Author: KQDS Staff

School Closings and Delays April 4 & 5, 2023

Ashland Schools – Closed April 5 Duluth Edison Charter Schools – Closed April 5 Esko Schools — E-learning April 5 Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College — Closing at 5 p.m. Grand Rapids School District – Closed April 5. Hermantown Public Schools — Closed April 5. Hibbing Schools – Closed April 5 (no e-learning). Lakeview Christian Academy — Closed April…

Several Wisconsin OB/GYNs Support Janet Protasiewicz for Supreme Court

WISCONSIN — Monday morning, supporters of Judge Janet Protasiewicz held a virtual press conference to discuss why they are endorsing her for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Those in attendance included several Wisconsin OB/GYNs and medical students advocating for a woman’s right to abortion. They say current laws on abortion are outdated and put unnecessary burdens, stress, and risks on both…

Essentia Health Barricades Being Removed Around Vision Northland Project

DULUTH, Minn. — Barricades are starting to open up around Essentia Health’s Vision Northland Project. The first signs of this are noticeable to drivers on East Superior Street near Fitger’s. Fourth Avenue East, from Second Street down to Superior Street will reopen Friday afternoon. According to a press release from Essentia, all lanes on Second Street from Fourth Avenue East…

Deer River Woman Sentenced To 36 Years In Prison For Murder And Arson

ITASCA COUNTY, Minn. — A woman from Deer River has been convicted and sentenced to 36 years in prison for Second Degree Intentional Murder and First Degree Arson. This is according to the Itasca County Attorney’s Office. Crystal Marie Wilson, 42-years-old, stabbed a man to death and later set his camper on fire last July in Ball Club, Minnesota. According…

St. Louis County Gets $890k In Federal Government Awards To Reduce Wildfire Risk

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — St. Louis County has landed nearly $900,000 in Federal Government awards to help reduce wildfire risks. The county’s proposal is one of the 100 projects selected nationwide to receive a portion of the $197 million through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program. This new funding will broaden the county’s Firewise Program. This will be to…

USPS Hosting Job Fair At Post Offices In Northwest Wisconsin

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN — The United States Postal Service is holding a job fair next week at 9 of its post offices in Northwest Wisconsin. The event is happening April 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and no appointment is accessary. Ashland, Bayfield, Birchwood, Hayward, Minong, Shell Lake, Solon Springs, Spooner, and winter post offices are all ready to hire….

Bayfield County Trails Closing For Season

WASHBURN, Wis. — Trails are closing for the season in Bayfield County starting Friday night. According to the Bayfield County Forestry & Parks Department, Bayfield County snowmobile and ATV/UTV trails will close for season on March 31 at 11:59 p.m. For ATV/UTV trails as conditions allow, they will re-open sometime in early May. For the updated trail conditions, click here….

Highway 61, Pigeon River Bridge Lane Closure In Cook County

COOK COUNTY, Minn. — The Pigeon River Bridge will be having work done in preparation for this summer’s bridge re-deck project. Contractors will be working on bridge preparations on March 30 and 31. Anyone traveling that way can expect delays as the bridge will be restricted to a controlled single lane. Construction on the Pigeon Bridge will continue to take…

Coffee Conversation: Minnesota Film Festival Starts Wednesday

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Film Festival is starting Wednesday at Zeitgeist in Duluth. A feature film from Duluth screenwriter Matthew Dressel with its Always Sunny in Philadelphia actress, Mary Lynn Rajskub in attendance will be played to kick off the event. The feature film is called Daniel’s Gotta Die and includes actor Bob Saget from Full House who passed away…

Juice Pharm Celebrates 3rd Anniversary

DULUTH, Minn. — A downtown Duluth business celebrated its 3rd anniversary Sunday. The Juice Pharm on 1st Street threw a party for the occasion, and everyone was welcome. The band, “Multigrade” played some tunes, while guests could grab a birthday cake smoothie from the Juice Pharm and so some shopping with the local vendors who stopped by. The Juice Pharm…

Duluth Folk School Hosts Egg Decorating Class

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Folk School held an Ostara egg decorating party Sunday morning. Ostara is a Pagan term for welcoming the spring season. All ages were welcome, as children and adults learned how to create natural dyes for eggs from produce, such as frozen blueberries and onion skins. “The thing that I hope people take away from this…

