Author: Pat Brink

FinnFest Brings Together Leaders to Talk About European and U.S. Security

DULUTH, MINN. — Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, The Finnish ambassador to the U.S., and a retired four-star general were in Duluth on Friday to speak at FinnFest at the DECC regarding European and American Security. A great deal of what was said during the panel discussion dealt with Finland becoming a part of NATO and the Russian history of invading…

Playing Golf to Raise Money For CASDA

SUPERIOR, WISC. –The Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse, commonly known as CASDA, held one of its largest fundraisers on Thursday at Nemadji Golf Course in Superior. CASDA’s 11th annual Survivors Golf Scramble had 144 people taking part. The goal was to raise at least $10,000. Tom Beaudry the golf pro at Nemadji, where the golf was played, said it…

Owner Of Duluth’s Frost River Talks Lawsuit Against ‘Indiana Jones’ Maker

DULUTH, Minn. — The owner of Duluth’s Frost River Trading Company spoke out Wednesday about a federal lawsuit his company has filed against the filmmaker of “Indiana Jones 5,” claiming violation of federal trademark law. Image provided in the federal complaint In a federal lawsuit, Frost River claims the new Indiana Jones movie has some scenes where the star of…

Duluth Art Institute May Be Forced to Move

DULUTH, MINN. — The Duluth Art Institute which has called the St. Louis County Depot home for nearly 50 years, may need to find a new location at the end of this year. The St. Louis County Board received a recommendation from its selection committee that the lease proposal for 2024, submitted by the Duluth Art Institute, not be accepted….

Ninth Annual Chief Frantz Red Run 5K Held

RICE LAKE, MINN. — For nearly ten years the people who live and work near the Rice Lake Fire Department have been celebrating a former fire chief who was important to the community, by holding a 5K in his memory. The event is the Chief Frantz 5K Red Run. Fire Chief Frantz suffered a fatal heart attack while on duty…

Festival By The Lake

DULUTH, MINN. — Festival by the Lake at the Bayfront Festival Park was a success. There were more than 160 vendors on hand as well as musical and other entertainment to keep people entertained. One of the vendors was the Forging Community, a Blacksmithing Non-Profit. This was the group’s fourth appearance at the festival. One of the blacksmiths Warren Bethencourt,…

Cirrus Expands Footprint With Purchase of Building From City of Duluth

DULUTH, MINN. –Cirrus Aircraft is continuing its expansion in Duluth by purchasing the incubator building from the City of Duluth. The purchase price was not disclosed. The 79,000-square-foot incubator building was a city project aimed at supporting advanced aircraft manufacturing, which met its goal of creating higher-wage employment opportunities. The building was constructed in 2002 with a $3.45M grant partnership…

Former Cloquet Police Officer Charged With Financially Exploiting Vulnerable Adult

CLOQUET, MINN. — A former Cloquet Police Officer has been charged with financially exploiting a vulnerable adult Laci Marie Silgjord has been charged with taking advantage of a woman who she met as a police officer. She Visited the woman regularly and presented herself to the bank as the victim’s fiduciary, despite not having the legal authority to do this When…

Opposition to Proposed Marijuana Ordinance

DULUTH, MINN.– A proposed ordinance to ban marijuana smoking at parks in the city will be introduced at the regular Duluth City Council meeting Monday night. Earlier this week FOX 21 talked with one of the authors of the ordinance, Arik Forsman about the reasons for creating such an ordinance. Following that story, one Duluth resident, Michael Gerber, wrote to…

Blandin Workers on Strike

GRAND RAPIDS, MINN.  In Grand Rapids Friday, members of Teamsters Local 346 held a strike rally. Roughly 170 workers walked off the job on July 15th and have been on strike since. The union has concerns about staffing levels, management performing their work, and their wages which they say are 10 dollars an hour behind inflation. Blandin Paper Company says…

Marijuana Use in Duluth Parks Target of Proposed Ordinance

DULUTH, MINN. — During the last legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature decided that having and using recreational marijuana in the state would be legal as of August First. However, the law that was passed leaves any limitations on where marijuana can be used up to the discretion of local and city officials Arik Forsman, an at-large member of the Duluth City…

St. Luke’s to Affiliate with Aspirus Health

DULUTH, MINN. — A major announcement came today from St. Luke’s. The Duluth-based healthcare system has signed a letter of intent to affiliate with Aspirus Health of Wisconsin. The combined organization of St. Luke’s and Aspirus will serve residents of northeastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Headquarters for the health care system will be…

