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…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Twin Ports Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which has endorsed three Duluth city council candidates for the upcoming November election, is calling for support to “take to the streets to join a protest for peace and against funding the Israeli state.” The DSA released the following statement Saturday: “DSA is steadfast in expressing our solidarity with…
DULUTH, Minn. – AFSCME Council 5, the city of Duluth’s largest bargaining unit representing employees like plow drivers, librarians and utility workers, has chosen not to endorse any mayoral candidate for the upcoming November election. In a statement to FOX 21, AFSCME said: “While our union members have endorsed in this race in previous election years, our members have decided…
DULUTH, Minn. — There’s been a lot of attention on the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center over the past couple weeks involving financial troubles and job eliminations, like 28-year employee Jeff Stark. DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman, who has been on the job for 2.5 years, has said expenses are too high when it comes to increased wages and replacing failing…
BAYFIELD, Wis. — Bayfield’s Apple Festival wrapping up this weekend on a wet note, still thousands of people poured in for the grand parade. “Yeah it’s pretty rainy, and cold. Very cold,” said festival attendee Minnie VanDoorn. The low 50s and rainy weather didn’t stop the crowd in Bayfield. Just as the 61 year event entered its final day, it…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Super Bowl for film makers and story lovers is here in Duluth this week. The North Star Story Summit is a 6-day event with 4 festivals taking place. Storytellers are from here locally and around the world sharing their stories. There is everything to do from watching independent films or TV series to participating in workshops….
Fall is in the air. That means football, and this fall–even the Twins! That is good news for people who are into collecting or selling sports cards. At the Miller Hill Mall Friday, it was “game on!” As in Game On Sportscard Collectors and Memorabilia show. Long time collector and dealer Austin Knute had a big selection on display, and…
RICE LAKE, Minn. — Authorities say a passenger in a van was killed Friday morning when the vehicle made a U-turn on Martin Road in Rice Lake. The fatal victim has been identified as 78-year-old Paul Larson of Duluth. The incident happened about 8:45 a.m. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s office said the van he was riding in was traveling…
BAYFIELD, Wis. — Friday is the day for apple lovers to gather as the Bayfield Apple Festival begins. The fun fall event marks 61 years of everything apple with apple peeling, pie, and dessert contests, plenty of live music, a coronation for the Apple Festival Queen, and a grand parade. Thousands of tourists and locals visit every year to highlight…
DULUTH, Minn. — If you are a fan of wood mosaic art, Bailey Builds is now open at their new location in West Duluth. The Baileys purchased the former funeral home back in 2020 and spent the last few years renovating the over 9,000 square foot building. The larger building gives them more room to grow, provides a better fit…
Superior’s first community solar garden has more than utilities and construction crews eager to see it get started. Wednesday, Superior Water Light and Power unveiled the facility that will generate enough electricity to power 115 homes, and many residents were excited about the prospect and showed up for the ribbon cutting. A lot of those celebrating Wednesday were those who…
DULUTH, Minn. — Grandma’s Marathon is breaking records this year with registration. In less than 100 hours the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon has sold out with more than 8,000 people signed up. According to Grandma’s Marathon officials, this is the fastest sellout for the race since 2018. Sunday night, registration for the races opened up and within the first 5…
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, 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…
DULUTH, Minn. — A water main break on Park Point has affected more than half of the residents there. Around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the city of Duluth said operations crews were responding to the break, which turned off water from 2230 Minnesota Avenue to the end of Park Point. “The duration of the repair is unknown at this time. Crews…
DULUTH, Minn. — Northland temperatures are cooling as we ease into fall, but the food truck business is hotter than ever. And Kelsey Auran would know, she has worked for The Rambler for six years and says it was always in owner Jonathan Reznick’s heart to own a food truck. The Rambler was one of the first food truck businesses…
DULUTH, Minn. — Separate healthcare mergers for Essentia Health and St. Luke’s are getting a closer review by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Ellison announced Tuesday it’s his responsibility to consider whether a healthcare transaction is in the public interest, and seek court intervention if he finds that it is not. Essentia Health is in the process of merging with…
DULUTH, Minn. — A public forum was held Tuesday to let the community know more about the Duluth Public Schools Referendum. There will be 2 referendum questions on the November 7 ballot for voters to vote on. The first question would refinance existing debt and make the $2.6 Million dollars that is currently paid by the general fund available for…
DULUTH, Minn. — After purchasing Lake Superior Brewing back in 2020, Sarah and Seth Maxim chipped away at building their new vision for the brewery now located in the East Lakeside Neighborhood. After nearly three years of renovations and dealing with supply chain issues, Lake Superior Brewing finally started serving beer this summer. “We started brewing in May. We tapped…
