Business

Start of Spring Means Free Cone Day at Dairy Queen

The start of spring can only mean one thing for a well-known fast food ice cream restaurant. It’s Free Cone Day at Dairy Queen! Customers can grab a small cone at participating locations. It is limited to one cone per customer. If you dip your cone for $1 you are also benefitting a local member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals….

Crafts Retailer Joann Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy As Consumers Cut Back On Pandemic-Era Hobbies

NEW YORK (AP) — Fabric and crafts retailer Joann has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, as consumers continue to cut back on discretionary spending and some pandemic-era hobbies. In a Monday statement, the Hudson, Ohio-based company said that it expected to emerge from bankruptcy as early as the end of next month. Following this process, Joann will likely become…

Political Sign Alert: Careful Where You Plant Them

Superior is being proactive in getting the word out with spring election campaigns underway.

If November brings the general election season, what does April bring? Wisconsin’s spring election season of course! And what is a political campaign without political campaign signs? This spring the signs have sprouted out of the ground–not the snow.  Superior is being proactive on political sign etiquette, and says you’ll be just fine with a couple basic rules in mind….

Dubh Linn Celebrates 19th St. Patrick Day Celebrations

  DULUTH, Minn. — Whether it’s your local pub or a fan favorite bar or brewery, St. Patrick’s Day had the doors open Sunday morning for the Irish holiday weekend. At Dubh Linn Irish Pub on West Superior Street, the usually closed Sunday doors were open and packed inside with people excited to experience their favorite past times. Whether it’s…

Downtown Duluth Eatery Closes After 5 Months; New Eatery Eyeing Location

DULUTH, Minn. – Blue Rock Grill in the heart of downtown Duluth has closed after five months in business. Owner Rick Lampton tells FOX 21 the business closed on March 9. “We definitely didn’t get the volume we were expecting,” said Lampton. Blue Rock Grill moved into the former 7 West Taphouse in early October of 2023. 7 West Taphouse,…

Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day In Style

DULUTH, Minn. –  Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day and that brings out the Irish in all of us, even if on the other 365 days of the year, you have no Irish in you! There are many different places where you can shake your shillelagh, and celebrate St. Paddy’s weekend. It’s likely there is at least one place in Duluth…

New Furnace Or Boat Or Air Conditioning?

Cloquet Chamber event tries to have something for everyone.

Well, it’s not winter, and it’s not spring, so you can’t blame anyone for being a bit confused. But people may get some clarity Friday and Saturday at the Home, Business and Sports Show. One hundred and twenty-five businesses from roofers to outboard motor dealers will be at the event put on by the Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce. The…

Damage Board Shop Transitioning to Spring Season

DULUTH, Minn. — A full-service snowboard shop is switching gears to their spring skate season. “It’s been a bit strange nonetheless. I’ve actually been out skateboarding this winter more than I’ve been snowboarding which is a bit frightening to say the least,” said Wyatt Lindberg, manager of Damage Board Shop. The lack of snow this year made things a bit…

Dollar Tree To Close Nearly 1,000 Stores, Posts Surprise Fourth Quarter Loss

(AP) — Dollar Tree swung to a surprise fourth-quarter loss and will close nearly 1,000 stores after the discount retailer slashed the value of a rival chain it acquired almost a decade ago. Dollar Tree plans to close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of this year and 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores over…

House Passes A Bill That Could Lead To A TikTok Ban If Chinese Owner Refuses To Sell

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday passed a bill that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app TikTok if its China-based owner doesn’t sell, as lawmakers acted on concerns that the company’s current ownership structure is a national security threat. The bill, passed by a vote of 352-65, now goes to the Senate, where its prospects are unclear….

Mayor Reinert Asks For Communication From Kathy Cargill After Park Point Home Purchases

Reinert said Kathy Cargill has purchased at least 20 properties so far.

DULUTH, Minn. — The future of Park Point’s landscape is uncertain.  Mayor Roger Reinert said  more than 20 properties on the world’s longest freshwater sandbar have been purchased by a member of the Cargill family. North Shore LS is the company behind the purchases. The LLC is owned by Kathy Cargill, who is married to one of the heirs to…

City Of Virginia, AFSCME Local 454 Reach Tentative Agreement

Courtesy: AFSCME Local 454 VIRGINIA, Minn. — The city of Virginia and its AFSCME Local 454 employees have reached a tentative contract agreement. See below for press releases from City Administrator Britt See-Benes and AFSCME Local 454: City of Virginia: On March 6, 2024, City of Virginia AFSCME Local 454 employees, representing Public Works, Park & Recreation, City Hall and…

“Fore!” Or, At Least Some Are Getting Ready

Driving range opened Monday at Duluth's Enger Park Golf Course as pros and duffers can't wait.