PAVSA Fundraiser

DULUTH, MINN. — Cupcakes, a Food Truck and a prize drawing were all a part of fundraising efforts by PAVSA, or Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault Each year PAVSA directly helps a little more than one-thousand people who have been victims of sexual assault Additionally, the group provides community education to about 5,000 people. The Executive Director…

Power Up the Plaza

DULUTH, MINN. — The Plaza located next to the Minnesota Power and Allete Building is home to the weekly Power up the Plaza event This combination of music and free coffee creates an environment that is conducive to creating community in the downtown area. Power up the Plaza happens each Wednesday morning. The event lasts from 10 until 11 and…

The Family that Raises Monarch Butterflies…

CLOQUET, MINN.  – The Monarch Butterfly is a very important pollinator and within the last two decades, the number of them has decreased significantly. But you wouldn’t be able to tell that visiting with a family in Cloquet who has three generations raising Monarch Butterflies and teaching their children about life. It was a fifth-grade class project that began this…

Levi Axtell, Who Admits Killing a Grand Marais Man, Found Incompetent to Stand Trial

COOK COUNTY, MINN. — The Grand Marais man charged with killing a 77-year-old-man in a home invasion earlier this year, has been declared incompetent to stand trial. Judge Michael Cuzzo ‘s decision comes just days after 27-year-old Levi Axtell was civilly committed. The commitment was based on Cook County Public Health and Human Services’ determination that Axtell is a mentally…

NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on June 21st Plane Crash

DULUTH, MINN. – The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a preliminary report on the crash that killed two people just north of Duluth on June 21 The plane’s two occupants, 60-year-old Bryan Handyside and 64-year-old Matthew Joseph died in the crash. The report indicates the plane overflew the Handyside’s private grass runway at 100 feet and was traveling 58…

Route Changes Coming for Duluth Transit

DULUTH, MINN. — On August 27th, the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) starts its new vision for bus transit in the city. Ron Fournier, the General Manager of the DTA bus system said riders will be pleasantly surprised with more frequent, more reliable, and more consistent service. The largest change will be the addition of two routes known as Go lines….

Knife Island Campground Continues Improvements

ESKO, MINN. -People wanting the camping experience without going too far from home, there’s a new –old campground just minutes from Duluth. Knife Island Campground is the name of the spot.  Over 100 years ago the area was a slate mining camp, in the late 90’s it was turned into a campground, but somewhere along the way, it was basically…

Fireworks for the Fourth

  SOUTH RANGE, WISC. — The Fourth of July means, hot dogs, potato salad, corn on the cob, and of course fireworks. KG Fireworks in South Range, Wisconsin is a family-owned fireworks store. They have been in business for nearly ten years and have grown bigger each year and have stocked more fireworks. The staff knows their stuff. “We test…

Touring the UMD Research Boat

DULUTH, MINN. — Friday was a great day to be on a big boat–whether you were on the water or tied to the dock. Anyone who wanted to,  could step aboard the Blue Heron. It is UMD’s research vessel which is part of their Large Lakes Observatory program. It was a chance for the general public to learn about the…

Operaton Dry Water – Don’t Drink and Operate a Vehicle

DULUTH, MINN. –The Department of Natural Resources conservation offices and other public safety officers are taking part in Operation Dry Water this weekend. They will be on the lookout for anyone operating a boat while they are intoxicated. Minnesota has some of the strictest Boating While Intoxicated laws in the country. At a news conference, the State Boating Law Administrator,…

Woman Looks For Strangers That Helped Save Her Life

DULUTH, MINN. — Melissa Radtke works cleaning buildings for her daughter’s cleaning company. On the Friday of Grandma’s Marathon weekend, she was driving on Railroad Street, and on her way to clean the Marcus Theater complex near the DECC. Melissa missed her turn, so she was going to make a U-turn just ahead, but that’s when everything went bad. ”…

Rhubarb Festival Raises Money For Chum

DULUTH, MINN. –The festival features Rhubarb Pies of course, as well as rhubarb lemonade, rhubarb brats, hot dogs, and hamburgers. The director of communications for Chum, Bradley Zwagerman explained the importance of the festival. “Our whole community is coming together to support folks experiencing homelessness, poverty, and hunger, just like we did 50 years ago when 10 congregations came together…

