Business

Clinton Fire Dept. Accepts 2,352 Cans Of Drinking Water From Anheuser-Busch

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The Clinton Volunteer Fire Department & EMS received thousands of cans of drinking water from Anheuser-Busch. Fire Capt. Eric Monson said the 2,352 canned waters will help first responders stay hydrated when they battle wildfires and other disasters. “This generous donation will significantly enhance our emergency response capabilities and ensure that we can better serve and…

Super One Foods Donation Provides 145,000 Meals To Families In Need

DULUTH, Minn. — In a generous donation from Super One Foods, over 145,000 meals will be provided to families, children, and seniors this holiday season. Super One donated $48,457.94 to Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. The effort in part of its Bag Hunger Campaign where customers at stores in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin rounded up or donated a…

Duluth Starbucks Workers Participate In One-Day Strike

DULUTH, Minn. — Thursday thousands of Starbucks workers participated in a one-day strike called the Red Cup Rebellion. The strike included Duluth Starbucks workers. The workers say the company is illegally refusing to bargain with baristas over staffing, scheduling, and other issues. Starbucks Workers United says they are unionizing because employees have been overworked and have been ignored when it…

Cenovus Superior Refinery Responds To Third-Party Railcar Leak

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Cenovus Superior Refinery responded to an emergency railcar leak Tuesday. Cenovus Energy told FOX 21 the railcar was not theirs but belonged to a railroad company with cars at the plant. On Wednesday, Cenovus said the issue had been resolved and no external emergency response was required. Superior Fire Chief Cam Vollbrecht told FOX 21, it’s his…

Superior Mayor, Some Councilors Now Against Proposed Natural Gas Plant; Labor Not Happy

Mayor Jim Paine first supported the project in 2017

SUPERIOR, Wis. – If Superior Mayor Jim Paine has it his way, Minnesota Power and its partners will not be allowed to build a natural gas plant (Nemadji Trail Energy Center) near the Enbridge Energy Terminal and Cenovus Energy. “All this project will do is raise our utility rates, pollute our city, and desecrate a cemetery. I don’t know who…

A Thanksgiving Staple Back At Burrito Union In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — A much anticipated holiday staple is back at Burrito Union in Duluth. It’s the Thanksgiving Burrito! The burrito is stuffed with mashed potatoes, roasted white and dark turkey, sweet corn, and stuffing with a side of gravy and cranberry salsa. The holiday food has been around for 14 years and over 4,000 burritos were sold last November….

‘Godfather’s Pizza Express’ Opens in Gary-New Duluth KornerStore

The fan-favorite pizza place makes its return to Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — A favorite local pizza place made its return to Duluth Wednesday. We’re talking about Godfather’s Pizza Express. FOX 21 was there as the first pizzas came out of the oven. The new location is inside the Gary-New Duluth KornerStore. Derek Medved, who owns the local convenience store company, announced in December it would be bringing back the…

Fairlawn Mansion Decorated As House In Mourning For Halloween

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Over in Superior kids explored all things spooky at the Fairlawn Mansion Tuesday. Fairlawn was originally built as the family home for lumber and mining baron, Martin Pattison, along with his wife and 6 kids. The executive director says Victorian’s were very ritualistic when it came to mourning the passing of a loved one. So, the mansion…

Welder Generator Helps Northwood Technical College Hit the Road

Joint effort made it possible.

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — In March, Northwood Technical College unveiled its 53-foot mobile welding lab that has eight individual welding booths. However, to make the lab work anywhere other than on campus, a generator was needed. And, it had to be a large generator–one that costs $90,000. The college didn’t have the money and needed help from others. So, two local…

Barges, Equipment Move In On $18M DECC Seawall Reconstruction Project

DULUTH, Minn. – The $18 million reconstruction of the seawall behind the DECC is officially underway. Rendering of what the reconstruction project will look like when complete Construction crews have moved in on land and by barge. The rebuilding will happen throughout the winter. The new seawall is expected to be complete by the end of next year 2024. The…

“Bridging” Health in Duluth

Goal is to bring everyone together for healthiest community possible.

If it takes a village to raise a child, then there are those who feel the same about what it takes for a community’s health care. That is what brought over one hundred and thirty people together in Duluth Wednesday. It was titled “Bridging Health Care,” and the goal is just that: bringing like-minded people and organizations together to make…

Duluth Lions Club Celebrates 75 Years of Service

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Lions Club is celebrating their 75th anniversary with a day of service. The non-profit organization supports sight and hearing-impaired programs, diabetes awareness, and youth projects. And Tuesday groups of Lions were helping with different projects they have around the community. That included collecting used eyeglasses to recycle them for those who do not have access…

Free Highway Construction Training Starts In January

DULUTH, Minn. — A local hiring agency is helping people start their careers in construction. SOAR Career Solutions is teaming up with MnDOT to offer a free 16-week training program. Training starts January 9th and goes till May 3rd and includes learning math and safety skills, blueprint reading, and more through online classes and hands-on experiences. The training is open…

