Author: Maria Vollom

Yellow Bike Coffee to Move Locations

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Today was full of mixed emotions for the owner of a popular coffee and sandwich shop in Hermantown that’s on the move. The Yellow Bike Coffee Shop off of the miller trunk highway closed the doors at its current spot it’s been in for five years as it transitions to a new location. The owner isn’t spilling…

Wisconsin Food Truck Serves Produce Straight from the Cattle

GRANTSBURG, WI. — A Wisconsin food truck brings farm-grown produce to the forks of the Grantsburg community. Brickfield Market is a family-owned food truck featuring menu items with beef and dairy from their own ‘Four Cubs Farm.’ Members of the Peterson family opened the food truck in April of this year. They serve sandwiches, tacos, burgers and more. In a…

Vietnam Veteran Exhibit Travels to the Northland

DULUTH, Minn. — A replica wall of the Vietnam memorial in Washington D.C. travelled to Chisholm last week. The monument is known as the ‘Wall That Heals.’ The replica is brought across the country so that Vietnam veterans and their families can see it without getting on a plane. The wall that heals’ exhibit includes a three-quarter scale replica of the…

Twin Ports Interchange Project Extends Completion Date

DULUTH, Minn. — The Twin Ports Interchange Project is moving forward with shovel-ready projects to utilize new federal funding. Construction on the Miller Coffee Creek Box Culvert has been completed and the interchange project will pursue now pursue new work. The Trunk Highway 53 bridges will be under construction, along with Garfield Avenue and 1-535 interstate. The project estimate is…

Roe v. Wade Overturned: What Now?

NORTHLAND– Roe v. Wade has been overturned by the Supreme Court. What does this mean for women’s abortion rights? Well, it depends on the state they reside in. For the last 50 years, roe permitted abortions during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. Now, individual states have the power to set their own abortion laws. Many states will be outlawing…

MNA Nurses Held an Informational Picket Outside of Twin Ports Hospital’s

DULUTH, Minn. — Today, Twin Ports nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association Union marched with signs outside of the two largest hospitals in the area. It’s not a strike, but an informational picket as their current contract is a little more than a week away from expiring. This, as Essentia Health and St. Luke’s say they are continuing negotiations in…

Duluth Reflects on the 2012 Historic Flood

DULUTH, Minn. — On this day a decade ago, heavy rains that hit the northland and Duluth experiencing record-breaking flooding. It started the day before, on June 19th, when waves of heavy storms began to drape across Northern Minnesota. Over the next two days, Duluth would nearly drown under seven inches of rain. Former Mayor Don Ness, said that, “the…

Grandma’s Marathon Youth Festival and Races

DULUTH, Minn. — Grandma’s Marathon kicked off with the popular whipper snapper races. Along with the races, a new youth festival that took the stage, featuring live entertainment and activities. The young athletes foundation is a Grandma’s Marathon Program that promotes healthy lifestyles for kids. They also offer a way for kids to participate in the weekend fun by running…

Annual Spaghetti Feed for Grandma’s Marathon

DULUTH, Minn. — Grandma’s Marathon runners and supporters loaded up on carbohydrates today. The Michelina’s all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner took place at the DECC. This annual dinner has been a tradition at grandma’s weekend since 1977. It brings people in the community and beyond together in celebration of the race weekend. Spaghetti feed volunteer, Leila Bouchard, has been working the event…

Volunteers Needed for Annual Rhubarb Festival

DULUTH, Minn. — The Rhubarb Festival will take place in Duluth next weekend and volunteers are needed for the community event. The annual festival is held to raise money for chum, the largest service shelter in Duluth. This year, the celebration will resume full-scale for the first time since 2020. There will be games, activities, and many food options; everything…

Final Preparations begin for Grandma’s Marathon

DULUTH, Minn. — We are in the final countdown of days until Grandma’s Marathon. To make sure the weekend runs smoothly, the organization behind it all is setting up for the big events right now. The tents have officially gone up and the marathon will resume in full-capacity this year for the first time since 2019, with more than 20 thousand…

