Author: Pat Brink

Watch for School Buses with Stop Arm Extended

Duluth, Minn. —  The Duluth Police Department and Voyageur Bus Company are working to inform and educate drivers about the importance of stopping for school buses when the lights are flashing and the stop sign is extended. On Wednesday morning an educational trip was made to see the problem first hand.  When you see the yellow and red lights flashing…

Arrest Made in Death of Adam Johnson

DULUTH, Minn. — A little more than two weeks after Adam Johnson died after being cut by a skate blade, local police have arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter. In a release issued by the South West Yorkshire Police Department today, the man arrested was not identified but remains in police custody. Local police opened an investigation into the…

Golf Season Extended, For Now

DULUTH, Minn. — What a glorious sun-filled day with the high temperature reaching the low 50s in Duluth. For many people that could mean only one thing – it was time to play golf again! Grand View Golf Link in Duluth heard that cry and has re-opened the course. With high temperatures later this week expected to reach the mid…

Results of Duluth School Board Member and Referendum Voting

DULUTH, Minn. –Elections on Tuesday also included voting for three Duluth School Board seats as well as two referendum questions. The first question asked to refinance existing debt and make $2.6 million dollars available that could be used to augment the services that were added using pandemic money. That question passed with nearly 55% of the votes. The second question…

Adam Johnson’s Remembrance of Life Ceremony

HIBBING, Minn. — Thousands of people made their way to Hibbing for the Celebration of Life for Adam Johnson, the Hibbing native who died in a freak accident while playing hockey in England. Not only were there thousands of people on hand to witness the celebration in person, but more than 4000 computers were tuned into the YouTube live stream…

First-Generation College Students

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Haley Stalls is a senior at the University of Wisconsin Superior. She is majoring in Elementary Education and wants to teach kindergartners. Haley knew she needed to go to college to be a teacher but neither her parents nor her three sisters had attended college.  She would be a first-generation student. She heard about the Upward Bound…

Update on Interchange Project

DULUTH, Minn. — There’s some good news and some bad news for motorists traveling on Interstate 35 through the interchange project. Many people may already be aware that traveling north on 35 through the construction areas there are now two lanes fully open. Work crews are doing their best to get two lanes open on the south side of the…

Welder Generator Helps Northwood Technical College Hit the Road

Joint effort made it possible.

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — In March, Northwood Technical College unveiled its 53-foot mobile welding lab that has eight individual welding booths. However, to make the lab work anywhere other than on campus, a generator was needed. And, it had to be a large generator–one that costs $90,000. The college didn’t have the money and needed help from others. So, two local…

Concerns Over Electronic Pull Tabs

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth American Legion was the latest stop for groups trying to change a law that will limit electronic gaming, specifically electronic pull tabs in the state. Representatives from charitable groups, bars, and restaurants from the area gathered Thursday evening to hear from groups working to convince legislators to change a law that passed last session. That…

Patty Wetterling Talks About Her Book and Her Journey

DULUTH, Minn. –It was October 22, 1989, when the world was turned upside down for Patty Wetterling when her son Jacob was kidnapped at gunpoint. It wasn’t until 27 years later that the answer to what had happened to Jacob was learned when Danny Heinrich confessed in open court to abusing, murdering and burying Jacob. On Tuesday evening Patty Wetterling…

Enger Golf Course Closes After Good Season

DULUTH, Minn. –Golfers have just one more day to get out and play this season at the Enger Course in Duluth. The course closes on Wednesday afternoon at Five. Tomorrow will be the end of what has been a very good season according to the Enger Course General Manager Craig Smith. Despite the dry summer, golfers continued to play and…

Duluth Airport Prepares For Fort Myers Return, Control Tower Replacement

DULUTH, Minn. — This has already been a record-breaking year for the Duluth International Airport. In each month of 2023, the number of take-offs and landings exceeded last year’s numbers. The number of flyers has also increased, and that’s one measure an airline looks at in deciding whether to enter or expand in a city.  One reason for the increase…

