Community

Homeless Encampment, Debris Grow Near Bayfront Park; Cleanup Effort Planned Next Week

DULUTH, Minn. — A homeless encampment across the street from Bayfront Park has grown into a public health hazard, and a CHUM official confirms MnDOT will be cleaning the property sometime next week. There are two growing sections along Railroad Street with about five tents and other items across from Playfront Park next to I35. The second section that’s most…

Dept. By Dept. Breakdown Of 2023 Duluth Budget Cuts, City’s Reason Why

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 has gathered new details involving city wide budget cuts in Duluth worth $383,000. City administration says the cuts involve this year’s status-quo budget. The Duluth Police Department, which has the largest portion of the city’s budget, is being asked to cut $98,402. The Duluth Fire Department holds the city’s second-largest portion of the yearly budget….

Memorial Blood Centers Bloodmobile Stops By Lake Superior College

DULUTH, Minn. — The Memorial Blood Centers Bloodmobile stopped by Lake Superior College Wednesday. Almost 30 students and faculty signed up to give blood, as blood donations are urgently needed. The Bloodmobile stops by many businesses and schools going all the way up to International Falls, down to Hinkley, and some spots in Wisconsin. The driver of the bus says…

Duluth Business Owners Helping Each Other

West Duluth Business Club Working to Make Things Happen

A group of Duluth business owners is welcoming new members as it works to help the area prosper. Members of the West Duluth Business Club gather the second Wednesday of every month at Mr. D’s. Wednesday was no exception. There is usually a guest speaker, and this month it was Amber Burns with the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation. One…

Erbert & Gerbert’s Reopens After Berquist Imports Fire In Cloquet

CLOQUET, Minn. — After fire ripped through Berquist Imports in Cloquet in February, it’s neighboring business Erbert & Gerbert’s is now reopen. The owner of the sandwich shop tells Fox 21 suffered extensive smoke and inventory damage from the nearby fire worth $40,000, but everything is back now. Meanwhile Berquist’s remains heavily damaged. A new post on its website says…

Pump It For Parkinson’s At Benedictine Living Community In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — The Benedictine Living Community was promoting exercise Tuesday through a “Pump it for Parkinson’s” event. NuStep and the National Institute for Fitness and Sport are behind the program. They’re trying to get senior communities across the country reach a total of 1 million steps in. Benedictine had a goal of 30,000 steps and ended up doubling it….

Duluth Marshall’s Anna Hron Pursues Dreams of Playing Baseball

Catch the full story Wednesday night for this week's Northern Star. 

DULUTH, Minn.- Baseball season is finally coming around in the Northland and one local high school team has welcome a new player to their roster, one that says she’s proud to play like a girl. Anna Hron, a sophomore at Duluth Marshall, has always had a passion for baseball but felt softball was the only route for her. Now, Anna…

Fairlawn Mansion Hosts ‘MasterPeeps’ Art Contest

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Peeps took over the Fairlawn Mansion Saturday for a big “MasterPeeps” art contest. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger was one of the judges. There were three categories – youngsters, individuals, and groups/families. There were many creative designs and ideas, like the Aerial Lift Bridge, a fancy necklace and even a slide dog race creations. A big life-sized Peep…

Two More Candidates Announce Run For Duluth City Council

DULUTH, Minn. — Two more people have announced they’re running for Duluth City Council seats. Wendy Durrwachter is running for Dist. 1. She says she will “focus on doing the work to ensure Duluth stays a great place to call home.” Durrwachter was a single mother of two who supported her family mostly as a restaurant server. She’s now a…

Dining Out a Long-standing Easter Tradition

Area restaurants and buffets popular for families on Easter

Easter meals are celebrated in different ways by families. Of course, cooking at home is one tradition, but dining out is another. It looked deceptively quiet Friday afternoon, but the restaurant at the Barker’s Island Inn will be filled come Sunday. Preparations are underway for their annual Easter Buffet, which has now been a tradition for over thirty years. Families…

