Education

Local Schools Face Food Service Staff Shortage

DULUTH, Minn. — Schools across the nation are in desperate need of food service workers, including Lowell Elementary School in Duluth. The shortage is not only in the area, but throughout the country and across the state. Duluth public schools Communications Officer, Adelle Wellens, says they do have workers to provide meals. Although, if one person gets sick, they’re short…

Duluthian From Ukraine Prepares For Another Aid Trip To War-Torn Country, Needs Donations

DULUTH, Minn. – Bogdana Krivogorsky, a Duluthian who was born and raised in Ukraine, talked to FOX 21’s Dan Hanger on the morning show Wednesday about her recent trips to the Poland-Ukraine border to bring all types of medical supplies to the war-torn country. Krivogorsky is planning more visits and is always looking for donations to help her access and…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Author Of ‘Trixie Bixby And Her 66 Pairs Of Socks’

DULUTH, Minn. — Angie Delf, a Duluth author of Trixie Bixby and Her 66 Pairs of Socks, stopped by the morning show Friday to talk about her inspiration to write the children’s book.  Click the video above to hear more from Angie, and click here to purchase the book. “Trixie is a spirited girl who loves her fun and colorful sock…

BWCA Day at Bagley Nature Area

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s BWCA day and to celebrate, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness hosted an educational event over at the Bagley Nature Center. The event was all about bringing a piece of the Boundary Waters to a local park with the hope of connecting people to nature. Attendees were taught a bit about the Boundary Waters, how to…

Scott Anderson Leadership Forum Taking Place

DULUTH, Minn. – An annual program is teaching leadership skills to a select group of high school students this week. The Scott Anderson Leadership Forum has brought 120 students from 14 Minnesota schools to the College of Saint Scholastica, taking part in building exercises, listening to speakers, and performing community service projects. The forum is named after Anderson, a Duluth resident…

Coffee Conversation: AICHO Hosts Indigenous Solo Art Exhibition June 10 – Sept. 16

DULUTH, Minn. — American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) is hosting and Indigenous solo art exhibition June 10 to Sept. 16 by Shaun Chosa. There is an artist reception Friday, June 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at AICHO’s Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center locate at 212 W. 2nd Street in Duluth.  It’s free, but a $10 donation is…

One-On-One: Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken Talks Retirement, Family, What’s Next

DULUTH, Minn. — One day after announcing his retirement from the Duluth Police Department, Chief Mike Tusken stopped by the morning show to talk to Dan Hanger about his 30 years with the department. Tusken reminisced about his early days on the job as a patrol officer, his support from his wife, Kathy, over the years, and about his next…

Spring Into Summer at Duluth Studio’s Lakeside Market

Different activities were open to everyone of all ages like face painting, and a "build your own succulent plant" station.

DULUTH, Minn.– Duluth Studio Market in the Lakeside neighborhood hosted dozens of local artists and foodies for their second annual “Spring into Summer” outdoor artisan market. Different activities were open to everyone of all ages like face painting, and a “build your own succulent plant” station. The event displayed a creative shopping experience for the community. The Owner of Duluth…

Superior Middle Schooler in Custody After Threatening Students

According to officials the one who made the treat admitted he did so to scare the student he was showing the list to. 

SUPERIOR, Wis.- A Superior Middle School student is in Police Custody Tuesday after school staff reported a list of other students the 12-year-old said he intended to harm. According to a spokesperson with the Superior Police Department, a Speak Up Speak Out tip was reported to SMS staff in the morning, indicating the student threatened others at the school. The…

Failed Search For UMD Chancellor Cost $166,000

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The failed search for a new University of Minnesota-Duluth chancellor cost $166,000. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Thursday that University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel announced on Monday that none of the three finalists invited for interviews got the job. The university began a national search for a new Duluth chancellor in November after Lendley Black announced…

Duluth Police: Alleged Threat to Lincoln Park Middle School was List of Peoples’ Names Student Felt ‘upset with and bullied by’

Investigators believe the list of names "are individuals the student expressed both being upset with and bullied by." 

