Education

Graphic Novel Author Speaks with Students About Diversity in Literature

Gene Luen Yang is an award winning graphic novelist

DULUTH, Minn. –  Award winning graphic novel author Gene Luen Yang is made a stop through Duluth on Monday to talk with students here about the need for more diversity in young people’s literature. He’s encouraging young people to read about characters outside of their own culture. “I think our world is becoming more diverse, and we’re becoming more connected….

American Indian Learning Resource Center awarded grant to publish book

The book is a biography of medicine man Paul Buffalo, and the Ojibwa history

DULUTH, Minn. – The American Indian Learning Resource Center at UMD has received an $85,600 grant from the Minnesota Historical Society. Members of the resource center are hoping to use those funds to publish a three volume book on Ojibwa history, and the biography of traditional Ojibwa medicine man, Paul Buffalo. “We’re hoping that by publishing this book people will be…

Lil’ Icebreakers teaches young girls the hockey basics

Girls ages four to eight learned how to skate from local hockey experts

DULUTH, Minn. – A group of young girls got the chance to learn some hockey basics on Sunday. The Duluth Girls Hockey Association (DGHA) hosted the Lil’ Icebreakers Free Skate at the Heritage Sports Center in Duluth. Girls ages four to eight got to the chance to learn some techniques from local women hockey experts. “This open skate is a perfect…

Marshall Students Compete in Cyber Security Competition

High School and Middle Schoolers Learn the Basics of Keeping Digital Information Safe

DULUTH, Minn. – These days, it seems like almost everything is connected to the internet. And with that comes security concerns. Young people at Marshall High School and Marshall Middle School are learning about ways to prevent cyber vulnerabilities. The students are learning the basics of computer security and could potentially use those skills in their future careers. “They can…

Candidates for Minnesota Governor Discuss Issues at UMD

Seven Gubernatorial Candidates Answered Questions from Students and the Community in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – Seven candidates for Minnesota Governor stopped by the University of Minnesota-Duluth today to meet with students and other voters in the northern part of the state. Several organizations at UMD brought in the candidates to get students more involved in the election process and give them more knowledge about the campaigns and important statewide issues. The panel…

Emergency Responder Training in the Cold

Duluth Hosts the State's Largest EMS Expo

DULUTH, Minn.-  EMS workers in Minnesota face many tough situations and harsh weather conditions on the job. To provide the best care workers are taking part in the state’s largest EMS Expo in Duluth.  Around 1,000 EMS workers from Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota come take part in Arrowhead’s EMS Expo. The training courses offered help workers learn more about advancing…

Former Miners Create Project to Preserve History of Erie Mining Company

Traveling Exhibit to Open at St. Louis County Historical Society

DULUTH, Minn. – Former miners on the Iron Range are working together to ensure the legacy and history of the Erie Mining Company is never forgotten. A group of Erie Mining alum is writing a book with oral history recounts and information about the company throughout the years. The book will be distributed to libraries and stores around the Northland,…

Duluth Public Schools Taking Precautions Against the Flu

Immunizations are important throughout a child's time at school from kindergarten, middle school and in high school.

DULUTH, Minn. – The recent flu outbreak has many Northland schools taking extra precautions. Several schools are seeing an increase in flu–like illnesses. But health officials at Lincoln Park Middle School in Duluth tell us there hasn’t been anything too much out of the ordinary for them when it comes to the flu. The school reports to the State of Minnesota if more than five…

Addressing Sexual Harassment in Small Businesses

The Northland Human Resources Association is hoping to help small businesses.

DULUTH, Minn.- Lately sexual harassment allegations against high profile individuals are making headlines. One local group is training individuals how to handle incidents in the work place. The Northland Human Resources Association is hosting sexual harassment training explaining how to create a safe work environment and help employers recognize inappropriate behavior. “Sometimes it’s just not knowing where to go to and…

Tax Pros: File Sooner Than Later

Tax Pros at H&R Block on Grand Avenue in Duluth Have Already Helped Dozens of Taxpayers this Year

DULUTH, Minn. – This year the IRS will start accepting tax returns on January 29. According to the IRS, nearly 155 million individual returns are expected to be filed this year. Business is already booming at H&R Block on Grand Avenue in West Duluth. Tax professionals say they’ve already had a few dozen customers walk through the door. This year…

Northland Foundation Grants Help Fund After School Programs

A total of 37 grants are being given out in Northeastern Minnesota.

