Author: Maria Vollom

Coffee Conversation: ‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’ in Virginia, MN

VIRGINIA, Minn. — Lyric Center for the Arts presents: ‘A Christmas Story: The Musical,’ debuting Thursday at the Minn. North College Mesabi Range Virginia Campus. Steve Solkela joined FOX21 on the morning show to chat about the upcoming performance. The show dates and times are listed below. Dec. 8 & 9 at 7pm. Dec. 11 at 2pm. Dec. 16 &…

Coffee Conversation: ‘A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol’ in Duluth, MN

DULUTH, Minn. — The Boat Club and St. Luke’s present Minnesota spoof, ‘A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol.’ Inspiration for the musical stems from Charles Dickens’ famous “A Christmas Carol.” Boat Club Restaurant Owner, Jason Vincent joined FOX21 on the morning show to preview the upcoming performance. It’s taking place throughout Dec. 9-18 at Fitger’s Spirit of the North Theater….

MN Districts 3A and 3B to Undergo Vote Recounts for State House Seats

MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has confirmed that districts 3A and 3B will see a recount of votes for the state house seats. This includes vote results in Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis Counties. A recount is conduced, by hand, to precisely determine the vote count between two candidates whose vote margin is extremely close….

Shelter In Hibbing Temporarily Cuts Adoption Fees, Hopes To Rehome More Animals

HIBBING, Minn. — Range Regional Animal Rescue is a temporary home for displaced cats and dogs. But right now, the shelter is nearly full, and 35 animals are in need of forever homes. “We can have a bunch of animals here, but that doesn’t mean they’re each going to get the individual attention, enrichment, and all of that, which they…

Coffee Conversation: Vineyard Church to hold Blue Christmas Service

DULUTH, Minn. — The Vineyard Church to hold a Blue Christmas Service for those dealing with loss and grief this holiday season. Associate Pastors, Brian Brinkert and Becca Eastvold, joined FOX21 on the morning show to talk about the meaning behind this service. The event will be held Sunday, December 4 at 6pm at their Arrowhead location at 1533 W….

Coffee Conversation: Rafe Carlson Presents Veterans Tribute Song

DULUTH, Minn. — Local Musician Rafe Carlson tributes his new song, A Place To Fall, to veterans and service members. Carlson played his new song live at FOX21 and talked about the meaning behind it. Carlson is a Duluth/Hermantown native. He went on to talk about growing up in the community and his plans moving forward. Categories: Coffee Conversation, Minnesota,…

Legacy Fund Awards 11.4M to Minnesota Parks and Trails

DULUTH, Minn. — 14 Minnesota parks and trails getting a new look, thanks to the Legacy Fund. $11.4 million has been dished out by the fund to help enhance 14 regional parks and trails. Locally, the Duluth Waabizheshikana, Marten Trail received nearly $1.5 million dollars. The trail is located between Irving neighborhood and Jay Cooke State Park. It includes an…

Coffee Conversation: “Drinksgiving Returns” Comedy Show at Zeitgeist

DULTUH, Minn. — Renegade Improv’s “Drinksgiving Returns” will take place at Zeitgeist November 23. The show is a mix of live and filmed sketch comedy, improvisation, and special guests that tell a new story each time. The Fabulous Dik and Flip the turkey joined FOX21 on Friday’s morning newscast. Local performers will take stage at Zeitgeist’s Teatro Zuccone, November 23…

Coffee Conversation: Victory Chorus to hold “Celebration of Song”

DULUTH, Minn —  The Victory Chorus is having its “Celebration of Song” to recognize the completion of its first session for 2022. The Victory Chorus is a dementia-friendly choir made up of people living with memory loss, their care partners or loved ones, and volunteer singers from the community. On Thursday, Victory Chorus Music Director, Beth Kaiser, joined FOX21 on the morning…

Coffee Conversation: Hermantown High School Presents “Elf the Musical”

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Based on the beloved holiday film, Elf the Musical takes the stage at Hermantown High School. Two performers, Lily Meichsner and Jillian Jaros of Hermantown, joined FOX21 on Thursday to preview the show. You can see it live at Hermantown High School November 17 & 19, 2022 – 7pm.       Categories: Coffee Conversation, Minnesota, News,…

Coffee Conversation: West Duluth Business Club Seeks More Advancement

DULUTH, Minn — The West Duluth Business Club is a private non-profit club, consisting of business/commercial interests, community organizations, and area citizens who have an interest in focusing on the western area of Duluth, MN. The group holds monthly speaker meetings and is currently setting up a vision for the Western Business district which includes a strategic plan for advancement…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Winter Village to Return to DECC in December