UPDATE: Duluth Missing Man Found Safely

UPDATE (March 27, 9:35 a.m.) — Duluth Police say that missing 23-year-old Joe Benjamin has been found safely on Monday. ORIGINAL POST:  DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing man. 23-year-old Joe Benjamin was last seen Sunday night in the East Hillside/Chester Creek area wearing a blue sweatshirt, blue undershirt,…

Play & Learn For Family, Friend, And Neighbor Care Providers At Hartley Nature Center

DULUTH, Minn. — With technology taking over our daily lives, many could say it’s important to get outside and appreciate nature. That’s why Hartley Nature Center is teaming up with the Duluth Public Library to put on an educational event for childcare providers. The program, which is led by a nature educator, involves reading, singing, and playing with the little…

County Auditor’s Service Center Reopening At Miller Hill Mall After Roof Collapse

DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Louis County Auditor’s Service Center will fully reopen Friday in its usual location at the Miller Hill Mall following a major roof collapse in a section of the mall more than a week ago. All service center operations were temporarily moved to the Courthouse in Duluth March 15. The Service Center is located on the…

Full Transcript: Mayor Emily Larson’s State Of The City Address

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Mayor Emily Larson held her State of the City Address Wednesday evening at The West Theatre.  Click here for the complete transcript from that speech. The mayor covered a broad range of topics which she believes need to be addressed. Larson has served as Duluth’s mayor for the past seven years. She’s running for another term,…

Roger Reinert, Duluth Mayoral Candidate Hosts Coffee And Conversations

DULUTH, Minn. — Roger Reinert is one of the candidates running for the Duluth mayoral election coming up this fall. Reinert is hosting a total of 6 “Coffee and Conversations” meet-ups with the public, and one of them happened Wednesday. He says it’s an open invitation for anyone to join him for small group conversations on issues they’re concerned about…

UPDATE: Missing Duluth Resident Found Dead

UPDATE (March 22, 2:20 p.m.) — 35-year-old Duluth Resident Joshua Parker has been found dead, according to the Duluth Police Department. Police say his body was found Wednesday in the 220 block of 45th Avenue East in Duluth. Parker died from cold weather conditions and no foul play was suspected. UPDATE (March 21, 5:15 p.m.) — 35-year-old Duluth resident Joshua…

House Fire Kills 2 People In Rural Pine River

PINE RIVER, Minn. — Two people died in a house fire overnight in the Walden Township in rural Pine River. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says first responders and deputies were dispatched to a home on 40th Avenue Southwest just after 2 a.m. Tuesday. When they arrived, they found a house swallowed in flames. A man and a woman were…

Mentorship Program Fundraiser Kicks Off At Hoops Brewing

DULUTH, Minn. — Mentor North kicked off a month-long fundraising drive at Hoops Brewing Monday night. The nonprofit matches kids and teens with adult mentors who inspire creativity and learning. Throughout the next month, Hoops Brewing is hosting a variety of events, closing with a comedy show. One of the leaders of the organization explained how role models who take…

Changes For Drivers On I-35 Happening Friday

Northbound Changes DULUTH, Minn. — If you use I-35 through the Twin Ports Interchange, also known as the “can of worms,” here’s a heads up. Starting this Friday at 7 p.m. southbound lanes between Garfield Avenue and 27th Avenue West will be moved to single lane. Those going northbound on I-35, it’ll close completely between 40th Avenue West and Garfield…

Essentia Health’s Mall Facilites Set To Reopen Following Roof Collapse

DULUTH, Minn. — While the Miller Hill Mall will be closed through at least Sunday, Essentia Health says its mall facilities will be reopening starting Saturday. The roof collapse did not directly impact Essentia’s mall locations, but they were closed the last few days out of safety for patients and staff. Essentia officials say an inspection has been completed by…

St. Louis County Jail Inmate Dies After Suicide Attempt

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — A St. Louis County Jail inmate who was recently convicted of a serious crime has died after being found “unresponsive” in his cell last Friday. St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said John Maio, 60, hanged himself. Staff were doing routine checks Friday, Mar. 10 when they found Maio unresponsive at around 9:30 a.m. Staff…