Superior Fire Department Promotes and Bolsters Ranks

COVID Delayed Overdue Recognition

The Superior Fire Department held a special ceremony Thursday for men and women who have been working quietly, and patiently. Both new and veteran members of the department were sworn in, honored and recognized. Proud family members and friends were there for the big moments. Thanks to the familiar refrain, “Due to COVID,” there had not been a ceremony like…

CASDA Hosts Events In Honor Of Sexual Assault Awareness Month

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse, better known as CASDA, will be hosting events throughout the month for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The first event happened over in Superior Monday at the Douglas County Courthouse where Mayor Jim Paine offered his proclamation to make April Sexual Assault Awareness Month. CASDA is hoping to bring awareness to…

Protest Over Duluth Apartment Building’s Partial Hotel Changes While Management Gives New Insight

DULUTH, Minn. – People protested Monday outside a one-year-old housing development in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The protesters said they don’t want to see one floor of the building converted into boutique hotel units. Lincoln Park Flats on West Superior Street is owned by P&R Properties. Company officials told FOX 21 Monday that turning the second floor into 24 short-term…

Youth Center Leaders Say Funding Is Critically Needed To Build Community Rec Center In West Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Valley Youth Center leaders say that rec centers providing healthy outlets for kids and teens are in short supply in Duluth, as they hope their plans to build a space that would serve the whole community can come to life. However, it will cost millions of dollars to get there. Angelo Simone is in his 40th year…

Duluth Mayor, CAO Release Statements About ‘Lincoln Park Flats’ Partial Changes To Hotel Units

DULUTH, Minn. –  Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and Chief Administrative Office Noah Schuchman released joint statements late Friday involving a newly built apartment building in Lincoln Park that could potentially be changing a floor to boutique hotel units, which the city said was not what was originally presented for development. Statement from CAO Schuchman: “The City of Duluth and DEDA are…

WI Congressman Tom Tiffany Hosts Listening Session In Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany stopped in Superior Friday as part of a series of listening sessions taking place in Douglas County. Tiffany’s listening session was hosted with newly elected State Rep. Angie Sapik. Those who attended expressed concerns about the economy, the railroad, schools, and freedom of speech. Tiffany says he tries to conduct listening sessions quarterly,…

Northern Lights Express Funding Closer Than Ever At MN Capitol

DULUTH, Minn. — The idea of a passenger rail service from the Twin Ports to Minneapolis has gained its best steam yet at the Minnesota Capitol. On Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee set aside full funding for the Northern Lights Express in its omnibus bill. The amount is $194,300,000, which is the state’s 20-percent share of the project. The remaining…

USPS Hosting Job Fair At Post Offices In Northwest Wisconsin

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN — The United States Postal Service is holding a job fair next week at 9 of its post offices in Northwest Wisconsin. The event is happening April 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and no appointment is accessary. Ashland, Bayfield, Birchwood, Hayward, Minong, Shell Lake, Solon Springs, Spooner, and winter post offices are all ready to hire….

Maple Syrup Tapping Underway At Longtime Brule River Farm

BRULE, Wis. – The state known for its cheese is moving full swing with another popular food product–maple syrup. FOX 21 photojournalist Nathaniel LeCapitaine takes us to the Brule River Farm where maple tapping is underway as long as temperatures cooperate.     Categories: Business, Community, Environment, News, News – Latest News, Weather in the News, Wisconsin

MN Film Festival Kicks Off With Duluth Screenwriter’s Film With The Late Bob Saget

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Film Festival opens Wednesday at Zeitgeist in downtown Duluth featuring independent films from our region and even around the world. On the FOX 21 morning show Tuesday, Duluth screenwriter Matthew Dressel gave us the lowdown on the festival and the festival’s opening film “Daniel’s Gotta Die,” which Dressel is the screenwriter for. The film features…

Coffee Conversation: Minnesota Film Festival Starts Wednesday

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Film Festival is starting Wednesday at Zeitgeist in Duluth. A feature film from Duluth screenwriter Matthew Dressel with its Always Sunny in Philadelphia actress, Mary Lynn Rajskub in attendance will be played to kick off the event. The feature film is called Daniel’s Gotta Die and includes actor Bob Saget from Full House who passed away…

