Author: Site Staff

Three Finalists Picked for Duluth School District Superintendent Position

DULUTH, Minn. – Three finalists have been chosen by the Duluth School Board to move forward with interviews to fill the superintendent position.  Those finalists are Michael Funk, Ph.D., the superintendent of Albert Lea Area Schools in Albert Lea, John Magas, the associate superintendent of continuous improvement at the Green Bay Area Public Schools in Green Bay, and Ron Wagner,…

Lakewalk Surgery Center to Suspend All Elective Surgeries

    DULUTH, Minn. – The Lakewalk Surgery Center says they will be suspending all elective surgeries following an executive order signed by Governor Walz on Thursday.  The surgery center will remain open for patients who have urgent surgical needs.  Lakewalk says they will assist local hospitals by taking on more urgent surgical cases if it becomes necessary.  “Lakewalk also…

DECC: All Shows, Events, Conventions Canceled Until End of April

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center announced on Friday that all shows, conventions, and other events have been postponed or canceled until at least April 30.  DECC officials say that the parking ramps and lots will remain open during this time.  “Right now, the focus of the DECC board and staff are solely on everyone’s health and safety,” said…

St. Scholastica Extends Virtual Classes Through the Semester; Commencement Canceled

DULUTH, Minn.– In response to experts’ recommendations on halting the spread of the coronavirus, the College of St. Scholastica has announced that classes will be taught online for the rest of the spring semester, and that commencement exercises will not go forward as planned. In an announcement Thursday to faculty, staff and students, President Barbara McDonald said that the college…

Former Red Cliff Vice-Chairman Charged With Intentional Homicide

BAYFIELD COUNTY, Wis. – Authorities in Bayfield County have arrested a 56-year-old Bayfield man in connection to a murder that happened in the summer of 2003. Former vice-chairman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Michael John LaGrew was charged on Thursday with first-degree intentional homicide for the murder of 50-year-old Jody Ricard. According to the criminal complaint,…

Bayfield County Resident Tests Positive for COVID-19

BAYFIELD, Wis. – A Bayfield County resident has tested positive for COVID-19.  The Bayfield County School District has confirmed the resident is a high school student in the district and that the building has been thoroughly cleaned during the past week. As a precaution, the school building will be closed today and Friday, March 20. Families with high school students…

Mnuchin: White House Will Send Checks to Most Americans Within Three Weeks

(AP/Fox 9) – Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday the White House is working to send $1,000 checks to most adult Americans within three weeks to offset the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced life in the U.S. to come to a grinding halt. “We’re going to get out of this quickly,” Mnuchin told FOX Business’, Maria Bartiromo. The cash…

City of Duluth Holds Press Conference With Community Partners Regarding COVID-19

DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth is holding a 10:00 a.m. press conference with community leaders to update the public regarding COVID-19. This press conference will be closed to the public due to social distancing. Speakers:  Mayor Emily Larson Congressman Pete Stauber Shawn Krizaj, Duluth Fire Chief & Emergency Management Manager Elena Foshay, City of Duluth Workforce Development Director…

St. Luke’s Scaling Back Nonessential Appointments, Elective Surgeries, Procedures

DULUTH, Minn. – Starting Thursday, March 19 St. Luke’s will be scaling back on nonessential clinic appointments, elective surgeries, and procedures.  The hospital says they will be rescheduling many of these appointments through April 1.  St. Luke’s says they will contact patients to let them know if their appointment is going to be rescheduled and patients with questions can contact their…

First Case of Coronavirus Confirmed in Minnesota House of Representatives

(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The first case of the COVID-19 coronavirus has been confirmed at the Minnesota House of Representatives, officials say. Right now, it’s not clear if the case is among a lawmaker or a staffer and officials say, due to privacy laws, they won’t release further information about the individual. “It is possible that…

UWS Students Will Continue Online Courses Through end of Semester

SUPERIOR, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-Superior students will continue alternative delivery of their courses through the end of the spring semester.  The announcement to continue online courses through the end of the semester, including finals, was made Wednesday afternoon in a campus update from Chancellor Renee Wachter.  In addition to the extension of online courses, the University is asking students who…

Update: Miller Hill Mall to Temporarily Close

DULUTH, Minn. – Simon Property Group announced Wednesday afternoon that it will be closing all of its malls in the U.S. in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19.  The measure means that Miller Hill Mall will close tonight at 7 p.m. and open Monday, Mar. 30.  “The health and safety of our shoppers, retailers, and employees are…

Duluth Diocese Suspends Mass to Help Stem the Spread of COVID-19

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Diocese announced on Wednesday that they will be suspending masses through April 20 to help stem the spread of COVID-19.  The suspension takes effect Friday, March 20.  According to the press release, All gatherings of more than 10 people will also be canceled.  Father Bissonette says confessions and office hours should continue to be made available…