Enger Golf Course Closes After Good Season

DULUTH, Minn. –Golfers have just one more day to get out and play this season at the Enger Course in Duluth. The course closes on Wednesday afternoon at Five. Tomorrow will be the end of what has been a very good season according to the Enger Course General Manager Craig Smith. Despite the dry summer, golfers continued to play and…

Duluth Airport Prepares For Fort Myers Return, Control Tower Replacement

DULUTH, Minn. — This has already been a record-breaking year for the Duluth International Airport. In each month of 2023, the number of take-offs and landings exceeded last year’s numbers. The number of flyers has also increased, and that’s one measure an airline looks at in deciding whether to enter or expand in a city.  One reason for the increase…

Women’s Care Center In Duluth Celebrates 10 Years Of Helping Mothers In Need

DULUTH, Minn. — The Women’s Care Center in Duluth is celebrating 10 years of supporting mothers, babies, and families in need. One in five babies in St. Louis County start at the center. The non-profit organization provides free resources which includes pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, counseling, parenting classes, and more. Monday there were brand new coats given out for kids during…

Canadian Labor Strike Halts Duluth-Superior Port, Seaway Operations

DULUTH, Minn. — A historic halt in seaway operations has sent a ripple effect throughout the system, including the Duluth-Superior Port. “Definitely a cascading series of effects throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system. It’s a system that it prides itself on reliability. And right now that reliability is being impaired by this unfortunate issue,” said Jayson Hron, communications…

Local Solar Panel Installer Expands Service Footprint with Merger

TWO HARBORS, Minn, — Local solar panel installation company Wolf Track Energy announced Monday that they have merged with Real Solar out of Backus Minnesota. Each of these companies have been around less than 10 years with Two Harbors-based Wolf Track Energy starting in 2018. The merge comes as solar power continues to increase in popularity as a renewable energy…

Harbor Drive Temporarily Closes For DECC Seawall-Waterfront Reconstruction

DULUTH, Minn. — Harbor Drive behind the DECC is temporarily closing for the next 12 months. It’s all part of the seawall-waterfront reconstruction project. Crews will work through the winter to build the new seawall. When all is said and done in early 2025, the public space between the wall and the DECC will be transformed into a new plaza…

DLH: Direct Flights To Phoenix Not Returning, But Nonstop To Fort Myers Will

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth International Airport has announced direct flights from Duluth to Phoenix are not returning this winter. But Sun Country service is returning with direct service to Fort Myers, Florida. The non-stop flights will start back up Feb. 2 and end April 24. Sun Country service to Fort Myers will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays….

Essentia Health Donates Medical Equipment to University of Minnesota Medical School

DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health is helping further the education of medical students. The hospital is donating medical equipment to UMD’s Medical School for students to use in simulation labs. All the equipment was used at the old St. Mary’s and will give the students access to the latest technology helping them further their education. “It is up to date,…

Better Bus Blueprint at Two Months

DULUTH, Minn. –It’s been nearly two months since the Duluth Transit Authority made major changes to its system. It added two new “GO” routes and consolidated many of its local stops. On October 29 the DTA will announce updates to its system. But, it’s not been Easy Street. Detours and keeping track of where the detours are have been a…

Planet Fitness Opens First Location In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — A fitness center focusing on being judgement free and inclusive is now open. Planet Fitness located in Duluth near the Miller Hill Mall offers over 22,000 square feet of fitness. That includes cardio and strength machines, as well as express circuit, tanning beds, and massage chairs. There are over 2,500 locations in the U.S., and this is…

Whole Foods Co-op Denfeld Location Adds Solar Panels

DULUTH, Minn. — Whole Foods Co-op is going a little greener with the completion of a solar array on the rooftop of their Denfeld location. Grocery stores are known for using a high amount of energy through keeping food refrigerated, frozen, or warm, according to an employee at the Co-op. The 145 panels will significantly offset the electricity consumption needed…

Seawall-Waterfront Reconstruction Behind DECC Officially Begins

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth city leaders, the Chamber, project managers and labor representatives were among the many taking the shovel to the dirt Monday for the official start of the seawall-waterfront reconstruction project behind the DECC. Mayor Emily Larson described the area behind the DECC “tired” and “old.”  But she said after years of planning, it’s now time for that…

Essentia Health Hiring For St. Mary’s Medical Center

DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health is looking to hire more employees for the new St. Mary’s Medical Center. The organization hosts job fairs on a quarterly basis and the most recent one was at The Garden in Canal Park. Attendees were able to learn more about Essentia, network, and hear about the current career opportunities open. Those include RNs, respiratory…

West Duluth Business Club Hosts Duluth Candidate Forum, Promotes Civility

DULUTH, Minn. – The November election is less than a month away in Duluth, and the president of the West Duluth Business Club, Susan Coen, is promoting civility over divisiveness. Coen hosted a public form Wednesday for the West Duluth community involving the mayoral race between incumbent Emily Larson and opponent Roger Reinert, and the council races. Coen said she…

WI Sen. Agard’s Cannabis Bill: Prohibition Not Working With Marijuana

Wisconsin State Sen. Melissa Agard is continuing her push to legalize recreational marijuana for adults through a bill in the state legislature. Sen. Agard (D-Madison) told FOX 21 Wisconsin is living on a disserting island when it comes to cannabis.  Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan have laws on the books allowing adult-use of cannabis. Agard said the state is losing out…

Duluth Housing Development Stalled For 2nd Month At Former Seaway Hotel Site

DULUTH, Minn. – It was in the middle of August when FOX 21 broke the news about construction temporarily halted on a new housing development in Duluth’s Lincoln Park. Now two months later, the structure remains just a frame of wood. Merge Urban Development is behind the 45-unit apartment building (Urbane 218) on the former West Superior Street site of…

Zeitgeist Halloween Movie Lineup May Make ZZZs Difficult To Find

Weeks of horror (and some laughs) will fill the Zinema screen during the runup to Halloween.