DULUTH, Minn.- Investigators with the Duluth Police Department Friday determined the alleged school threat made by a Lincoln Park Middle School student was a written list of names several months old. According to a Department spokesperson, after the recent tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, students who knew about the list told the staff. Both Police and School Administration were…

Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken Releases Statement After Threat To Lincoln Park Middle School

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken released a statement (see below) Friday afternoon involving school safety after a threat was made by a student toward the Lincoln Park Middle School and on the same week of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The Duluth Police Department share the concerns of our community regarding the…

Wisconsin GOP Leader Open To Arming Teachers In Schools

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin’s top legislative Republican says he is open to the idea of arming teachers following the latest school shooting in Texas, while he dismissed as “disingenuous” an offer from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to find common ground. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told The Associated Press on Thursday that finding ways to better protect schools, including with…

Duluth Police: Threat Made at Lincoln Park Middle School Not Credible, Under Investigation

DULUTH, Minn.- A threat allegedly made by a student at Lincoln Park Middle School Thursday is under investigation by Duluth Police, but has been deemed not credible. According to a spokesperson with the Department, the threat was reported to a School Resource Officer, and the Police Department received concern from community members via social media. Investigators do not believe it…

2022 Goldfine Gold Star Teacher Awards

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Public School teachers were recognized Thursday at the Gold Star Teacher Award ceremony held at Lincoln Park Middle School. The award presented by the Goldfine family since 2006, is a way to honor teachers in the area who go above and beyond to inspire and encourage students through education. Sixteen teachers were nominated and two were…

LSC to Partner with Ascent Aviation on Pilot Program

DULUTH, Minn. – Lake Superior College announced Thursday that they are partnering with Ascent Aviation in an effort to support the professional pilot program. LSC has worked with Ascent Aviation through the Lake Superior Helicopters program for the last couple of years and has seen success through a rise in enrollment. Now, they will work with them on the airplane…

Ampact Learning Program Looking For Tutors

DULUTH, Minn.– The pandemic has been forcing students to learn online for quite a while now. That means many of the usual school routines have been disrupted. Potentially causing some kids to fall behind in their educational development. Ampact is a national nonprofit organization trying to help. Reading Corps, Math Corps and Early Learning Corps are all programs administered through…

Local School District Acting to Prepare, Prevent Shootings Inside Buildings

DULUTH, Minn. – The recent mass shooting inside an elementary school building in Uvalde, Texas, the deadliest since Sandy Hook in 2012, has school districts across the country reviewing their own ways to prevent and react to similar situations.  That is also the case in the Northland. “I think it’s a heartbreaking situation for staff, for students, for families alike,” says…

50th Anniversary of Title IX Recognized At UMD

DULUTH, Minn. — The UMD Athletic Department took the time on Tuesday to assemble a panel of former and current female athletes to continue the education and push the importance about title ix for its 50th anniversary. Title IX prevents sexual discrimination in any school or program that receives federal funding. Beginning in 1972, strides have been made towards more…

Coffee Conversation: The Promethean — Covering UWS For 102 Years

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The UW-Superior student-run newspaper, The Promethean, has been covering campus news now for 102 years. The paper’s student editor, Drew Kerner, and his faculty advisor, Tom Hansen, stopped by the morning show Tuesday to talk about the paper’s legacy and how it is a learning opportunity for any major of study.  Click the video for the conversation!…

Duluth Schools Supt. Talks Staff Mask Mandate, Graduations, Strategic Planning Process

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth School District began a new mask mandate Monday for faculty and staff inside all district buildings. Meanwhile, students, parents, and others are being encouraged to mask up. This comes as COVID cases in Duluth are up and the county is now considered at a high level for transmission. Duluth Schools Supt. John Magas stopped by…

Congdon Park Bike Rodeo Returns

DULUTH, Minn. – The Congdon Park Bike Rodeo returned Tuesday for the first time since 2019. The Bike Rodeo was a free event for all elementary kids and families in the area to come and learn about pedestrian and bike safety and rules of the road. The event featured a mountain biking agility course, a bike raffle, and demonstrations on…

River Quest Returns to In-Person Format

The River Quest welcomes around 1,000 students from across the region.

