Author: Nachai Taylor

A Criminology Expert Weighs In On Chauvin Trial Jury Selection

It's expected to take several weeks to decide a final jury as the process includes checking backgrounds.

DULUTH, Minn. – As the proceedings continue in the George Floyd case, we caught up with a local jury selection expert who helped explain more about the process. UMD Adjunct Criminology Professor Fred Friedman says it’s all about finding out what biases people have, which are determined by attorneys asking a variety of questions. The hope is to have an…

WITC- Superior Hosts Drive-Thru Recruiting Event

Potential students who stopped by the drive-thru event also received a free application voucher to help them start their educational path at WITC.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – WITC hosted a drive-thru event on Tuesday making it possible for potential students to learn more about continuing their educational journey while also keeping everyone safe. This is the first on-campus recruiting event WITC has held in the last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. People interested in attending WITC pulled up in their cars to the…

Superior City Council Approves To Pay Off $2.5 Million Debt From Kestrel Aircraft Deal

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The City of Superior is no longer carrying the burden of more than $2 million in debt caused by the Kestrel Aircraft Company project deal. The Superior City Council recently approved to pay off the debt a year early. In 2012, the company had plans to build a manufacturing plant for its aircrafts, which would have brought…

Some Iron Range Schools See A Drop In Enrollment

Many remain hesitant about sending their kids back to in-person instruction during the pandemic.

AURORA, Minn. – Multiple Iron Range public school districts are still being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are reporting a decline in enrollment because of the ongoing health crisis. It’s not uncommon for some Northland school districts to see a slight drop in student enrollment from year to year, but the coronavirus pandemic is causing an even greater decline…

Duluth YMCA Give Thanks To Local AmeriCorps Members

Currently, there are about 100 AmeriCorps members stationed in the Duluth area that work in many different fields, including helping in local schools.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Area Family YMCA is giving a special thank you to AmeriCorps members that have dedicated their time helping make a difference in the Duluth community. This week is National AmeriCorps week. Local chapter members and their families will get a chance to enjoy free entry to the YMCA all week. Currently, there are about 100…

Dylan Fest Returns To Duluth For The 11th Year

The festivities will mainly be virtual with some in-person events hosted at Earth Rider Brewery in Superior.

DULUTH, Minn – The Duluth Dylan Fest is coming back this year despite the pandemic. This year will be the 11th year the event has been held and will commemorate Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday. The festivities will mainly be virtual with some in-person events hosted at Earth Rider Brewery in Superior. This year, there will also be a songwriter contest…

Motorhead Madness Expected To Be Returning Next Year

"We hate to see it end. It's been a lot of fun. We've all been going to it forever since we were kids," Mike Podgornik, an organizer of the new event.

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s been a year since Motorhead Madness ended and now a trio of car enthusiasts are hoping to bring the half-a-century old car show back to help the community relive some memories. The Motorhead Madness car show is one event car lovers could show off their pride and joy every year. “You’re proud of having them and…

A New Soul Food Restaurant To Open In Downtown Duluth

Doc Witherspoon's Soul Food Shack is expected to open on April 6th.

DULUTH, Minn. – A new soul food restaurant is opening soon in downtown Duluth. Former NAACP President Stephan Witherspoon will be opening Doc Witherspoon’s Soul Food Shack. Customers will get to enjoy a family dining experience that serves food like fried catfish and mac & cheese. Witherspoon says he’s excited to continue sharing the African American food culture with the…

Lake Superior Zoo Welcomes A New Black Bear

Syke is an 11-year-old black bear and weighs over 400 pounds.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Zoo is welcoming a new member to its family. A black bear named Syke is now home at one of the zoo’s newly renovated bear dens. Syke is 11 years old and weighs over 400 pounds. He comes from the Minnesota Zoo, where he previously lived with his siblings. Most bears typically live alone…

Young People Stand Together To Help Bring An End To Gun Violence

"I just want to spread awareness for my brother and make a stand towards gun violence. It's not only taking our native youth, but our youth in general," said Aaliyah Peterson, the sister of 16-year-old Joesph Peterson.

DULUTH, Minn. – Young Northland community members are spreading the message that they are no longer staying silent and are proudly saying no to gun violence. The man charged in the shooting death of a 16-year-old on the Fond Du Lac Reservation back in December was in court on Thursday. The real action happened outside the St. Louis County Courthouse,…

Gun Permits Spike in Minnesota

According to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension nearly 100,000 permits were issued last year.

CLOQUET, Minn- A record number of Minnesotans received permits to carry a firearm according to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension with nearly 100,000 issued. The owner of Dead on Arms in Cloquet says he’s also seen an increase in the number of people wanting to learn how to use a firearm. He said people are more nervous and want to…

Students Take Learning Science To A New Level

"They all grew up in and around Minnesota, so they know how to sled, but they never really thought about it from a physical perspective," said UMD Physics Professor Margaret Elmer-Dixon.

