Community

Scarium at the Aquarium brings Halloween under the sea

DULUTH, Minn. — Instead of schools of fish taking center stage at the Great Lake Aquarium, it was a Halloween celebration filled with costumes and fun on the evening of Oct. 28. Families gathered for the Scarium at the Aquarium event – A night of Halloween fun, spent exploring exhibits, while stopping at trick-or-treating booths, set up throughout the building….

Duluth Planning Commission Recommends sale of Lester Park property

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Planning Commission approved the resolution recommending the sale of certain Lester Park Land to the Duluth Economic Development Authority. After reviewing the resolution, hearing public comments, and making amendments, the Planning Commission voted to recommend the sale of Lester Park Land to DEDA. The amendments change the language to reflect a resolution that holds the…

Spirit Mountain prepares new chair lift for 25-26 winter season

DULUTH, Minn. — As Duluth makes its way into winter, crews at Spirit Mountain are busy preparing the lifts and equipment. The Ski hill is now sporting a new chair lift, called the ‘High Line Lift’, giving everyone a smoother, faster, and safer ride up the mountain. The staff is getting snow-making equipment and trails ready, with high hopes for…

Duluth’s Best Bread distributing free pastries for children during SNAP pause

DULUTH, Minn.– With SNAP benefits on pause, Duluth’s Best Bread has quickly stepped up to the plate. Starting on Tuesday November 4th, the bakery will be distributing free pastries and day-old bread to support children in need. No IDs are necessary, but children 12 and under must be present for this program. This opportunity is for dine-in guests only, and…

United Way Campaign kicks off in Cloquet

CLOQUET, Minn. — The Carlton and Pine County Area United Way held their annual campaign kickoff today. The kick-off serves as a way to show donors and volunteers the work they do. The next few months are key times for campaigns and donation drives, so having this kickoff helps showcase the impact these drives do. From aiding with food insecurity…

Breakfast for Heroes raises funds for first responders

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — Locals flooded to Two Harbors in order to give back to some of the region’s most crucial community servants. The yearly event, brought to the Northland by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, raises funds for first responders, and welcomed various area public officials to Two Harbors, with nearly all expressing their appreciation for those they…

Harbor Highlands Development wraps up Phase 6, introducing 40 units

DULUTH, Minn.– A major milestone to help tackle the housing crisis in Duluth is finally complete and was celebrated this afternoon. Harbor Highlands, a diverse complex in Duluth catering to backgrounds such as low income, and disability accommodations, finally wrapped up its sixth and final phase. The 19-million-dollar investment introduced 40 units. In addition, a tot lot playground was built…

Lake Superior Zoo hosts annual Boo at The Zoo

DULUTH, Minn. — The Lake Superior Zoo hosted its annual Boo at the Zoo Halloween-themed event. The family event featured trick-or-treating stations, a “Spooktacular” craft “Boo-tique”, Halloween treats, food trucks, and games. Held every year, the event provides opportunities for the community to engage with the animals and zookeepers in a fun and exciting way. “I think I would say…

Runners hit the streets in costume for Superior Nightmare 5K

SUPERIOR, Wis. — In Superior, runners swapped out their usual workout gear for capes, masks, and Halloween spirit. On Oct. 25, The Nightmare 5k brought out runners of all ages, lacing up their shoes and hitting the streets in costumes ranging from bananas to skeletons and even the Aerial Lift Bridge. It’s all part of the city’s Halloween spooktacular, which…

Veterans Resilience Project hosts Second Annual Sweat 4 Vets event

DULUTH, Minn. — Over the weekend, people gathered to help veterans by sweating. This weekend, the Veterans Resilience Project hosted its 2nd annual Sweat 4 Vets event at Endion Station, inviting the public to come and experience the rejuvenating benefits of sauna therapy. People took to the sauna for a sweat session, then followed it up with a refreshing cold…

Governor Walz to announce $4m in one-time funding for Minnesota food shelves

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz expresses frustration with President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans over the federal government shutdown during a news conference at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. DULUTH, Min. & ST. PAUL, Min. – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expected to announce $4 million in emergency one-time funding for Minnesota and Tribal nations…

Scares That Care: ‘Alice B’s Tour of Terror’ Raises Funds for Breast Cancer

SUPERIOR, Wis.– If you’re in the Superior area tomorrow, prepare to be scared! Tucked in the alley right next to the DC testing building on Tower Avenue, a spooky tour filled with tricks will be lurking throughout the basement. ‘Alice B’s Tour of Terror’ got its start back in 2019 and was inspired by the coordinator’s mother and her fight…

