Community

Excalibur Con Gaming Convention Takes Over DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — Excalibur con a pop culture and tabletop gaming convention was on at the DECC this weekend. Celebrating of all things fantasy, sci fi, comic nostalgia, and nerd culture. Artists and authors selling and showing off their creations. Fans could buy hand-made key chains, compete in tabletop competitions, meet their favorite actors, and participate in auctions and raffles….

Rainy Weekend Didn’t Stop Art In Bayfront Park

DULUTH, Minn. — A little rain and storms didn’t stop the art from flowing at Bayfront Festival Park this weekend. Art in Bayfront Park showcased 100 artists and their creations from woodworking, metalworking, jewelry, and pottery. Vendors did what they could to protect their art from the stormy day. Culinary vendors were also on hand offering specialty teas sauces and…

St. Mark AME Church Preparing to Celebrate 125th Anniversary

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church in Duluth is celebrating its 125th anniversary next weekend. The church is hosting a fundraiser to celebrate the historic building constructed in the early 1900s, which church leaders say is the only building in Duluth built by African Americans. The event starts next Saturday at noon at North 5th Ave….

Roof Nears Competition Over Leif Erickson Viking Ship In Knife River

Courtesy: Neill Atkins KNIFE RIVER, Minn. — A protective roof — 40 years in the making — is almost complete over the Leif Erickson replica Viking Ship in Knife River. Courtesy: Neill Atkins Organizer Neill Atkins took a few snapshots of the new structure. The Save Our Ship non-profit is behind the project.  They’ve raising a few hundred thousand dollars…

River Walk Goes Over Planned Prescribed Burn on Wisconsin Point

SUPERIOR, WIS. – The Lake Superior Reserve held a River Walk on Wisconsin Point today while presenting the Wisconsin Point Fire Restoration Project. A group of representatives from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa partnered with the City of Superior to plan a prescribed burn or good fire as a way to restore Wisconsin Point. This method…

K-9 Teams Across the Northland Bring Excitement to Superior

SUPERIOR, WIS. – 18 K-9 teams from eight northland law enforcement agencies are showing off their skills up close and personal for the community. Operation K-9 was held at the Wessman Arena in Superior, where the K-9 teams performed demonstrations showcasing the skills and professional bond of the K-9s and their handlers.  Law enforcement officers allowed locals to meet the…

Local leaders talk housing amid potential cuts

  DULUTH, Minn. — Local housing leaders and advocates got together to discuss housing and the impact potential federal budget cuts could have in Minnesota. There are two proposals for the Federal Housing and Urban Development budget for 2026. The U.S. House proposal includes cutting the budget by $939 million, which would further strain systems already struggling to meet the…

London Road Blood Drive announced; Urgent need for blood

  DULUTH, Min. – The London Road Business Blood Drive is taking place Thursday, August 28th.  CLICK HERE to sign-up to donate. It’s more necessary than ever with blood shortages around our area. Any one can donate – you don’t have to live or work on London Road. The state’s blood supply has dropped below a 2-day inventory, far below…

Visit Duluth’s New Leader Hired; Full Tourism Marketing Control 1 Year Away

DULUTH, Minn. – Visit Duluth, once the city’s sole tourism marketing organization for 85 years, is one step closer to gaining back full control like it had for decades. Visit Duluth has tapped Haley Hedstrom as its new executive director. She was chosen out of 50 applicants for the critical marketing job for the city. Earlier this year, the city…

K-9 Teams Across the Northland Train for Operation K-9

SUPERIOR, WIS. – K-9 teams from across the Northland are practicing for the 11th annual Operation K-9 event. The Northland K-9 Foundation hosts free demonstrations, with all proceeds benefiting the foundation, which supports the purchase of new K-9s and equipment for the K-9 units in our area. Thursday’s Operation K-9 will showcase the skills of K-9 law enforcement teams from…