Duluth, Minn.- Sixth graders from across the region will gather down at the DECC for a fun-filled educational field trip, learning a little more about our great lake. Nearly one-thousand students will come to Duluth’s waterfront this week for the annual River Quest field-trip. Sixth graders got to participate in about a dozen hands-on activities, that include learning more about…

Lake Superior College Holds Nurse’s Pinning Ceremony at The DECC

LSC graduated 109 nursing students today.

  DULUTH, Minn.- Lake Superior College held its first in-person commencement since 2019 for graduates who are part of its nursing program. Family and friends gathered in the DECC’s Symphony Hall as the graduates were honored with a pinning ceremony. There were about 109 students who received their nursing associates or practical nursing degrees. “This has been a really intense, …

College of St. Scholastica Holds In-Person Commencement

DULUTH, Minn.- Graduation season continued this weekend as graduates from the College of St. Scholastica walked the stage. Students from 6 of the college’s schools got their diplomas today at the Kenwood Campus in Duluth. The commencement was livestreamed this year as well. Students were excited to cap off their college careers like normal. “I think it’s important to be…

Hundreds Get Hands-On With Experiments, Art at Depot STEAM Festival

Organizers say they were beyond happy with the turnout at the STEAM Festival seeing more than 400 people in the first hour.

DULUTH, Minn.- Over a thousand people visited the Depot today for what organizers call the biggest event focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math, or STEAM, in the Northland. Organizers say they were beyond happy with the turnout at the STEAM Festival seeing more than 400 people in the first hour. Families spread throughout different stations which included experiments…

University of Wisconsin Superior Hosts First In-Person Commencement Since 2019

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin Superior held their commencement Saturday at Wessman Arena. This year, UWS had 628 students graduate, and 294 showed up to walk the line. It was school’s the first in-person commencement since 2019. “It’s so amazing to have the students to be able to have this opportunity again. Every time people are coming to…

Coffee Convo: Foster Advocacy Nonprofit ‘New Hope For Families’ To Host Community Carnival

DULUTH, Minn. — New Hope For Families is getting ready to host a Community Carnival Saturday, May 21, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at its Duluth facility to show off all they offer to help support parents and children in the community, while increasing the number of foster families in the Northland. For more on the Community Carnival event…

Superior High School Teacher Receives Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Award

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior High School Biology Teacher Lori Danz was recognized Wednesday as one of five of Wisconsin’s Teachers of the Year. The Wisconsin State Superintendent along with students and faculty put on a surprise ceremony for Danz. Along with teaching biology, Danz also coordinates the school forest experiences where students get more hands-on lessons, bringing the education to…

Construct Tomorrow Happening at the DECC

DULUTH, Minn. – Hundreds of high school students are getting the chance this week to learn more about jobs in the trades industry at the DECC. Construct Tomorrow brings together organizations that are looking to hire young workers in fields ranging from excavating, to roofing, to painting and carpentry.  The need for new workers in the trades has been a top…

American Heart Association Talks Heart Health Awareness

DULUTH, Minn. — The American Heart Association hosted its Go Red For Women luncheon event at the DECC Wednesday to raise awareness about heart disease, which is the No. 1 killer in women and men in the United States. Click the video above to learn more about your hearth health, and check out the American Heart Association’s website for all…

Digital Wellness Event at Cloquet Public Library

DULUTH, Minn.- Tuesday, an event called Digital Wellness for Teens, Tweens, and Caregivers was held at the Cloquet Library. One of the leaders from the Carlton County Youth Collaborative spoke at the event. She said with many people, especially youth, feeling different pressures from society, it’s important to de-stigmatize topics that can still feel somewhat taboo to talk about, such…

Winterquist Elementary Celebrates ‘Be The Yellow Day’

The special day was inspired by the children's book Yellow by Adam Peterson.

ESKO, Minn.- Yellow is often a color associated with happiness, and today students at one local elementary school are celebrating kindness by wearing yellow, an idea inspired by a children’s book author. Winterquist Elementary school in Esko decorated hallways and classrooms in the color yellow to get in the mood. Retiring kindergarten teacher Kari Knutson organized the special day after…

Lake Superior College Holds Spring Open House

Educators hoped it would allow interested students to get a real feel of what it would be like if they chose LSC. 

