CLOQUET, Minn. – One Northland choir director is asking for people to make singer-friendly masks for her choir students. The director for Cloquet middle and high schools found it was difficult to sing through a typical cloth mask. But now, she’s found a design for a mask suitable for signers. She has the pattern for it and is asking those…
DULUTH, Minn. – Local legislators met earlier today with advocates to discuss climate change’s impact on Minnesota. Some of the top concerns addressed include how fuel standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks will benefit Minnesotans, arguing that clean car standards could help protect the environment along with our health while also helping grow the economy. “I’m very concerned about…
DULUTH, Minn. – CHUM held its annual backpack giveaway today after raising $25,000 to hand out 1,400 backpacks to students in need. Staff from CHUM say the generosity from the Northland was overwhelming this year. “It’s always great to see this sort of happening,” said Scott Van Daele, the director of distributive services at CHUM. “The community of Duluth and…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Department is being celebrated after they helped with the aftermath of the delivery of a healthy baby at someone’s home on a very unique call. Now, the parents are giving thanks to the department for all that they do. It was last Monday at 2:45 a.m. when baby Ezra arrived to a couple of…
DULUTH, Minn. – One local business will have a new location at LSC. Yellow Bike Coffee along with the college are partnering together to open up a cafe on the main campus. Yellow Bike Coffee provided free coffee and cookies to students for the first day of classes at the college. The company will be opening up their new permanent…
DULUTH, Minn. – Schools have been preparing for the start of the semester, and because of the pandemic, things have looked a bit different this year. One school in the Northland started classes today, and even with the changes, students were excited to get back on campus. LSC kicked off its fall semester with the start of classes. Students streamed…
DULUTH, Minn. – As students get back to class, Essentia Health put together its digital toolkit to help people navigate the pandemic. The toolkit contains resources for things like how to properly wear and clean a face mask, recommendations for effective social distancing, and answers to frequently asked questions. Doctors say this toolkit is essential because it gives focus and…
DULUTH, Minn. – Today another food truck partnered with a local brewery to serve customers outside during the pandemic. Oasis Del Norte parked itself at Blacklist Beer’s patio to serve their tacos and burritos, providing a socially distant way for people to enjoy both grub and beer. Staff at Blacklist say they hope this partnership will continue moving forward. “We…
DULUTH, Minn. – While COVID-19 has forced many outdoor events to cancel, today, runners inching to get their legs moving got to do so on the Sky Harbor Airport’s runway. Runners came to Sky Harbor Airport to run a socially-distanced race. “Like so many other activities, racing has disappeared in the spring and so in this season, I haven’t had…
DULUTH, Minn. – One local theatre has launched a virtual cinema where patrons are able to rent movies online through the theatre’s website. Zinema isn’t open to the public and is only open for private rentals for evenings and weekends. Each ticket purchased will support both the Zinema and the independent distributors. The cinema will feature films in the categories…
NORTHLAND – One Wisconsin man is taking on a challenge to raise money for fallen first responders. Nate Carroll has a goal of doing 1.5 million pushups in 365 days to raise $1.5 million in support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Fallen First Responders Home Program. The program benefits the families of police officers, firefighters and EMT personnel who…
DULUTH, Minn. – With the effects of the pandemic, people are looking into different options to educate their kids. One Northlander started a business earlier this month to help those who are thinking about homeschooling. Halee Schlangen has been homeschooling her kids for the past five and a half years. With the pandemic, she saw a need for homeschooling education…
DULUTH, Minn. – Throughout the summer, thousands of visitors come to Canal Park and come to enjoy the sights and sounds of the area. One local family we caught up with today from Minneapolis is here on vacation even during the pandemic. They say that they love walking by the water and watching the ships come in as well as…
DULUTH, Minn. – Even the pandemic wasn’t able to stop the shipping season. Three of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority’s four major bulk cargoes had month over month increases. Grain jumped 54% over June, coal by 49% while iron ore gained slightly. While May had experienced COVID induced lows, the tonnage totals continue to rebound. “July was a positive step…
DULUTH, Minn. – The completion of phase one of a more than $37 million project for St. Luke’s emergency department was celebrated today. This 17-month project will triple the size of St. Luke’s emergency department as they will now have nearly 40 exam rooms in about 60,000 square feet of space. It will also include four trauma bays and behavior…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – One local dance studio is hosting a unique camp this week even during the pandemic. Sterling Silver Studio in Superior is hosting a circus camp where boys and girls learn about acrobatics, tumbling, theatre skills, and clowning. One of the things the studio has done in response to the pandemic is hosting its classes and camps in…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – We are just weeks away from students returning for in-person classes around the Northland and today, we caught up with one university that has introduced some new protocols to keep students safe. UWS has integrated safety and distancing measures throughout its school facilities to help ensure a safe and secure educational experience for both the staff and…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The City of Superior is putting $350,000 in funding towards a future affordable housing project. Superior is able to finance this fund through the closure of one of its tax increment districts. State statute allows the city to capture one final year of revenue when they close one of these districts and put it towards affordable housing….