Fairview Range designated a Level 4 Trauma Center

Trauma Team at Fairview Range medical center HIBBING, Minn. — Fairview Range Medical Center is now a level 4 trauma center. The designation was earned after an intensive process to become part of the Statewide Trauma system. That process included an outside review of the hospital’s resources and capabilities. In joining the trauma system, Fairview Range can decrease the time…

Knowing Your Neighbor: Jeremy Dickson And The Ectomobile

DULUTH, MINN- Jeremy Dickson is a man of many hats. He’s a retired volunteer firefighter, a local filmmaker, but you may know him as a Twin Ports Ghostbuster. Better known as the man behind the wheel of the Ectomobile. It all started with his love for the 80s movie, Ghostbusters; starring Bill Murry. Dickson says, Ghostbusters was the first movie…

Deborah DeLuca Appointed 2ND District City Councilor

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth City Council unanimously voted in Deborah DeLuca to be the new temporary Second District Councilor. DeLuca, recently retired from the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, decided to apply for the position of Second District Councilor. She initially went up against four other applicants during the first round of interviews, where she was voted as the councilor’s…

Daughter Of Missing Superior Woman Desperate For Answers

SUPERIOR, Wis.–  There is an urgent and ongoing search for Corrine Johansen, a 40-year-old mother in Superior who went missing nearly a week ago. Johansen’s daughter, Chloe, is leading the search efforts. Over the weekend, family and friends helped search in areas Johansen visits often, like the Superior Dog Park and Wisconsin Point. Corrine and her friend Joanie Matson “I…

‘Bayfront Blues Fest’ Delivers Good Vibes and Music for 36 Years

DULUTH, Minn.– For 36 years now, Blues Fest has rocked the Bayfront. And no matter what the weather is, that has never stopped the dedicated fans. “I mean, we’ve been coming for 20 years. And we’ve been baked, we’ve been frozen, we’ve been drenched, we’ve done it all,” explained Phil Vanschepen, a longtime Blues Fest Attendee. Overtime, it’s grown quite…

UW-Superior hosts “Paddle and Pause” Community Mindfulness Event

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Cloudy conditions and poor air quality couldn’t put a damper on UW-Superior’s latest community event. The college hosted their “Paddle and Pause” event recently on Woodstock Bay in Superior on Aug. 5, welcoming members of the local community to a day of mindfulness on the water. While the multi-department event was targeted at the senior community of…

Third Annual Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance Shop and Social at Maurices

DULUTH, Minn. – Ovarian cancer survivors and their loved ones were treated to a shopping spree at no cost in Maurice’s sample room in downtown Duluth as part of their 3RD annual shop and social. Kristine Greer, a survivor of ovarian cancer and board member with the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, says it’s all about connecting with others who have faced…

City of Superior Now Operating Local Museums

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Today, it was announced that the employees at the Fairlawn Mansion, S.S. Meteor, and Police and Fire museums are now considered city staff. This transition is something that has been in the works for a while. “It’s been a long discussion, but ultimately, we’ve been evaluating our relationships with all outside organizations. What we found is everything works…

Grit & Gratitude: 5th Annual Bike Race for Pediatric Cancer Research

TWO HARBORS, Minn.– Coming up on August 17th, a bike race for a very important cause will be taking place at Two Harbors. ‘Grit & Gratitude’ is a bike race that raises money for pediatric cancer research. The event was inspired by the organizer’s daughter Lily, who fought with stage four liver cancer. After overcoming this hardship, the family decided…

Haley Hedstrom Announced as Visit Duluth’s New Executive Director

Haley Hedstrom DULUTH, Minn. — Visit Duluth has announced their new Executive Director. Haley Hedstrom, Executive Director for the Lake Superior Zoo, has been chosen to lead the tourism organization. Her achievements at the zoo demonstrated her strong dedication to Duluths tourism and economy. She will lead the effort to grow tourism while overseeing the strategy, culture, and operations of…