DULUTH, Minn.-  After–school programs and in–school enrichment across Northeastern Minnesota are receiving funding from the Northland Foundation. One of the largest grants is going to CHUM, totaling $50,000. Overall the Northland Foundation is giving out over $507,000 worth of grants to 37 non–profits and schools. The Duluth Area Family YMCA is receiving $20,000. The money is going towards the Teen Core…

Superior Mother’s “Little Free Library” Set On Fire; Community Steps Up

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A mother of three from Superior is looking for your help to make as many “Little Free Libraries” as possible for the community after her family’s free library was set on fire. The fire happened late Saturday night outside Laura Selden’s home on Birch Avenue. Selden, who is a former MIX 108 morning radio personality and now…

Youth Nation Brings Community Together

The theme of the event, on the road to freedom.

DULUTH, Minn.-  Youth Nation helped many in the Twin Ports remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of equality, peace, and love. “Our youth are very important,” Youth Nation planning committee member Jara McLarren said. “They’re the next generation and I think it’s important to highlight that and show them that the community supports them.” On the road to freedom, is…

Rhythm and Hues Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s Spirit

The event featured a dinner, music and spoken word performances

DULUTH, Minn. – Peace United Church of Christ played host to the Rhythm and Hues event on Friday. The free event is part of a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It kicked off with a dinner and lead into a night of live music and spoken word performances, featuring artists who have made contributions in the fight for equal…

University of Minnesota Duluth Facing Budget Cuts

The chancellor unit will also see budget cuts.

DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) will start the next fiscal year a little differently after  facing a nearly six million dollar budget deficit. UMD’s solution is to follow a deficit reduction model which is meant to get the school back on track within five years. UMD plans on a six hundred thousand dollar reduction for the…

Northland State Employees Take Tribal Relations Training

In the future UMD wants to visit Red Lake and Grand Portage for more training.

Two thousand Northland employees are better equipped to handle tribal relations after taking a special training course. In just a day and a half state employees from more than 20 agencies learned about building better relationships with Native Americans and the tribal government. The training is a collaboration between the University of Minnesota Duluth Continuing Education, Department of American Indian…

Local Historical Center Receives Two Grants

The grants will help upgrade the center and educational programs.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior has received two grants totaling $30,000. The first grant of $20,000 is from a private foundation, that money will help update the 15 year old audio and visual equipment at the center. The center creates videos that help tell the stories of veterans in the Northland. The other grant…

Superior School District Wants Your Input In Choosing Next Superintendent

The survey opened on Jan. 8.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior School District is seeking a new district administrator and needs your help. The public is asked to participate in a community survey to help choose the next superintendent. Janna Stevens, the current superintendent, is retiring on June 30. The survey closes next Friday on Jan. 19. It asks what qualities people think are important for…

Duluth Teachers Nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year

Three Teachers from ISD 709 Were Nominated for the Statewide Award

DULUTH, Minn. – Three teachers from the Duluth School District have been nominated for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award. Holly Bowen Bailey, Beth Kersting-Peterson, and Cindy Upton were nominated by a committee from the district. They join many other teachers nominated from across the state. The winner of the Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be entered for…

UWS Named a Top Online Bachelor’s Program

University Officials Say Their Online Graduate Enrollment Has Doubled As Well

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior was recently recognized as a top online bachelor’s program by U.S. News and World Report. Administrators tell us their online graduate enrollment has doubled in the last year. They say online programs are great for students who can’t commute to campus and for students who prefer learning in a different setting. “We are…

Trains and Toddlers Held at the Depot

Kids Played and Learned All About Trains

DULUTH, Minn. – Preschoolers took over the Depot today for the Trains and Toddlers event. The kids listened to stories, played with train tables, and boarded the historic, real life trains all around the North Shore Scenic Railroad Museum. “It’s a nice way to come in and hang out with friends and to do something during the day that isn’t…

Whooping Cough Reported in Grand Rapids School

There is a Vaccine Available to Fight Whooping Cough

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.-A case of whooping cough has been reported in Grand Rapids Schools. A representative from the Minnesota Department of Health said they are concerned about an outbreak in that region right now. They said the symptoms are whooping cough are similar to the flu, which makes it hard to tell what illness you have. One way to help…

Storyteller Teaches Ojibwe Culture

Mike Sullivan from the LCO Reservation Tells Cultural Stories in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – An Ojibwe storyteller from the LCO reservation near Hayward told traditional stories of his people at the American Indian Community Housing Organization in Duluth. Mike Sullivan learned the tales from elders and tells them the same way they were told to him, in the Ojibwe language. Many of the traditional stories are about the half man, half…

University of Wisconsin System Exec to Plead Guilty to Drunken Driving

(UW System) MILWAUKEE (AP) _ The attorney for University of Wisconsin System executive Jessica Tormey says Tormey plans to plead guilty to first-offense drunken driving from an incident in Menomonie in October. Tormey is the chief of staff to UW System President Ray Cross. The Journal Sentinel reports that Tormey was stopped by police on the night of Oct. 5…

Northland School District Shortened School Week Is Cost Effective

With a four day school week Lake Superior School District has managed to save programs like Calculus, Advanced Biology and Physics.