DULUTH, Minn. – On Friday, Lake Superior College let prospective students stop by for an open house. They learned about the different programs, visited labs and met instructors for the more hands-on career programs the college offers, ranging from nursing to automotive to cybersecurity. Educators hoped it would allow interested students to get a real feel of what it would…

Hartley Nature Center Expansion

DULUTH, Minn. — We got an inside look at the new multimillion dollar building expansion of Duluth’s Hartley Nature Center. This $2.9 million dollar project was outlined in the 2014 Hartley Park Master Plan. It features new restrooms, community gathering centers, parking, and park-wide signage. The classrooms will also be upgraded to help nurture the educational component of their operations….

Arrowhead Youth Games Return to UMD

DULUTH, Minn. – The Arrowhead Youth Games returned to UMD Thursday. Over 300 elementary and middle school students from 22 schools, each with a physical or cognitive disability, took part in over a dozen different activities adapted to their skill levels, ranging from dancing and wheelchair races, to bicycling and bowling. “Every year it’s a lot of work to bring all…

Coffee Conversation: Spiritual Coach Monique Forcier

DULUTH, Minn. — Spiritual Coach Monique Forcier stopped by the morning show Thursday to talk to FOX 21’s Dan Hanger about different ways to help people heal and become more mindful and awake in their lives. Click the video above for that conversation, and click here to view Monique’s website of services. Categories: Business, Coffee Conversation, Education, Health, Minnesota, News,…

Congdon Park Elementary Holds “From Sap to Syrup” Learning Experience

DULUTH, Minn. – Students at Congdon Park Elementary School are getting a hands-on learning experience this week on how tree sap is changed to maple syrup. The second annual Sugaring Off STEAM began earlier this spring when first and second grade students collect the sap from trees outside their school. Every grade is making a visit to the school’s garden, where…

STARBASE Minnesota Celebrates Duluth Expansion

DULUTH, Minn. – Two years after doubling their space, STARBASE Minnesota celebrated the expansion of their Duluth facility. COVID prevented community and business partners from seeing it until Tuesday, which included a ribbon cutting and a dedication from the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce.  The over 7,000 square feet at the 148th Fighter Wing includes four classrooms and staff office space….

UMD Students Hold ‘Duluth Power Dialogue’ Discussing Environmental Justice

DULUTH, Minn.- Young environmentalists over at UMD kept the conversation around climate change fresh today with the help of a unique friend. This larger-than-life owl puppet made by the Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe helped attract people to the Duluth Power Dialogue in the Kirby Student Center. “We wanted to find a way to bring art and performance into the environmental…

UWS to Hold In-Person Commencement Ceremony

UWS will present the largest number of bachelors degrees in more than five years, as well as, the highest amount of masters in over two decades.

SUPERIOR, Wisc.– College students work long and hard to reach the day they walk across the stage, but many weren’t able to enjoy their graduations in the traditional way as ceremonies went virtual over the past two years. Now, many campuses have returned to normal, allowing grads and their loved ones to enjoy the special day. This year, nearly 700…

Families Get Active for 30th Healthy Kids Day at Duluth YMCA

DULUTH, Minn.- Saturday was the 30th Anniversary of the Duluth Area YMCA’s largest one-day event, celebrating healthy lifestyles for families and kicking off the Y’s Summer Schedule. FOX 21 Photojournalist Owen Zagrabelny takes us to Healthy Kids Day. Superior Douglas County Family YMCA will hold their Healthy Kids Day Event Sunday from 11-3. Categories: Community, Education, Entertainment, Health, Minnesota, News,…

Twin Ports Dermatology Talks Annual Skin Checks, Protection, Cancer Treatment

DULUTH, Minn. — Melanoma Awareness Month starts May 1, and health experts are taking extra steps to inform people about their skin health. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger talked to Heather Smith, owner of Twin Ports Dermatology, which has been serving the Duluth area for more than seven years now. Smith talks about the importance of annual skin checks, the proper…