VIDEO: Push to Change Wisconsin’s Abandonment Law After Woman Dies on Side of the Road
Categories: News, News – Latest News
Author: Nikki Davidson
Northland First Responder Accused Twice of Sexual Assault
In Both Cases Prosecutors Declined to File Charges
DULUTH, Minn- Duluth has received more than two million dollars of federal money in recent years to enhance the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases, but many of those cases won’t ever see a courtroom. The Sexual Assault Kit initiative Grant came after a state-wide audit revealed Duluth had nearly 600 untested sexual assault DNA kits sitting on evidence…
Hands-Free Driving Law Begins August 1
FOX 21 Rides Along With Minnesota State Patrol
DULUTH, Minn – Starting August 1st it will be illegal to have a phone in your hand at all while driving in Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz signed the bill into law earlier this year. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says this will make the roads safer and make it easier for law enforcement officers to pull over distracted drivers….
Superior’s Pathways To Hope Program Helps Addicts
A Superior Woman Shares Her Story of Addiction Recovery
Categories: News, News – Latest News
Narcan or Not? Law Enforcement Agencies Vary on Approach to Overdoses
While Donations and Grants Make Narcan Easily Accessible For Police, Some Choose Not to Use It
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The number of people dying from opioid overdose in the Northland is not slowing down. Five people died in the Duluth area in January alone, and across the bridge in Superior overdose calls are becoming more frequent – and often police officers are the first ones on scene. Now, even the smaller law enforcement agencies are now faced…
SPECIAL REPORT: Body Camera Video Shows Lives Saved By Narcan
Superior Police have Adminstered the Opioid-Reversal Drug More than 50 Times Since 2016
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – As Superior Police Officers continue to respond to several opioid overdose calls each month, we’re getting a closer look at the reality behind the opioid crisis. In a FOX 21 exclusive, Superior Police released body camera video of officers using Narcan to save the lives of people overdosing on opioids. In the two videos released, officers respond…
SPECIAL REPORT: The Danger of Hockey Head Injuries
When a former UMD Hockey Star Died Unexpectedly, Researchers Found a Clue in His Brain
When UMD Bulldog hockey star Andrew Carroll died suddenly in 2018, his fans, friends and family were shocked. Researchers at Boston University, have now discovered a clue. It might be sibling rivalry that turned Andrew Carroll into a standout hockey player. Three years younger Andrew fought to keep up with his big brother Chris. “We were brothers, competing with each…
Superior Competitive Dance Team Focuses on Inclusive Performance
Team Features Wheelchair and Deaf Dancers
SUPERIOR, Wis. – A competitive dance team in Superior gets special honors, taking home an award recognizing them for showing passion for dance onstage and off. Sterling Silver Studio is lined with trophies, and team group pictures on the walls. One team highlights the new perspective the studio is giving to dance, it’s an all-abilities team. “We take a different…
This Week in Education: Teachers Donate 100+ Sick Days
A high school football coach in Alabama is in a tough spot, his infant daughter was diagnosed with cancer but he still needed to work. So, his wife made a plea on social media for sick day donations from other teachers and the couple never expected what happened next. Categories: This Week in Education
Duluth Considers Tightening Restrictions on Massage Parlors
First Reading for Ordinance at Monday's Meeting
DULUTH, Minn- Duluth’s City Council is considering tightening regulations on massage therapists that operate within the city. This, after the bust of a sex trafficking ring that investigators say carried out illegal sex acts under the guise of “massage parlors.” Last month, police arrested Hermantown couple and charged them with sex trafficking and prostituting their employees at “Better Massage” in…
SUV Collides With Motorcycle On Woodland Avenue
Motorcyclist Taken To Hospital
DULUTH, Minn- A motorcyclist is in the hospital in Duluth Tuesday, after a crash involving an SUV. Duluth Police say the driver of an SUV failed to yield to the motorcycle and crashed into it. It all happened just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday near 21st Avenue East and Woodland Avenue in Duluth. Police say the driver of the SUV will…
This Week in Education: Teacher on Leave After “Slave Games” Assignment
A Wisconsin teacher has been placed on leave after students and parents allege the educator separated students by race and encouraged African-Americans to research “slave games.” Categories: This Week in Education
PAVSA Holds “Start By Believing” Pledge Campaign in Duluth
Duluth's Goal is For 1,300 Pledges
DULUTH, Minn- A Duluth non-profit wants your help in ending sexual violence by taking a three-word pledge in April to “Start By Believing.” PASVA is leading the charge to get 1,300 people in the Twin Ports to join the pledge to help end sexual violence. Duluth Police say 145 sexual assaults were reported just last year in the city. According…
This Week in Education: Accepted into 15 Colleges
A Texas teen and his family are celebrating after the 17-year-old got accepted to 15 different colleges, including eight Ivy League schools. Categories: This Week in Education
Scammers Posing as Honor Flight Volunteers
The Organization Says They Do Not Solicit Donations Over The Phone
GRAND RAPIDS, Mn- Honor Flight Northland says scammers are now posing as the non-profit organization, attempting to steal donations meant for veterans. Honor Flight is a non-profit that sends a plane full of veterans to Washington D.C. to see the war memorials made for them. After hosting a successful fundraising event in the Grand Rapids area earlier this month,…
Split Rock Lighthouse Manager Retires After 36 Years
Lee Radzak To Leave Split Rock in April
Categories: Community, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
This Week in Education: Kombucha Ban?