Miller Hill Mall Modifies Operating Hours Due to COVID-19

DULUTH, Minn. – The Miller Hill Mall is temporarily changing its operating hours amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  The mall says the changes were made to support retailers and the community and are in accordance with CDC guidelines.  Operating hours will now be 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday.  The changes went into…

Essentia Health Postpones Routine Appointments, Elective Procedures

DULUTH, Minn.-Essentia Health is postponing all routine appointments and elective procedures for two weeks, beginning Wednesday. The decision affects appointments and elective procedures scheduled at any Essentia hospital or clinic from March 18 to April 1. Decisions about appointments and procedures after April 1 will be made later. The decision was made to protect patients and staff during the COVID-19…

Free Breakfast, Lunch Available to Duluth Students Starting Wednesday

DULUTH, Minn. – Free breakfast and lunch will be made available to Duluth students starting Wednesday, March 18. According to a press release from ISD 709, Duluth public schools will have free breakfast and lunches available to Duluth students 18 years of age and younger. The meals will be available weekdays from March 18 through March 27. District officials say…

Duluth Mayor Declares Local Emergency

DULUTH, Minn. – Mayor Emily Larson has declared a local emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City says this declaration will allow the mayor and the City’s emergency manager to request and coordinate aide and resources from surrounding jurisdictions and the State as needed. The declaration also means “that in-person meeting of the City Council and any other…

DTA Announces Service Reductions in Response to COVID-19 Concerns

UPDATE: The DTA, under the guidance of the Board of Directors and Senior Management, has made the decision to begin offering free bus service on all of our routes beginning Wednesday. “This decision comes in a response to our evaluation of the current efforts and needs in response to the Covid-19 (coronavirus), and best-practices deployed by other agencies,” the DTA…

Black Bear Casino, Fond-du-Luth to Temporarily Close in Response to COVID-19

FOND DU LAC RESERVATION, Minn. – The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa announced on Tuesday that they will be temporarily closing the Black Bear Casino and Resort in Carlton as well as the Fond-du-Luth Casino in downtown Duluth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The closures will take effect March 18 at 5:00 p.m. The closures will…

Health Officials Confirm 60 Cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota, 47 in Wisconsin

(FOX 9) – Minnesota now has 60 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in the state, according to state health officials. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Department of Health announced that the state now has 60 cases of COVID-19, with 2,336 people tested. The counties with cases include Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Olmsted, Ramsey, Renville, Stearns, Waseca, Washington, and Wright counties….

Gov. Walz Orders Bars and Restaurants Across Minnesota to Close to Dine-In Customers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9)-Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has ordered bars and restaurants to close to dine-in customers by 5 p.m. Tuesday and continue indefinitely, a move Walz said was necessary to control the spread of coronavirus. The order also closes theaters, museums, fitness centers and community clubs across the state. The governor announced the changes at a Monday evening…

University of Minnesota Announces Classes Will Continue Online Through End of Semester

DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota announced on Monday that classes will continue through alternative modes through the remainder of the semester. You can read the entire U of M release below: Situation Update: As you have seen, the pace of the pandemic in the United States only continues to grow. Each day the magnitude of what we are…

Minnesota Coronavirus Cases Climb to 54

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health has updated the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state to 54. The MN DOH website reported the new cases Monday morning. The number of cases rose by 19 since Sunday, March 15. Current counties with cases include Anoka, Blue Earth, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Olmsted, Ramsey, Renville, Sherburne, Stearns, Waseca, Washington,…

Press Conference: City Provides Update on Plans Regarding COVID-19

DULUTH, Minn. – The city is hosting an update at 10:00 a.m. with local leaders to provide an update on the city’s plans going forward regarding COVID-19. Speakers: –          Mayor Emily Larson –          Congressman Pete Stauber –          Noah Schuchman, Chief Administrative Officer –          Shawn Krizaj, Duluth Fire Chief & Emergency Management Manager –          Mike Tusken, Duluth Police Chief –          Amy…

Update: Minnesota Now Has 14 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19

(courtesy: MN Department of Health) (FOX 9) – Minnesota now has 14 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in the state. Five new cases were confirmed as of Friday. The World Health Organization has now declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. Minnesota health officials announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 6. MDH reports 555 people have been tested for…

LIVE: City Holds Press Conference Responding to Coronavirus Concerns

Speakers: Mayor Emily Larson Shawn Krizaj, Duluth Fire Chief & Director of Emergency Management Amy Westbrook, St. Louis County Public Health Division Director Dr. Jon Pryor, Essentia Health East Market President Dr. Nick Van Deelen, St. Lukes Chief Medical Officer and Emergency Medicine Physician Commander Smith, U.S. Coast Guard Amy Rutledge, MN Power, Manager Corporate Communications Lee Stuart, Executive Director,…

Multiple Local Colleges Announce Spring Break Extensions

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System is extending spring break for students as they move to alternative modes of delivery for on-campus classes. The 32 colleges and universities that are currently on spring break will suspend classes March 16-22, with class resuming March 23. The five colleges that have spring break scheduled for the week of…

