Education

Superior Addresses Child Care Issue with Relief Grant

Grant applications will begin April 1 and run through June of 2024.

SUPERIOR, Wisc.– The city of Superior has created a grant program to target the issues surrounding the lack of child care in the area. The city has set aside 200-thousand dollars to provide existing child care facilities that can help with anything from remodeling and safety enhancement to training and recruitment of employees. Superior City Councilor Jenny Van Sickle says,…

Friends of ‘CODA’ Star Daniel Durant, Twin Ports Deaf Community Inspired by Oscars Win

The deaf studies minor at UMD has the second-largest enrollment in the school.

DULUTH, Minn.- The small town pride for Duluth actor Daniel Durant was amplified by his fellow members of the deaf and hard of hearing community here in town. The deaf studies minor at UMD has the second-largest enrollment in the school. Courses include Linguistics, Deaf Culture, and American Sign Language Skill Building Workshop. Coordinators at UMD’s American Sign Language Lab…

Spring Feast Returns to UMD

DULUTH, Minn. – A spring tradition at UMD resumed Tuesday as the American Indian Learning Resource Center held their Spring Feast. The event coincides with a similar event in the fall to celebrate the changing of the seasons.  It’s a chance for American Indian and Alaska Native students, their allies, and anyone interested in learning more about Indigenous cultures, as well…

UMD Bulldog Rocketry Blasts Motor In Test Before ‘Spaceport American Cup’

DULUTH, Minn. – The Bulldog Rocketry Team at UMD is working hard to perfect its competitive rocket for an upcoming national competition — Spaceport American Cup. The team members performing an on-the-ground test Sunday to find out just how powerful their engine is right now. Data gathered from the test will help the team optimize their rocket launch to hopefully…

Lincoln Park to Undergo Much Needed Transformations

DULUTH, Minn.– Duluth’s Ecolibrium3 has been awarded more than 800-thousand dollars to address economic, educational and health disparities in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood. The money is coming from the Department of Employment and Economic Development. It’ll fund three construction projects including a small-footprint grocery store with fresh produce on W Superior St. This effort will help to close the gap…

NASP Archery State Championship

DULUTH, Minn. — The arrows were flying this weekend at the DECC as hundreds of young archers took up their bows in the state competition, for the Minnesota National Archery in the Schools Program, or NASP. Close to 1,500 archers, ages 4th through 12th grade from across the state of Minnesota participated. Arrows were shot into both bullseye targets, and…

UMD Teen Science Café Helps Twin Ports Youth Explore Real-World STEM

There'll be one more science cafe this year on cryptography next month but they'll be back with more in the fall.

DULUTH, Minn.- It was a meeting of the minds at UMD’s Swenson College of Engineering as some college professors and high schoolers hoped to get other stem-interested teens together. Friday was the launch of the Teen Science Cafe. A UMD professor specializing in “gamification”, using the power of games for decision making spoke to teens and engaged them in activities…

Fox 21 Meteorologists Stop By Cloquet Middle School

CLOQUET, Minn. — Our FOX 21 weather team, Rusty Mehlberg, Ken Slama and Sam Gabrielli, stopped by Cloquet Middle School on Friday morning to get some 8th graders jazzed up about weather and other science stuff. The 8th grade science class has been doing different experiments and learning about pressures, and weather systems like cold and warm fronts. “It’s great…

Lake Superior College Hosts Career And Transfer Fair

DULUTH, Minn. – Lake Superior College is having its first big networking event since the pandemic as employers set up their booths in hopes of connecting with students walking through. More than 70 employers turned out Wednesday representing fields such as healthcare, trade jobs, military, and much more. Kaitlyn Steffen, director of career services, said it’s an opportunity for students…

Proposed Legislation Could Pay Part of UMD Tuition for Future Minnesota Students

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesotans who graduate high school and attend UMD could have a sizable chunk of their tuition covered if a proposal in the state legislature become law. The Greater Minnesota Scholarship Program could cover around $4,000 of the student’s first year, and an additional $1,000 to $2,000 each year over their next three years. The goal is to end…

Duluth Sister Cities International Won’t Drop Sister City Petrozavodsk, Russia Amid War

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Sister Cities is speaking out in support of Petrozavodsk, Russia, which is one of Duluth’s sister cities, as that country’s leader continues to pummel Ukraine. In an email Tuesday to Mayor Emily Larson and city councilors, Sister Cities board members said they condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and they stand in solidarity of the people of…

Birdwatching 101 at Duluth Folk School

DULUTH, Minn. – The birds are starting to come back and in preparation, the Duluth Folk School had its first Birdwatching 101 class of the season Tuesday, which is an annual class that couldn’t happen the past two years due to COVID. The class teaches how to be a successful bird watcher by learning tips on how to find them,…

U of M Asks Lawmakers for $30M for Scholarships

Each student would get $4,000 to $5,000 in their first year and $1,000 to $2,000 in each of their next three years.