DULUTH, Minn. – A group of UMD students used Chester Bowl Ski Hill as their classroom for the day to learn more about science. Physics is a subject most people learn about in a classroom or lab but a University of Minnesota Duluth professor is taking a new approach. “They all grew up in and around Minnesota, so they know…

Grandma’s Marathon Hires A Crowd Scientist To Help Safely Host 2021 Race

Instead of a mob of runners starting the race at all once, this year they will be released onto the course five at a time.

DULUTH, Minn. – Organizers of Grandma’s Marathon has enlisted the services of a crowd scientist… to help provide a COVID safe event this summer. Through the partnership with the crowd scientist, the organization was able to gather a computer simulation of previous races to help create a plan to safely carry out this year’s event. Some changes would include transporting…

Northland Teen & Jr. Iditarod Winner Gets A Big Welcome Home

Martens walked away with a $6,000 scholarship and a new dog sled for winning the race.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Northland teenager who won the Junior Iditarod returned from Alaska on Tuesday and a group of local community members gave him a big welcome home. Finishing first in the Junior Iditarod is no easy task, but 14-year-old Morgan Martens from Brule brought home the trophy. Martens returned to the Northland to a crowd of supporters cheering…

Plans Move Forward In 15-Story Mixed-Use Building Project

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall on the project, which is expected to cost at least $75 million.

DULUTH, Minn. – Plans to construct a 15-story mixed-use building in downtown Duluth is moving forward after the project suffered several delays. The project was expected to begin construction back in December 2019, but was pushed back due to impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the “uncertain financial market.” The building will stand on the site of the former…

Superior City Councilor Starts Conversation Hoping To Change Name Of Moccasin Mike Road

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior City Councilor Jenny Van Sickle is starting the conversation in hopes of changing the name of Moccasin Mike Road in Superior. It’s still unclear how the road got its name. It is believed to be named after Michael Bright, who was a former elected official in Superior. The road is on sacred native land and was…

Needed Upgrades At Wrenshall School Finishes, More Still To Come

The first stage cost more than $9 million and included adding a new HVAC system.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Wrenshall School has been getting some much-needed upgrades and now the first phase of the project is complete. The pandemic forced students to learn from home for the last year. Wrenshall school leaders took advantage of having an empty building to make the necessary changes. The first stage cost more than $9 million and included adding…

Search Continues To Find Two Individuals Caught On Camera Stealing A Catalytic Converter

The Superior Salvation Army typically uses the truck to pick up donations for its thrift store.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The search is on to find two individuals, who were caught on camera stealing believed to be stealing the catalytic converter from a box truck owned by the Salvation Army in Superior on Friday night. Video given to Fox 21 by the Salvation Army shows two people walking up to the truck and looking to see if anyone…

Local Organization Donates Quilts To Ronald McDonald House Northland

The plan is to make quilts all year long to give back and bring comfort to the children at the Ronald McDonald House.

DULUTH, Minn- Members of a local organization are quilting their way into the hearts of families at the Ronald McDonald House in Duluth, which recently opened. Every year, the Northern Lights Machine Quilters Guild gives back to a local organization. “Quilts are made with love one stitch at a time,” said Helen Smith Stone, the founding president of NLMCQG. This…

City Crews Repair Another Water Main Break

Officials say the city has had about one or two water main breaks per day, this year.

DULUTH, Minn. – City repair crews responded to yet another water main break in the Duluth. Tuesday morning, the group was hard at work repairing a hairline crack in a water main off of Morris Thomas Road that left water gushing into the street and causing icy conditions. Officials say the city has had about one or two water main…

Four More Vaccination Sites To Open In Wisconsin Including In Douglas County

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says the Douglas County site will be split with Barron County.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. – Wisconsin is set to open four more vaccination clinics across the state including one in Douglas County. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says the Douglas County site will be split with Barron County. Those sites are expected to open within the next two months. On Tuesday, Evers said although case numbers are down, we are not out…

Duluth City Council Approves Adding A Third Deputy Police Chief

The department will reduce one lieutenant position to add a third deputy chief.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth City Council has voted unanimously to add a third deputy police chief to its roster through a change of the city’s charter. Police Chief Mike Tusken has said the goal of the re-organized position is to help transform the department while focusing on better policies and community engagement. The death of George Floyd and the…

Duluth Woman Starts Backpack Giveaway To Help Kids In Need

Headphones and duffel bags are on the list of requested donations.

DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth woman is going above and beyond to help children in foster care or experiencing homelessness. Paige Anderson has been collecting donations to fill backpacks for those children in need. Anderson has been a foster mom for about 10 years and has fostered nearly 50 kids over the years. Many of those children came to her…

Duluth Police Partners With Tip 411 To Help People Give Tips Anonymous

The form is filled out online.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Department is partnering with tip 411, which will provide a way for the public to submit tips anonymously. The form is filled out online and asks questions like what happened, where it was seen, and a brief description. You can also attach videos and pictures when making your submission. “We don’t want any barriers….

RJ Sport And Cycle Hosts First Annual Boat Show

Their supply of boats are typically showcased during the yearly boat show at the DECC, but the pandemic forced RJ Sport and Cycle to host their own.

DULUTH, Minn – RJ Sport and Cycle in Hermantown is helping boat enthusiasts fantasize about warmer weather and spending time out on the water. The shop hosted its first annual boat show. Their supply of boats are typically showcased during the yearly boat show at the DECC, but the pandemic forced RJ Sport and Cycle to host their own. A…

Duluth Fire Department Share Ice Safety Tips Ahead Ice Fishing Tournament

It is recommended to monitor the weather and paying attention to the wind direction before and during time on the ice.

DULUTH, Minn.- More people have been going ice fishing in recent weeks and the Duluth Fire Department is sharing a few tips on how to stay safe to help avoid potential water rescues, like the one last week on lake superior. It is recommended to monitor the weather and paying attention to the wind direction before and during time on…

An City-wide Alert System Helps Inform Residents Of Public Safety Incidents

Northland Alert is a free tool available for residents to use.

DULUTH, Minn. – After multiple water main breaks occurred in the last few weeks, the City of Duluth is reminding the community of an alert system that helps them stay informed of public safety incidents. Northland Alert is a free tool available for residents to use. It pushes out notifications informing of incidents like water main breaks or floods that…

Chester Bowl Gets A Helping Hand From Spirit Mountain

"The cold is very hard on machines and that's exactly what the chair lift is," said Sam Luoma, the programs and operations manager for Chester Bowl.

DULUTH, Minn. – The chairlift here at Chester Bowl suffered a mechanical difficulty after more than a week of frigid temperatures, but thankfully, crews at Spirit Mountain came to the rescue. “The cold is very hard on machines and that’s exactly what the chair lift is,” said Sam Luoma, the programs and operations manager for Chester Bowl. Just like most…

Pet Chiropractic Care Helps Promote Better Wellness For Animals

Visiting an animal chiropractor can help address chronic issues such as arthritis.

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s National Responsible Pet Owner month and one responsibility some pet parents may not think of is taking the animal to a chiropractor. Chiropractic for Body and Life in downtown Duluth partnered with Animal Kingdom Chiropractic to host an event offering pet screenings. Screenings can typically help check the mobility and flexibility of the spine in most…

Remembering Entrepreneur Joel Labovitz

"He was really larger than life and extremely optimistic," said daughter Anne Labovitz.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth entrepreneur and community leader Joel Labovitz passed away over the weekend at the age of 93 and now he is being remembered. “He was really larger than life and extremely optimistic,” said Anne Labovitz. Anne and Mark Labovitz go down memory lane expressing the type of person their father Joel Labovitz was just days after his…

Carbon Monoxide Concerns Arise As People Get Creative Trying To Warm Up

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and tasteless gas.

DULUTH, Minn. – Chilly weather sweeping the nation could cause people to get creative when trying to stay warm, but those alternatives mean increased carbon monoxide deaths. Many people will do everything they can to stay warm including using an oven or running a car in closed spaces to avoid chilly temperatures. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and tasteless gas….

Cold Snap Prompts More Travel Bookings For Spring Break

DULUTH, Minn. – Frigid temperatures have been sweeping across the Northland over last couple of weeks and the frosty conditions are pushing more people to schedule getaways. Although, the CDC recommends putting a pause on planning an escape from the chilly weather. Local travel agencies like Fun and Leisure Travels in Duluth have been booming with customers wanting to take…

Pandemic Could Cause People To Delay Cancer Screenings And Treatment

Research suggests even a two-month delay in cancer screenings or treatments could lead to a more progressive diagnosis and increased deaths.

DULUTH, Minn. – As the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a grip on the nation, health experts are now worried it could cause patients to delay cancer screenings or treatments. Research suggests even a two-month delay in cancer screenings or treatments could lead to a more progressive diagnosis and increased deaths. The shutdown of cancer screenings at local health facilities…

U of M Medical School Researchers May Have Found A Way To Detect Ovarian Cancer Early

If ovarian cancer is not detected early, there is about a 25% survival rate.