DULUTH, Minn. — Women make up the largest percentage of domestic abuse reported, but the face of domestic violence continues to evolve to include men and increasingly transgender and non-binary victims. “It definitely affects men, women and all genders. We see, I would say, a decrease in male reporting because of some of the stigma that exists around it. But…
MOOSE LAKE, Minn. — A 95-year-old woman from Moose Lake got a big birthday surprise Sunday in the form of a parade! Eleanor “Tootie” Duckal A fire truck lead the way of the parade full of family and friends. Eleanor “Tootie” Dockal was all smiles from all of the attention. Her granddaughter, Madeline, said Eleanor still drives and loves to…
Those considering swimming on Park Point beaches Saturday were warned to be careful. And that warning carries into Sunday. The Duluth Fire Department said there was a high risk of rip currents, and they issued a warning about noon Saturday. The warning continues until 10 a.m. Sunday morning. The department says the warning means that wind and wave conditions can…
DULUTH, Minn. — The vision for a new multi-million-dollar Downtown Duluth Library is continuing to take shape. Thursday, the Duluth Library Foundation held an open house for the community to learn more about the proposal. The cost to demolish the current library on west Superior Street and replace with a new one is estimated around $72 million dollars. The city…
DULUTH, Minn. — A free training session took place Thursday to help the families and loved ones of those contemplating suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. At any given time, one in 20 people — or 5% of the population have thought about it. safeTALK,…
SILVER BAY, Minn. — What a way to retire! Custodian Joe Preston got an earful — in a good way — from students Thursday as he left the halls of Lake Superior School District for the last time. Principal Dan Johnson: “Joe Preston has been with Lake Superior School District for 11 years. He took care of everything from general…
A Wisconsin senator is exploring Minnesota’s cannabis legalization efforts in hopes of changing the law in the state. Sen. Melissa Agard, a democrat from Madison, visited Minnesota lawmakers Thursday to talk about their successes around legalizing marijuana. Sen. Agard released a statement saying in part: “Visiting with neighboring legislators who led the charge to legalize cannabis in Minnesota was invigorating….
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s brand new $1.3 million fire truck was on full display Thursday so firefighters could show the rig’s state-of-the-art technology designed to save lives. Quint 4, out of the UMD fire station, is equipped with a system that notifies vehicles that the fire truck is nearby. An alert pops up on a vehicle’s information screen on year…
DULUTH, Minn. — Lake Superior Area Realtors hosted a housing forum for City of Duluth candidates Wednesday. Over 10 candidates participated including both mayoral candidates Emily Larson and Roger Reinert. Topics included housing affordability, rent, homelessness, among others. The forum is a way for the community to learn more about each candidate and their plans for housing in Duluth. “Lake…
DULUTH, Minn. — A Grandma’s Marathon Director retires after an illustrious 40-year career. When Linda Hanson announced her retirement from Grandma’s Marathon, Executive Director Shane Bauer knew it would be difficult to fill her shoes. She officially served as the Finance and Operations Director, but Bauer says she did much more. She planned and organized the Michelina’s Spaghetti Dinner, which…
DULUTH, Minn. — A skatepark years in the making will soon be finished with the help of the City of Duluth. 2 weeks ago, the Gary-New Duluth Development Alliance asked the city council for $100,000. At Monday night’s city council meeting the alliance found out they are set to receive $40,000 from tourism tax dollars. Mayor Emily Larson’s new Duluth…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth School District is asking for the community’s patience as it continues to investigate Duluth East head football coach Joe Hietala. Duluth police said Hietala was asked to leave school grounds Saturday morning after complaints by parents and staff that he was “intoxicated.” Police confirmed he had “signs of impairment.” Hietala voluntarily left on foot without…
POPLAR, Wis. — In this week’s Knowing Your Neighbor segment, we take you to SRX Off-Road Ranch. We meet racers Hannah Johnston, Teegan Metz, Collin Sweeney, and Tucker Olsen, as well as race director Chris Verhel while taking in the days action. The SRX facility has been in operation since 2021, hosting a fall racing series for locals with dirt…
DULUTH, Minn. — A local organization that offers free meals, clothing, and other programs to people in need are asking for the community’s help. The Damiano Center in Duluth is seeking winter clothes ahead of the cooler months. That includes jackets, hats, scarves, socks, boots, and anything that can help someone stay warm. There are 2 clothing programs at the…
DULUTH, Minn. –It was a gray day with thick clouds and the howling wind sending a bit of rain onto the people walking and running in the 5K to raise awareness and money for Aruna. Aruna is a non-profit group that works to free women in India who have been trafficked by organized groups in India. Many of the walkers…
DULUTH, Minn. — Bentleyville Tour of Lights is looking for more volunteers as they get things started. It takes hundreds of people to set up one of the biggest light shows in the United States, which brings in thousands of people from across the country to Duluth every year. Volunteers will be needed every weekend from 8:30 a.m. to 4…
DULUTH, Minn. — A local organization is raising awareness about child abuse in the region through the beauty of art. First Witness Child Advocacy Center was developed 30 years ago in Duluth with the mission of strengthening our community’s response to child abuse. Throughout the years they’ve added new programs to assist families, along with prevention programs in the schools….
