DULUTH, Minn. – A new bishop has now been named for the Duluth diocese. The role had been open ever since Bishop Paul Sirba died in 2019. Pope Francis named Father Daniel Felton to be the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Duluth. Father Felton was ordained as a priest in 1981 and has served as vicar general and moderator…
DULUTH, Minn. – This whole week is National Library Week and today is National Library Giving Day. 350 libraries throughout the United States and Canada are celebrating. The goal for the Duluth Public Library is to raise $25,000 by midnight tonight. “I think sometimes people don’t realize that it’s possible to support the library and help improve our services through…
DULUTH, Minn. – Visit Duluth’s 2021 visitor guides are being delivered throughout the state. 75,000 visitor guides were shipped out today to different parts of Minnesota including the Twin Cities. There is a new visitor guide produced every year and they are usually delivered in December. However, with COVID, there were a lot of unknowns, and management at Visit Duluth…
CLOQUET, Minn. – County Seat Theater Company is opening a performance of “Almost Maine” this weekend and it will run through next weekend. This is the second production that the company has put on since the lockdown with the production in February. With restrictions in place, about 40 of the 140 seats are seated. There is also a cast of…
DULUTH, Minn. – Dry conditions around the Northland have fueled several recent wildfires and even though rain is in the forecast, experts know fire potential remains high. Around two dozen wildfires have been reported around the Northland over the past couple of weeks. 8 of those happened last Saturday alone. With conditions nice and dry and humidity being really low,…
DULUTH, Minn. – With rain moving in and the ground thawing, you’re being urged to stay off any trails that are blocked off to avoid damaging them. Park crews tell us foot and the traffic on a mushy trail can create nasty water trapping ruts when the ground finally dries and that means more work for volunteers who have to…
DULUTH, Minn. – Some Duluth City Councilors are considering declaring a climate emergency in Duluth. City councilors Gary Anderson, Arik Forsman, Roz Randorf, and Joel Sipress are joining efforts in asking the Duluth city administration for a climate action work plan. Some specific goals would be to accelerate the work of promoting lower emissions for utility operations and moving towards…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY – With Easter weekend approaching, health officials say they are watching for a rise in case numbers as people meet for social gatherings or for religious services. When it comes to vaccinations in St. Louis County, about 47% of the population over the age of 16 have received one dose, and over 85% of the 65 and…
DULUTH, Minn. – Some local restaurants are doing Easter specials for the holiday weekend. Duluth Grill on 27th Avenue West has already sold out of its Easter to-go kits, featuring a variety of brunch favorites. Management says they haven’t done this kind of thing before and are happy about the demand for their kits. “It’s interesting,” said Dan LeFebvre, a…
DULUTH, Minn. – With vaccinations on the rise, airports are experiencing more traffic as people feel more comfortable traveling. This all comes as the Centers for Disease Control issues new guidance today that also helps free up travelers. The CDC now recommends that fully vaccinated people can travel within the U.S. and they don’t have to take a COVID test…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Children’s Museum has opened a pop-up play space in downtown Duluth. Right now, they are using an empty storefront on the 300 block of East Superior Street, which serves as a mini-museum, including an indoor playground and fossil exploration. This all coming as the new children’s museum in Lincoln Park is expected to open in…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – A new restaurant is set to open in a few days in Superior on the 5800 block of Tower Avenue. Dolce Vita is a new restaurant with a flair for European cuisine. Owners say it’ll be all about steaks and pasta, and will showcase local wines and beers. They say they’re grateful for the opportunity to open…
NORTHLAND – The unemployment rate fell in the Northland from 6 to 5.5% in February. The labor force also added almost 2,000 workers, which is a 1.2% increase. Duluth has regained about half of the jobs that were lost due to the pandemic, according to experts from workforce development. The largest number of jobs lost because of COVID were in…
DULUTH, Minn. – Erosion has been taking place on Duluth’s Park Point Beach for years, but a group effort is now underway to help restore the beach, which includes picking up sharp metal debris from a recent dredging project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct a survey to pinpoint the location and depth of a large amount of…
DULUTH, Minn. – Local hardware stores are busy as people come in to buy springtime items they need for their houses and their yards. At Marshall Hardware, management there says people are buying things to clean up their yards, like rakes and garbage bags. People are also getting seeds as well for their gardens. For tips to take care of…
DULUTH, Minn. – As traffic detours begin, businesses in Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District are being impacted by major construction on the Twin Ports Interchange, also known as the “Can of Worms” project. Girders are now set on the 27th Avenue West bridge and work is starting on some of the bridges connected with the Blatnik for a project that…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Greater Downtown Council is teaming up with the City of Duluth to survey business leaders to learn more about how the workforce is returning to the office. Some have already seen employees coming back and the Greater Duluth Council wants to see what it looks like for the summer months to gauge their future plans. According…