DULUTH, Minn. – The American Cancer Society estimates more than 13,000 women will die from ovarian cancer this year. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School may have found a way to help detect disease earlier. A new study shows the possibility of detecting the disease using a pap test, which is a process already being used to diagnose…

St. Luke’s Hospital Expands Visitor Policy

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Luke’s Hospital is scaling back its visitor restrictions. Most patients will now be allowed to have two visitors per day. Some exceptions do apply, including no visitors for people who are hospitalized for COVID-19, in most cases. St. Luke’s President says the declining trend in the positivity rates for Coronavirus cases in the county made the…

Workers On Two Ends Of The Spectrum Speak About Working On Chilly Days

"Even if you don't think it's going to be cold, be prepared," said Gordon Eggen, a junk removal specialist for Twin Ports Trailer Trash.

DULUTH, Minn. – A blustery cold day with below zero temperatures in the Northland can make indoor work much more appealing. “I am really lucky to work inside here at Vitta,” said Logan Conley, the assistant general manager for Vitta Pizza. Those with outdoor jobs know they need to be prepared for the elements. For many in this area, facing…

Yellow Bike Coffee Cafe Expands To Lake Superior College

DULUTH, Minn. – Yellow Bike Coffee Cafe officially opened its new permanent location at Lake Superior College. The café offers a variety of beverages and food options made to order for students to grab while on campus. Yellow Bike Coffee Cafe has a flagship store in Hermantown. The general manager believes opening a location on LSC’s campus reminds people the…

Recent Cold Temperatures Serve As Good Reminder To Check On Older Adults

"Just be mindful. If you have a neighbor that you know is elderly, it doesn't hurt to go check on them to make sure they have everything that they need," said Mary Bovee, the executive director for Age Well Arrowhead.

DULUTH, Minn. – The freezing cold hitting the Northland, this week, can be a strong reminder to check up on older individuals. Elderly adults are among the most vulnerable to extreme temperatures and cold conditions. Recently Duluth Police dispatched a community service officer to help a 79-year-old woman, who called 911 to get assistance shoveling herself out of her home…

An Ice Sauna Is Opening In Canal Park

It stands eight feet tall with about 100 ice bricks weighing in at nearly 200 pounds each.

DULUTH, Minn. – Frigid temperatures are sticking around in Northland, this week, and a local sauna company is helping people embrace the cold. Cedar and Stone Nordic Sauna has built a sauna made completely out of ice. It took roughly five days to create and stands eight feet tall with about 100 ice bricks weighing in at nearly 200 pounds…

Essentia Health Continues To See Lack Of Patients Going For A Check-Up

DULUTH, Minn- Essentia Health is continuing to see a lack of patients coming in for a check-up. They are instead waiting until it’s too late, which is creating an uptick in emergency room visits. Now that restrictions have loosened, Health experts believe many people may have become used to being home… or still do not want to visit a hospital…

U Of M Medical School Sees Increase In Student Applications

This year there were nearly 3,500 applicants wanting to attend the school.

DULUTH, Minn. – More people are filling out applications to attend the University of Minnesota Medical School campuses including in Duluth. There are many factors that may play into the increase of applicants, but U of M Medical School officials say it is impressive knowing so many people are willing to dedicate to a career in healthcare. In a typical…

MN Power Crews Head To NY To Help With Power Outages

The Northland crew is expected to return in about two weeks.

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Power is helping battle power outages in New York, which were caused by the recent NorEaster that left behind about a foot of snow. On Thursday, a five-member crew loaded up and headed for the Big Apple to help restore power for hundreds of New York residents. Minnesota Power leadership says lending a hand is about…

End Of Year Tourism Taxes Made A Strong Turnaround

2020 ended with tourism in Duluth being down by about 30%.

DULUTH, Minn. – Tourism tax revenue in duluth took a hit over the past year as some bars, restaurants, and hotels were forced to close to protect public health during the pandemic, but Duluth’s estimated tourism tax drop ended up lower than expected. Based on trends shown throughout the pandemic, the City of Duluth projected a significant decrease in tourism…

Limited Vaccine Supply Creates Long Waitlist For Bayfield County Health Department

The limited supply of vaccines has left more than 2,500 people waiting to get vaccinated.

BAYFIELD, Wis.- Bayfield County has already begun the process to vaccinate residents 65 and older, which accounts for more than 25% of the county’s population. Last week, the county gave out more than 500 shots to that age group. County officials say with a staff of more than a dozen they have the manpower to do about 1,000 vaccinations per…

St. Louis County Public Health Debuts Mobile Covid-19 Testing Trailers

"We are trying to come to people and come to the community to make it as accessible as possible," said Susan Vitulli, a public health educator for St. Louis County.

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County Public Health is making it easier for many Northlanders to have access to COVID-19 testing. The county purchased two mobile COVID-19 test trailers for more than $200,000 The money used to buy these units came as part of CARES act funding awarded to the county. “We’re excited to offer more community testing opportunities throughout…