DULUTH, Minn.– What started as a fun hobby has grown over the years into a full-time business over in west Duluth. Kyia Plummercaven started making candles eight years ago to make gifts for family and friends. “It was the middle of winter so I was bored. So I was like ‘Oh I’m just going to pick up a new hobby.’…
DULUTH, Minn. – A local organization is wishing for the ultimate Christmas gift of a new van to continue helping to feed the community. Union Gospel Mission in Duluth is one of two soup kitchens in the city and has been serving the community throughout the pandemic. Members of the group say its current van is becoming very unsafe and…
DULUTH, Minn. – A local art studio is helping to spread a little holiday cheer. Bailey Builds in Duluth is kicking off its 12 days of Christmas festivities. Community members can enjoy six weekends of fun and interactive pop-up events at the gallery in West Duluth. The events are in partnership with other local artists and small businesses to help…
DULUTH, Minn. – Chester bowl is collecting donations for its annual Ski, Suds, and Slices fundraiser to help keep kids attending their annual camp programs. This year the event is being held virtually due to the pandemic. Donors can buy tickets to an exclusive livestream concert of local bands. Attendees can also bid on items in a silent auction. “Last…
DULUTH, Minn. – Students at the College of St. Scholastica are stepping up to give blood in an effort to help save lives especially during a pandemic. It’s said giving blood can be the one selfless thing any person can do to potentially help another individual. Many students at the college of St. Scholastica made that commitment to donate their…
DULUTH, Minn. – If you are in need of a tasty treat, the Something Sweet by Maddie Lu pop-up shop is back at the Miller Hill Mall. The Coon Rapids-based shop is owned by Maddie Carlos, the winner of two Food Network baking competition shows. The pop-up shop at Miller Hill is offering some of the same favorites from its…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Bentleyville Tour of Lights is expected to open next Saturday. Its new gift shop, which is now taking over Grandma’s Sports Garden, is having a soft opening this weekend. The large space is a reimagination of what used to be the Sports Garden and is filled with everything Christmas. It is also the prime spot for…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Business is starting to pick up for local meat shops as the holidays are quickly approaching. This time of year, Superior Meats gets a ton of orders for turkeys. Also, during thanksgiving week, the store gets even busier as many folks are stopping in to pick up their orders. Staff say it’s a top priority to stay…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Best Bread offered a special thank-you to veterans in the community. On Wednesday, any veteran could pick a treat of their choice in honor of their sacrifice. The owner of the bakery says his father served nearly 35 years in the military. He also says life can through curve balls, but its important to remember those…
DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is turning back the dial to help slow the pace of rising covid-19 cases in the state. These new restrictions will put additional limitations on bars and restaurants starting Friday. Both indoor and outdoor private social gatherings will also be capped at ten people at that point. The number of guests allowed at…
DULUTH, Minn.- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz turned the dial back Tuesday, with new COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings and bars and restaurants in particular. Some local bar owners and staff throughout Duluth spoke out. Gov. Walz says these rules are because 71% of COVID cases from June to November were spread through private social gatherings, weddings, funerals, and bars. In…
DULUTH, Minn. – Every year, the American Red Cross hosts a Veteran’s Day blood drive. On Tuesday, the organization kicked off the two-day event taking place at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. the American Red Cross is partnering with the umd athletics department and Affinity Credit Union to host the event. Traditionally as winter gets closer, the group usually sees a…
DULUTH, Minn. – Old World Meats on central entrance has been open for five decades now. “I would say we’re one of the only butcher shops in town, the small time butcher shops that can give you all the stuff the old time ones could,” Butcher, Mike Wrazidlo says. The business is so popular that owners are still in the…
DULUTH, Minn- It’s been a highly emotional election season. As election results played out over the weekend some types of businesses in the Northland, like liquor stores and gun shops, saw a spike in sales. Strong feelings have been common with many people anxiously waiting for news about the presidential election results. Some were stocking up on certain items as…
DULUTH, Minn. – The first-ever Duluth Restaurant Week – Gift Card Edition began Sunday as a replacement to the traditional Eat Downtown Restaurant Week because of the pandemic. So rather than attracting people to dine in for specially priced menus, this week is all about purchasing gift cards for deals. Nearly 30 participating restaurants throughout Duluth will provide a $5…
DULUTH, Minn. – Temperature in the 70s is typically unexpected for this time of year, but local restaurants are taking advantage of the opportunity. “We kind of planned a girls trip and get out of the cities for a little bit,” Lauren Curtright, a visitor from the Twin Cities. Two friends, like many others visiting Duluth got a surprise when…
DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is requesting help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He wants FEMA to support the needs of long-term care and similar facilities in the state suffering from staffing shortages. There are hundreds of long term care facilities right here in the Northland. As COVID-19 lingers, one of their biggest challenges is having enough…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Economic Development Authority is extending a lifeline to Visit Duluth to help the organization promote winter tourism in the area. Last week DEDA awarded Visit Duluth $100,000 after the group requested help. Visit Duluth is like many organizations hit hard by the pandemic and could not afford to promote tourism on their limited budget. The…