What do Poltergeist, The Wolf Man, Abbott and Costello, and Frankenstein have in common? It could be a love of movie theater popcorn, but it’s not. They are actually just part of the mixed bag of scary springing up at Zeitgeist Zinema. For the Halloween month of screams, in addition to a variety of frightening cinema, the theater will also…

Kwik Trip Experiencing “Disruption” to its Systems

Company says loyalty program among things affected.

The Kwik Trip stores have apparently been having some technology-related issues over the past two days. On Monday, Madison television station WKOW reported that some customers were posting on social media that they were having problems with the store’s app, rewards program, and telephone service. Tuesday, Kwik Trip issued a statement saying, “As you are aware, we are currently experiencing…

DECC Board Releases Detailed Statement: ‘We Need A New Model, We Will Get Through This’

DULUTH, Minn. – The board of directors at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center released an extensive public statement Monday on the DECC’s website explaining the entertainment venue’s financial situation, the responsibilities of the board and how they plan to move forward. The statement also provides a ‘question and answer’ section to help the public understand the challenges and successes at…

Bentleyville Tree is Up!

Ironworkers donate their time every year to assemble and stack the sections.

It’s a sure sign that the holiday season–and Bentleyville–are nearly here! The Christmas tree at Bentleyville’s “Tour of Lights” went up Saturday morning. One hundred twenty-eight feet to the top, and for all the Northland to see in the months ahead. As always, Iron Workers Local 512 were the volunteers who used their skills to assemble the sections and connect…

City Of Duluth’s Largest Employee Union Passes On Mayoral Endorsement

DULUTH, Minn. – AFSCME Council 5, the city of Duluth’s largest bargaining unit representing employees like plow drivers, librarians and utility workers, has chosen not to endorse any mayoral candidate for the upcoming November election. In a statement to FOX 21, AFSCME said: “While our union members have endorsed in this race in previous election years, our members have decided…

DECC Board ‘Charged With Fiduciary Oversight And Governance’; Board Members Chosen By Mayor, Governor

DULUTH, Minn. — There’s been a lot of attention on the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center over the past couple weeks involving financial troubles and job eliminations, like 28-year employee Jeff Stark. DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman, who has been on the job for 2.5 years, has said expenses are too high when it comes to increased wages and replacing failing…

Fall Brings Out Sport Card Collectors

Football of course, but playoff baseball brings an added interest.

Fall is in the air. That means football, and this fall–even the Twins! That is good news for people who are into collecting or selling sports cards. At the Miller Hill Mall Friday, it was “game on!” As in Game On Sportscard Collectors and Memorabilia show. Long time collector and dealer Austin Knute had a big selection on display, and…

City To Break Ground On DECC Seawall-Waterfront Reconstruction

DULUTH, Minn. — The summer season has past and so has another delay in a major seawall-waterfront reconstruction project behind the DECC.  But, FOX 21 confirmed Thursday that construction is officially getting underway later this month. Rendering of what the area will look like come 2025 Jim Filby Williams, the city’s director of public administration, said all federal and state…

DECC Exec. Dir. Addresses Job Cuts At Struggling Entertainment Venue

DULUTH, Minn.– DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman found himself in the spotlight Thursday after news broke Wednesday night that he was cutting DECC expenses in the hundreds of thousands, including layoffs and eliminating positions. “So, the DECC has been definitely between a rock and a hard place. I think I talked about this with the City Council a couple weeks…

Solar Speaks to Superior Residents

Many people responded to the chance to sign up to be part of the new community solar garden.

Superior’s first community solar garden has more than utilities and construction crews eager to see it get started. Wednesday, Superior Water Light and Power unveiled the facility that will generate enough electricity to power 115 homes, and many residents were excited about the prospect and showed up for the ribbon cutting. A lot of those celebrating Wednesday were those who…

28-Year DECC Employee Among Positions Eliminated Amid Financial Struggles

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 has learned that multiple job eliminations have begun at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), just one week since Executive Director Dan Hartman asked and received a $1 million emergency line of credit from the city council. DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman during an interview with FOX 21 Sept. 24 Hartman said at the time…

Attorney General Ellison Wants Public Input On Essentia, St. Luke’s Mergers

DULUTH, Minn. — Separate healthcare mergers for Essentia Health and St. Luke’s are getting a closer review by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Ellison announced Tuesday it’s his responsibility to consider whether a healthcare transaction is in the public interest, and seek court intervention if he finds that it is not. Essentia Health is in the process of merging with…