Taste of Greece Celebrates 30th Anniversary

DULUTH, MINN. –Marshall School was the place to be today for the Taste of Greece Festival. Now in its’ 30th year, this annual event brings people from near and far to have some real Greek food prepared by the parishioners of Twelve Holy Apostles Orthodox Church. “We’re up here at the Taste of Greece because every year is wonderful food…

Minnesota League of Cities Holds Annual Conference in Duluth

DULUTH, MINN. –More than 700 Minnesota city officials gathered at the DECC over the past few days. It was the League of Minnesota Cities’ Annual conference. Mayors, council members and other city officials were there to network, learn, and celebrate the work that’s been done over the past year. The conference theme this year was “city love.” The new president…

30th Annual Taste of Greek Festival This Weekend

DULUTH, MINN. — This Saturday and Sunday, the 30th annual Taste of Greece Festival is taking place at Marshall School. The event is a major fundraiser for Twelve Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church. Greek food, including gyros, Shish-kabobs, spinach pie, pastries, and coffee will all be available. The majority of the food is made by church members and they savor…

2 Killed After Small Plane Crashes North of Duluth

DULUTH, MINN. — A Small plane crash Wednesday morning took the lives of two local men who were on board. The two victims have been identified as 60-year-old Bryan Handyside who lived near the crash site along Pequaywan Lake Road and 64-year-old Matthew Joseph of Duluth. Handyside was the pilot of the 1946 Aeronca Champ and had over 30 years…

Chow Haul Burns, But Owner Looks Forward

SUPERIOR, WISC. — This Fourth of July would have marked 11 years of operation for the food truck known as Chow Haul. However, this year there won’t be a celebration on the anniversary. Last Saturday the truck crashed and burned. Chow Haul was on its way to an event at the 19th Hole on Saturday afternoon. But the truck never…

Grandma’s Bayfront Park Festival

DULUTH, MINN. — Once the race was over, it was time to celebrate and the Bayfront Park was waiting for them. Many non-runners had already discovered the Bayfront festival which featured music throughout the day and into the night. Rock-A-Billy Revue took the stage first thing this morning at 9 am. They were the first of six bands scheduled to…

Watching the Runners Go By From the DECC

DULUTH, MINN -For most of the people in Duluth who were not running they were somewhere with an eye on the race. At the DECC they were cheering on racers, and spectators were enjoying bloody marys during the race. Overlooking Harbor Drive gave those watching a great view and the energy to encourage the runners as they ran by. One…

Motorcycle Crashes Near Ely

ELY, MINN. — First responders and law enforcement responded to a motorcycle crash just north of Ely on Friday. The 65-year-old driver reported that he lost control of the bike while he was trying to make a turn. The man was taken by ambulance to Bloomenseon Community Hospital before being transported to a Duluth hospital. While authorities were investigating that…

Chow Haul Food Truck Crashes and Burns

DULUTH, MINN. — One of Duluth’s oldest food trucks had a rough afternoon when it ended its day in a wreck Chow Haul has been in the area serving its food for more than a decade, it started in 2012. But this afternoon the truck apparently couldn’t stop as it came down Central Entrance. Witnesses say the truck went through…

Day of Remembrance for Three Men Lynched in 1920

DULUTH, MINN.  The Annual Day of Remembrance for the three men lynched in Duluth in 1920, was held at the memorial located in downtown Duluth. The three men, Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac Mcghie were lynched on June 15, 1920. The men worked for the circus and were accused of raping a 19-year-old woman. One year later, Minnesota passed…

Grandma’s Finish Line Coordinator Talks Marathon Health, Safety

DULUTH, Minn. — Grandma’s Marathon weekend begins Thursday, and that means last-minute preparations are moving full-speed ahead. For Erik Nelson, who’s been involved with the race for more than four decades, he’s focused on the finish line and the heath of racers and spectators. “There’s a portion of runners who encounter a hiccup in the situation and need some attention,”…

Lake Superior College Addressing PFAS Contamination

DULUTH, MINN. — PFAS’ are often called forever chemicals because they don’t break down in the environment or in our bodies. One of the many ways PFAS are used is in the foam that firefighters use to extinguish fires from oil, gas, and jet fuel. Lake Superior College has had firefighting classes at its Emergency Response Training Center for a…