Women in Black Hold Silent Vigil

DULUTH, Minn. — A silent vigil at the Minnesota Power Plaza this afternoon was held by the group ‘Women in Black’ in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. Dozens of people, the vast majority dressed in black, were there in support of a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.  Additionally, they demand that humanitarian aid be allowed into Gaze to save…

Better Bus Blueprint at Two Months

DULUTH, Minn. –It’s been nearly two months since the Duluth Transit Authority made major changes to its system. It added two new “GO” routes and consolidated many of its local stops. On October 29 the DTA will announce updates to its system. But, it’s not been Easy Street. Detours and keeping track of where the detours are have been a…

GoFundMe Set Up to Bring Bodies of Two Men Killed in Ashland Home in Mexico

ASHLAND, Wis. — Two brothers from Mexico were shot and killed in Ashland Saturday, and now their family is trying to get their bodies home to be buried. 30-year-old Manuel Garcia and his 27-year-old brother, Luis, were visiting a third brother who lives in Ashland.  The two were shot and killed early Saturday morning.  Manuel’s wife is still in Ashland….

Tourism Tax to Last 30 More Years

DULUTH, Minn. — On Monday night the Duluth City Council voted unanimously to continue the tourism tax for another 30 years. The state legislature had given its okay for the city to continue collecting the tax for three decades. Because it is a tourism tax, the money raised must encourage tourists to come and recreate in Duluth, but the use…

Lincoln Park Reopens

DULUTH, Minn.  — The actual Lincoln Park, which is in the Lincoln Park area, had a grand reopening Tuesday. Seven years after the city council adopted the Lincoln Park Mini-Master plan. The plan provided direction for the updating of the park. It was a celebration at the park, which has been referred to as a gem in the park system….

Taylor Swift Movie Opens in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. –After a sneak peek Thursday, the Taylor Swift movie, “Eras” played at the Marcus Duluth Theater Friday for its first of four weekends designed to attract Taylor Swift fans. The parking lot was full at the theater well before the movie was to begin. We talked with the manager and some Swifties who were looking forward to seeing…

Marshall School Hosts Blood Drive

DULUTH, Minn. –Here’s a story that you’ve heard before, there is a significant blood shortage taking place locally and nationally. The Red Cross and Memorial Blood Bank are both looking for new and past donors to give blood to help alleviate the shortage. At Marshall School in Duluth, the Health and Wellness Club sponsored its first of three blood drives…

Bentleyville Tree is Up!

Ironworkers donate their time every year to assemble and stack the sections.

It’s a sure sign that the holiday season–and Bentleyville–are nearly here! The Christmas tree at Bentleyville’s “Tour of Lights” went up Saturday morning. One hundred twenty-eight feet to the top, and for all the Northland to see in the months ahead. As always, Iron Workers Local 512 were the volunteers who used their skills to assemble the sections and connect…

Essentia St. Mary’s Boosts Security

DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia St. Mary’s announced Friday that it is implementing visitor badges beginning next Tuesday When entering the new facility on Second Street, you will need to stop at the Reception Desk. There, you will need to present a photo ID in order to receive the visitor badge. The badge is good for that day only and needs…

Superior Fire Department Making Changes for Future Needs

SUPERIOR, Wisc. —  The Superior Fire Department is looking forward to upcoming changes that will help prepare the department and its facilities for the future. Fox 21’s Pat Brink has the story. The Superior Fire Department is taking to heart Mark Twain’s comment that ‘to stand still is to fall behind.’ Camron Vollbrecht, the man who became Superior’s Fire Chief…

DECC Exec. Dir. Addresses Job Cuts At Struggling Entertainment Venue

DULUTH, Minn.– DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman found himself in the spotlight Thursday after news broke Wednesday night that he was cutting DECC expenses in the hundreds of thousands, including layoffs and eliminating positions. “So, the DECC has been definitely between a rock and a hard place. I think I talked about this with the City Council a couple weeks…