DULUTH, Minn. – Bike shops throughout the country are experiencing a shortage in supply because of the high demand due to the pandemic. One local bike shop says that sales have been fairly flat compared to last year largely due to the fact that they can’t get bikes. Stewart’s Bikes, Sports and Trophies in Duluth says that they haven’t been…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – In 2021, the Superior Fire Department’s ladder truck will no longer be compliant with national regulations and a new one needs to be purchased for more than a million dollars and now, one business and the City of Superior have stepped up to help buy a new one. 4,000. That’s how many calls the Superior Fire Department…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Northland musicians played outside today at a unique event that even the pandemic couldn’t stop. Strums, plucks and head bops. Handfuls of musicians gathered outside group homes on Saturday to play for residents inside. The event, called Porchfest, the first of its kind, might have changed because of COVID-19, but it didn’t take away from the spirit…
DULUTH, Minn. – The National Weather Service took stock of last night’s damage. They say in Carlton, thunderstorms and a possible tornado hit the city last night. The city saw pockets of significant tree damage along with some structural damage as well. There may have been one tornado, possibly several, last night. Experts from the National Weather Service say they…
DULUTH, Minn. – One local school is hosting a yard sale to help raise money for different items. The Montessori School of Duluth was given donations by families at the school for the sale. All the proceeds are going to the school including supplies and new things like playground equipment. Leadership from the school says neither the pandemic nor the…
DULUTH, Minn. – The American Red Cross is encouraging those in the community to give blood, especially during these times. One blood drive located inside of the Miller Hill Mall had several participants donating blood. The Red Cross blood participants are being tested for COVID-19 antibodies in their bloodstream. One donor we talked to said she’s just happy to give…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – A local nonprofit has stepped up to build a new garden at a local YMCA with the goal to teach kids about the importance of gardening. Build the boxes, lay down the chips, put the dirt in, and put up the fence and the gate. Those were some of the things Skyline Rotary Club of Duluth did…
WRENSHALL, Minn. – The pandemic has brought about many changes at Northland schools. COVID-19 even jumpstarted one particular school’s efforts to build outdoor classrooms. In the past, Wrenshall’s school forest area was used primarily for play and for building forts. But this year, teachers and other leaders from the school are clearing the area for classroom space. Staff members have…
LAKE COUNTY – One Northland county is encouraging locals to wear masks by offering up a challenge. Lake County is hosting “We Care, Lake County Mask Up.” Residents are encouraged to submit videos of themselves that are 30 seconds or less with a story of how and why you care to wear a mask. The compilation of videos will be…
DULUTH, Minn. – A new barbershop is preparing to open in Duluth on Woodland Avenue. The barbershop will be available for short clipper cuts, fades, beard trips, shampoos, and even shoe shines. One unique thing about the barbershop is that it will be open on Saturdays. “It’s really exciting,” said Brandon Golding, the owner of the barbershop. “It’s kind of…
DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth is looking for people to serve on the Duluth African Heritage Commission. The commission will help educate those who are people of color, but they will also look at housing and work on having equitable transportation or those who need it. Leaders say because black indigenous people of color face more inequalities and…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY – St. Louis County has approved a plan to distribute $24.5 million in federal coronavirus aid funding, also known as the CARES Act. The goal is to give out the funds to help people and businesses that were impacted by the pandemic. The funding’s purpose is to provide assistance to organizations that support individuals in the community…
DULUTH, Minn. – Despite the pandemic, a new dance studio has opened on Grand Ave. 218 Dance Project is a full-serve dance studio that provides classes at the recreational and competitive levels. One of the owners tells us this new business is a dream come true and they expect to be very busy for years to come. “We are beside…
DULUTH, Minn. – One form of outdoor entertainment is gaining traction in the Northland. The Onewheel is a skateboard with a tire in the middle and is motorized with a controller. The device is slowly growing in popularity and there are about 15 to 20 Onewheelers in the area. To operate, the Onewheel has a sensor at the front and…
DULUTH, Minn. – The zoo is partnering with a local business to serve those in the community with food. The Lake Superior Zoo is hosting Food Truck Fridays, where every Friday during the month of August, guests can get grub from Valentini’s, whose food truck will be located in the zoo’s parking lot. At the food truck, you can get…
NORTHLAND – Many Northland fundraising events have changed their usual protocols during the pandemic. Like in years past, Head of the Lakes United Way is still collecting school supplies for students in need. But this year, things are a bit different because of the pandemic. Head of the Lakes United Way now has a method for people to give both…
DULUTH, Minn. – A unique type of therapy has made its way to the Twin Ports for the first time. This week, a workshop is being held in Duluth training therapists on accelerated resolution therapy, also known as ART, which helps resolve traumatic memories with a combination of eye movements and memory visualization. Essentially, it helps the brain rearrange traumatic…
DULUTH, Minn. – Whether it’s driving, biking, or walking, there are many ways to experience the views the Northland has to offer in a socially-distanced way. But one local business continues to use a unique travel device to get tourists around the area. Even during COVID-19, one local business is providing a unique way to explore the area on Segways….