70 Duluth Locations Participate in National Night Out

DULUTH, Minn. – Communities across the Northland celebrated National Night Out to help strengthen relationships between law enforcement officers and people of all ages. “Community partnerships is super important, you know, and a lot of times people are calling they need help for something bad happening, whereas this gives us opportunity to come out and meet people, make those connections in a…

The Nature Conservancy Plants 2.5 Million Trees in Minnesota in 2025

DULUTH, Minn. — 2.5 million seedlings were planted across six counties, including Cook, Lake, Saint Louis, Itasca, Cass and Carlton County. A TNC employee plants a tree in the area affected by wildfire. © Derek Montgomery It’s the second year they’ve planted more than 2 million seedlings and a record number for the organization. Over 5,000 of those trees were…

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Advises Families to Vaccinate Ahead of School Year

WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services released the vaccination data report from the previous school year The data shows 86.4% of students in Wisconsin met the minimum immunization requirements, which is below the national public health standard of 95%. DHS says a majority of Wisconsin families are getting their children vaccinated, but this level is not quite where…

Park Point Forestry Project Begins

DULUTH, Minn.– Starting today, you may begin to notice a lot of noise and commotion over at park point. That’s because a new project aiming at preserving and landscaping park point has just started. The goal is to remove invasive species, trim down overpopulating trees, and eventually fill in space with white pine seeds. “There’s a strip running from the…

Xcel Energy Announces Ashland-Ironwood Transmission Rebuild Project

ASHLAND, Wisc. — Xcel Energy announced the start of construction on the Ashland-Ironwood Transmission Rebuild Project Over the course of a few years’ crews will be rebuilding two power transmission lines previously built in the 50’s and 70’s. The project will improve reliability and long-term growth across northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The three main phases will be prepping…

Carl Crawford Appointed to Governers Council on MLK Jr. Holiday

Carl Crawford DULUTH, Minn. — A former Human Rights Officer for Duluth has been appointed to the Governor’s Council on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. Governer Walz appointed Carl Crawford on Aug. 1st. Crawford currently serves as the Senior Accessibility & Engagement Coordinator for St. Louis County. The Council on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday helps plan celebrations…

Whoopsa Daisy Kicks off 5TH Annual Weekend Opening

DULUTH, Minn. – The Whoopsa Daisy Farm held its 5th annual weekend opening. The family-friendly farm welcomed visitors throughout the weekend, offering a wide variety of outdoor activities. The farm activities include an obstacle course, exploring fairy land and dino land, feeding donkeys, goats, and chickens, a corn pit for playing, and a 14-foot mushroom you can walk into. “We’re…

Duluth Coast Guard Station Celebrates 235th ‘Coast Guard Day’

DULUTH, Minn.– Friday afternoon on the Duluth harbor of Park Point, laughs, and yells can be heard across the bay. Because today, the Coast guard Station has something big to celebrate. “We’re celebrating the 235th year of the Coast Guard’s founding. So, we were found in 1790 this is just a day to celebrate that. So, we get all the…

40 Years Later, Leif Erickson Viking Ship To Become Housed Exhibit In Knife River

KNIFE RIVER, Minn. — The day has finally arrived — 40 years in the making.  The Leif Erickson Viking Ship is fully restored, has a permanent home and will soon be fully protected from the weather with a roof and public exhibit. “One-of-a-kind ship. This is an antique that’s been restored,” said Neill Atkins, chair of the Leif Erickson Restoration…

Authority Elite Launches First Non-Profit Cheer Program

DULUTH, Minn. – A first-of-its-kind non-profit all-star cheerleading organization opened its doors last month over on West Third St. Authority Elite offers a variety of affordable youth cheer classes, including competitive and non-competitive teams, as well as skill classes. Their program prioritizes removing financial barriers, giving young athletes the chance to be part of a team while building confidence and…

Local Swimmer to Compete at World Aquatics Championship for Fifth Time

DULUTH, Minn. – Local competitive swimmer Amy Flessert has qualified for the upcoming world aquatics masters swimming championship. Flessert qualified for the 2025 Worlds swimming competition after meeting the time standard at Long Course Nationals in Mission Viejo, Calif., last year. Throughout her 34 years of competitive swimming, this will be her fifth time competing at Worlds, which will he…