Drug Take-Back Day Educates and Assists with Safe Medication Disposal

  SUPERIOR, Wis.– For anyone who had old medications lying around today was an opportunity to dispose of them safely. The Superior Public Library welcomed in the Douglas County Drug Prevention Coalition. They came prepared with free resources such as Narcan, medication lock boxes, and medical disposal bags. The event not only gave the opportunity to safely dispose meds, but…

CHUM Urgently Seeks Food Donations as SNAP Benefits Pause Impacts Families

DULUTH, Minn.– With many families around the Twin Ports relying on snap benefits to stay ahead, the recent changes have begun to impact local resources. With the news of the SNAP program benefits being put on pause, food shelves are in crunch time. Chum officials told FOX 21 they help out around 300 people weekly. That number increases daily, with…

Children’s Dental Services Holds Grand Opening

DULUTH, Minn. — Children’s Dental Services held the grand opening of their new Dental Hub in Downtown Duluth. This celebration marks the full installation of 10 dental chairs, new dental equipment, and housing for rotating providers to stay overnight after serving patients. This clinic will be a central point to their ‘hub and spoke’ method, bringing portable clinics across surrounding…

WIAA Begins New “Hear It? See It? Report It!” Initiative

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has begun rolling out a new initiative to help remove inappropriate behavior from sporting events. The “Hear It? See It? Report It!” Sportsmanship Initiative is the WIAA’s newest method tackling inappropriate behavior along the sidelines of high school sports. The reporting system, which will be quickly accessible through a QR code or…

65th Arrowhead Regional Biennial Art Exhibition

DULUTH, Minn. — Art enthusiasts gathered at the Duluth Art Institute to celebrate the 65th Arrowhead Regional Biennial art exhibition. The event highlights art and artists from across Minn., Wis., the Dakotas, Iowa, Mich., and Ontario, bringing a variety of different artwork together to reflect the shared cultures and environmental interconnectedness by drawing from the landscapes of lakes, woodlands, and…

Taste of Hermantown Serves up Support for Students and Businesses

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Community spirit and local eats were on full display at this year’s Taste of Hermantown. Oct. 23 marked the 18th annual Taste of Hermantown at AAD Shriners. The event featured a variety of local restaurants serving food and included a silent auction. All proceeds from the evening go toward supporting the Hermantown Legacy Fund, which offers Hermantown…

Musician Todd Eckart Killed in Head-On Crash, Music Community Mourns

DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth community is grieving after the unexpected passing of local musician Todd Eckart. Wednesday afternoon, Eckart was killed in a wrong way head on collision in Hawthorne Township. Channeling the soul, and tunes of the era of Buddy Holly, his voice and impact was heard around the Twin Ports. “He played the music that they kind of…

Lake Superior Zoo Welcomes Visitors For International Snow Leopard Day

  DULUTH, Minn. — The Lake Superior Zoo celebrated International Snow Leopard Day, welcoming locals in to help share the love with the zoo’s resident big cat. The zoo’s guests were able to ring in the day by designing their own “enrichment item”, which would later be given to Kiran, the snow leopard. Guests were able to decorate a colorful…

Popular local singer Todd Eckart killed in head-on crash

Todd Eckart on FOX21 Morning News DULUTH, Min. & AMNICON, Wis. – The uncle of Todd Eckart has confirmed to FOX 21 that the popular local musician was killed in a head-on crash in Wisconsin. The crash happened at 2:12 p.m. on October 22, 2025 in Amnicon Township. Todd was a standout when it came to entertaining the Duluth area…

Data Center Debate: Hermantown’s Comm. Dir. Talks Public Process

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — The city of Hermantown’s communications director, Joe Wicklund, talked to FOX 21 Wednesday about concerns surrounding a proposed data center and the way the city is or is not including the public in the process. “We protect the environment so well in Minnesota with robust environmental standards. That has not changed. What has changed is these types…

Castle Danger Heads into 10 years of ‘Pints for a Cause’

  TWO HARBORS, Minn. — Once again, Castle Danger is turning good beer into a good cause as they head into their 10th year of ‘Pints for a Cause.’ Throughout the entire year, the brewery hosts beer release parties every other month in collaboration with six different non-profits from across the region. Each release party showcases one organization’s work through…

Fairlawn Mansion Celebrates Halloween In Superior

SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN-  Fairlawn Mansion is celebrating Halloween early with their flashlight tours.  Folks gets to come to the mansion after dark for a 30minute tour. During the tour you learn about superstations from the Victorian era and the staff shares paranormal experiences that happened while they were alone in the mansion. The manager of Fairlawn Mansion says they’re just really excited…