DULUTH, Minn. – Pfizer recently came out with a study saying its COVID-19 vaccine is safe for kids 12 to 15. In the study of more than 2,000 U.S. volunteers, data showed that the vaccine was highly effective when participants were given the full adult dose. Health officials say it’s exciting news as this is another milestone that research has…
DULUTH, Minn. – Chocolate shops are busy with people visiting their stores for the upcoming holiday. At Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Canal Park, workers say business has doubled sales for some days over the last few weeks compared to two years before the pandemic. “The Easter holiday is a celebration of life and sometimes a little chocolate just helps…
DULUTH, Minn. – Churches throughout the Northland are preparing for the upcoming Easter weekend and church leaders talk about how they’ve adjusted during the pandemic. With Easter approaching, churches in the area are doing their best to get ready as the pandemic continues. Minnesota churches are now allowed to be open without capacity limits but Northland churches continue using a…
DULUTH, Minn. – The results are in for a national COVID study St. Luke’s hospital was involved in. Data collected through the RECOVER study showed that by 14 days after the second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, they are 90% protective against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection. Previous studies showed that the vaccine was effective against symptomatic infection but…
DULUTH, Minn. – CHUM is in need of tents to provide for those who are homeless. The warming shelter will be closing on March 31st and while the shelter may be open in April due to possible cold weather, the shelter is seasonal. Those from the street outreach team at CHUM are looking for tents so people don’t have to…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY – All Minnesotans over age 16 become eligible for COVID vaccines tomorrow and now preparations are underway for what’s expected to be a big influx of appointments. So far, around 38% of St. Louis County residents have received at least one vaccine dose while 23% have been fully vaccinated. The supply of available vaccines will not be…
DULUTH, Minn. – Construction on the Twin Ports Interchange, also nicknamed the “Can of Worms,” is proceeding. The I-35 and Highway 53 Interchange Project is budgeted to be about $343 million. Girders have been set on the 27th avenue west bridge and work is currently underway for forming and pouring the barrier wall. There has also been selective construction beginning…
DULUTH, Minn. – Big Daddy’s Burgers on Piedmont Avenue is celebrated its 20th anniversary Friday. During the first portion of the pandemic, the restaurant didn’t do takeout and was shut down completely. But now that they are back open, owners say the support for their restaurant during these difficult times has been amazing. “It’s amazing that we’ve made it this…
DULUTH, Minn. – Whether it be aluminum cans or fragments, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helped to place multiple signs throughout Park Point beach to warn people about potential hazardous materials. The fragments left behind are from dredge material that was placed to assist with beach erosion issues. City officials say that it’s important to have current signage to…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Several local business leaders came to the Walmart in Hermantown today to buy bikes for the Lake Superior Zoo’s annual Eggstravaganza. At the Golden Egg Hunt for the zoo’s event, there is a chance to win a kid’s bike every hour. Places like Korner Stores also donated their time and money to help purchase the bikes. The…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Zoo’s Zoomobile is going virtual this year. In a typical year, the Zoomobile goes across the Northland to reach educational programming to thousands of people. However, because of the pandemic, this year’s Zoomobile will be a virtual experience and is free of charge to all schools, families, and anyone who wants to learn about…
DULUTH, Minn. – More than 700 individuals are needed throughout Minnesota beginning in June through the Minnesota Americorps Emergency Response Initiative. The initiative was launched in the spring of 2020 to help Minnesota organizations affected by COVID-19. Starting in June, Americorps members will be helping in a variety of ways, including with students attending summer programs. They will also help…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Damiano Center has set up its six-unit hygiene facility after getting it over the winter. Each unit has a shower and toilet and people can stop by during operating hours or schedule an appointment to use one of the units. Workers there say they’re happy to serve the homeless and to help people with their overall…
DULUTH, Minn. – Earlier today, multiple organizations came together in Duluth to help those in need during a special event where thousands of pounds of food were given away. Hot dogs, taco meat, and plain yogurt. People came to the DECC parking lot to get their fair share of food. About 2,500 gallons of milk and 2,500 boxes of food…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY – Places in northern St. Louis County have experienced high numbers of COVID cases, specifically during the last couple of weeks. Health officials say these cases have been active in places like Hibbing, Aurora, and Ely. About 15% of total county cases were in Ely last week. Those cases have been connected to social gatherings, sports, and…
DULUTH, Minn. – The shipping season officially begins today as the Soo Locks have already opened. Leaders at the Duluth Seaway Port Authority are expecting a great 2021 season, anticipating a rebound from the pandemic-induced lows of the 2020 season. Iron Ore is the number one cargo by tonnage through the port. The indicators for that cargo are positive. They…