DULUTH, Minn. — There’s something about dogs, docks, and big bodies of water that make for the best entertainment for us humans. The Petlandia Pet Expo at the DECC will take all three things and make quite the splash this weekend. DockDogs Northern Stars is an affiliate club of DockDogs and the longest running club of 20 years. It’s a…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. — For the first time in history, the Hermantown Fire Department will be staffed with two full time paid firefighters. The fire fighters will also serve in leadership roles as Fire Chief and Fire Inspector. According to Mayor Wayne Boucher, the new structure begins January 1 and will cost the City less than $300,000. He explained how the…
Barry family DULUTH, Minn. — It’s been about a year and a half since the Barry family was killed in their Duluth home by a relative. And now, the community is close to celebrating improvements at Chester Park in the name of the Barry’s daughters – Shiway and Sadie. The community helped raise $22,000 to install a new spinner element,…
DULUTH, Minn. – New workforce housing is coming to a prominent location in downtown Duluth. But it won’t be in the form of a new building. Duluth-based Titanium Partners will soon be transforming the historic Ordean Building across from Maurices on West Superior Street into 35 new apartments, according to Brian Forcier, owner of Titanium Partners. The units will be…
DULUTH, Minn. — A new Task Force is coming to the City of Duluth to evaluate the cities indoor youth athletics facilities. The Indoor Athletics Venues Task Force will create a set of recommendations to improve older infrastructure, make better use of those venues, and replace existing indoor facilities. Todd Fedora, the chair of the new task force says one…
DULUTH, Minn. — Sheila St. Clair was last seen in the Central Hillside neighborhood in August of 2015, a month later she was reported missing. 8 years later she is still nowhere to be found. An observance ceremony was held Wednesday to serve as a reminder to push for any new leads or information about the case and to keep…
DULUTH, Minn. — If you love animals, there’s a fantastic fundraiser coming up Oct. 14. It’s the annual Fur Ball at the Northland Country Club in Duluth. The fundraiser is the biggest event of the year for Animal Allies. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger will once again be the MC. Your ticket comes with complimentary beer, wine, hors d’oeuvres and desserts…
DULUTH, Minn. – A downtown Duluth housing study shows the potential for as many as 2,500 new housing units within the next five years. It’s a welcomed projection for a downtown that’s seen undesirable vacancy rates since the pandemic, like other cities have experienced across the country. The outside firm, Zimmerman-Volk Associates, presented its findings publicly Tuesday, which shows downtown…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Playhouse — one of the nation’s oldest non-profit theatres — has officially been handed the key to the historic NorShor Theatre as the new owners of the state-of-the-art facility. Sherman Associates, the developer that took on the $29.5 million overhaul of the theatre in 2017, officially closed its chapter on the project Tuesday with a…
DULUTH, Minn. — Believe it or not, it’s time to talk Christmas and Bentleyville Tour of Lights! On Tuesday, some of the storage trucks and equipment – even some decorations — were already in the parking lot at Bayfront Festival Park. The first day of volunteering starts this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. That schedule will continue every…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Superior Mayor Jim Paine is touting his 2024 budget proposal as the largest public investment in the city in decades. Mayor Paine on Tuesday said the city is well positioned to invest in city services and public infrastructure, while decreasing taxes. Paine said the growing local economy, a restructured budget he and his predecessor designed to function…
DULUTH, Minn. — Lake Superior Art Glass is providing a spooktacular experience all throughout September and October. Instead of people carving their own pumpkins, people in Canal Park can watch their pumpkins be created out of glass. It’s the design your own pumpkin event. You can choose body color, stem color, and color on the ridges, as well as the…
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber have joined forces to help rebuild Duluth’s aging air traffic control tower. The two have sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his team to urge the FAA to expedite any reviews and approvals necessary for the Duluth International Airport to pursue a federal grant to help get a…
DULUTH, Minn. — Another growing homeless encampment in Duluth got torn down and moved out Monday. It comes as local and state leaders try to strike a balance between public health and safety, and caring for those facing their worst days without a roof over their heads. The lack of affordable housing in Duluth continues to be highlighted by the…