Completion of LNPK Grocery delayed to early 2026

  DULUTH, Minn. — The completion of Ecolibrium3’s LNPK Grocery store is experiencing delays, which resulted in a revised timeline that could extend into 2026. Ecolibrium3 (Eco3) officials say that, due to various snags in the construction process and bringing the building up to code, the store opening is being delayed. Located at the previous Eco3 office over on W…

Global Rising Coffee Prices Being Felt Locally Amid Tariffs

DULUTH, Minn. — Tariffs and global issues are forcing coffee houses, including local shops like Duluth Coffee Company, to raise their prices for your morning cup of joe. “Duluth Coffee Company is going through unprecedented times in the purchasing and selling of coffee, not only because of tariffs, but because all of the raw coffee that we buy is connected…

UMD Seminar Explores AI Deep Fakes

  DULUTH, Minn. — The University of Minnesota Duluth hosted an online seminar regarding the potential threat of artificial Intelligence leading to an “info-pocalypse.” The meeting featured two professors of philosophy from Northeastern University who spoke about how digital fakes, fake news, and bots posing as humans have the potential to confuse people to the point of not knowing if…

Duluth Right to Repair Hosts Labor Rally

DULUTH, Minn. — Local labor unions stepped out in support of tenants and the “Duluth Right to Repair” initiative that’s on the Nov. Ballot. The ‘Duluth Right to Repair’ gives renters a tool to get timely fixes for common repairs such as bathroom fans, leaks, cabinet doors, and appliances. The cost of the repair would not exceed $500, and then…

‘Twin Ports Trailer Trash’ Hosts Free Mattress Drop-Off Event Oct. 22

A winter clothing drive is also part of the event

DULUTH, Minn. — Twin Ports Trailer Trash is hosting a free mattress drop-off event Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Duluth while also hosting a winter clothing drive. The drop-off location for both causes is 215 S. 37th Avenue West from 8 .m. until 4 p.m.  There is a limit of two mattresses or box springs. “I’m constantly trying to just figure…

Annual Energy Expo Brings Community and Resources Together

It’s Energy Awareness month and the Annual Energy Expo kicked off to help inform the community about the resources available to them. The expo was designed to inform attendees what resources are available to them. OneRoof, Ecolibrium3, Citizens Utility Board, and many other representatives were there. They had a free hot lunch, the opportunity to sign up for energy assistance,…

Hermantown Council Approves Rezone for Potential Data Center

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — The Hermantown City Council has voted 4-0 to rezone land for a potential data center, officially changing the property from residential to business and light manufacturing. While the vote marks a major step forward for the proposed project, city leaders say it’s a rezone only and does not approve the data center itself. The decision came just…

Blatnik Bridge Project Update Meeting Held In Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Minnesota Department of Transportation held a public meeting in Superior to present community members with updates on the Blatnik Bridge project. The presentation, which took place in front of a packed house at the Superior Public Library, gave Twin Ports residents the chance to hear some of the updates on the long awaited project and see…

6th Avenue East Re-opens with Safety in Mind

DULUTH, Minn. — 6th avenue east is officially open now. The resurfacing project added vegetated medians, reduced the lanes to 3, updated crossings for ADA compliance, and replaced lead water service lines. These changes make walking and crossing 6th avenue much safer for pedestrians. According to the project webpage, 20% of Duluth’s Pedestrian deaths in the past ten years have…

‘Dance TV’ Performs Halloween Edition at Zeitgeist in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — The heat was on, the music was turned up and the competition was fierce Saturday night at Dance TV’s Halloween edition at Zeitgeist in downtown Duluth. Dance TV produces live theatrical productions that take you behind the scenes of a fictional hit television show, Dance TV. The audience serves as the live studio audience and is immersed…

Thousands Attend ‘No Kings’ Protests in Duluth, Cities Across Northland

NORTHLAND — Thousands of protesters gathered at rallies in the Northland Saturday for the “No Kings” demonstrations against what they see as the government turning into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.   In Duluth, thousands filled the courtyard outside City Hall, the St. Louis County Courthouse and the Federal Building.  Click the video above to see an drone’s view.  Click the…

Haunted shack bringing fall screams

CARLTON, Minn. — The Haunted Shack is back for its 32nd season, to bring spooky activities to the Twin Ports. The haunted attraction is located on a working farm that is transformed each year to bring people from around the Midwest out for some fun. The festivities include the haunted shack, corn maze, haunted hay ride, petting zoo, and outdoor…

Expect delays on Lift Bridge next week

Aerial Lift Bridge DULUTH, Min. – Both drivers and pedestrians could be facing minor delays with bridge inspections. Starting on Monday, October 20, 2025 the Aerial Lift Bridge and Minnesota Slip Bridge will undergo inspections. The inspection work is expect to last throughout the week. The inspections will require frequent and slow lifts of the bridge Aerial Lift Bridge to allow…