Author: KQDS Staff

Spirit Mountain, Duluth Traverse Land $1M+ For Nordic, Snowmobile, Mountain Biking

DULUTH, Minn. – Spirit Mountain and the Duluth Traverse have landed more than $1 million combined to increase outdoor recreation. Starting with Spirit Mountain, it’s getting roughly $1.2 million to expand its Nordic, snowmobile and mountain bike trails. The state grant will allow Spirit to complete the third loop for its Grand Avenue Nordic Center, build connector trails up to…

Public Input Requested As St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Plans For Body Cameras

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the public’s input as it plans to purchase body worn cameras for its deputies. The St. Louis County Board is scheduled to vote Dec. 14 on the purchase of 110 cameras and supporting equipment at a cost of $790,000. “The Sheriff’s Office has experienced an increase in deadly…

LSC Art Show Includes 300-Plus Pieces From Students

DULUTH, Minn. – If you like supporting art in the community, Lake Superior College is the place to be Wednesday. More than 300 pieces of artwork are on display from students there. They include jewelry, digital drawing, digital photography, digital graphic designs, ceramics, and painting. Some students are even putting their artwork up for sale. “I came to the art…

For Cop Who Shot Daunte Wright, Will ‘Wrong Gun’ Plea Work?

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Jury selection begins Tuesday for a white former suburban Minneapolis police officer, Kim Potter, who says she meant to grab her Taser instead of her handgun when she shot and killed motorist Daunte Wright, who was Black. The Brooklyn Center officer’s reaction on body-camera video seemed to instantly establish the key facts of the case, as she…

AICHO Moves Up Food Distribution Day For Thanksgiving Preps

DULUTH, Minn. – It was a special Thanksgiving food distribution day at the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) in Duluth. Every two weeks on a Wednesday, AICHO gives out 200 bags of food to whoever needs it in the community. They moved this week’s distribution ahead a day to help with Thanksgiving preps for families. “It is certainly important…

Douglas County Jail Deals With First Major COVID-19 Outbreak

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Douglas County Jail is on the rebound after its first major COVID-19 outbreak affected more than two dozen inmates. Sheriff Tom Dalbec told FOX 21 Wednesday that 33 inmates have tested positive for the virus within the last two weeks. The problem exploded after a few inmates weren’t feeling well and ended up testing positive for…

City Of Duluth To Require Employees Get Vaccinated Or Test For Covid Weekly

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth will soon be requiring its employees to get vaccinated or get weekly COVID tests. A city spokesperson said the new requirement will start in December. This comes after President Joe Biden made an executive order in September telling employers with 100 or more people to require workers to get vaccinated or get weekly…

Firefighters, Neighbors Keep Voting Going After Power Outage In Gary-New Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – A power outage in Gary-New Duluth Tuesday evening didn’t stop votes from being counted there. When the Rec Center voting location went dark, Councilor Derek Medved said neighbors brought in generators, coffee and candles to keep the voting going. The Duluth Fire Department showed up with big bright lights, too. The power eventually came back on, and…

U of M Offering Free Or Reduced Tuition To Native American Students

(University of Minnesota) MINNEAPOLIS, (FOX 9) – The University of Minnesota is offering free or greatly reduced tuition for Native American students on any of its five campuses. Starting in Fall 2022, the U of M will provide a scholarship covering full tuition at the Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester or Twin Cities campus for first-year or Tribal college transfer undergraduate…

St. Louis County Atty. Will Conduct ‘Careful Review’ Of Proctor H.S. Football Investigation

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Attorney’s released its first statement Monday involving the recent criminal investigation involving some members of the Proctor High School football program. County Attorney Kimberly Maki said her office has received the Proctor Police Department’s reports on the investigation and “will conduct a thorough and careful review of the evidence before making any charging…

St. Luke’s Raises Awareness During ‘Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month’

DULUTH, Minn. – The birthing center at St. Luke’s in Duluth is looking to remind grieving parents they are not alone during this Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Statistics show 1 in 4 families will suffer this type of loss at some point in their pregnancy journey. St. Luke’s looks to help families grieve by offering memento boxes with…

Walmart, Target To Offer Black Friday Deals Through Most of November in Effort To Avoid Big Crowds

(CNN Business) – Walmart has some unique plans for this year’s Black Friday sales: They’ll last practically the entire month of November as it hopes to reduce crowds at stores during the pandemic. America’s largest retailer announced plans for a “revamped Black Friday savings event,” with sales over three weekends next month that will begin on its website before hitting…

Proctor Police Chief: County Atty. To Receive Football ‘Misconduct’ Investigation This Week