DULUTH, Minn. — With Monday’s incredibly warm weather, some people gave up on ever pulling out the ice fishing rods again–so why not pull out a five-iron instead? Those with the itch had a chance to hit the driving range at Enger Park golf course. No grass of course, but players could get the kinks out by hitting off the…

Potential Of Duluth’s ‘Lot D’ Unveiled In ‘Initial Concepts’ Renderings

Architecture Advantage, LLC DULUTH, Minn. – The future of Lot D along the waterfront in Duluth has become clearer with “initial concepts for the revitalization of redevelopment of Lot D” being released by a Duluth architecture firm. Architecture Advantage, LLC posted on its LinkedIn account Friday showing renderings of what the prime real estate could look like next to Pier…

MPCA Investigating 1,400-Gallon Gasoline Leak At Duluth Short Stop

DULUTH, Minn. — FOX 21 learned Thursday evening that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is investigating a significant gasoline leak at a Duluth gas station. The spill occurred Wednesday at the Short Stop at 5402 E. Superior Street in Duluth. “There was a 1,400 gallon release reported by C & B Distributing from one of their fuel pumps to soil,”…

Only March, But Women Runners Looking to Duluth September Run

Goals are support for each other and raising funds to inspire and help women in business.

For some women this was a day to get out of their uniform and work clothes and get into their running shoes. They started things by gathering at the Duluth Running Company. What brings them together is the love of running and the registration kickoff for a fall run and fundraiser. Friday they headed out on a quick jaunt–a thirty-minute…

Teacher Layoffs Announced At Superior School Dist. Amid Budget Cuts

25 teachers are being laid off, and an unknown number of support staff will follow.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Twenty-five teachers at the Superior School District have been notified their positions are being eliminated, as the district deals with a significant budget deficit for the 2024-2025 school year. “It is never easy to make cuts in education. Any cut that we need to make has a direct impact on our students and our families. And so,…

St. Luke’s-Aspirus Affiliation Approved

The Duluth hospital will now be part of a 19-hospital group based in Wausau.

Both had been waiting since a letter of intent signed last summer, but Friday Duluth’s St. Luke’s Hospital became part of Wisconsin-based Aspirus Health. Aspirus now has 19 hospitals. St. Luke’s will still have a corporate office in Duluth. The group also has 130 outpatient locations and a system that now includes northeastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin, and the…

Warrior Brewing Hosting Fundraiser For Disabled Veterans Hockey Team

DULUTH, Minn. — A fundraiser supporting veterans and their love for hockey is happening Saturday. Warrior Brewing Company in Duluth is hosting the event for the Lake Superior Warriors Disabled Military Hockey Team. The nonprofit was founded in 2019 to help military veterans transition back into civilian society by using hockey as cognitive and physical therapy. The team makes it…

More Than 75 Employers at UWS Spring Career and Internship Fair

SUPERIOR, Wis. — More than 75 employers were at the University of Wisconsin-Superior Thursday helping students find the perfect job. The Spring Career and Internship Fair is a networking event held twice a year. There is a large variety of industries available to try and meet every students need. Opportunities range from volunteer positions, work from home jobs, and full…

Duluth Salvation Army Participates In Minnesota FoodShare Month By Hosting Food Drive

DULUTH, Minn. — March is Minnesota FoodShare Month, and the Duluth Salvation Army is participating by hosting a food drive. The non-profit is calling it their March-ish Food Drive happening now through April 6. The goal is to raise $9,000 and 9,000 pounds of food. The Minnesota FoodShare Campaign is the largest grassroots food and fund drive in the state…

Superior’s Boulder Tap House To Open Wednesday

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Goodbye, Grizzly’s. Hello, Boulder Tap House. The countdown is on for the newest member of the Twin Ports dining scene. Finishing touches and staff training continue as Wednesday’s opening gets closer. On Tower Avenue in Superior, Boulder will sit – literally — on the site of the old Grizzly’s. That long-time favorite had been remodeled five times,…

Goal is to Coordinate Disaster Recovery and Response

Agencies come together to plan for floods, tornadoes and blizzards.