DULUTH, Minn. – As the need for housing the homeless grows in the Northland, multiple organizations are now coming together to convert a motel downtown into a new housing facility. The Downtown Duluth Inn will soon be converted into housing for the homeless after a $2.6 million purchase agreement was signed on Tuesday. The motel itself was used throughout the…
DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth native and UMD grad has announced they are running for the second district city council seat after Joel Sipress announced he’s not running again. Mike Mayou is running for the seat that has been filled by Sipress for the last two terms. Mayou says if elected, he will focus on needs relating toe the pandemic…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The City of Superior is considering giving away land to build several single-family homes with the goal of getting more people invested in the city. Throughout the Twin Ports and the nation, homes for sale are at an all-time low as demand continues to soar in part due to the pandemic. Now the city of Superior is…
WISCONSIN – Across the state of Wisconsin, more people are now eligible for the vaccine. Previously eligible groups included law enforcement, health care workers, along with those 65 and older. Now Douglas County health officials say they are going through more groups including people with disabilities along with those 16 and older who have underlying health conditions including diabetes, obesity,…
DULUTH, Minn. – Some travel agencies are seeing more people booking getaways. Because many flights were canceled last year, people received an airline voucher to purchase a ticket for this year. Travel agencies like Divine Destinations in Duluth say that right now, they’re seeing half of their clients book domestic flights, and the other half looking to go international. “They’re…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Spring is here and greenhouses throughout the Northland and are preparing for customers. At Lilac Hill Greenhouse in Hermantown, spring is its busiest season. Spring trends include hanging baskets and container gardens, especially with annuals and perennials filled with colors. Colors that are most popular during the spring are bright colors that are attractive, including reds, yellows…
NEW YORK – One Duluth native is helping come up with vials for vaccine containment and distribution. Joe Mattson graduated from Duluth Central High School in 2009 and UMD in 2013 and is currently based in New York, working for Corning, a technology company. He helped put together Corning Valor Glass, which is one of several vials that are used…
DULUTH, Minn. – A second round of federal CARES Act funding is on the way to Duluth. City leaders are now finalizing how to use that money to address various needs related to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. About $1.2 million of this funding will be emergency solutions grant funds. Another half a million will be community development block grants….
DULUTH, Minn. – The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for parts of northeastern Minnesota including in St. Louis and Carlton counties as gusty winds and low humidity means fires can spread quickly. Minnesota traditionally has two active fire seasons – once in the fall and once in the spring. The spring fire season starts as soon…
DULUTH, Minn. – We talked to local residents of Duluth about their thoughts on the shooting in Atlanta. Pakou has lived in Duluth for the past 15 years with her family and is part of the group, Asian Women of the Twin Ports. She says that she and her family have experienced micro-aggressions in the past. For instance, people asking…
DULUTH, Minn. – Catalytic converters continue to be stolen throughout Duluth, which is on par with last year. Steven is a Duluth resident, and he went to his car on Sunday night to change parking from one side of the street to the other. However, he discovered that someone had taken his catalytic converter. He says that he needs $2,300…
DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth has a new app for people to use to discover local parks. The app is called “Agents of Discovery,” and people can go on missions throughout different parks and trails throughout the year. You can become a detective and learn about things like nature, Duluth, and cultural history. “It’s awesome,” said Sam Werle,…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – The federal tax deadline is being delayed from April 15th to May 17th as more people deal with complicated filings because of COVID. The deadline applies to federal income tax returns and taxes. There’s no word on any deadline changes for the state of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Either way, tax experts say it’s best to file as…
DULUTH, Minn. – A bill was introduced by Duluth State Representative Liz Olson this week that created more general criteria for those who would be eligible for the purchase of Verso’s paper mill. The bill itself did not name a specific buyer and left it fairly open so that multiple buyers of the Duluth mill would be eligible. The bill would…
NORTHLAND – Female leaders from colleges throughout the Northland came together today to talk about what they say is a lack of representation in their field. Here in the Northland, the majority of higher education chancellors and presidents are female, accounting for four of the six local colleges and universities. However, according to officials at Lake Superior College, only 30%…
DULUTH, Minn. – One local business has begun a fundraiser for the Northland K-9 Foundation in honor of K-9 Luna Who was killed in the line of duty last month. Advantage Emblem is making commemorative shirts and hoodies, and has begun selling them online. Staff says that it was the right thing to do, given all that law enforcement does…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – It’s Small Business Development Center Day across the nation. We checked in with the center over at UWS who has been instrumental in helping businesses during the pandemic. So far, they have helped garner more than $4 million for business in the region. “Make sure that we are a community resource and we’re a tie into other…