PROCTOR, Minn. – Proctor’s police chief told FOX 21 on Monday that his investigators worked on police reports over the weekend to wrap up their investigation into criminal misconduct allegations involving some members of the high school’s football team. Chief Kent Gaidis expects to hand over his department’s reports this week to the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office for possible…

Enbridge Fails To Meet Aquifer Cleanup Deadline in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Enbridge has failed to meet a deadline set by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for cleaning up a site where an aquifer ruptured during construction of the Line 3 oil pipeline. The DNR had given the company until Friday to repair the damage to the artesian aquifer near Clearbrook. Regulators will require compensation for the additional…

Some Capitol Riot Defendants Forgo Lawyers

At least five people charged in the riot at the U.S. Capitol have chosen to defend themselves in court. In doing so, they’re brushing aside federal judges’ repeated warnings about the risks of trying to navigate their high-stakes cases without a lawyer. Self-representation is a bedrock right guaranteed by the Constitution, but it’s also inspired the age-old adage that anyone…

Holiday Shipping Deadlines Announced for 2021

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) (CNN) – The nation’s three largest package delivery services are out with their holiday shipping deadlines. The recommended final shipping days for the US Postal Service, Fed-Ex, and UPS are pretty much the same as they were in 2019 and 2020. For UPS three-day select delivery and Fed-Ex three-day freight arriving by December 24, you…

St. Luke’s, Gateway Clinic to Open New Surgery Center in Moose Lake

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – St. Luke’s and Gateway Clinic have partnered up to create a new multi-million dollar surgery center in Moose Lake called Northern Lakes Surgery Center. It’s happening in the former Shopko building on County Road 10. Project officials say the new facility will allow people in the Moose Lake area to stay closer to home and still…

Tonight At 9: Now-Former Proctor Football Coach Speaks Out Amid Criminal Investigation Into Some Players

PROCTOR, Minn. – In his first sit-down TV interview, former Proctor football coach Derek Parendo speaks out to FOX 21 Sports Director Sam Ali about what led him to resign his position amid the ongoing criminal misconduct investigation involving players of the Rails football team.  The video above is a preview from the 5:30 p.m. newscast.  See the full story…

3 From Lindstrom, Minnesota Arrested in Jan. 6 Us Capitol Riot

LINDSTROM, Minn. (FOX 9) – The FBI in Minneapolis said agents have arrested three more Minnesotans on charges related to the Jan. 6 riot at the United States Capitol. Isaac Westbury, Robert Westbury, and Aaron James, all from Lindstrom, were arrested Monday morning. A total of eight Minnesotans have now been arrested for their roles in the Jan. 6 riot,…

Ex-Juvenile Court Judge Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charges

MADISON, Wis. – A former juvenile court judge in Wisconsin has pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of distributing child pornography. Brett Blomme, a one-time Milwaukee County children’s court judge, faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in prison on each count. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 22. The state Department of Justice began investigating the 39-year-old…

Police: Missing Wisconsin Woman Died in Crash

(FOX 9) – Police say a missing woman from Cumberland, Wisconsin was found dead Monday after she crashed near the Amnicon River and Highway 53. Hailey Anderson, 43, was last seen on Sept. 16 in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. On that day, police say she made a “frantic” phone call to a friend saying her boyfriend had hit her before the…

‘Tiger King 2’ Is Coming to Netflix

The second season was filmed in 2020 and into part of 2021

(courtesy: Twitter/Netflix) (CNN) – Get ready all you cool cats and kittens, Netflix has announced: “Tiger King 2” is coming to the streaming service. The first season of the series, “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness,” was told over seven episodes. The second season was filmed in 2020 and into part of 2021. It’s not known which colorful characters from…

Mechanics: Winterize Vehicles Now Before Snow Falls

DULUTH, Minn. – The first day of fall is Wednesday, which means snowflakes are right around the corner. Mechanics at Allstar Service and Accessories are already getting calls from drivers looking to get their vehicles tuned up before winter arrives. The service manager says now is a good time to check your battery, fluid levels and tires. Snow tires shouldn’t…

Bicyclist Slams Into Vehicle in Downtown Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — A 39-year-old male bicyclist is being cited for violating traffic laws after slamming into a vehicle at an intersection in downtown Duluth. The accident happened around 12:30 p.m. Monday at the intersection of 2nd Avenue West and 2nd Street. “The bicyclist had disregard for the intersection, ran the red light and hit the side of the vehicle,”…

Minnesota Supreme Court Reverses 3rd-Degree Murder Conviction of Former Minneapolis Police Officer

