Community

Denfeld Robotics Team’s Season Isn’t Over Yet

DULUTH, Minn. — The Denfeld Robotics team still has some life left because the Denfeld Nation Automation (DNA) team is nominated to participate in the Minnesota State Tournament. Recently, Denfeld competed in the WORLDS robotics championship down in Houston Texas. There they were joined by 27 different Minnesotan teams, and they excelled in the competition. Following this, they were able…

Ecumen Lakeshore’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

DULUTH, Minn – Thursday night, Ecumen Lakeshore Assisted Living Facility who are known for being active in their community. More than 150 residents who reside at Ecumen deliver meals to housebound seniors and perform various forms of volunteering. The meal delivery program started in 1972 by a former Paster and is something hundreds of seniors rely on. Thursday’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner…

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive Returns for Second Year

DULUTH, Minn. –Twin Ports first responders got competitive for the second annual “battle of the badges” blood drive. On Thursday, Mayo Clinic ambulance, Duluth Fire Department, and Duluth Police Department went head-to-head to see which agency could donate the most blood. Last year, the Duluth Fire Department took home the victory. We’re still waiting to hear which agency donated the…

Mayor Reinert Proclaims Dark Sky Day in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Starry Skies North Celebrated Dark Skies week at the Lake Superior Zoo. Mayor Reinert made a proclamation designating today, April 24th, as Dark Sky Day in Duluth. Seven local businesses were also awarded Dark Sky friendly certification. Dark Skies is an international movement to reduce light pollution. Many animals are affected by bright light pollution. It also…

Finalists Named for New Lake Superior College President

DULUTH, MN – Minnesota State has named three finalists in the search for the next president of Lake Superior College. The candidates are David Clickner, Barbara Embacher, and Linda Kingston. Dr. Patricia Rogers has lead Lake Superior College as president since 2019.  Dr. Rodgers announced her impending retirement in August of 2024. The candidates were recommended by a search advisory…

Resource Renew Reminds Community about Common Recycling Questions

DULUTH, Minn. — Resource Renew, formerly known as Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD), is reminding the public about proper recycling and disposal methods. Today at the Whole Foods Co-Op on Grand Ave., Emma Pardini, an environmental program coordinator, held a class with a Q&A about common recycling questions. Pardini emphasized the importance of reduce, renew, and recycle. Resource Renew…

Honor Flight Northland Fundraiser Planned

DULUTH, MN – The All-American Club in Duluth is hosting a fundraiser for Honor Flight Northland. It is scheduled for April 26, 2025 from 3pm to 7pm. Honor Flight brings veterans, free of charge, to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials in their honor. Veterans from across Northeast Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin are eligible for the local chapter’s trip. The…

UW-Superior Holds Annual Day of Giving!

  SUPERIOR, Wis. — It’s the 11th annual Day of Giving at UW-Superior! This is a fundraiser that supports undergraduate research, scholarships, and academic programs. Every donation made today will be matched up to $10,000. Those donating can designate where their money goes, from the new floating classroom, programs like theatre or sports, or specific scholarships. Otherwise, they money can…

Annual Superior Middle School Career Fair Showcases Community Impact

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Today 8th graders at Superior Middle School got the opportunity to learn about potential career paths. A dozen different career representatives met with the students to discuss their impact on the community. There were tables ranging from healthcare, to firefighting, as well as the Douglas County Humane Society. Some of those tables had demonstrations such as a flight…

Shoppers Auto Park Ramp Demolition To Start

DULUTH, MN – The demolition of the closed Shoppers Auto Park Ramp will start on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. A news conference will be held at the site with representatives from The City of Duluth, Duluth Economic Development Authority (DEDA) plus other community partners kicking off the demolition. The group will outline the project and provide details of the intricacies…

Final Beams For ‘Can of Worms’ Arrive In Duluth

DULUTH, MN – The final beams have arrived for the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Twin Ports Interchange project – also known as the “Can of Worms”. The beams will complete the key structural phase of the interchange’s reconstruction. MnDOT says the beam setting will represent a significant step toward improved safety, mobility, and freight movement throughout the Twin Ports area….

