Author: KQDS Staff

Minnesota Search for 3 Missing Fishermen

One man fell in, two others tried to rescue him.

RED WING, Minn. (AP) — Officials in Minnesota are searching Tuesday for three men who are missing from a fishing boat in the Mississippi River. The Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office said that around 7:30 p.m. Monday, a 911 call reported that a man fell into the river while fishing near the town of Red Wing, at a point where the…

Smarts and Caution Urged When Lighting Fireworks

There are ways to make it safer for everyone around you.

With many area burning restrictions lifted or eased in recent days, it is expected that more people will be wanting to light fireworks on their own. Those who deal with fireworks and those who deal with the aftermath of injuries are reminding people to be careful. Despite the lack of rain early this summer, sales have been pretty steady at…

Pop-Up Plant Sale At Baily Builds

DULUTH, Minn. — People with a green thumbs were in heaven Saturday for a pop-up plant sale at Baily Builds on Grand Avenue. Sweet Green Plantscapes offering a variety of options for plant care at homes and businesses. Baily Builds is located on the 5700 block of Grand Avenue. It’s a new women-owned business featuring a wide variety of houseplants…

Cancer Society Gets Donation from Super One Customers

June fundraising effort results in big money.

Super One presented a check donation to the American Cancer Society Thursday morning in Hermantown. Super One President Patrick Miner presented a $76,000 check to the American Cancer Society. Customers made donations at forty-four Super One locations during several weeks in June. He expressed gratitude to customers for the campaign’s success. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have generous customers in the…

Weightlifting Couple Raising the Bar

New Weightlifting Gym in Hermantown

Regardless of what sport you play, almost everyone is interested in getting a little stronger. For some, that means heading to the gym. A Twin Ports couple has combined their love for each other with their love of lifting weights. The result is a new, state-of-the-art weightlifting facility. They titled it Los Campeones, or The Champions. Owner Carl Sievert began…

Body of Gillis Lake Drowning Victim Found

Body found Friday after his canoe capsized on Wednesday.

BWCA, MINN. –On Friday, June 23, the body of Lester Jay Hochstetler, 18, of Clear Lake Wisconsin, was recovered from Gillis Lake where he had been canoeing with 3 other men. Hochstetler was missing after a canoe capsized late on the evening of Wednesday, June 21. Gillis Lake is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The Cook County…

Duluth House Fire Displaces Family Of 3

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Fire Department responded to a house fire Wednesday night at 5814 Elinor Street. The fire department says it happened around 5:35 p.m. Upon arrival crews report finding that the fire started in a bedroom of the one and a half-story home. They say the door of that bedroom was closed which helped prevent the fire from…

Cirrus Employees Identified In Fatal Small Plane Crash

UPDATE (June 21, 2:25 p.m.) — The people that died in a plane crash Wednesday morning north of Duluth have been identified. They are 60-year-old Bryan Handyside from unorganized township 54R13 and 64-year-old Matthew Joseph from Duluth. Both of them worked at Cirrus, but the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the airplane was privately owned. Handyside was piloting the…

4-Year-Old Dies In Hibbing ATV Accident

HIBBING, Minn. — A tragic ATV accident near Hibbing this past weekend, which resulted in the death of a 4-year-old boy. Hibbing Police say they got word around 4:15 pm. on Saturday, June 17, in the area between Hull Rust Mine View and the Mesabi Trail. A 28-year-old man was driving the ATV with two boys, ages 4 and 7,…

Youngsters and Parents Have Reasons to Love Grandma(‘s)

Young Athletes Foundation Festival gets enthusiasm and blood pumping.

If spaghetti and carb-loading aren’t your thing, how about just getting outside on a great day? Especially if you’re a kid. Or a parent who wants a kid to burn off some sugar. An event Friday at Bayfront was aimed at getting kids involved. Logically enough, it was hosted by the Young Athletes Foundation, or YAF. Kids could stretch their…

Spaghetti and Other Motivations Fuel Grandma’s Runners

Memories, health and family are among the reasons people run.