40th Annual ‘Finn Fest’ Returns to the DECC

DULUTH, Minn.– For forty years now, the Finn Fest at the DECC has connected the northland with both old, and modern Finnish cultures and customs. Guests can immerse themselves with everything ranging from art & music, food, and simply language. “‘Fin Fest’ is all about celebrating all things Finnish and Finnish American, and bringing modern Finland with Finnish America and…

Two New Members and Officers Announced on Northland Foundation Board of Trustees

DULUTH, Minn. – The Northland Foundation’s Board of Trustees has two new members and announced its Board Officers for the coming year. The new Trustees are Rachel Hedlund of Ely and Dr. Rick Revoir of Duluth. Hedlund works for Friends of the Boundary Waters as the Ely Education and Outreach Manager. Rachel Hedlund She has spent a decade working for…

‘Force on Fifth Avenue’ Close to Opening

DULUTH, Minn. – “Force on Fifth Avenue,” the new housing development, is close to opening in downtown Duluth. “I’m proud of this particular project because it’s really the gateway to downtown Duluth and to our community. And as you can see, we’re doing work out there now to make sure it’s beautiful,” said Brian Forcier, president of Titanium Partners. That…

Community Boards ‘Blue Heron’ Research Vessel for “Freshwater Discovery Day”

DULUTH, Minn.– Today, the community got a front row seat to discover what student scientists at the ‘Blue Heron’ research vessel participates in. The Large Lakes Observatory is a research group that is in connection with UMD. It brings an opportunity for both undergraduate, and graduate students to receive hands on experience. “It is the only research-intensive campus that sits…

New Housing Data Shows Duluth Has Much More Work To Do

DULUTH, Minn.- If you’re having trouble finding somewhere to live in Duluth, you’re not alone. And a recent study confirms the problem. The local vacancy rate for rentals is only at 1.8 percent, and only around 58 percent of people living in Duluth actually own the roof over their head, according to Maxfield Research and Consulting, who was hired by the…

The ‘Federal Budget Bill’ impacts on SNAP in Minnesota

Who Currently Receives Benefits MINNESOTA — The Federal Budget Bill also called Trumps “Big, Beautiful Bill” has significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 440,000 Minnesotans currently participate in SNAP in an average month. Most of those utilizing SNAP are children, adults with children, seniors, and those with a disability. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families…

‘Mango’ the Lion Cub Has Successful Surgeries

Mango the Lion Cub’s surgery 7/28/25 SANDSTONE, Minn.– The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone rescued an 8-week-old lion cub last week. On Monday, July 28, 2025 she had to undergo surgery to correct some genetic complications. Mango the lion cub at the Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone was gearing up for surgery. She had a herniated umbilical cord that caused her intestines…

‘Head of the Lakes United Way’ Launches Free Babysitting Classes

  DULUTH, Minn.– ‘Head of the Lakes United Way’ teamed up with the American Red Cross to give kids the opportunity for a valuable childcare class. The babysitting classes caters to kids aged 11 to 17 who are interested in seeing what it’s all about. The free 1-day course covers everything from basic first aid, to fun activities while babysitting….

New Rice Lake Mayor

Jayme Heim RICE LAKE, Min. – Council Woman Jayme Heim has been appointed mayor of Rice Lake by council after Mayor Suzanne Herstad resigned. “It makes me feel proud that rest of the council trust me with this position.” says Mayor Heim. While, Mayor Heim says reasons for the resignation are not clear; she states Herstad said in a letter,…

Duluth Council to Review Revised Child Care Ordinance

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth City Council will discuss the amendments made regarding daycare facilities and definitions tomorrow. The proposed ordinance will allow childcare facilities to operate in residential areas by modifying zoning rules and definitions, and was tabled last Monday. This delay was decided on by the council, allowing time for revisions that clarify the language and ensure the rules align…