UMD’s Tweed Museum of Art Gets Gifts From Duluth Street Photographer D. R. Martin

Duluth, MN – University of Minnesota Duluth’s Tweed Museum of Art and College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) announced the addition of works by 12 artists to the museum’s permanent collection. D. R. Martin photograph donated to UMD’s Tweed Museum The additions include gifts and purchases of ceramics, photographs, sculpture, drawings, works on paper, and prints. One of…

Superior and Northwoods Students Named 2025 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalists

STEVENS POINT, WI – Sixteen senior girls and 16 senior boys from Wisconsin High Schools were named as finalists to receive the 2025 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (WIAA) Statewide Scholar Athlete Award. Paolo Pagnucci, Superior High School, 3.98 GPA This year, more than 806 seniors from 415 high schools across the state were nominated for the award. To determine the…

KYN: Twin Ports Artist Takes Over ‘Duluth Studio Market’

DULUTH, Minn.– Chances are, you’ve probably seen artist Amber Nichols at Lake Superior Art Glass in Canal Park. But now, tables are turning in her favor. And she is now able to grow her passions even more. “Being in that environment, surrounded by beautiful art and artists and creative people really drove me to want to my own place, and…

Sen. Klobuchar Backs Tourism-Driven Waterfront Revamp in Two Harbors; Highlights National Tourism Hit So-Far

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — Senator Amy Klobuchar visited Two Harbors on Monday to announce the groundbreaking of two projects along the city’s waterfront and the impact and effects of tourism. Senator Klobuchar says that a $90-billion projected loss in tourism revenue is expected across the country for just 2025. At a press event in Two Harbors, on Monday, Klobuchar talked…

Funding Freeze Impacts Neighborhood Youth Services

DULUTH, Minn. – Staff say they are appealing to public after a freeze on federal grants has put the program and its services at risk. Neighborhood Youth Services (NYS) provides meals, mentorship, and a safe space for kids. Located in Duluth’s central hillside, the program also serves families and runs juvenile justice programs for St. Louis County.  However, according to…

Mary Murphy Day At Capitol

ST. PAUL, MN – As the floor session convenes on April 21, 2025 the House of Representatives will honor the life and legacy of Mary Murphy. The Murphy Is presented Mary Murphy Day Proclamation by Lt, Gov, Peggy Flanigan State Representative Mary Murphy was the longest-serving woman in the history of the Minnesota House. “Mary Murphy Day” will feature the…

Duluth launches new “courtesy note” program to fix code violations

DULUTH, MN – The City of Duluth is introducing it’s Clean Streets, Strong Communities Courtesy Notice Program. Example of a Courtesy Notice from Duluth Life Safety It’s a new initiative designed to encourage voluntary compliance with city ordinances before formal enforcement actions are taken. Rather than beginning with a citation or formal inspection process, residents out of code compliance may…

‘Uffda Kombucha’ Restaurant, Taproom Coming To Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis.– The duo who run Uffda Kombucha are developing a new brewery at the former location of Shorty’s and Bucktales on Tower Avenue in Superior. More specifically, the owners of Uffda Kombucha have decided they needed to expand because of their growing success. To accomplish this, the vacant building came up for sale, and after two years of searching,…

LSC Celebrates 80-Years with a Look at Its Advanced Aviation Programs

DULUTH, Minn. — The public and prospective students were given an inside look at Lake Superior College’s Advanced Aviation Center Friday afternoon. According to the college, their pilot and aviation maintenance programs offer a unique hands on learning experience and prepare students to get a job in a high demand career field. The open house allows the public a chance…

‘Lake County Historical Society’ Celebrates Progress with Expensive Renovations

TWO HARBORS, Minn.– After experiencing a rough winter season which resulted in 100-thousand dollars in damage, The Lake County Historical Society is excited to be opening its doors to their light house. The 3M Birthplace Museum, and the Keepers Quarters experienced frozen pipes, which ended in some burst radiators. To help cover some of those costs, back in February, the…

FDLTCC Peace Officer Expo Readies Next Generation of Law Enforcement

CLOQUET, Minn. — As police departments across the country are struggling to be fully staffed, police agencies in Minnesota are looking to hire the next generation of officers for the front line. At Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College more than 35 departments from local, county, state and federal agencies attended this year’s Peace Officer and Criminal Justice Expo….