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – It’s now been eight years since one Northland school district made a major change to its schedule. The Lake Superior School District, which includes the schools in Two Harbors and Silver Bay, started using a four day school week back in 2009. The district remains one of only a few in the state sticking with a shortened week….

Life House has a new addition

The homeless youth advocacy organization has purchased a neighboring building

DULUTH, Minn. – The homeless youth advocates at Life House in Duluth are celebrating their newest property. Life House has officially acquired a building right behind its location. The building will be used to expand the education efforts for homeless youth there. “We have an in–house, paid, job training program for the homeless and street youth that we work with….

Glensheen kicks off Moonlight Snowshoe hike

The snowshoe hikes take place every Wednesday this January

DULUTH, Minn. – Dozens of winter–goers braved the freezing air for the first Moonlight Snowshoe event of the year at the Glensheen mansion. Snowshoers toured the grounds, and finished off at a bonfire to warm up. “It’s just a different way to enjoy the winter landscape that we have in front of us,” Glensheen marketing director Jane Pederson said. “You…

Young Kids Getting Cabin Fever the Most

Experts Advise to Use More Indoor Activities that Burn Off Energy

DULUTH, Minn.-The frigid temperatures have a firm grip on the Northland as many of the residents in region have to put some extra layers on when going outside. Many others are choosing to avoid that hassle by staying in – in particular young children. We spoke to leaders from the daycare University Nursery at Coppertop Church who are advising that…

Duluth Public Library hosts escape room for teens

Northland teens worked together to solve the puzzle and escape the library

DULUTH, Minn. – Some teenagers simulated what might happen if they were locked inside the library.  The Mount Royal branch of the Duluth Public Library hosted a library-themed escape room puzzle on Friday. Teens worked together to find clues, and figure out how to escape the library in under 25 minutes. “There’s a whole ton of teamwork that happens here,”…

Tips for Recycling Old Tech Devices

Responsible Ways to Recycle Old Electronic Devices with the Help of Best Buy

DULUTH, Minn. – Best Buy Mobile Expert Zach Creger offers a few tips for those looking to get rid of your old, out-of-date electronics. Best Buy will recycle or even trade in old electronics. Devices with heating elements will not be accepted. With TVs and monitors, a $25 dollar fee is charged for the item to be recycled. If folks are getting…

UWS Faculty Passes Vote of No Confidence in Administration

Faculty Members Want the University to Include More Voices in Decision Making Process

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Friday night, the University of Wisconsin-Superior faculty passed a vote of no confidence in the University’s administration. About fifty-nine percent of the faculty voted for the no confidence resolution. The vote was taken in response to the administration’s October decision to suspend twenty-five academic programs. Faculty voting for the resolution hope it encourages administrators to re-visit their…

Giving Tree Program Helping to Brighten the Holidays

Event Lets Patients Feel at Home

DULUTH, Minn.-Being in the hospital at this time of the year can be tough, but this year some local elementary students tried to make that experience a little bit brighter. Students from Lester Park Elementary School visited patients at Essentia Health earlier today to hand out ornaments they made in class while also delivering decorated trees. The tradition has been…

Play Gym Provides Fun Space for Little Northlanders

The city of Duluth invites little Northlanders to a free space of their own.

DULUTH, Minn.-  Parents looking to give their kids a space to play and meet others their age can now stop by one local spot. The Duluth Heights Community Center is hosting Play Gym, a free time open to preschool aged kids and parents. The event welcomes Northland families to come in, enjoy a warm space, and spend some quality time. On goers told FOX21 Play…

Two Harbors High School Students to Host Civility Summit

DECA Program Creates Civility Summit for Community

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – Two Harbors High School students are working together to create a better environment for Northlanders. The school’s DECA program has created a Civility Summit they’re hosting on Friday, January 26. This summit is open to schools throughout the Northland, local businesses and residents. So far, more than 600 Northlanders have been invited. Students say the goal…

Avoiding Pet Decorating Dangers this Season

Staff at Animal Allies Humane Society in Duluth Offer Tips on How to Keep Your Pets Safe this Holiday Season

DULUTH, Minn. – By now many folks are probably rocking around the Christmas tree, but did you know your holiday decorations could be a danger to some in the household? Michelle Sternberg, Marketing and Communications Manager and Lindsay Snustad, Executive Director of Animal Allies Humane Society visited FOX 21 Local News to offer a few tips on keeping your furry friends…

Duluth School District Makes Cuts to Budget

The District Cut More Than $1.5 Million; a $409,500 Deficit Remains

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth School District had a $2 million deficit going into the next fiscal year. Tuesday night, they made a decision about where to cut. The reductions make $1.59 million in cuts to the district’s budget. ISD 709 will carry a deficit into next year of $409,500. Layoffs are not part of the budget cuts at this…