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled to overturn the third-degree murder conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor in the deadly 2017 shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. During his trial Noor testified he feared an ambush when Damond walked up to the squad car and shot across his partner, killing the 40-year-old Australian woman. She had…

‘SNL’ Alum Norm Macdonald Dead at 61

(Fox News) (FOX NEWS) – Norm Macdonald, known for his time on “Saturday Night Live,” has died, Fox News can confirm. He was 61 years old. According to Deadline, the comedian had been battling cancer for nine years. Macdonald’s longtime producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra was reportedly at his side when he passed. “He was most proud of…

Powerball Jackpot Grows to $432M After No One Wins Monday Drawing

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Fox 9) – Feeling lucky? The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $432 million after no lucky winner claimed Monday night’s drawing. The winner, who must match numbers on five white balls (1-69) and the red Powerball (1-26), also has the option to claim a one-time lump sum payment of an estimated $313.5 million. The next drawing…

Driver Killed After Dump Truck Rolls On Iron Range

A 38-year-old man was killed Monday afternoon after the dump truck he was driving rolled in Clinton Township on the Iron Range. The single-vehicle accident happened around 1:30 p.m. on Spirit Lake Road near the Virta Road West intersection, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Officials say the dump truck went off the road before it rolled. The…

Taco Bell Wants Customers To Return Used Sauce Packets for Recycling

IRVINE, Calif. (Fox TV/Fox 9) – Taco Bell has an ambitious, potentially industry-altering idea, but they need help to pull it off. The restaurant chain is partnering with TerraCycle to launch a recycling program for its used sauce packets. Customers are asked to sign up for a TerraCycle account, completely fill a cardboard box or any recyclable container, download and…

United Airlines Lays Out Vaccination Rules for Employees

Airline's 67,000 employees have until Sept. 27 to get vaccinated

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) (FOX Business) – United Airlines says that more than half its employees who weren’t vaccinated last month have gotten their shots since the company announced that vaccines would be required. The airline’s 67,000 U.S.-based employees face a Sept. 27 deadline for getting vaccinated. United said Wednesday, however, that employees whose bids for exemptions based on…

Albert Lea Quarantines Nearly 300 Students for COVID-19 in First Week of School

ALBERT LEA, Minn. (FOX 9) – Nearly 300 Albert Lea students have been quarantined for exposure to COVID-19 after the first week of school, prompting changes to the school district’s face mask requirements. Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent Mike Funk shared an update with families Thursday, stating the virus has “significantly disrupted” the start of school. After five days of…

Capitol Police Officer Who Fatally Shot Ashli Babbitt Formally Exonerated

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) – The U.S. Capitol police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6 riots has been formally exonerated. The exoneration of the officer, whose identity has not been released, was the last step in wrapping up the investigation into the incident. “USCP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) determined the officer’s conduct was lawful…

Four New Wolves Found on Isle Royale on Lake Superior

HOUGHTON, Mich. (FOX 9) – In late April and May, researchers in Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior captured five wolves and attached GPS radio collars to them—the first time they have been able to do so during the pandemic. The wolves include a male originally caught in Ontario, Canada, and relocated to Isle Royale as well as three…

Minnesota State Fair Not Requiring Masks Inside Most Buildings

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota State Fair attendees will not be required to wear masks inside buildings on the fairgrounds during this year’s Great Minnesota Get-Together. Fair organizers were considering mandating masks indoors, however, the latest guidance released Wednesday says masks are recommended inside most buildings, but not required. They are also recommending people wear masks outdoors in…

Council Approves Outsourcing Duluth’s $1.8M Tourism Marketing Contract

Councilors also voted to table a $400K contract offer to Visit Duluth to handle the city's convention sales and visitor center.

DULUTH, Minn. –  The city council made a historic vote Monday evening to approve a new $1.8 million tourism marketing contract to a firm in Minneapolis – Bellmont Partners and its partner Lawrence & Schiller — instead of Visit Duluth, which has held the job since 1935. Councilor Joel Sipress voted against the contract resolution.  Councilor Zack Filipovich abstained because…

Packers WR Funchess Apologizes For Slur Against Asians

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Devin Funchess has apologized for using a racial slur against Asians during a news conference on Saturday night. “I want to apologize for the disparaging remark I used tonight,” Funchess said in a statement posted on Twitter late Saturday night. “It was not OK. I have grown to develop deep personal and…

St. Luke’s Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Policy For All Workers

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Luke’s announced late Wednesday that all of its employees, vendors, volunteers and board members will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine completed by Oct. 1. The only exception to the rule involves employees who can’t take the shot for medical or religious reasons.   Those individuals need to file an exemption by Sept. 1 and also…