Community

The Banff Mountain Film Fest returns to the Twin Ports

DULUTH, Minn. — The Banff Mountain Film Festival returns to Duluth this weekend, bringing stories of adventure from around the world to Symphony Hall. The two-night event is being put on by the Duluth Cross-Country Ski Club and will feature award-winning films from around the world. The films vary from outdoor adventures, environmental stories, and high-energy action sports. Each night…

Mentor North is celebrating National Mentor Month through art

DULUTH, Minn. — January is National Mentor Month. Duluth’s Mentor North is celebrating the month by hosting an Art Show at the Duluth Folk School. The organization is showcasing artwork created by youth, families, and mentors, highlighting the role creativity plays in building strong relationships throughout the Twin Ports. The event also offered hands-on art-making activities, which included making flip…

Applications for 2026 Citizen Police Academy are open

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2026 Citizen Police Academy. This academy offers community members to learn about the different tactics, operations, and divisions of the DPD through in-field hands-on and in classroom learning. The idea is to teach about the process and why they do things the way they do. It will…

Mayor Jim Paine veto’s lead pipe ordinance

SUPERIOR, Wis. — This evening, Mayor Jim Paine decided to veto the City Council-approved lead service line ordinance during the Superior City Council meeting. After reviewing the amended language, Mayor Paine spoke with city councilors, saying some of the amendments are incomplete or incorrect. He says publishing the ordinance now would create unnecessary costs and that the five-day review period…

“The Iron Exchange at 400” Hibbing housing development officially underway

HIBBING, Minn.– Since 2018, the city of Hibbing has been navigating new changes for a potential housing development downtown. And finally, they’re starting to see those plans come into fruition. The historic 400 block on Howard Street has seen quite a bit over the years. Developed in the 1920s, singer Bob Dylan once lived there, and a fire broke out…

Trump administration says it’s withholding social safety net money from 5 states over fraud concerns

U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services (HHS) Logo (AP) – President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday that it is withholding funding for programs that support needy families with children in five Democratic-led states over concerns about fraud. “For too long, Democrat-led states and Governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch,” U.S….

New Duluth City Councilors take the oath of office

DULUTH, Minn.– It was a packed house at the Duluth city hall, because three new Duluth City Councilors took the oath of office. A swearing-in ceremony took place at the council chamber for incumbent Terese Tomanek, and newcomers Jordon Johnson, Diane Desotelle, and David Clanaugh. Councilor Clanaugh was not at the ceremony because of a work obligation. As for Tomanek,…

Superior National Forest announces BWCA permits will be available later this month

BWCA, Minn.– During the middle of winter, many outdoor enthusiasts look forward to some summer camping, and the Superior National Forest is staying on top of that. The Superior National Forest announced permit reservations will be up for grabs on Wednesday, January 28th at 9 am CDT. They will be valid starting on May 1st- September 30th, 2026. Officials from…

New year, new weddings with the help of the Duluth Wedding Show Jan. 10

DULUTH, Minn. — A new year means a new year for weddings, and that means the Duluth Wedding Show is back at the DECC. The one-stop-shop event is happening Saturday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. It’s all about the brides, grooms and even the dreamers getting consumed with more than 130 vendors to help make your wedding…

The Twin Ports sing Sea Shanties

DULUTH, Minn. — People gathered at the Duluth Folk School to learn and sing sea shanties. Historically, sea shanties served as working songs, sung by sailors as they traveled across the sea. Throughout the event, multiple Shantymen and a few opera singers took turns leading a variety of tunes. Many people joined in whether they were beginners or experts, to…

Minnesota must provide documents to US government in child care fraud probe by Jan. 9

People gather for a news conference at the state capitol in St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Giovanna Dell’Orto) Minnesota officials have until the end of this week to hand over information on providers and parents who receive federal child care funds that the Trump administration contends have been used fraudulently or risk losing federal funding. State…

Hermantown Community Schools celebrates new hockey arena with ribbon-cutting ceremony

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Hermantown community members packed into the new arena for its grand opening. What began as a dream became a reality through the support of local businesses, community funding, and lawmakers. The project was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and guided tours of the new NorthStar Ford Arena, which is expected to serve generations of hockey players. “This…

Portman Hockey celebrates 3rd annual “Great Skate”

DULUTH, Minn. — Portman Hockey celebrated the kickoff to their outdoor hockey season with their annual “Great Skate” fundraiser. Skaters both big and small gathered from around the Northland to help Portman raise funds for the organization’s programs, in order to keep the sport affordable for all interested kids. After the event was previously postponed from its original Dec. 17….