Maple School District to Have Referendum Vote in April

Maple School District Wants $600,000 A Year Over Three Years

MAPLE, Wis.-Maple School District is asking its residents to vote in favor of a referendum in April. They are asking the public for about $600,000 a year over the next three years to help maintain some of its current programming and staff. They had initially asked for $1.7 million a year over a five-year period, but the public didn’t support…

Cathedral School Gives Back to Hurricane Victims

Students sorted the clothing by gender and age group

SUPERIOR, Wis. – It’s been a little over three months since hurricanes devastated parts of Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico and these students were ready to step up and help. One by one these fifth graders loaded up a truck that is an example of the fruits of their labor. Nineteen students in Amber Nielsen’s class collected boxes of clothing,…

APEX Donates Winter Gear to Working Students

Northland students are receiving hands on experience out in wintry conditions.

HERMANTOWN, Minn.-  Northland high school students are working on a construction project, but with the temperatures getting chillier a local group of business leaders are ensuring students have the necessities. Members of the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion donated winter gear to students in the construction technology program. The students are working in the Northland’s wintry conditions. The bibs, gloves and…

UW-Superior Receives Narcan Kits

Safety officers will administer the drug

SUPERIOR, Wis. -Nine campuses in the University of Wisconsin system will be provided with free Narcan nasal spray, this includes UW-Superior. Law enforcement and campus security will receive the spray to treat opioid overdoses. “Narcan is a first line of defense against an overdose, so it can potentially save lives here on campus by getting that immediate dose of Narcan until first responders…

Community makes wreaths to support Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center

The money raised will go to fund educational programs at the center

DULUTH,Minn. – Folks were able to stop by the Glensheen Mansion for a night of wreath making on Wednesday. The event was a fundraiser for the Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center. Families paid $20 for each wreath, and that money will be used to fund educational programs at Boulder Lake. “We really want to spread the word, and let people…

UMD Athletic Director Signs Contract Extension

Josh Berlo (University of Minnesota Duluth) DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Duluth and Athletic Director Josh Berlo, have agreed to a two-year contract extension. The extension would put his contract that he signed in November 2015 through May 1, 2023. “Josh is a tireless advocate for student athletes. I am confident in the direction and leadership Josh has…

Partnership Provides Narcan to UW Campuses

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The overdose-reversing drug Narcan will be available for use by security officers on all University of Wisconsin campuses. Attorney General Brad Schimel joined the UW System President Ray Cross to make the announcement Wednesday. A partnership with the pharmaceutical company Adapt Pharma will make a nasal spray version of Narcan available for free at 10 UW…

‘Choralaires’ from Duluth East Perform Downtown

DULUTH, Minn. — The songs of Christmas fill the atrium at the Holiday Center in downtown Duluth. These carolers are the Choralaires – a group of students from Duluth East High School. The singers have been practicing their holiday show for more than a month. “I’ve always enjoyed Christmas music.  It’s like – I don’t know – it’s just a…

District 709 Faces $1M in Projected Cuts

The District's top priority is protecting and preserving what happens in the classrooms.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth School District is facing more than one million dollars in projected budget cuts. The district is currently $400,ooo in the red. District officials tell us they only have around $100,000 left in reserve, which an only be used for specific operational needs. The district’s chief financial officer Doug Hasler told FOX21 the district is doing everything…

Superior High School Students Hold Discussion About Concussions

Kaleb Ullan Got Two Concussions Playing Hockey Last Year and Wanted to Teach Facts to the Community

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Over the last few years, we’ve all heard a lot about the effects concussions can have on athletes. Two Superior High School students looked into the information and on Monday, they presented a community discussion about concussions. Kaleb Ullan was diagnosed with two concussions while playing hockey last season. This year, he and his friend Blake Hanson…

Education Department Urged to Resume Loan Cancellations

WASHINGTON (AP) – A government watchdog is urging the Education Department to resume the process of forgiving student loans for tens of thousands of Americans who were defrauded by for-profit colleges. In a report published Monday, the Office of Inspector General, an independent body within the education agency, recommends that the department restart “review, approval, and discharge process” for defrauded…

On Sale Now, ‘The Copper Hen Cookbook’

Duluth's Best Bread Co-Owner Robert Lillegard Has Released His Third Cookbook, 'The Copper Hen'

DULUTH, Minn. – Cooking can be difficult for many of us, whether it be finding certain ingredients or the time to perfect the best dishes, but one Duluthian is looking to eliminate the hesitation. Co-owner of Duluth’s Best Bread, Robert Lillegard first dabbled in cookbook writing when he was asked to write the first cookbook for The Duluth Grill. Since then,…