DULUTH, Minn. – The Hermantown Chamber of Commerce handed out more than 20,000 masks to area businesses. The goal of the event is to make sure every business along with their customers have a mask if they need them. The Chamber of Commerce expected about 200 businesses to come through for the event. “We want everybody to be safe and…
DULUTH, Minn. – One local brewery has opened its own outdoor beer garden. Over at Bent Paddle in the Lincoln Park Craft District, the staff has put together tables and chairs outside where their guests can sip on some cold brews while staying socially distanced from other groups. Leadership from the business say their main goal is to keep people…
DULUTH, Minn. – The combination of a lack of inventory along with low interest rates has caused the local real estate market to reach new heights. One local real estate expert says some people just want to get away from the cramped larger cities where there’s bigger prevalence of the coronavirus. “We’re seeing more people wanting to come to this…
NORTHLAND – In this day and age of online meetings and masks, makeup and fashion seemed to have taken a backseat. However, businesses in the Northland are providing ways for people to look their best even during these uncertain times. For instance, at Mix Cosmetiques on Woodland Avenue, owners make custom makeup that doesn’t smudge under your mask. Guests can…
DULUTH, Minn. – Many cities across the Northland are preparing for the upcoming primary election next Tuesday. Over in Duluth, residents can send in an absentee ballot or if they do go to the polls, voters need to wear masks unless they have a medical issue. Staff will be wiping down surfaces after each person who steps into the ballot…
DULUTH, Minn. – Schools are getting ready for the fall semester in a variety of ways, including the private school Stella Maris Academy. The catholic school, which goes from pre-K to eighth grade, is giving parents and students the option of being onsite or online. Students will then be allowed to transition between the two depending on a variety of…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Bong Center in Superior is holding multiple youth programs over the summer. One is catered to middle school students while the other is geared towards high schoolers. During the Junior Curators program, middle schoolers get the chance to complete the oral history of a veteran and put together a mini-exhibit on them. For the Bong Squadron,…
DULUTH, Minn. – One local cidery is launching an ice cream line. Wild State Cider is starting Camp Creemee, which is Minnesota’s only Vermont-style soft serve ice cream shop. One of the owners of Wild State Cider lived in Vermont before coming to Minnesota where he learned about cider and about rich soft-serve ice cream. “By adding ice cream to…
DULUTH, Minn. – Both the Marshall School and the Montessori School of Duluth are preparing to send kids physically back into the classroom but in a socially-distanced manner. On the one hand, the Marshall School has taken time to analyze the physical spaces within the school to arrange them for social distancing while maximizing fresh air. Cleaning and disinfecting are…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – One Northland church had its first in-person worship session today since the pandemic began. Bethel Lutheran Church held its Sunday service outdoors as it welcomed worshippers back. The church usually meets on John Avenue in Superior, but today, dozens of congregants met with their lawn chairs and masks at Webster Park. Unlike previous meetings, there was no…
DULUTH, Minn. – The owners of the Mesabi Preschool Academy say they’re excited to open up a second location in the middle of downtown Duluth to serve families in the area. Before the start of COVID, there was a shortage of spaces in childcare facilities. However, at the beginning of the pandemic, there was a drop in enrollment, most likely…
NORTHLAND – Three Northland businesses have come together to support those who are struggling. Java Moose in Grand Marais, Fika Coffee in Lutsen and Hoaglund Design have partnered together to create a coffee called Sisu. 10 dollars from each bag of coffee will support the livelihoods of people in Cook County. The project started because in the spring, a number…
DULUTH, Minn. – One local food shelf is in need of more backpacks to meet its fundraising goal. Every year, CHUM puts together backpacks to distribute to students who need the supplies, giving them the tools they need before the start of the school year. CHUM is currently 1,000 backpacks short of its goal of 1,400. “If you’re doing homework…
DULUTH, Minn. – A longtime Duluth family pet was lost but is now found after 33 days of being on the loose, and it’s not the first time this pet has been gone for an extended time only to eventually return home. This special tortoise enjoys making strides across the Northland. Flash is estimated to be around 10 to 15…