DULUTH, Minn.- A new salon in Duluth’s Central Hillside Neighborhood is catering to African American hair types, which they see as underrepresented in Northland haircare. “Our hair is a part of who we are,” said owner Denisa Ford-Washington. “And without it I just feel like there’s a whole side of us that isn’t there.” Ford-Washington opened up Natural Braiding and…
SUPERIOR, Wis – Halloween is over and before you throw away all your pumpkins Greenfield Meats in Superior would like you to donate them. The meat shop is accepting whole or carved pumpkins as an alternative for those leftover from the spooky holiday. The pumpkins donated will serve as a special treat for the cows, chickens, and pigs being raised…
DULUTH, Minn. – There are less than 24 hours left until election day. Nearly 50% of registered voters in the City of Duluth have already returned their ballots. This adds up to a little over 24,000 mail-in votes from Duluth residents, which city officials say is unprecedented compared to previous presidential elections. On Monday, voters took advantage of the warmer…
DULUTH, Minn. – The wait is finally over. The Thanksgiving burrito returns for the holidays at Burrito Union. The legendary burrito is packed with all your Thanksgiving favorites including roasted turkey, corn, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. It also comes with a side of gravy and cranberry salsa. The manager says every year the burrito is a hit. “It’s always an…
DULUTH, Minn.- Sunday morning Duluth Fire crews found what has become a familiar scene on First Street — a fire at the historic Pastoret Terrace Building, old home of the Kozy Bar and Apartments. “I heard one of the firetrucks go by and I heard a big boom,” said nearby resident Shawn Carr. “You hear gunshots once in a while…
DULUTH, Minn.- On the last day of their season, the Northland’s Rambler Food Truck, decided to lend a hand to a local winter supply drive. The food truck parked outside of Life House in Downtown Duluth, giving free food to anyone who donates coats, socks, hats, gloves, or toiletries like toothpaste, body wash, or deodorant. Rambler staff say before they…
DULUTH, Minn. – The pandemic is continuing to put a strain on restaurant capacities, but low temperatures across the northland are making it harder to offer outdoor seating. As a result, the demand for patio heaters and fire pits has drastically increased. Restaurant owners are doing the most they can to overcome the hurdle of limited indoor capacities. Patio seating…
CANADA — Husky Energy, which operates a refinery in Superior, announced on Sunday that it is merging with one of its rivals in the oil and natural gas market, Cenovus Energy. The Husky name will be no more, as the company will begin operating under Cenovus Energy. The deal is “all-stock transaction valued at $23.6 billion, inclusive of debt,” according…
DULUTH, Minn. – Marinas in the area have begun winterizing boats. The process usually takes under two hours depending on the size of the boat. Although experts say it’s a bit earlier than they are used to, it doesn’t make it any less important when getting your boat ready for winter. “The process is basically draining out the water that…
DULUTH, Minn. – Working in law enforcement can be stressful for officers in the line of duty. Hoping to combat potential mental health concerns, the Duluth Police Department is testing out a new app called Peer Connect to help provide additional support for officers dealing with stressful situations. “Everybody in this organization, because of the type of work we do,…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – The Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development has recently released unemployment numbers showing a decline in the month of September for Superior. After high unemployment rates in the spring, the Mayor attributes the drop in those numbers to more businesses opening up. The city saw numbers drop from 21% in April to just under 7% in September. That…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior YMCA is putting on its own drive-thru Halloween event for children to safely enjoy. Knowing that Halloween would be different this year, the organization wanted to help offer a fun activity for the youth in the community. The event will take place in the west parking lot of the YMCA. Families are encouraged to dress…
DULUTH, Minn. – Essentia Health is now offering a flu shot clinic at the Miller Hill Mall, to help accommodate the need for more people to be vaccinated. Patient volumes for Essentia Health’s walk-in vaccination clinic at the mall have been a little slower than anticipated so far. Health officials are expecting a surge to start soon. The pandemic poses…
DULUTH, Minn. – Expanding a business is no easy task, but for the owners of one local pet supply store, this year has been full of first-time adventures. The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t putting a pause on expansion plans at A Place for Fido in the Fitger’s complex. “One thing that’s super exciting is we’re going to have a lake view,”…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- A pumpkin patch outside a local church in Superior is raising money for community outreach. Faith United Methodist Church is selling pumpkins in the Hardee’s parking lot off Belknap. They’ve sold about 600 of the roughly 1,000 they’ve been selling since the beginning of October. “We got a lot of carving pumpkins, we got a lot of different…