DULUTH, Minn.- University of Minnesota officials are asking legislators to approve $30 million for scholarships for students who attend regional campuses. The Star Tribune reports the proposed Greater Minnesota Scholarship Program would go give money to Minnesota residents who enroll as freshmen at the university’s Duluth, Rochester, Crookston, and Morris campuses. Each student would get $4,000 to $5,000 in their…

UMD Students Root for Bulldog Women in Frozen Four with Gear from UMD Stores

Management says orders have been steady for t-shirts and sweatshirts celebrating the team making it to the Frozen Four.

DULUTH, Minn.- Even though the UMD Women’s Hockey Team lost to Ohio State after a hard-fought game, leading up to the championship excitement was bubbling on the UMD campus and merch was flying off the shelves at the school’s Store. Management says orders have been steady for t-shirts and sweatshirts celebrating the team making it to the Frozen Four. And…

Kids Have Fun with ‘Maggot Art,’ Planetarium Visit at UMD’S STEM Discovery Day

Kids learned about microplastics, electricity, carbon, and visited the Allworth Planetarium.

DULUTH, Minn.- Saturday middle and high school students interested in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM got hands-on with some experiments and activities with the help of some bulldogs. UMD’S Swenson College of Science and Engineering brought its annual Stem Discovery Day back to campus. Kids learned about microplastics, electricity, carbon, and visited the Allworth Planetarium….

Video Shows Cop Kneeling on Wisconsin Student’s Neck While Breaking Up Fight

The girl’s father has called for criminal charges against the officer for using a type of restraint that was banned for Wisconsin law enforcement officers last year.

KENOSHA, Wis. – School officials in Kenosha, Wisconsin, released surveillance footage that shows an off-duty police officer putting his knee on a 12-year-old girl’s neck to restrain her amid a lunchtime fight. The Kenosha Unified School District released redacted footage of the March 4 fight on Friday. It shows Kenosha officer Shawn Guetschow intervening in the fight and then scuffling…

Day Two of UMD Environmental Summit

DULUTH, Minn. – Friday was the second day OF UMD’S Environmental Summit, an event put on by SEE Change and other local environmental organizations. SEE Change is an acronym for Social, Environment, and Economic Change, and that what the summit was all about. Thursday, the event featured a sustainability fair with community organizations from throughout the state and today presentations…

Cloquet Police Investigating Shooting Threat Made to Cloquet Middle School

CLOQUET, Minn.- The Cloquet Police Department is currently investigating emails threatening a shooting at the Cloquet Middle School. According to a spokesperson with the department on Wednesday, 2 staff members reported getting emails indicating the school was targeted for a possible school shooting on Thursday. Officers immediately began investigating the source of the threat. As of Friday the spokesperson said,…

Mask Requirements Loosening On U of M Campuses Starting March 21st

MINNESOTA — The University of Minnesota system is loosening its mask requirements for all campuses as COVID case rates drop. The university president wrote in a statement last Friday that the school system always aligned its mask policies with CDC recommendations. Starting on March 21st, the restrictions are loosening but not going away entirely yet. Anyone on campus will no…

Blaze the Black Bear Named Mascot of New Northwood College in Superior

WITC became a Northwood campus back in August.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- There’s a new furry face making its home at the new Northwood Technical College formerly WITC in Superior. Blaze the Bear is the new mascot after a 2-year-long student selection process. While they don’t have sports at the technical college, students compete with their skills in nursing, business, and more on the statewide and national levels. So they…

Dist. 709 Supt. Talks Central H.S. Property Sale Falling Through

DULUTH, Minn.- On Tuesday, we heard from the Duluth Schools Superintendent John Magas after the sale of Central High School fell through. This past summer, a developer called Saturday Properties from St. Louis Park in Minnesota intended to buy the property for $7.4 million. The company planned to create 400 units of townhomes and apartments from the property, which overlooks…