County Board Authorizes Development of New Public Works Facility on Iron Range

  HIBBING, Minn. — The St. Louis County Board voted to authorize a bond sale for a new Public Works building on the Iron Range. The new facility is planned to be built in Balkan Township and will serve Hibbing, Chisholm, and the surrounding communities. The current public works building was built in 1940s and has been deemed inefficient for…

‘Twin Ports Business Alliance’ Meets Ahead of Blatnik Bridge Replacement

DULUTH, Minn. — A brand new alliance between businesses across the Blatnik Bridge met today to discuss future plans. The Twin Ports Business Alliance is made up of a group of local business owners and leaders. They say they will continue to meet leading up to the anticipated Blatnik Bridge construction. They are collaborating on topics such as affected tourism,…

Police Seize Drugs, Ammo with Search Warrant; Suspect in Custody

  DULUTH, Minn. — A search warrant conducted Tuesday morning lead to the seizure of over 100 grams of suspected meth and 100 grams of cocaine in Duluth. This happened around 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15. The Duluth Police Department, Hermantown Police, and the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force collaborated together to execute a search warrant on the…

Superior National Forest Begins Prescribed Fires

NORTHERN MINNESOTA — The Superior National Forest is starting prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation. The prescribed fires may be close to areas open to the public for the next several days. Warning signs will be posted along roads near all prescribed fire areas before operations begin. The Forest Service is warning that nearby residences may experience heavy smoke….

Community Rallies to Help Volunteer Firefighter Fight Against Cancer Diagnosis

  CROMWELL, Minn. — The community of Cromwell is helping out one their volunteer firefighters’ fight against cancer. Tim Smith of Cromwell, Minn., was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and has already underwent major surgery following his diagnosis. Smith has been a EMT/firefighter for Cromwell-Wright Volunteer Fire Department for over a decade. A GoFundMe page has been set up to…

Diane Desotelle announces plans to run for City Council

  DULUTH, Minn. — With Mike Mayou stepping down as Duluth’s District 2 Representative, former city employee Diane Desotelle is looking to step-up. She announced today that she is running for the district 2 seat on Duluth’s city council. As a former civil engineer and natural resource planner, Desotelle feels she has the knowledge and experience to do right by…

St. Louis County Celebrates Achievements in Public Health

  DULUTH, Minn — Four individuals were recognized for their work in public health by St. Louis County today. Dr. Jan Baldwin, Christina Trok, Mel Alvar, and Nathan Kesti were each given a Public Health Achievement Award. Each has shown leadership and commitment as they worked to address a variety of public health concerns. Those include perinatal substance use, birth…

One Man Behind Bars After Making Threats of Violence to Ex-Wife & Kids

SUPERIOR, Wis. — One suspect is in custody after making threatening statements to his ex-wife and kids in Superior. The Superior Police Department received a call on Monday, April 14, right after 8:30 p.m. from a woman worried about the safety of herself and her kids. The woman told officers that her ex-husband was calling and texting her making threatening…

DPD Asking for Public Assistance in Identifying Shoplifting Suspect

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying an individual who shoplifted from JC Penny last week. This event happened last Tuesday, April 8. The shoplifting suspect is described as a white female with red hair wearing a black vest, blue sweatshirt, and black leggings. The DPD is encouraging the public to call 911…

Community Comes Together for Local Coach & Gymnasts Battling Breast Cancer

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — The community of Grand Rapids is coming together to build a community garden for a beloved gym coach battling terminal breast cancer. Andrea Hassel started the Grand Rapids Gymnastics Academy over 20 years ago. She helped many gymnasts grow and develop into competitive college athletes. The community is hoping to fundraise $35,000 for a memorial garden…

Wrenshall School District Closes 5th Grade Enrollment

WRENSHALL, Minn. — Wrenshall Public School District closes enrollment for their 5th grade class for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. The school district has seen a rise in student enrollment in recent years. This school year, the district had to split up their kindergarten and 4th grade students into two separate classrooms. The Wrenshall Board of Education and teachers collaborated…

CSS Students Showcase New Innovations in Trade Show

DULUTH, Minn. — Students from the College of St. Scholastica held a trade show to showcase new inventions that students have been working on during the semester. Students from the college’s new product development and the integrated marketing communication courses team up for the trade show. The students were tasked to develop a plan and practice their sales-pitch it to…