High flood waters caused several motorists to become stuck on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Flint, Mich. High water from storm flooding closed roads in Michigan. (Bronte Wittpenn/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP) Talk about preparing for a natural disaster can often be just that–talk. The Northland does not have hurricanes, but it does have its share of huge rainstorms, big…

No Madeline Island Ice Challenges “Mad Island”

Film crew adjusts and finds "winter" at Fish Lake.

So, you want to film a movie that requires lots of ice and snow. You grew up in Superior and spent lots of time on Madeline Island. So, why not schedule the shoot for February? Good plan, but Mother Nature had other plans. That’s why a film crew found itself on the shores of Fish Lake, north of the Duluth….

Bent Paddle Brewing Co. Celebrates 218 Days

DULUTH, Minn. — 218 Days has returned this weekend and it’s all about highlighting what makes our area code a great place to live, work, and visit. Many local businesses are offering fun discounts and offerings hoping to draw the community in. Over at Bent Paddle Brewing Company there is live music all weekend, the Gumbo Guys making food, and…

UMD Chocolate Lab Hosts Annual Valentine’s Sale

DULUTH, Minn. – UMD Chocolate Lab experts hosted their annual Valentine’s Day sale this week. Students in the Department of Chemical Engineering take a course on chocolate making. Part of the course is to travel to Trinidad to harvest cocoa and then bring back beans to eventually make it into chocolate. A lot of the principles in chocolate making relate…

Island Lake Inn Hosting Valentine’s Dinner, Spots Still Open

Call 218-721-5000 to make a reservation between 5 and 9 p.m. Wednesday night.

DULUTH, Minn. — Island Lake Inn is busy preparing for their annual Valentine’s Dinner that’s happening Wednesday night. The dinner is Surf and Turf style and includes an 8-ounce lobster, 12-ounce ribeye steak, garlic mashed potatoes, a salad, popover, and special dessert. That’s all for $65. The marketing director says the restaurant has a comfy cozy atmosphere perfect for couples…

Vanilla Bean To Close Duluth Location

DULUTH, Minn. — Vanilla Bean Duluth is closing in two weeks at its Mt. Royal location after six years in business. Owners Jason Vincent and Jeff Anderson made the announcement on social media. The last day of business will be Feb. 25. The post said two young entrepreneurs looking for restaurant space will take over the location. There was no…

Barnum High School Students Learning Life Skills Through Business Organization

BARNUM, Minn. — February is Career and Technical Education or CTE Awareness Month and over at Barnum High School students are going above and beyond what they’re learning in the classroom. Business Professionals of America is a student organization for 9th through 12th grade students. Students choose from around 60 events to compete in ranging from accounting, marketing, computer programming,…

Superior’s NTEC Supporters Hold Rally As Mayor Paine Responds

SUPERIOR, Wis. – At least 100 people rallied outside Superior’s City Hall Tuesday evening in support of the proposed Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC). The natural gas-powered electrical plant had unanimous support by the city council and Mayor Jim Paine in 2019, but over the last year, Mayor Paine and some council members have been working to stop the project….

With Fire, Lutsen Lodge Gone in Hours; But Determination to Rebuild Already in Its Place

Fire engulfing the structure from the 1950s was too much to stop.

Under the February gray skies of Lake Superior’s North Shore, was the black and white aftermath of what once was. Volunteer firefighters from every small community we’ve driven through along that shore were still at the fire scene in the morning. But shortly after midnight, by the time they had arrived from up and down the shore, the wood and…

Lutsen Mountains General Manager Reacts To Lutsen Lodge Fire

The general manager of Lutsen Mountains, Jim Vick, was sympathizing with the staff at the nearby Lutsen Lodge Tuesday as they deal with the loss of the structure to fire. Vick dealt with a massive fire in June of 2023 when Lutsen Mountains’ Papa Charlie’s restaurant went up in flames. The memories at the beloved restaurant hangout turned into ashes….

Lutsen Lodge’s History Runs Deep Into the 1880s

The Lutsen Lodge, Minnesota’s oldest resort, was established in 1885 when Swedish immigrant Charles Nelson opened his small fishing camp and lodge. Business continued to grow through the years, but it was not always a smooth ride. Photos from the Cook County Historical Society show Lutsen in its very early stages. The lodge was destroyed by fire twice before.  The…