Some parents are stunned after a school district in Washington bans unpasteurized “kombucha tea.” The ban is over the small alcohol content in the drink. Categories: This Week in Education
Elizabeth Smart Speaks to Barron Community After Jayme Closs Kidnapping
Smart was abducted 16 years ago and was held in captivity for 9 months
BARRON, Wis. – Hundreds of people came to Barron, Wisconsin five months after 13-year-old Jayme Closs disappeared from her home. The message was about healing and it was delivered with somebody who knows all about that. Sixteen years ago, Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her home when she was just one year older than Jayme. She was held captive for…
This Week in Education: Babysitting in College Class
A photo taken at Morehouse College in Atlanta has gone viral on Twitter. It shows a student’s commitment, a teacher’s compassion and higher education at its best. Categories: This Week in Education
This Week in Education: Student Applies for Wrong College
A Louisiana student’s mistake went viral and led to opportunities she’d never really considered. Kaitlynn Lovelady applied to the wrong college and tweeted about it, but she never expected the response she got. Categories: This Week in Education
Duluth Man Loses 100 Pounds to Join Marines
William Housey Met his Goal in Honor of His Father
DULUTH, Minn – The Marine Corp has a goal of finding 30,000 new recruits every year. It’s a challenge because interest in joining the military is the lowest it’s been in a decade. According to the Department of Defense, the percentage of young people likely to join the Marines is at just 5 percent, many young people are not qualified…
Drummers Visit Piedmont Elementary School
DULUTH, Minn. – Piedmont Elementary students were treated to the sounds of Spirit Bay Singers Thursday morning. The sounds of their drums, songs and stories filled the air while the singers tell us that there is a deeper meaning behind the music. Categories: News, News – Latest News
Anglers Stranded on Lake of Woods
Snowy Conditions Create Huge Drifts on Ice Roads
LAKE OF THE WOODS, Minn- More than a hundred anglers had to be rescued and their ice shanties dug out from the middle of the Lake of the Woods after the weekend snow storm. Only about four to six inches of snow fell, but with 50 plus mile per hour winds the blizzard conditions blocked off the roads with major…
This Week in Education: Teacher-Student Matching Haircuts
A teacher went the extra mile for a student who was getting teased about her short hair. Now both teacher and student have matching haircuts and even matching bows! Categories: This Week in Education
2,500 Heart Surgeries At St. Luke’s Hospital
Doctors Share Hope For Heart Health on Valentine's Day
Categories: News, News – Latest News
CBD Craze: Does It Work, and Is It Legal?