“Home Stories Art Show” illustrates youth housing crisis

DULUTH, Minn. — An art show with a special purpose took place in Downtown Duluth as the all-ages, “Home Stories Art Show” took over Studio Cafe. The artwork displayed was done by Twin Ports youth, all of whom are a part of youth programming with Lutheran Social Services, as a way to draw attention to the on-going youth housing crisis….

Local author to donate all profits to student food assistance program

SUPERIOR, Wis.– A local author and professor is bringing a lot of wisdom into the new year with the release of his newest book. ‘Wisdom from the Woods’ is a book designed to carry positivity and relaxation throughout the year. It’s filled with 52 nature inspired metaphors and short stories he’s gathered to give gentle guidance. Author Mark Langenfeld is…

PCA services affected by funding suspensions

DULUTH, Minn. — On Christmas Eve, Heartland PCA, a home care agency in northern Minnesota, received notice from the Department of Human Services that payments were being suspended under a new federal Medicaid pre-payment review process. Heartland PCA says their agency, along with 600 others, was impacted yesterday by an abrupt halt in payments, tied to fraud concerns, involving 14…

Wussow’s Concert Cafe celebrates New Year’s Eve with all day concert

DULUTH, Minn.– The New Year’s Eve celebrations at Wussow’s began bright and early this morning and sounds of local artists will be filling the room all day. For more than a decade, the concert cafe has made this all-day concert a tradition. Every forty minutes, artists will take turns taking the stage. Attendees of all ages will get to take in…

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa explains what’s next after signing cannabis compact with Minnesota

Shane Drift DULUTH, Min. & NETT LAKE, Min. – The day after making it official and signing a Tribal-State cannabis compact with Minnesota, we’re learning more about what is next for the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and cannabis. The agreement signed on December 30, 2025 provides a blueprint for a shared goal of safeguarding the health of Minnesotans regarding…

Lake Superior Zoo announces ‘Porcupine Pub’, and 21+ events

DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Zoo is saying ‘cheers’ to the new year, by welcoming in some new 21+ opportunities. The ‘Porcupine Pub’ is debuting at the zoo, and it’s bringing along some new events. Starting in January, they will be hosting a trivia night every third Wednesday of the month. Attendees can take advantage of their selection of local…

Mesabi Humane Society halts new intake amid funding dispute

VIRGINIA, Minn. — The Mesabi Humane Society decided it will no longer be accepting new animals from the City of Virginia following the city of Virginia’s decision to end the temporary per-animal payment structure that had been in place during negotiations. The 2025 contract called for $45,000, but MHS says it actually costs about $100,000 a year to care for…

Senator Amy Klobuchar speaks on potential hemp ban

DULUTH, Minn.– Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar visited Wild State Cider in Duluth Tuesday to discuss the impacts of a potential hemp ban across the state. In less than a year, breweries and cideries could look a lot different. Many of them are currently selling drinks and gummies with THC and CBD and at the end of this year, things could…

Trump administration says it’s freezing child care funds to Minnesota after series of fraud schemes

Jim O’Neill WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration announced on Tuesday that it’s freezing child care funds to Minnesota after a series of fraud schemes in recent years. Acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Jim O’Neill announced on the social platform X that the step is in response to “blatant fraud that appears to be…

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa signs cannabis compact with Minnesota

Bois Forte Band Of Chippewa Seal ST. PAUL, Min. – The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa has signed a Tribal-State cannabis compact with Minnesota. In a news release Secretary/Treasurer of the Bois Forte Band Tara Geshick said, “The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa has done great things – one is entering the cannabis market…  Unlocking opportunities and seeking strategic alliances will…

Top baby names for 2025 at Essentia Duluth

DULUTH, Min.  – Entering the final week of 2025, 1,685 babies were born  at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. Essentia has released the top baby names for the year in Duluth. TOP BABY BOY NAMES  Theodore or Theo and Oliver — 12 Rowan — 10 James — 9 TOP BABY GIRL NAMES Evelyn or Evelynn — 14 Harper — 10 Lucy, Nora and Hazel — 8 Categories: Community, Minnesota, News, News –…

