each meeting has stitching time, a break for lunch, and a guest speaker. Today’s guest…

‘Force on Fifth’ Celebrates Grand Opening in Downtown Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Force on Fifth Avenue held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday to celebrate the grand opening of its extended stay corporate housing project in downtown Duluth. Courtesy: Force on Fifth Originally, the multi-story building at the corner of 5th Avenue West and Superior Street was going to continue as a non-profit office center, which it was known for years…

Excitement Is Building For Proctor’s Sports Dome, Housing Development

PROCTOR, Minn. — A project aimed at bringing innovation and transformation to the region is making progress in Proctor. The Nexus Project is a $100 million+, multi-phase development spread out over 89 acres. This project will build housing, stores, childcare and so much more. The jewel of the project will be a massive indoor sports dome. The dome will feature…

6th Annual Chip Fore Change Golf Event

DULUTH, Minn. — The gorgeous weather made it a great day to golf for a good cause at the 6th Annual Chip Fore Change golf event. Proceeds benefit the Downtown Duluth outreach team. The team helps individuals facing homelessness. Their goal was to raise 45 thousand dollars while having a fun day for everyone. Around 100 golfers and dozens of…

Update on the New Soo Lock Progress

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — An update to the construction progress on the New Lock at the Soo. At the time of completion, the Lock will be the first new one in 61 years. The New lock took over space of former Sabin and Davis locks, which were decommissioned in 2010. Demolition on the former locks finished in July. The…

MN DNR’s Fall Color Forecast is Live!

DULUTH, Minn. — Fall Color Lovers, it’s your time of year again! The Minnesota DNR has released its fall colors forecast. Late September to mid-October is the general peak across the Northland. Patterns of temperature, precipitation, wind and the timing of hard freezes can impact when fall colors peak and how long they last. These weather changes can make exact…

Dual Training Pipeline Offers New Opportunities to Employers

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Hermantown employers got together at the Chamber of Commerce to learn about the Minnesota Dual Training pipeline. This program helps employees to get on the job training while getting formal instruction to grow within the industry. Employers participating can apply for a grant to aid with related costs. The industries this program focuses on are high-growth industries,…

Bridge to Health Survey Looks at Health of Northland

DULUTH, Minn. — Bridge to Health launched its survey to find out how healthy the Northland is. Households will be chosen at random to receive a survey asking about physical, mental, and cultural health in their area. Over 40 organizations across nine northern Minnesota counties and Douglas county in Wisconsin have joined to conduct the survey. “This year, we’re adding…

MN Republicans Release School Safety Agenda

Representative Cal Warwas ST. PAUL, Minn. — House Republicans released their proposed school safety agenda yesterday. The proposal outlines how they plan to protect students in the classroom. They intend to get more school resource officers in school and look at security systems in place and upgrading them as needed through the SHIELD Act. “When you have security at schools,…

Annual UMD Volunteer Fair Offers Students Opportunities

DULUTH, Minn. — The Kirby Ballroom was full of local organizations for a Volunteer Fair. Put on by University Honors Student Association, UMD Engage, and the United Way, this fair helps students learn more about our community and make connections. Students could meet with dozens of organizations to find the right volunteer opportunities for them. “The whole point is to…

September 3rd is officially Workforce Development Day

Duluth City Council President Therese Tomanek handing the proclamation to Workforce Center Director Elena Foshay Mayor Roger Reinert officially proclaimed Sept. 3rd as Workforce Development Day in the City of Duluth. This day was chosen as a way to kick off Workforce Development month across Minnesota. The proclamation highlights the efforts of the Duluth Workforce Center also known as CareerForce….

Duluth East Class of 1955’s 70th Reunion

DULUTH, Minn. — A very special high school reunion was held at Blackwoods today, This group graduated together from Duluth East back in 1955 and 70 years later, they’re still partying. They started out meeting every five years. At their 60th reunion they saw they were losing people and decided to meet every year. Today’s party started off with lunch,…

UWS unveils new branding and announces new sports complex

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The University of Wisconsin – Superior launched its new look. A new logo, looking like an Anchor with an ‘S’ has been unveiled. The design was made to be more representative of Superior. in addition to the logo, they announced the new brand campaign called “Arrive with Grit, Leave with Greatness.” Designed to capture the “determination, transformation…

