DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Power wants to raise your electric bill. But citizen watchdog groups won’t let those hikes pass without a fight. Representatives from the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota, the Minnesota Citizens Federation NE and Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light voiced their concerns with the proposed hikes Wednesday. These increases average out to about $225 a year per…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center unveiled a new exhibit Wednesday more than a decade in the making. Officials dedicated a U.S. Army M60–A3 tank, displayed in front of the museum. Mayor Jim Paine proclaimed Wednesday as M60 Tank Day in Superior. Members of Superior’s American Legion Post 435 lobbied for nearly a dozen years to bring…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Belknap Rd. construction project forced the local farmers’ market to find a new home. The market moved to the 1200 block of Banks Ave., near the World of Wheels roller rink. Shoppers can browse a wide variety of vendors from produce to meats to crafts; and everything is made or grown in Douglas County. Organizers wanted…
DULUTH, Minn. – If you were downtown Wednesday, you may have noticed an extra splash of color. Members of the city’s Clean and Safe Team hung flower baskets on light poles throughout downtown. The Greater Downtown Council has done this for about 15 years and officials say the baskets help make downtown more hospitable just in time for Grandma’s Marathon….
DULUTH, Minn. – Events for the 41st annual Grandma’s Marathon weekend begin Friday evening and run through Saturday evening. The following advisories have been issued by the Duluth Police Department: Friday, June 16 – William A Irvin 5K: Race begins at 6 p.m. Traffic on Harbor Drive behind the DECC will be closed beginning at 3 p.m. At 5:30 p.m….
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Community leaders have come up with a plan to fight sex trafficking during the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. The Star Tribune reports the 40-member group unveiled a plan Tuesday that includes billboard campaigns and statewide law enforcement stings. The effort is estimated to cost around $1 million. The group is made up of representatives from counties, nonprofits,…
KTVU SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – A San Francisco hospital has received multiple victims from a shooting at a sprawling UPS warehouse and customer service center. Brent Andrew, spokesman for Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, said Wednesday that the hospital had received victims, but he did not know exactly how many or their conditions. KTVU reported that in a statement, UPS…
DULUTH, Minn. – This month the Laborers International Union of North America Local 1091 is celebrating 80 years. The Local has helped bring several recognizable buildings to Duluth including the Amsoil Arena, the Duluth International Airport, Maurices Headquarters and Pier B. The group is celebrating with a BBQ at the Duluth Labor Temple on Thursday, June 15. This is open to the public from…
DULUTH, Minn. — After hosting KUMD’s long running radio show “Highway 61 Revisited” for half a century radio personality John Bushey receives a huge honor. The studio Bushey has sat in for more than 25 years was dedicated to him and will forever be named the John Bushey Studio. During Bushey’s weekly show he shares his understanding of everything there…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Department is going old school in the way it patrols the downtown and Canal Park business districts. For the first time in a decade, a full-time police officer will now be on foot patrol, as FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reports. It’s a new day for Duluth police officer Mike Jambor. There’s no squad car…
The city of Duluth unveiled new details about the western waterfront and trail master plan tonight. After nearly a year of studies along the St. Louis River and multiple public input sessions have finally brought some insight to what the master plan might intel. The Morgan Park recreation center was packed with local citizens eager to see this master plan…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Spirit Valley YWCA in Duluth has been chosen to receive a pretty significant grant. The South St. Louis County Family Service Collaborative has awarded $225,000 to the local non-profit. Alice Jacobson, Director of External Programming, says she remembers screaming when she heard the news; she says funding like this can sometimes be difficult to come by….
At the Brainerd Industrial Center, a former paper mill, thousands of recalled Volkswagen diesel vehicles are being stored. Steve Fines for MPR News BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) – The fate of thousands of recalled Volkswagens that are being stored in central Minnesota is undetermined. Minnesota Public Radio reports the vehicles are being stored in Brainerd as part of a massive recall…
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump will be touring a technical school in Wisconsin Tuesday as part of his push to boost jobs by increasing apprenticeships. Trump says the learn-and-earn arrangements are going to be “a big, big factor” in his effort to add jobs that employers are having trouble filling. The idea is for students to work at paid…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth city councilors gave a final vote of approval Monday night for Sunday liquor sales. This vote of approval now allows liquor stores to beginning selling on Sunday as early as July 16. The vote comes after Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill earlier this year that lifted the state’s 158-year-old ban on Sunday liquor sales. Local…
BEAVER BAY, Minn. – Summer is officially here which means business is starting to boom along Lake Superior’s North Shore. Many businesses rely on a summer rush while others have found opportunities to evolve, catering to customers year round. In this week’s Knowing Your Neighbors, FOX 21’s Brett Scott stopped by one shop doing just that. “Everybody’s getting their boats…
Duluth, Minn. The rubber mulch that has been a hot topic for a few years is now one step closer to being removed. It has come down to choosing the lowest bidder for the removal of the rubber. Originally bids to remove the rubber mulch were over 2 million dollars making the school board needing to research other avenues to…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth City Council voted Monday night to rezone property near Proctor from residential to mixed-use, which allows a Kwik Trip development to move forward. The vote came down to a 5-3 vote with councilors Joel Sipress, Gary Anderson and Howie Hanson voting against the rezoning and Elissa Hansen absent. The parcels of land are at Boundary…
DULUTH, Minn. – There is big news for the City of Duluth, as $200,000 is coming its way in an effort to bring the community together. Some Duluth city leaders submitted the idea of “Making Canal Park Pop” to the Knight Cities Challenge. Canal Park is known for its great view of the lake, shops and also the many cars driving…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota owners of vehicles powered exclusively by electricity will face a new fee next year. Minnesota Public Radio reports the annual $75 surcharge approved by state lawmakers takes effect in January. Minnesota joins a growing number of states tacking on an extra registration charge on electric vehicles to make up for lost gas tax revenues….