DULUTH, Minn. —  The 2022 Duluth Winter Village will be back at the DECC this December. It’s an outdoor village with festive greens, local shops, hot drinks, and fire pits — overlooking Lake Superior and the Lift Bridge. On Tuesday, Lucie Amundsen with the DECC previewed the event on FOX21’s morning show. The Winter Village is taking place December 3…

Coffee Conversation: UMD Students Share Experiences of Studying Abroad

DULUTH, Minn. — It’s International Education Week and the University of Minnesota Duluth is holding a range of events, one being a study abroad informative panel. On Monday, UMD students Amy Diedrich and Issac Conrad joined FOX21 live in-studio to talk about their time spent abroad. Diedrich participated in the University College Dublin program in Dublin, Ireland. Conrad participated in…

Duluth’s Natural Surface Trails Closed During Annual Freeze, Thaw Cycle

DULUTH, Minn. — It’s that time of the year when the nights reach below freezing temperatures, and daytime stays above. Due to this annual freeze-thaw cycle, Duluth’s natural trails are closed until further notice. The mix of below and above freezing temps, can make the soil wet and vulnerable, ultimately damaging trails with continued use. Because of this, the Duluth…

Coffee Conversation: Wisconsin Writers Association Presents Opportunities to Northland Writers

SUPERIOR, WI. — The Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) provides opportunities to northland writers. Founded in 1948, WWA sponsors and hosts year-round workshops and events throughout Wisconsin, offering exclusive resources and discounts to more than 500 members. WWA President Barry Wightman and FOX21’s very own Erika Adams joined us on the morning show to talk about the association. Last month (Sept…

Coffee Conversation: Marshall School Presents “Seussical the Musical”

DULUTH, Minn — Marshall School presents, “Seussical the Musical,” based on the many children’s stories of Dr. Seuss. Two students apart of the production, Faith Hoffman and Sophie Haug, joined FOX21 Wednesday on the morning show. It’s taking place at Marshall School, November 10-12 at 7pm and Sunday November 13th at 2pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students,…

Coffee Conversation: The American Red Cross / Veterans Day

DULUTH, Minn. — Dan Williams and Jeff Kazel with the American Red Cross joined FOX21 in-studio to preview upcoming happenings around Veteran’s Day. Here’s a rundown of the work that the Red Cross will be doing within the community: On Monday, November 7th, the Red Cross is teaming up with the UMD men’s and women’s hockey teams to write out…

Coffee Conversation: Local Hiker Encourages People to Explore the Northland

DULUTH, Minn. — Local hiker, Sandi Larson, hits the many trails of Duluth every day. She posts a photo of each journey on social media and is apart of Women Hike Duluth. Larson joined FOX21 on the morning newscast to showcase her hikes and experiences. Her goal is to encourage people to get outside, explore the northland and the many…

Geodesic Dome Motel In Voyageurs National Park

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. — Voyageurs National Park on Rainy Lake is a destination hub for many travelers. But a walk-through the park isn’t all it has to offer. Soon, you’ll be able to sleep right beneath the stars. A million-star motel is coming to the park grounds. Construction is underway and it’s not going to be a classic motel either,…

Coffee Conversation: Singer/Songwriter Austin Castle Performs Live

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota native and country artist, Austin Castle, performed live on the FOX21 morning show. You’ll have a chance to hear him play at Ursa Minor Brewing in Duluth on November 12. His latest album, “Northwoods,” is available for streaming on Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music. Castle plans on releasing an EP and another album in 2023 but…

Haunted Ship Wrecks Past Attendance Records

DULUTH, Minn. — How many people can the Haunted Ship scare? Well, apparently a record-breaking amount. Thousands trekked through the tank of terror this October, 29,525 to be exact, and that’s not counting ghosts. A new single day record was also set at more than 4,000 people. This year’s theme was “What are you afraid of?” tapping into people’s phobias…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Junk Hunt Returns for 10th Year Anniversary

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Junk Hunt is a three-day indoor market filled with vintage goodness. This year, it’s celebrating 10 years of success. Event organizer, Emily Broman, joined FOX21 in studio to preview the event. There will be over 100 booths and vendors from across the state. It’s taking place at the DECC on November 3 (4-7pm) and November…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth East Presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth East presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid performance. Greyson Holste (Prince Eric) and Mia Patronas (Skuttle) joined FOX21 in-studio to preview their upcoming show. The show is taking place at Duluth East High School; November 3-5 at 7pm and Nov 6 Sunday at 1 pm. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults Ticket Sales are at the…