DULUTH, Minn.- A new black-owned salon in Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood is hoping to bring a new style and hair care catered to a more diverse part of the community. Natural Braiding and Beauty on East 4th Street opened this past week. While barbers work on all types of hair, owner Denisa Ford-Washington braids and cares for the African American…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Sacred Heart Music Center is looking to raise $7,500 to recover their losses after several break-ins during the pandemic. Some of the items stolen include a computer, speakers, several tv monitors, and a few guitars. Sacred Heart typically runs musical concerts, weddings, and youth programs at the facility several times a month. The pandemic has forced…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The popular pizza shop, Toppers, is officially open in Superior. The goal was to open back in March, but it wasn’t the right time. Unfortunately, the global pandemic put a pause on the plan for opening. Now that the restaurant is open to the public, it is providing job opportunities that may be desperately needed during this…
DULUTH, Minn. – As more snow heads toward the Northland, you don’t want want to wait any longer to get your snowblower in for repair. To make sure your equipment is ready before the snow begins to fall, experts say to get it into a shop for a tune-up. This particular service examines the snowblower and provides the opportunity to…
DULUTH, Minn.- The City of Duluth launched a new social media campaign encouraging more people to shop local. The “Locally Rooted” campaign highlights local restaurants, retail and hospitality establishments by featuring a photo of the business owner, a quote, and a link to the business’ social media pages. The City hopes to shed light on businesses the public may have…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Once again a 25 percent capacity restriction on indoor public places in Wisconsin is back in effect Monday, reimposed by a Wisconsin judge. Governor Tony Evers issued the order on Oct. 6th, amid a surge of coronavirus cases across the state. More action must be done, he said, to avoid overwhelming Wisconsin’s healthcare systems. About a week later…
DULUTH, Minn. – East West Property Management in Duluth took the opportunity to get more involved in the community by hosting a blood drive. The property company partnered with the American Red Cross to fill the need for blood. About forty people signed up to give blood for the event. A property manager at East West Property Management says donating…
DULUTH, Minn. – The South Pier Inn, located across the Lift Bridge on Park Point, has had an occupancy well over ninety percent for the last few months. Management says that people still have the need to get outside, but they are traveling differently making Duluth a prime destination. “Even though MEA is not in session- it’s virtual sessions they…
DULUTH, Minn. – Both St. Luke’s Hospital and Essentia Health are becoming overwhelmed with patients and most of them are non-COVID-19 related hospitalizations. On Thursday, leaders from the two hospitals hosted a press conference pleading with the public to get care when needed. Health officials from St. Luke’s Hospital say they have already reached capacity, while Essentia Health is also…
DULUTH, Minn. – Ecolibrium3 has started a new program to help homeowners in low-income communities address energy efficiency in their homes. Homeowners can sign up for virtually energy efficiency audits. These audits will analyze a house’s energy usage and help give recommendations on ways to make improvements. This can also help estimate some of the savings homeowners can get by…
DULUTH, Minn. – The sisters of the Benedictine Monastery of Duluth spent the day selling some of their homemade jams and other treats for a fundraiser. Typically the jams are sold at the monastery’s Christmas Bazaar, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has since been canceled. The jams are usually a hot ticket item every year at the…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Transit Authority will be temporarily reducing its routes starting on Tuesday. This change is the reflection of a bus driver shortage the company is currently experiencing. DTA officials say this is due to one of their drivers testing positive for the Coronavirus and four others out for quarantine as a result of contact tracing. “We…
DULUTH, Minn. – Colder weather has already started showing up in the Northland, leading many restaurants to think about the challenges they face this coming winter. One major concern is outdoor dining no longer being an option for them as temperatures drop. This dining option has been a big advantage for many Northland restaurants and has helped them get through…
DULUTH, Minn. – Spirit Mountain is gearing up for the skiing season. The ski hill has opened up eligibility to purchase season passes for the winter. After shutting down for the entire summer season due to the pandemic, management says that they have a plan for the hill in place and are ready to re-open. “We’re really excited to be…
DULUTH, Minn. — After the DECC announced earlier this week that the roughly 400 employees it furloughed are now permanently laid off, the city of Duluth’s Workforce Development Program wants to help those former workers find new opportunities. The program can first connect Duluth residents to emergency assistance, such as healthcare, housing, and making sure services like heat aren’t turned…
DULUTH, Minn. – A hometown restaurant in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood is closing its doors after nearly 40 years in business. Mike’s Western Cafe has lasted through multiple generations of many in the Lincoln Park Community. Those who have come to love the local restaurant will now have to say farewell. Mike Pracher, the owner of Mike’s Western Cafe, has…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Northland’s own Fitger’s on the Lake was recognized as the Best Retail Place to Work in the state of Minnesota in 2020. The award comes from the Minnesota Retailers Association. Every year they award one recipient based on treatment of employees and the overall work environment. The president and owner of Fitger’s said it’s an honor to…