DULUTH, Minn. – Many of you may be looking into landscaping projects this summer. One local company is looking to transition outdoor spaces into ecological hubs. Shoreview Natives is stemming from a lesson taught in one Northland classroom. For Duluth Woodland resident Will Bartsch, it’s common to have folks drive past his home, looking twice and stopping with a few questions….
Island Lake, Minn. With the more than 10 thousand lakes in Minnesota and not even counting Wisconsin there’s always some type of aquatic activity you can get involved in. Apparently going to Walmart and buying a blow up kayak may not be in your best interest until you have the skills to hit the water. Today at Island Lake the…
DULUTH, Minn.-The Ascena Retail Group, which owns multiple retail outlet including the Duluth-based Maurices, has announced they will be closing 250 stores in the near future. Currently there are 4,850 retail stores owned by Ascena, with a thousand of them being Maurices. Other stores in their portfolio include Dress Barn, Catherine’s, and Lane Bryant. Representatives from the company told us…
DULUTH, Minn. – The new owner of a building on the 100 block of East Superior Street has been revealed. The buyer is under and entities of Hall Equities group out of California. While the company spokesperson would not confirm what is planned – if any — for the building and the three tenants inside, including Old Town Antiques, it…
DULUTH, Minn. — The historic Original Coney Island on East Superior Street has been sold after more than 90 years of serving hungry customers. On Wednesday, signs and décor inside the restaurant were off the walls as a transformation is underway for a new restaurant. The name of the new tenant, Martha’s Daughter, was created in 2014, according to its…
DULUTH, Minn. – The changing newspaper industry has forced the Duluth News Tribune to put its building up for sale. But the DNT reports the future is bright as the paper nears its150th birthday. According to the DNT, the current building on the 400 block of West First Street has too much empty space after the historic printing press was…
DULUTH, Minn. – Congestion on Lake Avenue from those trying to access Canal Park from Superior Street has become a growing concern for the city of Duluth. A focus group met tonight to talk about 6 different proposed policies that would better forms of transportation in different parts of the city. The focus group, which is part of the Imagine…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Minnesota Power announced some big plans that would bring a $700 million natural gas power plant to Superior. If approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, the proposed Nemadji Trail Energy Center would start construction as early as 2020 and come online in 2025. The project would bring hundreds of construction and industry jobs, 26 full0time plant…
ELY, Minn. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Rep. Rick Nolan announced a major grant for the Ely Municipal Airport. The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the airport a grant of $82,581 for infrastructure improvements. “Municipal airports, such as the Ely Municipal Airport, support good-paying jobs and safe, efficient travel in our part of Minnesota,”…
CLOQUET, Minn. – After being closed for nearly one month, staff and volunteers at Friends of Animals Humane Society in Cloquet are opening up the doors to a new location. While the excitement is high, funding is still needed to reach the final goal. Right now, there’s a kingdom of condos being built; condos housing herds of cute kittens. “We…
DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Power has proposed rate increases that would affect customers across the Northland. The Citizens Utility Board held an information session to let people know what the impact of the rate hike could be, and how customers can voice their concerns. “The rate increases are quite significant, especially, more so on low-income people and it impacts their…
SILVER BAY, Minn. – Monday was the end of an era for one decades old pit stop on the North Shore. The old Spur gas station off of Highway 61 in Silver Bay is now demolished, making way for new opportunity. Four developers are now climbing toward new adventures, hoping the community and tourists will enjoy the development. “It just needs…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Zoo announced today that it has hired an interim CEO. Dave Benson will serve as interim CEO at the Lake Superior Zoo, following seven years as executive director and three years as development director at the Daminao Center in Duluth. “Dave brings years of knowledge running an important local non-profit organization, including strategic planning,…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A new report from the state labor officials shows about 15-percent of hourly employees in Minnesota make the minimum wage of $9.50 an hour or less. The Department of Labor and Industry report shows there are about 1.6 million hourly workers in Minnesota and 31-percent work in restaurants, bars, and other eating and drinking establishments….