Something that always goes well before twenty-six miles of running, is twenty-six miles of spaghetti noodles. Visitors could start slurping their noodles and sauce at the DECC beginning at eleven Friday morning. There are many traditions associated with Grandma’s, and the pasta feed is just one of them.  Meaghan Burns and her husband from Lino Lakes will be running. This…

Traffic Advisory Ahead Of Grandma’s Marathon

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department released a traffic advisory for Grandma’s Marathon on Saturday. Motorists can expect man road closures and traffic backups. Below is the press release from the police department: Saturday, June 17: Road Closures Scenic Highway 61, along Lake Superior from Duluth to Two Harbors, will close to traffic at 4:15 a.m. Scenic Highway 61,…

Aircraft Lands On I-35 Near Barnum

UPDATE (June 16, 2:40 p.m.) — The Minnesota State Patrol says it was a small single-engine aircraft that made an emergency landing on I-35. The airplane then stopped in the roadside ditch, landing safely. The state patrol says no injuries were reported and there was minor to no damage to the aircraft. ORIGINAL POST: BARNUM, Minn. — MnDOT has sent out…

Duluth Police: Traffic Advisory Ahead Of Grandma’s Marathon For Friday Events

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department released a traffic advisory for events happening Friday as a part of Grandma’s Marathon. Below is the press release from the police department: WILLIAM A. IRVIN 5K: Traffic Advisory – Friday, June 16, 2023 The William A. Irvin 5K race will begin at 6:00 p.m. Harbor Drive behind the DECC will close to…

Delivery Driver Lands Vehicle In Duluth Harbor

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department says they responded to a water emergency of a vehicle found submerged in a slip near the Duluth Harbor on Helberg Drive. It happened at 12:15 p.m. The driver of the vehicle was found on the shore. The driver was uninjured and was taken to a local hospital as a precautionary measure, according…

Burning Restrictions To Start Wednesday For Northeast Minnesota

The restrictions are for Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties.

MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says burning restrictions will begin for Northeast Minnesota Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. The restrictions are for Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties. Below is part of a press release: Burning permits will not be issued for brush or yard waste No fireworks may be ignited on any public or private land…

Former Owner Of Ganucci’s Restaurant Sentenced To 6 Years In Prison

William Kalligher pleaded guilty to Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and Attempted First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct.

DULUTH, Minn. — The former owner of Ganucci’s Restaurant in West Duluth has been sentenced to 6 years in prison after sexually assaulting two children. The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office says William Kalligher pleaded guilty Monday to Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and Attempted First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct. Court documents say a 25-year-old man told police that Kalligher forced…

Key Duluth City Official Remembered; Dies at 61

Chris Fleege was Director of Planning and Economic Development

DULUTH, MINN. –A key member of the Duluth City administration and a longtime community member has passed away. Chris Fleege was the city’s Director of Planning and Economic Development. According to his obituary, he died last Sunday at home of natural causes, surrounded by family. He was 61. Fleege joined the city in 2019 as part of a varied and…

Violent Offender Arrested In Duluth

Courtesy: Trevor Rowley DULUTH, Minn. — The Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force, with the help of Duluth Police arrested a convicted felon who they say was in possession of a loaded firearm and drugs. According to the Duluth Police Department it happened near 2nd Avenue East and 3rd Street around noon Wednesday. A Fox21 viewer, Trevor Rowley captured the…

Hummingbird Feeders At Lake Superior Art Glass

DULUTH, Minn. — If Cinderella can have glass slippers, you can have your very own glass hummingbird feeder thanks to Lake Superior Art Glass. The glass-blowing experience in Canal Park is happening through the month of July. You don’t have to be an expert either. Skilled artists work with you to customize your very own feeder. You can choose the…

Maria Vollom

MORNING ANCHOR / PRODUCER / REPORTER

Hi! I’m Maria. I joined the Fox 21 news team in June 2022, taking on multiple roles at the station. I currently serve as the independent Morning News Anchor, Producer, and Reporter. Born and raised on the Canadian border in the small town of International Falls, Minnesota, my love runs deep for the Northland. I am a Bulldog alumni, graduating…

Record Breaking Fundraiser For ALS Fishing Tournament

DULUTH, Minn. — The Kolar Toyota ALS Fishing Tournament was a success Saturday with a record-breaking fundraising amount raised. The event raised over $284,000. This year adaptive fishing equipment was provided for those afflicted by the disease to be able to fish. 103 boats were on the water at Island Lake and more teams competed virtually. Organizers say all money…

Duluth-Area Students To Travel To 9 ‘Historic Black College And Universities’

DULUTH, Minn. — HBCUs are Historic Black College and Universities. They provide an upper education for students while creating a supportive community around them. Many people in the Northland aren’t aware because Minnesota, and primarily northern Minnesota, doesn’t have many. The Zeitgeist Atrium hosted a trip fundraiser Thursday to support students from the Duluth-area high school and colleges. They will…

5.6 Megawatt Solar Project Unveiled On Iron Range

Minnesota Power project near Hoyt Lakes will produce enough energy for 1,100 homes.

