Business

Blue Sky, Music, Beer Attract Thousands To Bent Paddle’s 10th-Annual Festiversary

DULUTH, Minn. – The weather was perfect Saturday for Bent Paddle Brewing Company’s 10-year anniversary celebration with its Festiversary block party. The music was flowing and, of course, so was the craft beer. The all-ages family friendly event had plenty of neighboring Lincoln Park businesses on hand – from food trucks to local eateries. Big Wave Dave and the Ripples…

‘Northern Lights Express’ Lands Full Funding In Final MN Transportation Bill

The reality of a passenger rail line between the Twin Ports and Minneapolis is closer than ever with full funding in the state’s final transportation budget bill. The amount is roughly $194 million, which is the state’s 20-percent share of the project. The remaining 80-percent would come from the Federal Infrastructure Law, which Amtrak has officially endorsed. The train would…

Vikings Icon Bud Grant Remembered At U.S. Bank Stadium

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (FOX 9) – Bud Grant may be the most recognizable figure in all of Minnesota sports, and over the course of his life the 95-year-old made the most of that aura. More than just the winningest coach in Minnesota Vikings history, Grant shined as an athlete across three sports for the Golden Gophers. Then he went on to compete for…

Festiversary, 10-Year Anniversary For Bent Paddle Brewing Co. On Saturday

DULUTH, Minn. — Not only is Festiversary this weekend, which is Bent Paddle Brewing Company’s biggest get-together, it is also their 10-year anniversary of being in business. The annual celebration party takes over 2 blocks surrounding the taproom full of food trucks, family friendly activities, local music, and of course beer. And new this year will be a silent disco…

State Of City: Superior Mayor Jim Paine ‘Not Satisfied,’ Expects More

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior Mayor Jim Paine held his State of the City address Thursday evening at the Richard I. Bong Veteran’s Historical Center. Mayor Paine called the past year possibly the best ever for Superior, but he said he’s not satisfied. After six years as mayor, he said the next four will be all about raising the stakes and…

Essentia Health Calls MN Nurse Staffing Bill Flawed

DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health is speaking out against a nurse staffing bill at the Minnesota Legislature. The Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act would establish committees to set specific staffing levels at hospitals. The levels would include a limit on the number of patients a nurse should safely care for. The bill’s sponsors believe it will help the crisis around…

Mark W. Barker, Newest Great Lakes Ship Since 1983, Runs Aground

The Barker hit the water in the summer of 2022 and made its first visit to Duluth in September

The Mark W. Barker, the first U.S. ship built last year on the Great Lakes since 1983, ran soft aground early Wednesday in the Detroit River after the freighter lost propulsion. The 639-foot vessel, which was built to navigate tight ends, suffered an “electronics malfunction” near Belle Isle around 8 a.m., according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Nobody was injured….

Duluth’s A & Dubs Drive In Now Open

DULUTH, Minn. — In the restaurant department you know it’s almost summer when Duluth’s A & Dubs Drive In opens for the season. The loyal customers didn’t disappoint Tuesday as the parking lot was packed for another season kick-off of serving home cooked meals and other treats like homemade root beer. The business has been around since 1950. The menu…

Whitewater Rafting Businesses Starting Their Summer Seasons

CARLTON/SCANLON, Minn. — Now that flooding has settled, and river levels have lowered whitewater rafting companies are ready to go for the seasons. Swiftwater Adventures in Carlton started their season beginning of May. The owner says conditions have been on the higher end of flows but are still safe for those wanting to get out on the water. And anybody…

On the Menu: Mother’s Day Buffets

Lincoln Park restaurant hopes its barbeque and more will give moms a break.

DULUTH, Minn. — The day for celebrating and showing love for your mom is coming up on Sunday. Many restaurants across the region are getting ready for their Mother’s Day Buffet. One of those is Howard’s Que in Lincoln Park. Friday, owner Howard Ross and his crew were fine-tuning things for another year. He gets a lot of joy seeing…

Duluth Airport Ready For Summer Travel, Growing Great Lakes Cruises

DULUTH, Minn. — The busiest season for air travel at the Duluth International Airport is about to take off. And there’s a new excitement with airport management involving cruises. Executive Director Tom Werner told FOX 21 the growing Great Lakes cruises in and out of the Duluth Port are providing growing demand from airlines at the airport. Werner said United…

“Where is…?” Answers For Duluth Tourists Moving To Canal Park Restaurant

Visit Duluth solidifies its move from downtown to Canal Park

Tourists in Duluth will soon get their questions answered–inside a Duluth restaurant. Visit Duluth announced Thursday that they are moving their welcome to a spot inside Grandma’s restaurant in Canal Park. The office moved out of downtown Duluth and down to Canal Park last summer, and the city said it had good results. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, Visit Duluth is…

Nurses Week Comes Amidst Legislative Debate

Duluth Nurses Push Current Bill; Oppose Any Changes by Hospitals

DULUTH, Minn. – The stakes are high in Minnesota as national Nurses Week continues. A legislative fight is underway at the state capitol over what is called the “Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.” That fight came to the Duluth Labor Temple Tuesday. Nurses and their union representatives said Minnesota hospitals are not following parts of the agreement reached during…

Duluth Council Rejects Environmental Assessment Worksheet for Kinseth Hotel Project

DULUTH, Minn. – The proposed Kinseth Hotel in Duluth will not be delayed for an environmental review that some local residents had petitioned the State of Minnesota for. By a unanimous vote Monday evening, the Duluth City Council reversed a decision made by the Planning Commission back in April to order an environmental assessment worksheet for the hotel that will be…