Todd Johnson Named Executive Director for Northern Lights Foundation

DULUTH, Minn. — The Northern Lights Foundation has announced its new Executive Director, Todd Johnson. Johnson has nearly 3 decades of experience in non-profit leadership. He previously served as Chief executive Officer of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northland. The Northern Lights Foundation helps support families with children facing life-threatening illnesses. With the announcement, Johnson said “The Foundation’s…

Duluth Figure Skating Club Member Becomes USFS Double Gold Medalist

2025 Minnesota L’etoile du Nord Senior Women’s State Champion, Madeline Manion DULUTH, Minn. — Madeline Manion from the Duluth Figure Skating Club has officially become a United States Figure skating Double Gold Medalist. Manion earned that achievement after passing the USFS Gold Singles Test at Skate St. Paul over the weekend. Fewer than 3 percent of figure skaters nationwide earn…

The 7th Annual Natasha Lukacs Memorial Motorcycle Ride Kicks Off

Image courtesy of Natasha’s Ride Facebook Event BRAHAM, Minn. — Starting with a celebration of community and connection, attendees GET to enjoy live music food, and camping at the Braham Moose Lodge. The ride rolls off at 10:30 in the morning August 22nd. You don’t need a motorcycle to take part, cars and trucks can follow the route, too. They’ll…

Historic White Coat Ceremony at UMD Medical School

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth campus of the University of Minnesota Medical School held their annual White Coat Ceremony for the class of 20-29 August 22nd. The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that welcomes new medical students to the profession 65 Students received their first white coat in front of family and friends, medical school administration and…

2025 Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival starts the party, and raises money for 23rd Veteran

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The 2025 Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival (LSDBF) is here! Kicking off with an opening ceremony and 5k tonight, this family friendly event is an iconic tradition in the twin ports. This year’s charitable partner, 23rd Veteran, helps veterans adjust to civilian life after serving. The Boat Races begin at 8am Saturday August 22nd. Teams of 22…

Gov. Walz Tours Mesabi Metallics Project

Gov. Walz cutting the ribbon of the new concentrator line NASHWAUK, Minn. — Governer Tim Walz visited Mesabi Metallics for a tour of the construction progress. The project will be the first mine and pellet plant in Minnesota in 50 years. The focus is on creating ‘Green Steel’, using environmentally friendly mining practices and de-carbonizing steel making. While on site,…

MN Office of Cannabis Management Announces Recipients of CanRenew Grant

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced the recipients of $1 million in grant funding. The CanRenew grant funding goes towards projects designed to restore communities negatively affected by cannabis prohibition. Roughly 150 organizations applied for the grant, requesting over $22 million in funding across Minnesota. 11 Projects were chosen to receive the $1 million available….

Minnesota DNR Urges Hunters Not to Shoot Tagged Bears

DULUTH, Minn. — With the Bear season opener September 1st, comes a reminder to hunters not to shoot tagged, radio collared bears. The Minnesota DNR are monitoring 50 radio-collared black bears across the state. These bears provide important data to inform management decisions. Their coat often hides the collar, but they also have large colorful ear tags for identification (3…

MN Attorney General Ellison Sues TikTok Over Predatory Features

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is suing TikTok for preying on young people with addictive algorithms and exploitative features. The lawsuit, filed August 19th, claims that TikTok has violated Minnesota Consumer Protection laws. It further explains how TikTok gets time, data, and money out of users by using predatory features like analyzing user data to serve…

Local leaders talk housing amid potential cuts

  DULUTH, Minn. — Local housing leaders and advocates got together to discuss housing and the impact potential federal budget cuts could have in Minnesota. There are two proposals for the Federal Housing and Urban Development budget for 2026. The U.S. House proposal includes cutting the budget by $939 million, which would further strain systems already struggling to meet the…

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign Begins Again in Wisconsin

  SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: Wisconsin State Patrol is reminding drivers to make responsible choices as their annual campaign for sober driving kicks off again in late August 2025. Intoxication isn’t just alcohol, THC can still impair your ability to drive. Plan a sober ride. Either through public transit, taxi, rideshare, or a sober friend….

August 12th Primary Election Results

DULUTH, Minn. & TWO HARBORS, Minn. — August 13ths primaries narrowed the pools of candidates for seats on City Councils and School boards. For the Duluth Council Member At Large (Elect 2): Terese Tomanek had the most votes at 3,192 (34.25%) Jordon Johnson came next with 2,468 (26.48%) Derek Medved fell a fairly close third with 2,129 (22.84%) Asher Estrin-Haire…