Chum Warming Center to Open Despite Recent Staffing Concerns

DULTUH, Minn — Chum Warming Center set to officially open after staffing concerns. Winter in the northland is a different kind of beast, especially for those experiencing homelessness. Up until recently, Duluth’s warming center in Lincoln Park had concerns that it would not have enough staff to operate. The Chum Warming Center is an overnight shelter for people to escape…

Coffee Conversations: Sweet Exchange Donates Treats to Northwood Children’s Services

DULUTH, Minn. — Sweet Exchange Owner Lisa Quarles, along with Morgana Kolenda of Northwood Children’s Services, joined FOX21 live in-studio for caramel apple making. That’s not the sweetest part — Quarles is donating the caramel apples to the Northwood kids for Halloween. Quarles says its important to give back to the community, especially the kids. Categories: Coffee Conversation, Minnesota, News,…

Speed May Have Been A Factor In Wis. Sen. Bewley Crash

Information taken from the Ashland Daily Press.

Photo by Wisconsin State Patrol, via Ashland Daily Press ASHLAND, Wis. — Speed may have been a factor in the fatal car crash involving Wisconsin State Senator Janet Bewley that killed a mother and her daughter back in July. According to the Ashland Daily Press that pulled from police records, Alyssa Ortman was traveling at 100 mph, in a speed-limit…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Chamber Works to Move Business Forward

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President, Daniel Fanning, joined FOX21 in studio talking all things happening for the business community. We discussed several things that the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is working on, including the 152nd Annual Dinner taking place Wednesday, November 2. Along with the chamber’s work regarding policy and advocacy at the city,…

Coffee Conversation: Musical Artist Todd Eckart Previews Halloween Performance

DULUTH, Minn. — Musical Artist Todd Eckart joined FOX21 live in studio to preview his upcoming Halloween performance. The event kicks off Tuesday, October 26 (7-11pm) at the West Theatre in Duluth. Tickets are $15 and you can purchase them at readertix.com. Jim Cooper, George Ellsworth, and Matthew Groom will also be performing.   Categories: Coffee Conversation, Minnesota, News, News…

Coffee Conversations: Love-a-Pet Adoption Event Preview

DULUTH, Minn. — Animal Allies Humane Society gears up for Love-a-Pet Adoption Event October 29 – October 30. Nicole Facciotto with Animal Allies joined FOX21 live in studio to preview the event. There will be Caturday Saturday, with only cats available for adoption. Along with Dog Day Sunday, featuring solely pups. Adoption and activities will take place both day from…

HERMANTOWN: Initial Findings Released by NTSB After Fatal Plane Crash

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Initial findings have been released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) after a plane crashed into a home earlier this month, killing the pilot and the two passengers on board. Hermantown resident Jason Hoffman said he and his wife were both sleeping when the plane surged through the second floor of their home, just inches away…

Gov. Walz, Dr. Jensen Debate Ahead Of Governer’s Race

ROCHESTER, Minn. — DFL Governor Tim Walz and Republican candidate Dr. Scott Jensen went head-to-head in the Minnesota Governor’s debate. It was 60 minutes of back and forth sparring and being that we’re 3 weeks from Election Day. This was their first and only televised debate and tensions were running high. Hosted by KTTC Gray Television and held in Rochester,…

St. Louis County Joins CPR Awareness App

DULUTH, Minn. — On Tuesday, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office announced the local launch of Pulse Point, nationwide program that enlists the help of bystanders when CPR is needed. October is sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month and this year alone, over 300, 000 people will suffer a cardiac arrest. That’s according to the American Heart Association. “Exactly one week after…

Duluth Cider Celebrates Four Years with Apple Bash

DULUTH, Minn. — In celebration of four years in business, Duluth Cider threw an Apple Bash block party. “We’re celebrating the fact that we’re here four years later, outgrowing our facility, and finding more cider fans than we thought in Duluth,” said Owner Jake Scott. Food trucks and vendors joined in on the party, which lined up the 23rd block…

Animal Allies Holds 2022 Fur Ball Rescue Event

DULUTH, Minn. — Every animal deserves a healthy and happy life, and this year’s Fur Ball put its focus on animals with different abilities. Animal Allies Humane Society held the 2022 Fur Ball event at Northland Country Club.. Fur Ball seeks to recognize homeless animals with special needs or to whom suffer from serious medical conditions, such as broken bones,…

Hunting and Gun Safety Reminders in the Northland

DULUTH, Minn. — Whether you’ve been firearm hunting for 30 years or its your first time in the field, everyone can use tips and reminders to ensure safe hunting. Hunting is a long-standing tradition for many in the northland, but before you take your shot this season, it’s important to hunt with safety and take precautions. It’s just about harvest…