TWO HARBORS, Minn. – A science lab in Two Harbors is on the cutting edge of some important bio-medical work. BRTI Life Sciences is having success with their Stem Cell related technology. The lab creates and sells products other companies use for cell research. In the process, BRTI is bringing high-tech jobs to Northern Minnesota. Their Cell Mate devices are…
Brule, Wis. – As part of the “Be Somebody” campaign, more than 30 volunteer fire departments throughout North West Wisconsin came together in Brule. No matter what day, or the time in the day it is. If you’re a volunteer first responder and duty calls, you drop everything and head out the door. “I’ve had to walk away from games…
Superior, Wis. – Small businesses in downtown superior are doing anything possible to get patrons in the door. Construction on U.S. highway 2 has begun to take a toll on small businesses in the area. Today an open house was held by multiple businesses near the intersection of Belknap and Tower. With many of them holding raffle prizes as a…
Duluth, Minn. – During all of 2017 Finland is celebrating the country’s centennial birthday after gaining independence from Russia in 1917. As part of Finland’s 100th birthday, the traveling sauna will continue to travel the United States visiting cities and towns with a high finish population today the sauna made a stop in Duluth. ”It’s really cool to be up…
Happy National Donut Day! Each year on the first Friday in June, people participate in Donut Day, honoring the Salvation Army women who served donuts to soldiers during WWI. In 1917, the original Salvation Army doughnut was first served. Home cooked foods provided by brave volunteers proved to be a morale booster for troops serving overseas. Johnson’s Bakery joined us…
DULUTH, Minn. – To John Klatt, Summer is air show season. But this week, this pilot is on cloud nine. “I feel like I’m home when I come back to Duluth,” Klatt said. Klatt flew F–16’s for the 148th Fighter Wing out of Duluth for 14 years. Now he flies the Jack Link’s Screamin’ Sasquatch, a one of a kind…
DULUTH, Minn.- Visit Duluth is officially moved into their new office. Visit Duluth used to be in a building owned by Minnesota Power, but after Minnesota Power announced they were expanding their clean energy department, Visit Duluth decided to move buildings. It’s taken a few months for Visit Duluth find a space and make the move, but now they are…
DULUTH, Minn. – If you heard loud noises coming from the sky Thursday afternoon, it was likely the Blue Angels. The U.S. Navy’s demonstration squadron arrived for this year’s Duluth Air and Aviation Expo. The Blue Angels started in the 1940’s and appear at air shows across the country from March to November. Pilots and flight crews rotate regularly, but…
DULUTH, Minn. – Downtown Duluth shoppers may have noticed the Engwall’s Flowers on Superior Street is closed. The downtown shop actually closed last week, but both the Superior and Hermantown locations are still open. Engwall’s owner says closing downtown doesn’t mean his business is struggling. “It’s just an acknowledgment of how things are changing in the marketplace, especially I think…
DULUTH, Minn. – At Tuesday’s meeting, the Duluth School Board approved a new long term maintenance plan. Two projects were added; repairs at Rockridge Elementary to prepare for Woodland Hills moving in, and replacing rubber mulch on school playgrounds. To pay for the projects, the district needs to borrow $4.3 million through bonds to be paid back in five years. …
DULUTH, Minn. – The iconic Crabby Ol’ Bill’s eatery in Canal Park is possibly a little less crabby right now because it’s opening Friday and under new ownership. The popular hot spot has gotten rotted wood fixed up, along with fresh paint and a deep cleaning inside where all those famous mini donuts are made. “Our company, Titanium Partners, is…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The application deadline is over in Superior, and two candidates are officially in the running to be appointed to the former council seat of Graham Garfield who resigned. Tylor Elm handed in 232 signatures of support with his application. Elm lost to Garfield in a recent election by one vote. The other candidate is Kara Schmidt who…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth–Superior Film Festival kicked off the first of five days of film, music and arts Wednesday. Wednesday night’s film was shown at Clyde Iron Works called Rumble, which is a documentary about the role of Native Americans in popular music history. The festival concentrates on movies shot and produced right here in our region. Many of…
DULUTH, Minn. – Two non-profit agencies in Duluth that serve children and families have been chosen to receive significant grants from the South St. Louis County Family Service Collaborative. The YWCA Duluth will receive $225,000 and the Lincoln Park Children and Family Collaborative will receive $25,000. Recipients took part in a comprehensive application process and were chosen based on their…
DARLINGTON, Wis. (AP) -A Wisconsin judge has overturned a ban on selling homemade baked goods in the state. Lafayette County Judge Duane Jorgenson ruled Wednesday afternoon in favor of three women who’d challenged a state law they say made it impossible for home bakers to legally sell their treats. Jorgenson said in his oral ruling the ban primarily serves business…
FORBES, Minn. – Lawmakers and officials from Cliff’s Natural Resources had reason to celebrate, as they cut the ribbon on the re-opened United Taconite facility. “We are truly celebrating here today the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America sending a brand new mustang pellet to the largest blast furnace in the United States,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar…