Juice Pharm Celebrates 3rd Anniversary

DULUTH, Minn. — A downtown Duluth business celebrated its 3rd anniversary Sunday. The Juice Pharm on 1st Street threw a party for the occasion, and everyone was welcome. The band, “Multigrade” played some tunes, while guests could grab a birthday cake smoothie from the Juice Pharm and so some shopping with the local vendors who stopped by. The Juice Pharm…

Duluth Folk School Hosts Egg Decorating Class

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Folk School held an Ostara egg decorating party Sunday morning. Ostara is a Pagan term for welcoming the spring season. All ages were welcome, as children and adults learned how to create natural dyes for eggs from produce, such as frozen blueberries and onion skins. “The thing that I hope people take away from this…

Play & Learn For Family, Friend, And Neighbor Care Providers At Hartley Nature Center

DULUTH, Minn. — With technology taking over our daily lives, many could say it’s important to get outside and appreciate nature. That’s why Hartley Nature Center is teaming up with the Duluth Public Library to put on an educational event for childcare providers. The program, which is led by a nature educator, involves reading, singing, and playing with the little…

Ramadan Begins In The Twin Ports

DULUTH, Minn. — Ramadan, the holiest month of the year in Islam officially started Thursday. Ramadan is the month when God, or Allah, revealed the first verses of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. It’s a time for Muslims to abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset for 30 days, bringing them closer to God, and to each…

Full Transcript: Mayor Emily Larson’s State Of The City Address

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Mayor Emily Larson held her State of the City Address Wednesday evening at The West Theatre.  Click here for the complete transcript from that speech. The mayor covered a broad range of topics which she believes need to be addressed. Larson has served as Duluth’s mayor for the past seven years. She’s running for another term,…

Roger Reinert, Duluth Mayoral Candidate Hosts Coffee And Conversations

DULUTH, Minn. — Roger Reinert is one of the candidates running for the Duluth mayoral election coming up this fall. Reinert is hosting a total of 6 “Coffee and Conversations” meet-ups with the public, and one of them happened Wednesday. He says it’s an open invitation for anyone to join him for small group conversations on issues they’re concerned about…

Mentorship Program Fundraiser Kicks Off At Hoops Brewing

DULUTH, Minn. — Mentor North kicked off a month-long fundraising drive at Hoops Brewing Monday night. The nonprofit matches kids and teens with adult mentors who inspire creativity and learning. Throughout the next month, Hoops Brewing is hosting a variety of events, closing with a comedy show. One of the leaders of the organization explained how role models who take…

Mall Businesses and Employees Feeling Economic Impact of Roof Collapse

DULUTH, Minn — Ever since the roof collapse at the Miller Hill Mall last Tuesday, dozens of businesses ranging from local stores to chain stores to Essentia have been waiting for the go to reopen their doors.  While some have been given the green light, others remain closed as workers continue to repair the damage and ensure the structural integrity…

Grant Given To Family Freedom Center Will Boost Opportunities For Kids And Teens

DULUTH, Minn. — $100,000 was given to the Family Freedom Center Monday for a new program they’re starting. The Ordean Foundation made this happen with a major legacy grant. The grant was in honor of Joe Everett, who worked for the Ordean Foundation for more than 30 years. The grant will allow the Family Freedom Center, a black non-profit organization,…

Changes For Drivers On I-35 Happening Friday

Northbound Changes DULUTH, Minn. — If you use I-35 through the Twin Ports Interchange, also known as the “can of worms,” here’s a heads up. Starting this Friday at 7 p.m. southbound lanes between Garfield Avenue and 27th Avenue West will be moved to single lane. Those going northbound on I-35, it’ll close completely between 40th Avenue West and Garfield…

Miller Hill Mall Management Informs Tenants Of Phased Reopening After Roof Collapse

DULUTH, Minn. —  Management for the Miller Hill Mall sent the following email to its tenants late Sunday evening about the phased reopening of the mall property after a partial roof collapse last Tuesday shut the mall down. Thank you for your continued patience as we work to safely reopen the Miller Hill Mall. We are returning leased premises to…