Bentleyville Wraps up 2025

DULUTH, Minn- Volunteers are in the process of tearing down Bentleyville after another successful year.  The heavy winds and yesterday’s snow storm didn’t stop them from taking down thousands of lights.  They get paid in soda and hot sandwiches, but it’s worth it to a lot of the volunteers. “For me it’s giving back to the community. Duluth is such…

Superior Fire Department shares important cold weather tips

SUPERIOR, Wis.– With the cold weather bringing unexpected issues with heating the Superior Fire Department is reminding the community of some important tips. A Battalion Chief with Superior Fire said they see a significant increase with house fires December through march. This is largely related to improper heating techniques, such as poorly ventilated appliances. They said to keep space heaters…

Mesabi Humane Society to stop accepting animals from the City of Virginia

VIRGINIA, Minn. — The Mesabi Humane Society says it is no longer accepting animals from the City of Virginia. MHS recently put out a statement on their Facebook page saying, “The Mesabi Humane Society values its long-standing partnership with the City of Virginia. However, effective immediately, MHS will no longer be accepting animals from the City of Virginia. This decision…

Bentleyville wraps up the holiday season

DULUTH, Minn. — Across the Twin Ports, people spent the past few days taking in the holiday lights, leading to Bentleyville wrapping up with volunteers helping to take down all the lights. Yesterday was the final night of the famous light show. It was accompanied by fireworks while onlookers said ‘goodbye’ to this year’s Christmas season. Today, “teardown” began and…

West Duluth Little League devastated by second fire of 2025

DULUTH, Minn. — On Christmas evening, the Western Duluth Little League suffered a structure fire that destroyed both the equipment shed and concession stand. This is the second time this year that a fire has affected the same structures. The league has released a statement on their Facebook stating, “We are devastated at this news, and moving forward will need…

Grand Marais stabbing incident under investigation

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — The Cook County Dispatch received a call regarding a stabbing inside the local Co-Op around 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27. Upon arriving on scene, first responders performed emergency care,  and the victim was transported by ambulance to North Shore Health for further care. The suspect fled the scene; however, deputies were able to apprehend the…

Animal Allies shares successful adoption tips

DULUTH, Minn. — As the holidays come to a close, some people may realize that a well-intended gift came with more responsibility than expected. Those irresistible puppies and kittens can lead to impulsive decisions, especially during the holidays. Animal Allies in Duluth works year-round to promote successful pet adoptions and shared tips on surrender prevention. “So we, yeah, really discourage…

‘Hairball’ rocks their way into Kuwait to perform for service members

DULUTH, Minn.– If you’ve ever been to a Hairball show, you’ve seen their tributes to veterans, and active-duty service members and recently, they gave the ultimate tribute, overseas. The rock cover band, just returned from a trip to Kuwait, that they will never forget. During their visit, Hairball members got to spend time with different military departments, through educational tours,…

‘Merry and Bright’ holiday contest winners announced

SUPERIOR, WIS. — The Superior Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the Merry and Bright Holiday Lighting Contest. In the spirit of the holiday season, homes and businesses participated in the contest, making for a festive and successful tour of lights. The awards included Best Residential Display, Best Business Display, Best Themed Display, and the Clark Griswold Award. To…

Actor with Twin Ports roots starring in bilingual children’s musical

DULUTH, Minn. — A former Twin Ports actor is taking his talent to the stage in the Twin Cities, for a show based on a classic children’s book. “Go, Dog Go!”, also known as “Ve Perro ¡Ve!”, is the latest production from the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, and is a musical adapted from the book of the same name…

Bentleyville celebrating arrival of Christmas as season nears end

DULUTH, Minn. — Many Twin Ports residents marking a Christmas tradition by visiting the Northland’s famous “tour of lights” on Christmas Eve, as folks made their journey to Bentleyville for what may be their final time this season. This year marked 22 years of the iconic Twin Ports light show, with the last 17 of those years being spent in…

Shoppers hunt for holiday gifts one book at a time at Fitgers Bookstore

DULUTH, Minn. — As Christmas inches closer, many Americans are scrambling to pick up last-minute gifts. One Duluth store staying busy this holiday season is the Fitger’s Bookstore. Aside from books, their most popular item this year is gift cards. Which they say gives shoppers an easy way to support local businesses and give back to the community. “We love…

Minnesota Power presents grant to Hartley Nature Center

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Power showed their support for the Hartley Nature Center with the presentation of a new grant for the center. The gift is for $6,000, and will be used to help build classroom enhancements, which will help support the center’s outdoor education for thousands of area students and their families, many of which have their own roots…