HOYT LAKES, Minn. — Another step toward more solar energy took place on the Iron Range Friday. Minnesota Power unveiled and showed-off the second of its three new solar projects. This one is near Hoyt Lakes and is known as the Laskin Solar Project. It will generate enough energy to power 1,100 homes a year. There was a lot of…

Update: Missing Cloquet Man Found Safe

6:45 p.m. Update:  Authorities have called off their search for Larry Kallberg after they say he returned home safe. CLOQUET, Minn. — The Cloquet Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing 82-year-old man named Larry Edward Kallberg. Police say Kallberg was last seen at 4 p.m. Tuesday leaving his house in his vehicle. He drives…

Toward Zero Deaths Workshop Focuses On Reducing Traffic Injuries

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota is working hard with first responders and engineers to reduce the number of traffic related deaths. The Towards Zero Death workshop is recognizing 20 years of saving lives. Law enforcement is working with engineers and emergency responders to make Minnesota Roads a safe environment. In the meetings they work on strategizing and ways to educate before…

Storage Bin Program For Those Without Permanent Home

The goal is that people won't feel they have to carry everything they own with them

One of the challenges facing people living on the street, is what to do with their belongings. A place to put those items until they are needed is the goal of a new resource that launched Tuesday in Duluth. Bins, described as Safe Storage Bins, are now available through the Damiano Center. The run-up and launch had been a little…

Traffic Impacts On I-35 As Part Of The Twin Ports Interchange Project

DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Transportation says there will be closures and traffic impacts on I-35 as part of the Twin Ports Interchange project. Crews are working to pour bridge deck, causing reduced lanes and temporary closures. Below is the list of impacts from MnDOT: Wednesday, May 31, at 9 a.m., traffic will be placed in two-lane, two-way…

Duluth Memorial Day Parade

DULUTH, Minn. — All across America today, millions remembered those who died while serving their country. The Memorial Day parade in West Duluth was part of that. A variety of people walked with our veterans such as business owners and charitable groups. One of them was the Twin Ports Ghostbusters, a charity group who just launched last year. They do…

Brighton Beach Work to Resume

DULUTH, Minn. –The process to complete park and costal work at Brighton Beach will resume Tuesday. Work has been ongoing for the past several years after a mini-master plan update was approved in 2019. Construction of park amenities and landscape restoration should be completed by the fall. Access to the lake-walk through Brighton Beach will remain open, but plan on…

2 People Airlifted To Hospital After Structure Fire In Makinen Township

MAKINEN TOWNSHIP, Minn. — 2 people were airlifted to the hospital after a structure fire happened early Monday morning in Makinen Township. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says responding agencies were called out to a structure fire in Unorganized Township 56R-16, Southeast of Eveleth at 4:05 a.m. Police say flames were coming from the outside of the home and…

Duluth’s “Other” Train Back on Tracks in July

L.S.&M. Railroad Excursion Soon Back to Showcasing Beauty of St. Louis River Surroundings

The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad will soon be back on the tracks. It looks a little quiet right now, but things will definitely be picking up as they get ready to reopen in July. During a three-year pause, they’ve been working on everything from improving the tracks to refurbishing authentic rail cars. They have a ninety-minute round-trip that goes…

Duluth Police: Traffic Advisory For Memorial Day Parade

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department sent out a traffic advisory for the annual Duluth Memorial Day Parade and other events happening on Monday. Below is the press release: Traffic Advisory: Memorial Day Parade/Gary Veteran’s Memorial The annual Duluth Memorial Day Parade will start at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, May 29, on Grand Ave in West Duluth/Spirit Valley. The…

Cleveland Cliffs Secures Mineral Leases To Keep Hibtac Open For Decades

A dispute over mineral leases has ended in favor of Cleveland Cliffs, and Cliffs says the leases will allow it to keep Hibbing Taconite open for at least another two decades. The five-member Minnesota Executive Council chaired by Gov. Walz awarded the company leases for 2,600 acres near Nashwauk. Another company owned by Essar had also been trying to get…

This Weekend: Duluth Playhouse’s ‘The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time’

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Playhouse is opening a new award-winning act this weekend at the NorShor Theatre that’s all about a heartwarming and uplifting adventure. “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. It’s a unique theatrical experience that puts you inside the mind of a 15-year-old with autism who is accused of…