News Team

Management

Matt McConico

News Director
KQDS Staff,

Matt is happy to be in the Northland. He spent time here with family and friends prior to making the move.  A few highlights include seeing the Concorde Supersonic Airliner do a touch-and-go at the Duluth Airshow, plus being chased by a bear on Madeline Island.  Both were exciting, but for very different reasons. Since living here, Matt graduated from…

Dan Hanger
Anchors, Anchors/Reporters

Dan Hanger

ANCHOR / REPORTER / PRODUCER
KQDS Staff,

Dan joined FOX 21 Local News as a reporter in October 2010 before being promoted to main anchor in August 2011 for the station’s evening newscasts.  He has more than 20 years of experience in television, radio and online journalism. Dan arrived in Duluth in 2006 as a multi-media journalist for KBJR-TV before being promoted to morning anchor.  Before that,…
Anchors, Anchors/Reporters

Emily Halling

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
KQDS Staff,

  Emily joined the FOX 21 news team in March 2024. As a Duluth native with a strong connection to the Twin Ports, she’s excited to further engage with the community as a reporter. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in Spring 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in writing studies (Go Bulldogs!). It was during her college years…
Anchors, Anchors/Reporters

Paige Hansen

PHOTOJOURNALIST / REPORTER
KQDS Staff,

Paige joined the Fox 21 news team in September 2022. Born and raised in Superior, Wisconsin her love for the Twin Ports runs deep. Paige is currently a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth, working to achieve a degree in Communication and Journalism. Paige has a passion for telling stories through her reporting and visuals. She has background in…
Anchors, Anchors/Reporters

Maria Vollom

MORNING ANCHOR / PRODUCER / REPORTER
KQDS Staff,

Hi! I’m Maria. I joined the Fox 21 news team in June 2022, taking on multiple roles at the station. I currently serve as the independent Morning News Anchor, Producer, and Reporter. Born and raised on the Canadian border in the small town of International Falls, Minnesota, my love runs deep for the Northland. I am a Bulldog alumni, graduating…

Other Staff

Curt Tupy

SALES MANAGER
KQDS Staff,

Contact Curt at his email ctupy@kqdsfox21.tv for questions regarding sales. Categories: Other Staff
Management, Production Team

Jeff Schwarten

EVENING PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
KQDS Staff,

Jeff Schwarten joined the FOX 21 News Team in October of 2011 as a Production Assistant. In July of 2013 he was promoted to Assistant Production Manager. Jeff moved to Duluth to in 2003 where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. In his free time Jeff enjoys the local music scene, and…
Weather Team

Rusty Mehlberg

CHIEF METEOROLOGIST
KQDS Staff,

Rusty joined Fox 21 in November 2021 as their weekend meteorologist and reporter. He became Chief Meteorologist in August of 2022. A Wisconsinite all his life, he contributes his passion for weather and the importance of local media while growing up on his family’s dairy farm. After graduating from UW-Eau Claire with a broadcast journalism degree in 2008, he spent…

Neil Vierzba
Sports Team

Neil Vierzba

SPORTS DIRECTOR
KQDS Staff,

Neil joined Fox 21 in August of 2022 as their Sports Director. He was born in the city of St. Cloud, MN, a town just an hour north of the Twin Cities. And has spent much of his life in the state of Minnesota. Vierzba went to St. Cloud Cathedral where he would letter in football and basketball. That would…

Adam Jagunich
Photojournalists/Web

Adam Jagunich

PHOTOJOURNALIST
KQDS Staff,

Adam Jagunich joined the FOX 21 News Team as a Photojournalist in October 2008. Adam is an Emmy Award winning Photojournalist, and has worked in the Media Business since 2002. Adam has worked at Northland’s Newscenter, B105, KOOL 101.7, and MIX 108. Adam even worked a short stint as Homer D. Hound, the Mascot for the Duluth Dukes baseball team!…
Photojournalists/Web

Nathaniel LeCapitaine

PHOTOJOURNALIST
KQDS Staff,

Nathaniel is a long-time member of the FOX 21 photojournalism team. He is originally from Ashland, Wis., and now calls Superior home. Nathaniel loves the Packers and Lake Superior. He also enjoys fly fishing and traveling as much as possible, especially for Phish, and Yonder Mountain String Band concerts. Categories: Photojournalists/Web