Nine Cases of COVID-19 Confirmed in Minnesota as of Thursday

Four New Cases Were Reported on Thursday

(FOX 9) – Minnesota now has nine confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in the state. Four new cases were reported on Thursday. The World Health Organization has now declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. Minnesota health officials announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 6. MINNESOTA CASES SO FAR Fox 9 reports there are now cases…

Benedicting Living Community Limiting Visitors Due to COVID-19 Concerns

DULUTH, Minn. – Benedictine Living Community is limiting visitors into their Duluth campus effective immediately to help protect the health of their residents. According to a recent press release from the organization, while there is still a lot of unknown information about COVID-19 these precautionary steps will help protect the health of the elderly population that they serve. “The health…

University of Superior Extending Spring Break, Suspending Face-To-Face Classes due to Coronavirus

SUPERIOR, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-Superior Chancellor Renee Wachter announced on Wednesday that the UWS campus will begin taking precautions to help slow the potential spread of coronavirus in the region effective next week: We are acting out of an abundance of caution and taking proactive steps to better prepare in case our area becomes impacted. In addition, we are…

University of Wisconsin Madison Suspending Face-To-Face Instruction

MADISON, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Madison announced on Wednesday that they will be suspending spring semester face-to-face instruction due to coronavirus concerns. According to a message from the Chancellor posted to the University’s website on Wednesday, the suspension will be effective Monday, March 23 and will continue at least through Friday, April 10. Additionally, students are being asked to…

Minnesota Senate GOP Unveils Gun Violence Prevention Bills

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Senate Republicans have moved to try to change the direction of the contentious gun control debate in this election year. They unveiled a slate of bills Tuesday to address the problem of gun violence, mostly by increasing penalties for crimes involving firearms. Members of the Senate GOP majority say their bills can actually pass…

Late Night Fire Destroys Former Coachman Lounge in Hibbing

(courtesy: Northland FireWire) HIBBING, Minn. – A fire has gutted the former Coachman Lounge located on First Avenue in Hibbing. According to the Northland Firewire, the fire broke out shortly after 9:00 p.m. Tuesday night. Firefighters from Hibbing, Chisholm, and Keewatin battled the blaze. Officials say when crews arrived on the scene flames could be seen coming from the back…

Minnesota Confirms Third Coronavirus Case, Patient in Critical Condition

(FOX 9) – The Minnesota Health Department confirmed the state’s third coronavirus case Tuesday. According to officials, the person is an Anoka County resident in their 30s who was likely exposed through contact with international travelers. The patient developed symptoms Feb. 28 and sought health care on March 9. Samples were collected from the person and sent to the MDH…

Cloquet Man Charged With Three Counts of Second Degree Murder

CLOQUET, Minn. – The 33-year-old Cloquet man arrested in connection to the deaths of a young mother, her unborn child, and her one-year-old son on the Fond Du Lac Reservation in Cloquet has been formally charged with second-degree murder. Sheldon Thompson appeared in court Tuesday in Carlton County where he was charged with three counts of second-degree murder. Bail was…

Skier and Snowmobiler Found Dead in Cook County Over Weekend

COOK COUNTY, Minn.-Two people died in separate skiing and snowmobiling events over the weekend in Cook County. On Sunday morning Cook County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatch received a report of a snowmobile accident on the North Shore State Trail in the area south of the Temperance River Road in Schroeder. Initial observations of the victim included noticing that the helmet…

Police: Boy Injured After being Thrown From Balcony in St. Paul

The Boy is Being Treated for Numerous Broken Bones

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Police say an 11-year-old boy is hospitalized after being thrown from a balcony in St. Paul Minnesota Monday morning. St. Paul Police Department spokesperson Steve Linders said officers were called to an apartment building at 787 Hampden Avenue around 8:40 a.m. When they arrived, they found an 11-year-old boy lying on the ground. The…

Thousands Prepare to Get Off Ship Hit by Virus in California

More Than 2,400 Passengers Will be Quarantined for 14 Days

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Federal and state officials in California are preparing to receive thousands of people from a cruise ship that has been idling off the coast of San Francisco with at least 21 people aboard infected with the coronavirus. Fox 9 reported Sunday that 42 Minnesotans are among the passengers on the Grand Princess Cruise ship. Personnel covered…

Armed Man Fatally Shot by Deputy in Cass County, Second Man Found Dead in Home

BACKUS, Minn. – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy shot and killed an armed adult male while responding to reports of an intruder at a residence in Backus Sunday evening. According to the sheriff’s office, they received initial reports of an intruder at a residence and a shot fired around 1:38 p.m. Sunday. When deputies arrived on the…

St. Louis County Launches COVID-19 Webpage, Information Phone Line

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County announced on Friday that it has launched an information phone line and web page to help people access up-to-date information about COVID-19. “We want people to be informed so they can make educated decisions about how best to prepare and protect themselves and those around them,” said Amy Westbrook, St. Louis County Public Health…