Public Hearing Held for Hotel Astoria Demolition

DULUTH, Minn. — Five Duluth residents spoke out during a public meeting today in hopes of preserving the historic Hotel Astoria on East Superior Street. Back in 2021, the owners requested for the structure to be torn-down due to its immense deterioration. Three local businesses within the building were also asked to leave and relocate last year. The owners say…

Pinehurst Beach to Open for Summer

CLOQUET, Minn. — With the weather warming up and school out for summer, the beach at Pinehurst Park in Cloquet will open to the public Monday. Final preparations are underway as the water is currently in the chlorinating process. Despite the nationwide lifeguard shortage ,the park has doubled its numbers to 20 for the season, and 6 guards will be…

Local Artist Showcases her Creative Studio

DULUTH, Minn. — A local artist welcomed the community into her Park Point creative studio. McKenzie Kapsner is the owner behind Superior Currents, a handmade art brand inspired by Lake Superior. She grew up on park point collecting driftwood, agates, and beach glass, which she now makes inventory out of. Two years ago she began selling at pop-up shops and…

Local Tutoring Program Helps Ukrainian Refugees with Education

DULUTH, Minn. — Dr. Michael Waxman, a professor in the Chemistry department at UWS, developed ‘Tutoring Without Borders,’ a program used to help Ukrainian kids continue learning amidst the war. When the war first started, many Ukrainian citizens were forced to flee and enter new countries. This created many language barriers for those who are still in school, and in…

Summer Season Takes Action at Bayfront Festival Park

DULUTH, Minn. — Bayfront Park is coming alive as the weather warms up, just in time for big events like festivals and performances that will be taking place. Bayfront will feature different events every weekend of the summer and on some weeknights too. Some of the most popular ones that draw in the big crowds from all over the Northland…

Volunteers Began Streetscape Planting Efforts in Downtown Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Volunteers began planting on superior street this morning, for the 19th annual “dig in for the downtown waterfront,” tradition. Each year, the event is put on by Duluth’s Greater Downtown Council. Kristi stokes, the Downtown Council President, said that the planting event is a way for community members to be a part of beautifying the area. If…

Duluth Police Department Receives a $9,900 Grant for Youth Program

DULUTH, Minn. — On Tuesday at Mont Du Lac Resort, the Larry and Donna Pulkrabek Foundation donated nearly 10 thousand dollars to the departments ‘get hooked on fishing’ program, an event where officers take local youth groups out for boat ventures and fishing. The program began in 2017 and continues to bridge gaps and build relationships between officers and the…

Historic Flooding Continues to Affect Residents Across the Minnesota/Canada Water Basin

INT’L FALLS/KABETOGAMA, MINN. –“Mother nature has not been kind to us this year so far at all. So every week it’s like it could come up another foot, every week it could come up another foot, and it has.” Northern Minnesota residents who border Canada continue to battle historic flooding. It has devastated the area and hindered the beginning of…

Production Crew Begins Filming New Movie In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Production began this week on a new movie called “Merry Kisscam,” where scenes are filming all over Duluth. Producer Mandy June Turpin originally became intrigued with Duluth while visiting the Catalyst Story Institute’s Content Festival four years ago. She met many community members and visited different local places, and she says that she knew they would be…

Local Travel Agency Guides Cruise Ship Guests Through Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — A local company called Jaybee Travel teamed up with Viking Cruises to provide passengers with local experiences on Duluth land. On May 30, 2022, the Viking Oasis became the first cruise ship to sail into the city since 2013. Cutting through heavy fog and rainy conditions, the cruise landed and guests departed to shore  where the Duluth…

Grandma’s Marathon Organizer Reacts to Races Selling Out for the First Time in Seven Years

DULUTH, Minn. — The 1977 tradition of Grandma’s Marathon will resume in full-capacity June of 2022. With all three races selling-out for the first time since 2016, the marathon organization, community members, and runners are excited to get back for this years event. In an interview with Zach Schneider, a member of Grandma’s Board of Directors, he stated that, “People…