Bee Season Officially Underway In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Bee season is officially underway for one business in Duluth. Miel, which is located near Chester Bowl maintains about 25 to 30 beehives each year at 4 different locations in the Duluth area. And it doesn’t just include making honey, they make candles, lip balm, soaps, lotions, and more. The beekeeper says a fun face is that…

Docks In Place, Charter Boats Arrive In Duluth’s Minnesota Slip

DULUTH, Minn. – Capt. Riley Leslie of Happy Hooker Charters, one of Duluth’s premiere charter fishing companies, is back in the water for the season in the Minnesota Slip. Crews got the docks loaded down into the slip Wednesday morning. Some of the spots are rented for personal boats, but most are for charter businesses. Happy Hooker has been serving…

Duluth-Based Maurices Makes Cuts To Staffing Amid Economic Downturn

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth-based Maurices recently laid off two dozen employees. The 24 employees were let go April 18 within corporate offices and field positions. Company officials told FOX 21 the reduction in staffing was needed to deal with the current economic downturn and challenging market conditions. The employees received severance packages. The women’s apparel retailer has been operating for…

Congressional Hearing on Minerals on Iron Range

Republican lawmakers advocate for permitting reform

The mineral deposits in Northeastern Minnesota brought congressional lawmakers to the area Tuesday. Representative Pete Stauber brought members of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources to Mountain Iron for a hearing. Stauber said it was a chance for members to hear directly from the community. Congressman Rob Wittman of the state of Virginia said the entire country had an…

Gary New Duluth Thanks Community for Skateboard Park Effort

Excitement builds for push to complete the project

GARY NEW DULUTH, Minn.–The Gary New Duluth community could not wait to celebrate the coming of spring Monday. Part of the celebration included a great meal as a way to acknowledge everyone who has worked so hard to make a skateboard park a reality. “It is so important to get everybody together for something like this. So many of the…

Patio Season Nearing For Famous Dave’s In Hermantown

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — With warmer weather comes patio season and Famous Dave’s in Hermantown has a new one. It’s been about 6 months since the Famous Dave’s in Canal Park moved to Hermantown. The owner Greg Toon says the community has really embraced them. They are still serving the same meals and smoking the meats themselves. Toon says nothing has…

Ursa Minor Brewery Expanding

DULUTH, MINN. —  What’s the appropriate amount of space you need to make beer? Ursa Minor Brewery in Duluth thinks they have figured it out. They are transitioning to a new facility right around the corner from their taproom in West Duluth. They found themselves slowly adding tanks and capacity, but they were also limited a bit by their taproom…

MN House, Senate Pass ‘Northern Lights Express’ Funding In Transportation Bills

DULUTH, Minn. — For the first time ever, the Northern Lights Express project now has financial backing from the Minnesota House and the Senate. The Senate has approved $50 million toward the passenger rail service between the Twin Ports and Minneapolis. This comes after the House Transportation Committee set aside full funding for NLX in its omnibus bill and was…

Duluth Coffee Company Now Serves Breakfast Food

DULUTH, Minn. — A local coffee shop is expanding their menu, and it’s not just new drinks. Duluth Coffee Company is now serving breakfast! The shop has been open for over 10 years bringing the area farm focused coffee from all over the world such as Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. Now the roastery will be bringing in locally sourced eggs,…

Twin Ports Spay/Neuter Reopening In A New Location

DULUTH, Minn. — Twin Ports Spay/Neuter is reopening in a new location with appointments starting May 1. The small privately owned clinic was forced out of their old location in January after being there for 13 years. It now has a new place on Grand Avenue in Duluth. The clinic made a soft announcement through social media last Thursday and…

Task Force to Improve Downtown Duluth Reports Progress

Increasing concerns had prompted a search for solutions

Concerns about downtown Duluth’s future and its direction prompted a task force last fall to look at the issues. Monday, members said they feel good about what has happened so far. The task force said progress has been made in several areas, including dealing with the issues of mental health resources, selecting businesses for improved lighting, a meeting in May…

Last Twin Ports Grizzly’s To Close, ‘Boulder Tap House’ To Replace

SUPERIOR, Wis. — After 25 years in its Superior location, Grizzly’s Wood-Fired Grill is closing later this year to make way for a new eatery that owners hope will be just a popular, or more popular for the locals for years to come. Grizzly’s co-owner Rick Lampton told FOX 21 the 1969 building is starting to fail structurally. He said…

Therese Wisocki Joins List Of Candidates For Duluth City Council

DULUTH, Minn. – Another candidate has announced her run for the Duluth City Council. Therese Wisocki told FOX 21 on Sunday that she’s a retired telecommunications professional who has never run for political office before. Wisocki said she’s hoping to focus on improving public safety downtown and bringing new development there. Rising property taxes and low wages are also on…

Mayor Again Asks Duluth Council To Avoid Budget Cuts, Use ‘Rescue Plan’ Funds

DULUTH, Minn. – Mayor Emily Larson is speaking up — through an email to councilors — about this year’s $383,000 in city wide budget cuts. She’s urging them to avoid the cuts by using American Rescue Plan funds. The $383,000 handles the one-percent levy cut the council made last December in Larson’s proposed property tax levy increase, which she said…

Minnesota Gov. Walz Draws Sharp Contrasts With Red States

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz drew stark contrasts between Minnesota and Republican-led states Wednesday night, using his State of the State speech to highlight how he and his fellow Democrats have used their new control over state government to push through an ambitious liberal agenda. Walz, now three months into his second term, told lawmakers and other…

Frost River In Duluth Honoring Earth Day

DULUTH, Minn. — What better way to honor Earth Day than finding a way to use leftovers? And not food leftovers! That’s what Frost River has going this month. When they make their various bags and leather goods, no matter how careful they are about making good use of their raw materials, there are always still some leftover scraps, or…

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….