School Closings and Delays March 17, 2023

NORTHLAND — With the major winter storm coming in the Twin Ports, there are many schools closed, delayed, or holding an e-learning day from home. After school activities may also be affected. Below is the list which will be updated continuously. School Closings & Delays Cherry School – Closed. Nashwauk Keewatin School – Closed. North Woods Schools – Closed. South Shore…

Students, Potential Employers Converge At Spring Career Fair

The Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training hosted dozens of businesses at a career fair Tuesday. The primary focus was to highlight careers that are accessible with general education and also provide a ladder of opportunities. The event was held at Black Bear Casino. Employers ranged in fields like human services, business and natural resources. Rowdy Egger, a senior at…

FOX 21 Participates In ‘Hunger Bowl Twin Ports’ Bowling Tourney

FOX 21 was once again representing at this year’s Hunger Bowl Twin Ports bowling tournament. The event raised money for Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger, Rusty Mehlberg and Ken Slama greased up their bowling shoes for the cause.  News Director Steve Goodspeed cheered them on. The tournament was held a Superior Lanes in Superior. For…

UPDATE: Duluth I-35 Southbound Changes Happening Tuesday

UPDATE (March 10, 4:10 p.m.) — The traffic changes on I-35 through the Twin Ports Interchange are now starting Tuesday. Originally the change was supposed to happen Monday, but due to weather, the Minnesota Department of Transportation says it will begin Tuesday. ORIGINAL POST: DULUTH, Minn. — A heads up for drivers, if you use I-35 through the Twin Ports…

Ida Rukavina, Commissioner Of IRRRB Confirmed

EVELETH, Minn. — Ida Rukavina was appointed as commissioner of the IRRRB by Governor Walz last December and she assumed the role on January 2. Thursday, the Minnesota Senate officially voted to confirm Rukavina as the commissioner of the IRRRB. FOX21 talked with her last month, and she told us she is confident her past experience working with schools, businesses,…

Two Lumber Yards In Grand Marais Merge Into One

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — Two lumber yards in Grand Marais are now merging into one. According to a press release from a Cook County Home Center representative, Sawtooth Lumber Inc will become the Westside branch of the Home Center located just east of Grand Marais. The representative says this will provide customers who go to both businesses with more inventory…

DECC In Need Of Concessions Workers For Women’s Frozen Four, Offering Incentive

DULUTH, Minn. — The DECC is hosting the NCAA Division I Women’s Frozen Four next weekend and they badly need help keeping concession stands open for thousands of hockey fans from across the country. A spokesperson at the DECC tells FOX21 they’ve gotten 50 organizations to volunteer through the DECC’s paid fundraising program, but it’s still not enough. So, to…

Northern Minnesota’s 218 Is Among Area Codes Most Associated With Spam Calls

BRAINERD, Minn. (FOX 9) – A northern Minnesota area code is among the area codes most associated with spam phone calls. According to the Federal Communications Commission, around 60 million Americans reported a phone scam in 2021. GoBankingRates has listed the top area codes you should never answer if you don’t know who is on the other line, and that includes the 218 area code in northern…

Shamrock Shake Fundraiser For Ronald McDonald House

St. Patrick’s Day is less than 2 weeks away leading McDonald’s to bring back its Shamrock Shake, for a good cause. Starting March 6 through March 16 select McDonald’s locations in Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and Michigan will donate 25 cents from every Shamrock Shake and Oreo Shamrock McFlurry purchased. This will be to support Ronald McDonald House Charities in Minnesota….

Former Duluth City Councilor Barb Russ Dies

DULUTH, Minn. — Former Duluth City Councilor Barb Russ passed away at the age of 74. Russ served on the City Council for 5 and a half years before she resigned in April of 2020 due to health issues. According to a press release from her family sent Monday morning, Russ died of natural causes. Her husband Neil Glazman said…

One Dead After Snowmobile, Groomer Crash In Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — A man is dead after crashing his snowmobile into a groomer Thursday in Grand Rapids. The Itasca County Sheriff’s Office says it happened just before 5:30 p.m. on the Driftskipper/Blandin Snowmobile Trail. The snowmobiler was passing around a corner when he crashed into an oncoming groomer, resulting in the man to be pinned under the groomer….