UWS Hosts International Women’s Day Event

SUPERIOR, Wis.- UWS hosted an event on Tuesday to celebrate accomplishments made by women through social, economic, cultural, and political efforts. There were also tables set up for people to stop by and learn about issues that women still face today, along with a speech delivered by the NAACP Duluth chapter president. One of the organizers talked about what the…

UMD Planetarium Sells Out First Weekend Back

DULUTH, Minn. — The UMD Planetarium re-opened on Friday after 2 years of being closed, and it was obvious children and families were eager to be back inside, exploring the galaxies. The director tells us Friday night exceeded her expectations. She was nervous people wouldn’t buy tickets after being closed due to covid concerns, but they sold out for the…

High School Students Test their ‘Metal’ Going Head to Head at FIRST Robotics Competition

DULUTH, Minn.- The DECC was full of metal v.s. metal “scraps” as more than 4,000 high school students battled with the robots they built and programmed at the FIRST Robotics Competition. FOX 21 Photojournalist Adam Jagunich takes us to the arena. Categories: Education, Entertainment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News Tags: FIRST Robotics Competition

Masks Now Optional for Duluth ISD 709 Students, Staff

The option of a 10-day mask mandate will be on the table if transmission spikes in district buildings.

DULUTH, Minn.- Masks will now be optional for students and staff in the Duluth Public School District. Superintendent John Magas says as of Thursday covid-19 community levels are low in St. Louis County. Under medium levels, the district would recommend mask-wearing in buildings and on buses, and under high levels, staff and students would have to mask up again. Magas…

Pres. Biden Stops at UWS to Talk Bolstering Blatnik Bridge, Other Northland Infrastructure Needs

On his way to UWS President Biden stopped under the Blatnik Bridge to get an up-close look at the shape it was in.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Bridges were front and center of President Biden’s speech as he made Yellowjacket Union at UWS his first stop after the State of the Union Address Tuesday. “Hello Wisconsin, the President said to cheers, “and if you’re hearing me across the river hello Minnesota.” On his way to UWS President Biden stopped under the Blatnik Bridge near the…

Power of Storytelling at UMD’S Equity, Race, Ethnicity Summit

More than 400 people were set to participate in the event held both in person and through zoom.

DULUTH, Minn.- Members of the BIPOC community hoped to build more bridges with the power of their stories at UMD’s annual Summit on Equity, Race and Ethnicity. More than 400 people were set to participate in the event held both in person and through zoom. Workshops focused on community leaders sharing personal stories accounts of events and more around a…

Northland Boy Scouts Test Outdoor Skills with Beargrease Derby

13 troops reenacted the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race.

CLOQUET, Minn.- Boy Scout troops throughout the Northland put their winter outdoor skills to the test by mirroring a legendary winter outdoorsman John Beargrease. 13 troops reenacted the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race. With 4 to 8 scouts acting as the dog teams, they mushed through about a mile loop at the Cloquet Forestry Center with stations named after cities…

Cirrus Aircraft Connects With LSC Students Interested In Aviation

They hope this partnership creates a pipeline for skilled students to work for high-demand positions in machining, automotive, aviation, and more.

DULUTH, Minn.- Lake Superior College and Cirrus Aircraft partnered up to connect with local students interested in joining the aviation industry. Cirrus Aircraft is located right next door to LSC. Representatives networked with classes in the college’s Aviation Center. They hope this partnership creates a pipeline for skilled students to work for high-demand positions in machining, automotive, aviation, and more….

CSS Ready for Musical Theater Return

DULUTH, Minn. – Musical theater returns at The College of Saint Scholastica as they open their production of “Little Shops of Horrors” Thursday, February 24. The college did return to theater productions last fall with “The Frogs, A Modern Adaptation”, but this is the first production with songs since the COVID pandemic began nearly two years ago.  Nearly 50 students, staff,…

Superior High School Students Prepare For Trip to Japan with Fundraiser

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Over the past 20 years Superior has built a connection with its sister city in Japan, Ami Machi through Superior High School’s exchange program, and after taking a pause due to covid, the cultures will blend again this year. Superior high school students held a pancake breakfast fundraiser Saturday morning at the United Presbyterian Church on North…

2nd Graders Mush in 14th Annual ‘Ikidarod’ at North Shore Community School

2nd graders pulled their classmates on sleds along the trail on the environmental charter school's 40 acre-land.