A Special Report Takes a Closer Look at CBD in the Northland
DULUTH, Minn- Chances are you’ve heard of it “CBD” is a product that’s hit the shelves in Minnesota and Wisconsin stores. Leaders in the industry are cashing in, calling the trend “a gold rush.” Many of the people who use it say it works to treat their illness, but on the flip side pharmacy leaders have issued warnings calling this…
This Week in Education: Bob Ross Day in Class
About 50 art students decided to put their minds together for something a little different. The students decided to dress up as Bob Ross to create some happy little accidents in their painting class. Categories: This Week in Education
This Week in Education: Debate Over Religion in Schools
President Trump is praising schools for the inclusion on bible literacy classes. Meanwhile, critics take to Twitter to expose Christian Schools. Categories: This Week in Education
Jennifer Freking’s Second Place Finish in Beargrease
The Freking Family Took First and Second Place in the Marathon Race
GRAND PORTAGE, Minn- Jennifer Freking took second place Tuesday in the 35th Annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Freking crossed the finish line just after 9 p.m Tuesday night in Grand Portage. Her husband, Blake Freking took first place in the race. Categories: News, News – Latest News
750 Blue Roses Painted for K9 Haas Memorial Service
Non-profit "Backing the Blue Line" Prepared the Tributes Thursday Night
DULUTH, Minn- Ahead of Friday’s memorial for fallen K-9 Officer Haas, a non-profit group is preparing something special that people who attend the funeral. The non-profit Backing the Blue Line is preparing 750 blue roses to represent the sacrifice law of enforcement officers and their families. Each rose is tagged with a paw print and K-9 Haas’ name. K-9 Haas…
Jayme Closs Will Receive $25,000 in Reward Money
Hormel Foods and Jennie-O Will Give Reward Money Directly To Closs
BARRON, Wis. (AP) Hormel Foods and Jennie-O say they’ll donate the $25,000 it had offered in reward money for information leading to Jayme Closs directly to the 13-year-old girl. Jayme was kidnapped from her home in Barron, Wisconsin, on Oct. 15 and both of her parents were killed. She escaped 88 days later. Twenty-one -year-old Jake Patterson is charged with…
This Week in Education: Hunters Safety Classes
Administrators at two Iowa schools are defending their decision to implement a hunter’s safety course that involves hands-on training with firearms. Categories: This Week in Education
Billings Park Fire Deemed Suspicious
Damaged Estimated to be $5,000
DULUTH, Minn- Authorities are investigating what they call a suspicious fire at a motel in Superior’s Billings park neighborhood. It happened around 2:30 p.m. at the Manning Motel on the 3200 block of Belknap Street in the city’s Billings Park neighborhood. Firefighters arrived to a fully engulfed fire inside one of the rooms there. Damage is estimated at $5,000. Three…
Stolen Bentleyville Equipment Recovered By Duluth Police
Police Have Surveillance Video of the Suspects
DULUTH, Minn- It’s long after Christmas, but Bentleyville says a set of leftover Grinchs might pay for trying to steal from the display. Equipment was reported stolen from Bayfront Park last Thursday, by Sunday many of those items had been recovered. Bentleyville posted images on their facebook page of the recovered equipment, they say with the help of Duluth Police…
Family of Park Point Attack Victim Left in Coma Speaks Out; Police Announce Arrest
Family Of Larry Watczak, 70, Says Police Are Downplaying The Crime to the Public
DULUTH, Minn. – The Park Point resident who was violently attacked during a burglary in his home Jan. 2 is 70-year-old Larry Watczak, according to his son Erik Watczak. This comes as police announced an arrest Sunday night of a 30-year-old male suspect. Erik says his father remained in the hospitalized Sunday night in critical condition and has not come…
President Trump New Year’s Sculpture Decapitated
Sculpture is Located on Private Residence on 21st Avenue in Duluth
DULUTH, Minn- A Duluth man who has dabbled in politics in the past is getting a lot of attention this week for his latest snow sculpture, which was vandalized days after its unveiling. Harry Welty, a former member of the Duluth School Board and a man who has run for Congress three times typically makes a snow sculpture each year. …
Man Taken Into Custody on UMD Campus Following Gun Alert
UMD Threat has Been Contained
DULUTH, Minn- One person has been taken into custody at UMD after police responded to a report a person with a gun on campus. UMD Police say at 9:01 p.m. Tuesday, police received a 911 call from a suicidal male, with a weapon trying to gain access to the medical school. Officers from Duluth Police, Minnesota State Patrol, and St….