St. Louis County Legacy Dump Damage Reversal Project in the Works

CANYON, Minn.– Around 250 closed dump and landfill sites across St. louis County is being addressed with a proposed project. These sites are unlined and ultimately contaminating ground water. To try and solve this, there’s a multi-million-dollar plan to help reverse the centuries-long damage at those sites. The project is called the “St. Louis County Integrated Solid Waste Management Campus.”…

Rhubarb Festival Moving To New Location

Chum’s 20th annual Rhubarb Festival is moving to a new location. After several years at First Lutheran Church and Holy Rosary School. it will be moving to at Asbury United Methodist Church. It’s located at 6822 Grand Avenue near the Lake Superior Zoo. The fest will take place Saturday, June 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In a news release Chum’s…

Egg-Splosion Event Held in Lincoln Park

DULUTH, Minn. — With Easter right around the corner, the 10th annual Egg-Splosion event was held in Lincoln Park. Northern Expressions Arts Collective hosted Egg-Splosion at the Harrison Community Center on Saturday. The Easter event welcomed community members to have fun with games and crafts. With the rising price of eggs, this year the event was budget friendly as wooden…

True North Goodwill Saw Packed Grand Opening for New Hermantown Location

  HERMANTOWN, Minn. — True North Goodwill held a packed grand opening for their new Hermantown location . It was packed grand opening today for new Hermantown flagship location after construction for the store took 8 months. The 8000 square foot store front offers a wide selection of household items, clothes, books, toys at competitive prices. The new store was…

Wisconsin and Minnesota Spring Turkey Season Nears

  MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN — Spring turkey season is approaching fast, with both Wisconsin and Minnesota seasons starting on April 16. Historically, it would have been odd to see a turkey this far north in Minnesota as they’re usually more accustomed to agricultural land in the southern side of the state. With the uprise in turkeys in the north, the spring and…

National Weather Service & St. Louis County Work Closely Together

  ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — The National Weather Service (NWS) and St. Louis County work hand-in-hand together to give better response to severe weather events. The two agencies have a long history of working together. Last year, the NWS Duluth office received the second highest number of weather support requests for Search and Rescue Operations out of any NWS…

Governor Walz Visits Duluth to Address Numerous Infrastructure Projects

DULUTH, Minn.– Minnesota Governor Tim Walz visited Duluth today to address two different infrastructure projects. The first stop was for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Sofidel paper plant in Duluth. The company announced a 200-million-dollar expansion for the facility. With this expansion it will allow the facility to not only produce and package products but ship them out under the…

Lack of Federal Funds Effects Spongy Moth Treatment

NORTHERN MINNESOTA — Federal funding delays is impacting the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and their response to limiting the spread of spongy moths. Spongy Moths are an destructive invasive species in our area that threaten our area’s forest. The MDA uses federal funding for their Btk (Bacilius thuringiensis var. kurstaki) treatment which slows the spread of spongy moth caterpillars in…

Superior Fire Department Holds Swearing In & Awards Ceremony

SUPERIOR, Wis.– There were lots to celebrate and recognize today at the Superior Fire Department for the swearing in and awards ceremony. The Superior Fire Hall welcomed friends and family to celebrate accomplishments from their loved ones. The ceremony swore in four new firefighters to join the Superior Fire Department team. It also acknowledged promotions to the Captain, Assistant Fire…

Miner’s Inc. Presented $23,000 Check to Habitat for Humanity

DULUTH, Minn. — The Western Lake Superior Habitat for Humanity (WLSHFH) getting a big check, on Wednesday, thanks to customers at SuperOne Foods. During the month of March, over 34,000 people from SuperOne stores in Duluth and the surrounding area donated at the register. Now, over $23,000 will go towards the non-profit’s mission to build and finance new homes for…

Tornado Siren Tests Part of Severe Weather Week

MINNESOTA — With severe weather awareness week happening through Friday you may hear some warning sirens around 1:45 p.m. today. Participating counties and townships were asked to test their outdoor tornado sirens for Tornado Drill Day. The sirens are being tested twice, on Thursday, in the afternoon at 1:45 p.m. and again at 6:45 p.m. Schools and the public are…