DULUTH, Minn.- It’s the season of mushing but for one annual Duluth race Friday it wasn’t dogs pulling sleds. North Shore Community School ran the 14th annual “Ikidarod” race. 2nd graders pulled their classmates on sleds along the trail on the environmental charter school’s 40 acre-land. Educators say for the past month they’ve been tying geography, math, and science lessons…

Secret Forest Playschool Embraces the Cold

DULUTH, Minn. – During the colder months, being outside is more essential than being stuck indoors for one local pre-school. Secret Forest Playschool, a play-based nature preschool in Duluth, strives to preserve childhood by letting kids play outside everyday. By being outside, the children are able to learn about the importance of mother nature whether it relates to the sun,…

UMD Engineering Students Offering Chocolates Made in an On-Campus Lab this Valentine’s Day

The students were able to model the chocolate-making process starting with cocoa beans they harvested themselves.

DULUTH, MN – Several chemical engineering students at UMD have created a chocolate lab to put some of the concepts they have learned to practical use. The students were able to model the chocolate-making process starting with cocoa beans they harvested themselves. The lab itself comes as a surprise to many who venture through the halls of the engineering building….

Duluth Public Library Purchases Virtual Reality Devices

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Public Library was just able to purchase a new interactive device they can’t wait to share with the public. An anonymous donation to the library foundation has allowed them to purchase three virtual reality devices. A Senior Library Technician tells us, these devices have allowed her to connect with other people in the country over…

FDLTCC Holds Annual Nursing & Healthcare Expo

CLOQUET, Minn. – It was a busy Tuesday at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.  It was a campus visit day for prospective students, and the college’s annual Nursing and Healthcare Expo. Everyone who attended, from current and future students to members of the public, got their chance to learn more about what opportunities are available in health care.  The…

Thunder Food Pantry Opens at FDLTCC

CLOQUET, Minn. – Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College students have an expanded food pantry to help them achieve food security. Thunder Food Pantry opened last week, increasing what had originally been in on-campus housing prior to the pandemic. Organizers say all Minnesota State campuses are working to have this type of pantry available.  It also means working with Second…

‘Unity Fund’ Launches In Twin Ports To Strengthen African Heritage Communities

To celebrate Black History Month, the Unity Fund has launched in the Twin Ports to help strengthen African Heritage communities through current and future projects. The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation and the Ordean Foundation are supporting the fund by each matching up to $50,000 in donations. Organizers say it’s critical to acknowledge racism and our nation’s dark history with…

Duluth YMCA Bans Official, Stands with Girl Wearing ‘Black Lives Matter’ Swimsuit

An independent volunteer race official claimed the 12-year-old's suit went against USA Swimming's policy of no political language. The YMCA said that was inappropriate.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Duluth YMCA has banned an independent volunteer official from all future swim meets after that person nearly disqualified a young girl for wearing a swimsuit sporting the words “Black Lives Matter” at an event at Superior High School Sunday. “I was like, why do I have to take my suit off if like my life matter, other…

Duluth Public Library Brings Back ‘Blind Date with a Book’

DULUTH, Minn. — The Youth Services Department in the Duluth Public Library is bringing back an old favorite program, just in time for Valentine’s Day. “Blind Date with a Book” always proves to be a hit for the library, staff select different books from all genres, and hand-wrap them. The tag on the outside tells the reader the genre, themes,…

Duluth Public Library Highlighting Black History Month

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Public Library is helping highlight Black History Month, displaying a new exhibit that showcases prominent figures in the black community. A team from youth services hand-picked their own selections of books to come together and create this display. They were happy to showcase some of the library’s collection that highlight identity and uplift people and…

UMD Hosts Annual Outdoor Job Fair

DULUTH, Minn. – Students at University of Minnesota-Duluth got their chance to find employment for the upcoming summer season. Around 30 organizations took part in the university’s annual outdoor job fair Wednesday, which has been happening every spring semester since the early 80s. Organizers say it’s a chance for students to connect personally with summer camps, environmental education centers, conservation groups…

Congdon Elementary 1st Graders Enjoy Own Version of John Beargrease Race

DULUTH, Minn. – As the John Beargrease race comes to an end, students at Congdon Elementary in Duluth took part in their own version of the race Tuesday. Participants were first graders in Alaina Pilates’ class.  They were broken up into teams of four, with each taking turns either being one of the dogs pulling a sled or the musher who…

‘Blinking Lights for Safety’ At Proctor School Dist.

PROCTOR, Minn.- Students in Proctor will soon sport a flashy new keychain on their backpacks that helps keep them safe. The school district is partnering with St. Luke’s to attach LED blinking lights on the kids’ backpacks. With flashing strobe settings. With many students coming from more rural towns the lights help them stay safe if walking home from the…