Sobriety Field Tests With Minnesota State Patrol
Troopers Partnered With FOX 21 to Demonstrate the Effects of Alcohol
DULUTH, Minn- As New Year’s Eve approaches, people are going to be out drinking alcohol and having a good time, but do you know your limit? How many drinks can you have before you’re legally impaired, and should not get behind the wheel? Is it 2, 3… 4 or more? FOX 21 teamed up with the Minnesota State Patrol to…
Northland Year in Review Part II
Looking Back at the Big Moments April - June of 2018
Categories: News, News – Latest News
Authorities Searching for Suspect in Police-Involved Shooting
Joshua Farmer Was Released From the Hospital After Being Shot Six Times
SUPERIOR, Wisc- Superior Police tell us the suspect charged with threatening three police officers resulting in an officer-involved shooting is still a wanted man. Joshua Farmer, 19, was shot six times by Superior Police officers back in October. The actions of the officers was ruled justified by the County Attorney’s office after a review of body camera video and Farmer’s…
Firefighters: Globe Elevator Fire Causes $2.5 Million in Damages
The Historic Structure Continues to Burn Monday Night
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Fire crews continue working to put out a massive fire at the site of the former Globe grain elevator in Superior that ignited Monday. The blaze destroyed salvage wood and construction equipment, the damage estimate is currently at $2.5 million. The fire department said no one has been hurt at the site, which is located at North…
Home Destroyed by Fire in Clinton Township
Six Different Fire Departments Battled the Blaze
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Minn- Firefighters battled a large house fire in Clinton Township on Baker Road Sunday. Crews from six different Iron Range departments responded to the scene just before 5 p.m. The homeowner noticed smoke and flames and called 911. When firefighters arrived on scene they found the homeowners still inside attempting to remove personal belongings. The homeowners were checked…
DTA’s Electric Buses Pulled Out of Service
New Buses are Experiencing Performance Issues
DULUTH, Minn- The Duluth Transit Authority has pulled its seven new electric buses off of the road due to issues with their performance. The buses were launched mid-October, and have since experienced interior heating issues as well as problems with a ‘hill hold’ feature. The DTA says a software update by the manufacturer will fix the hill-hold issue. The DTA…
Seven African Lions Relocated to Sandstone’s Wildcat Sanctuary
The Final Two Lions Arrived Tuesday Morning
Sandstone, Minn. – Sandstone now has seven African Lions, they’ve been re-homed inside the Wildcat Sanctuary. The big cats have come a long way, they’re from Argentina. The final two cats arrived Tuesday to start a new life after the country decided to close its government-funded zoos. The pair named Leo and Mansa made it through a 26-hour car trip…
Great Outdoors: Recap of SnoCross Event at Spirit Mountain
Hundreds of Racers and Spectators Packed the Hills to See The Return of the Amsoil Snocross Tour
One Person Fatally Shot By Law Enforcement in Virginia
The BCA is investigating the shooting, officers were not wearing body cameras
VIRGINIA, Minn- The Minnesota BCA is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Virginia that occurred Tuesday evening. According to a news release, Virginia Police Officers and St. Louis County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of suspicious activity at the 300 block of 2nd Street South in Virginia. The BCA says officers encountered a subject in the street and at one…
INVESTIGATION: Half of Previously Untested Duluth Sexual Assault Kits Find DNA Matches
Minor Waits Seven Years To Bring Man Who Sexually Assaulted Her To Justice
DULUTH, Minn – For years Duluth has carried a bad reputation when it comes to investigations into sexual assaults. Back in 2015 a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension audit showed the city had nearly 600 kits, the highest number of sexual assault evidence kits in the state, sitting on the police department shelves that were never sent into the crime…
Jessie Diggins Raises Support for Nordic Center
Diggins Won Gold in 2018 Olympics
DULUTH, Minn- An Olympic gold medalist visited Duluth Sunday to help raise support for one of the city’s outdoor recreation projects. Jessie Diggins crossed the finish line first in a cross-country ski team sprint finish during the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. Diggins stopped by Spirit Mountain to share some words about her victory. The initial plan was for…
Neighborhood Haunted House Takes Over Block
House on 79th Avenue West Loves Halloween
Categories: News, News – Latest News
Miller Hill Mall’s Mall-O-Ween Draws Out Costumes
Thousands of Families Attend the Event
Categories: News, News – Latest News
