Author: KQDS Staff

UMD Reverts Back to Old Champ After Public Outcry

After numerous complaints from the public, they decided to make the change back.

DULUTH, Minn. — It’s over and out for the new UMD Champ mascot costume after fans gave it a big thumbs down just days after its debut. There’s a video post on UMD’s athletics social media showing what the college hoped would be an exciting change to the gold-colored Champ logo that’s been used for some time now. But that…

Florida Woman Dies After ATV Crash

OUTING, Minn. — A 56 year-old woman from Florida died after an ATV crash on Monday. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says they received a report of an off-road vehicle crash on the Emily-Outing “B” Trail in Outing, Minnesota at 3:11 p.m. When officials arrived at the scene they found that a group of ATV riders travelling for the day,…

Man Arrested After Burglarizing Duluth Business

DULUTH, Minn. — A 36 year-old man was arrested after allegedly being involved in a burglary in Duluth, according to the Duluth Police Department. At 9 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a burglary in progress at a business on the 2300 block of West Superior Street. When police arrived, witnesses told them they saw a man break a window with…

Homeland Security Provides School Safety Tips For Parents

MINNESOTA — For schools, preparation for the new year includes safety plans. They cover every kind of situation from severe weather to potential violence. Minnesota’s School Safety Center also has some advice for parents to help their children prepare. Be familiar with your school’s plan for evacuation, relocation and getting reunited again. Talk with your child about the various drills…

Young Cloquet Man Is Dead After Motorcycle Crash

CLOQUET, Minn. — A 26 year-old motorcyclist from Cloquet is dead after a crash with a small vehicle. According to the Cloquet Police Department, they responded to an accident at 11:05 p.m. Monday on Carlton Avenue and 22nd Street in Cloquet. Officers say the crash involved a small red sport-utility vehicle and the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle had…

Iowa Man Died After Boat Capsized On Lake Superior

IRON COUNTY, Wis. — A boat capsized on Lake Superior Thursday morning and an Iowa man is dead. According to the Iron County Sheriff’s Department it happened just before 9 a.m. The Iron County Emergency Dispatch received a report of a capsized boat on the shores of Lake Superior. A man reported he and another person were boating together when…

Gary New Duluth To Host Day Of Family Fun And Car Show

Far West Kidz Fest and Car Show

DULUTH, Minn. — There is another great option for kids and families Saturday. It’s the Far West Kidz Fest and Car Show. It’s all happening at the Gary New Duluth Rec. Center. There will be plenty of carnival games, entertainment, food trucks, and police dogs showing what they can do. It is $5 to get in for those three and…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth-Superior Pride Play, ‘I Am My Own Wife’

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth-Superior Pride is hosting its pride celebrations Labor Day weekend. One event going on throughout the weekend is a play at Zeitgeist. Press release: Based on a true story and inspired by interviews conducted by the playwright over several years. I AM MY OWN WIFE tells the fascinating tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German trans woman…

More Charges Against Former Superior Police Sergeant

Gregory Swanson was originally charged with one count of homicide by use of a vehicle in July.

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Superior Police Sergeant accused of causing a car crash that killed two people, and injured two others is no longer with the department. He has also been charged with 11 additional crimes. Gregory Swanson already faced one count of homicide by use of a vehicle in the July 15 crash after a 23 year-old man died….

Curt Tupy

SALES MANAGER

Contact Curt at his email ctupy@kqdsfox21.tv for questions regarding sales. Categories: Other Staff

Jeff Schwarten

EVENING DIRECTOR

Jeff Schwarten joined the FOX 21 News Team in October of 2011 as a Production Assistant. In July of 2013 he was promoted to Assistant Production Manager. Jeff moved to Duluth to in 2003 where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. In his free time Jeff enjoys the local music scene, and…

Rusty Mehlberg

CHIEF METEOROLOGIST

Rusty joined Fox 21 in November 2021 as their weekend meteorologist and reporter. He became Chief Meteorologist in August of 2022. A Wisconsinite all his life, he contributes his passion for weather and the importance of local media while growing up on his family’s dairy farm. After graduating from UW-Eau Claire with a broadcast journalism degree in 2008, he spent…

Duluth Firefighter Sentenced After Assaulting Hiker, Status Of Employment Under Review

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth City employee who still works for the Fire Department was sentenced Monday on a felony assault conviction. Conrad Sunde had been convicted of Third-Degree Assault after shoving and injuring a woman on a hiking trail two years ago. Sunde was sentenced to three years of supervised probation. It is a standard sentence for first time…