Update on Lead Water Pipe Removal

DULUTH, Minn. –In May of his year the city began work on replacing all lead water pipes in the city. A pilot project was started on Eighth Street, running between 7th Avenue and 14th Avenue. An update on the pilot project was given on Wednesday. Jon Maruska, the Senior Engineering Specialist on the project, said so far, about 85 of…

Superior Solar Garden Unveiled

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — There may have been some clouds in the sky, but that did not stop a solar celebration today. It was for the community solar garden in Superior. It will use the sun to generate enough power for about 115 homes, according to Superior Water Light and Power.  Customers were able to buy shares of the solar garden…

Childcare Grants for Providers in Superior and Douglas County

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The City of Superior has established a grant program that can provide up to $10,000 for childcare providers in the city to use for capital projects. These projects should enhance the overall quality, safety, and accessibility of the childcare facilities.  Douglas County childcare providers can receive up to $5,000 for capital projects. On Saturday, September 30 the…

Charges Filed in Rustic Bar Brawl

DULUTH, Minn.  — The Duluth Police Department has completed its investigation into the bar fight that occurred at the Rustic Bar in West Duluth on September 12th. You may recall that a 39-year-old woman was beaten by two men in the bar after she had a confrontation with another woman. According to a news release from the police department, the…

Eight Duluth Busineses to Receive $3,500 to Help Revitalize Downtown and Canal Park

DULUTH, Minn. –More than a half-dozen downtown Duluth businesses have landed storefront grants of $3,500 each. The grants are designed to improve the lighting, storefront, and patio space of the businesses to help revitalize downtown. The companies receiving the grants are Dubh Linn Pub; Anchor’s End Tattoo, Rabbit, Bird & Bear; Duluth Coffee; Joseph Nease Gallery; Hamilton Monroe & Co.;…

St. Luke’s and United Steelworkers Local 9460 Reach Tentataive Agreement

  DULUTH, Minn. — St. Luke’s has announced that it and United Steelworkers Local 9460 (USW) have reached a tentative contract agreement. The agreement covers technical workers at St. Luke’s. The USW will bring the tentative one-year contract to its approximately 140 members for their vote in the near future. In a statement on its website, USW Local 9460 said…

Working Together For the Benefit of Humans and Trout

NEAR ASHLAND, Wisc. — The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act provided $40 million dollars to increase and expand the scope of infrastructure updates. The Forest Service turned to Trout Unlimited, one of its oldest and strongest partnerships to help restore watersheds, streams, and habitat. “We sat down with Trout Unlimited and created a national agreement, our largest…

Cloquet Police to Get Body Cams and Updated Tasers

  CLOQUET, Minn. –The Cloquet City Council approved the purchase of body-worn cameras and new Tasers for its Police Department. The 24 cameras cost slightly more than 159 thousand dollars, while the 24 Tasers were slightly more than 101 Thousand Dollars. These prices include service through December 2028. Because the two items were bundled together, Cloquet was able to receive a…

GO Pack GO Bill Re-introduced

  Courtesy: Green Bay Packers WASHINGTON D.C. — Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin wants Television viewers in all of Wisconsin to be able to watch Green Bay Packers games. She has re-introduced the GO Pack GO legislation that would require cable and satellite providers to air the Packers game, no matter what the local station is running. If this passes, it…

Moose Lake Correctional Facility Prepares Inmates to Rejoin Society

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. –The Moose Lake Correctional Facility held a Transitions Resource Fair today to help its inmates prepare for life on the outside and the challenges they will face. According to the Facility’s Warden, this program has been ongoing for more than two decades and has proved to be successful. Bringing experts into the prison to talk with inmates…

Duluth Artist Creates Ship Drawings

  DULUTH, Minn. — Ships in the shipping canal in Duluth have always gotten Jim Mattson’s attention, ever since he was a boy. “From the back window of our house, you could see the land and the bridge, and the ships would go in and out all the time. I would get my binoculars and just watch them all the…