Parents Of Proctor Teen Suing After He Was Sexually Assaulted Last Year

PROCTOR, Minn. — The parents of the teenage boy who was sexually assaulted with a plunger at Proctor High School last year are suing the school district, the coaches, and the superintendent. The lawsuit is on a federal level. The parents are suing the Proctor school district, the superintendent John Engelking, the football coach Derek Parendo, and five assistant coaches…

Neil Vierzba

SPORTS DIRECTOR

Neil joined Fox 21 in August of 2022 as their Sports Director. He was born in the city of St. Cloud, MN, a town just an hour north of the Twin Cities. And has spent much of his life in the state of Minnesota. Vierzba went to St. Cloud Cathedral where he would letter in football and basketball. That would…

UPDATE: Minnesota Wilderness Assistant Coach Brendan Phelps Not Charged After YouTube Video

UPDATE (August 19, 2:00 p.m.) — Assistant Coach Brendan Phelps of the NAHL’s Minnesota Wilderness team will not face criminal charges regarding a YouTube video of him involved in a sting operation that surfaced in July. In 609.352, a Minnesota statute explains that solicitation of children for sexual conduct and sending sexually explicit materials to children is prohibited. The first…

Clip Of FOX 21’s Hanger, Slama Lands On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’

DULUTH, Minn. — FOX 21’s Dan Hanger and Ken Slama ended up on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Wednesday night during the opening monologue with guest host Nicole Byer. The clip shows Hanger and Slama bantering about Snoop Dogg’s new cereal line called Snoop Loopz. While there was no cattiness involved, Byer called the funny exchange “the cattiest moment in the history…

UPDATE: Man Accused Of Causing Fatal Head-On Crash While Drunk Charged

UPDATE (August, 16, 4:40 p.m.) — The man accused of driving drunk and killing a woman after crashing into her car head-on has been charged. Michael Kenneth Miller from Virginia has been charged with Criminal Vehicular Homicide – Operating a Vehicle with Negligence Under the Influence of Alcohol, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. The crash happened Friday…

15,000 MNA Nurses To Hold Strike Vote Monday In Duluth, Twin Cities

DULUTH, Minn. — 15,000 nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association are planning to hold a strike vote on Monday, according to a press release. Nurses in the Twin Ports and Twin Cities are coming together for the first time to fight for fair contracts to hold healthcare executives accountable to put patients before profits. “Corporate healthcare policies in our hospitals…

August 9 Primary Election Results

Below is the results of the key races in Tuesday’s Primary Election U.S. Representative District 8 – Two Advance Republican: Pete Stauber (incumbent) – 91% Harry Welty – 8% Stauber took the overwhelming win and will be seen at the November election. DFL: Jen Shultz – 86% John Munter – 14% Shultz took the big win and will face off…

Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson Faces Recall Election Tuesday

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson will learn Tuesday if he is staying in office as he faces a recall election. In June, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for Swanson to step down. Council members said allegations against him are a distraction and damaging the City’s reputation. A recent state auditor’s report supported the…

Tuesday’s Primary Election Preview

Tuesday’s primary elections have some key state and federal seats up for grabs in Minnesota, along with Sheriff’s races in St. Louis and Douglas County. Starting in St. Louis County for the 8th Congressional race: On the Republican side incumbent Pete Stauber is running against Harry Welty.       On the Democratic side Jen Shultz is running against John…

Two Men Severely Injured After Boating Accident On Rainy Lake

KOOCHICHING COUNTY, Minn. — The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office says a boating accident resulted in two people severely injured Thursday night. The accident happened on Rainy Lake near Franzen Island around 9:19 p.m. Officials say the boat hit a rock causing the motor to land in the boat. The motor was still running and it’s propeller severely injured the passenger’s…

14 Year-Old Boy Dies In Bayfield County Drowning

BAYFIELD COUNTY, Wis. — On Wednesday a boy went under the water and drowned in Wisconsin, according to the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office. It happened around 3:30 p.m. at Deep Lake, Town of Hughes, Wisconsin. It was reported that a 14 year-old boy was swimming in the middle of the lake with a group of people when he suddenly went…

UPDATE: Officers Injured During Arrest Of Barricaded Burglar In Virginia, Suspect Charged

UPDATE (August 2, 12:00 p.m.)- A 53 year-old man from Virginia was charged after a burglary and barricade situation occurred at a home in Virginia on Friday, according to the Virginia Police Department. Mark Williams, who did not have permission to be in the home and injured officers after he barricaded himself in was officially charged Monday. Officials say he…

Essentia Health Closing Patient Drop Off/Pick Up Till Late September

DULUTH, Minn. — As construction work on Vision Northland gets closer to completion, it will be tougher to get into Essentia Health’s Duluth Clinic Second Street Building over the next two months. Starting August 1, the patient drop-off off Second Street will close through late September. New drop off locations will be set up along Second Street between Fifth and…