COLERAINE, Minn. – Researchers are working to convert natural biomass into products that can be used in place of coal. Some of this groundbreaking biomass research is happening right here in the Northland. UMD’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) has a lab in Coleraine dedicated to developing solid fuel from biomass. That fuel could soon be used by many industries…
CABLE, Wis. — The “Walk with Walker” campaign is once again in the Northland. It’s goal is to spread the message of health and fitness throughout the state. For the 61st time, many people walked along side First Lady Tonette Walker Wednesday morning. The walk took place on the North Country Trail, which is the longest in the nation. They…
DULUTH, Minn. – America and the Northland continue to mourn after one of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history. Dozens of Duluthians were invited Wednesday to Peace United Church of Christ to remember the lives lost in Las Vegas. People lit candles and emotions built up during prayer. Members of the church even read the names of dozens of victims…
MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) – The governors of Minnesota and North Dakota have scheduled a meeting to discuss the future of a flood control project in the Fargo-Moorhead area. A federal judge last month stopped construction of the $2.2 billion Red River diversion project over complaints that the Fargo-Moorhead Division Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did not…
DULUTH, Minn. – Colder temperatures are sinking in across much of the Northland. As humans begin bundling up, it’s also time for animals to do the same. While many of them grow thicker coats of fur, some aren’t able to adapt as quickly as others. Zookeepers at the Lake Superior Zoo tell FOX 21’s Brett Scott they’re working to ensure…
DULUTH, Minn. – Last month multiple hurricanes blasted their way through much of the Caribbean including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Recovery efforts are just beginning down there and today, one International Falls resident decided to lend a hand. John Decker is a registered nurse and isn’t sure which location he’s going to yet, as he heads out today….
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Republicans are proposing eliminating any state air pollution rule that goes beyond federal regulations. Reps. Jesse Kremer and Cody Horlacher and Sen. Duey Stroebel have introduced a bill that would eliminate any state air pollution rules go beyond federal regulations. They said in a memo seeking co-sponsors that the state regulates nearly 300 more air pollutants…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Lake Superior Research Institute is honoring 50 years at UW-Superior. They are celebrating with a free conference open to the public featuring keynote speaker Alexandra Cousteau. The LSRI was created in 1967 and formally recognized by the University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents in 1969. LSRI’s mission is to conduct environmental research and provide services that…
DULUTH, Minn. – Fall is in the air and Northlanders are finding beautiful fall colors all around them. The St. Louis River Alliance brought more than a hundred passengers on their annual fall colors train ride this afternoon. Guests got their fill of autumn beauty and learned all about the River Alliances’s water restoration projects. The ride took passengers down…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wildlife experts say the number of bobcats is growing in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the state Natural Resources Department officials gave the department’s board a bobcat update Wednesday. Nathan Roberts is a furbearer research scientist with the department. He says the secretive felines are hard to observe and track. The department estimates that northern…
Downed power lines and debris are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 26. (AP) WASHINGTON (AP) — Under pressure to do more for hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, President Donald Trump on Thursday waived federal restrictions on foreign ships’ transportation of cargo to the island. He tweeted that relief supplies are getting through. “The electric…
DULUTH, Minn. — Chester Creek in Duluth is about to get a facelift, thanks to a generous grant to the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District. After suffering some major damage from the flood in 2012, Chester Creek is ready for an upgrade. In less than a week, city crews will work to restore and re-stabilize the creek,…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Environmental groups are asking the Department of Natural Resources to give the public more time to comment on the draft dam safety permits for the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota. The latest request came Wednesday from four groups: WaterLegacy, the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Cloquet Valley State Forest, and the Izaak Walton…
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. – Voyageurs National Park reminds visitors that hunting and trapping of any type or manner is prohibited on Federal lands and all waters within the boundary of the park. This includes the removal of animals that have entered the park boundary after being shot outside of the park. Park rangers enforce hunting and trapping laws under federal regulations….
Hermantown, Minn. Local farmers are wrapping up their growing seasons. That also means that the local farmers markets are coming to an end. Monday the Hermantown farmers market ended their season. Local farmers say the weather this year played a big part in this year’s great turnout. “This little patch of warm weather that we had made things just pop….
SUPERIOR, Wis.-The archery bow hunting season has begun in both Minnesota and Wisconsin and it’s causing some local retailers to see an uptick in business. In particular, crossbows have been flying off the shelves. One business owner said a big reason why is they are more practical for hunters compared to traditional vertical bows, which take much more practice to…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Wildlife managers say Minnesota’s wolf population appears to have grown by 25 percent. The Department of Natural Resources on Monday released its 2016-2017 population survey. It estimates that Minnesota had about 500 packs and 2,856 wolves at midwinter. The margin of error is plus or minus 500 wolves. Minnesota’s wolf population had been stable in the four…
DULUTH, Minn. – Fall has officially started and the season changes are visible as many leaves are changing colors. The St. Louis River Alliance is taking advantage of this beauty this weekend for the annual Fall Color Train Ride. The ride shows off the Fall colors, while SLRA staff discuss the projects taking place in the St. Louis River Estuary….
A local looks at the devastation left by Hurricane Maria, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. (AP) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A failing dam prompted emergency evacuations of two towns in northwestern Puerto Rico on Friday as the U.S. territory struggled with flooding, an island-wide blackout and other dangers in Hurricane Maria’s wake. The National Weather…
DULUTH, Minn. – Volunteers will be hitting the beach to participate in the largest Great Lakes cleanup day on Saturday. From Lake Superior to Lake Ontario Adopt-a-Beach volunteers will take to the shoreline to pick up litter and debris. Groups will be along the Lakewalk, Bayfront, Brighton, and Park Point Beaches. Those interested in joining the effort are encouraged to…
DULUTH, Minn. — Here in the city, when the sun goes down, the street lights come on. But at a seminar in Duluth, one local non-profit says the lights are just getting too bright. Experts from many fields meet at Clyde Iron Works to give talks and lead discussion about light pollution, and why preserving darkness at night is important….
Photo courtesy The Nature Conservancy GRAND PORTAGE, Minn. – The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and The Nature Conservancy announced Tuesday that Susie Island on Lake Superior has been returned to the tribe. The 142-acre island is the largest of 13 small, rocky islands near where the Pigeon River empties into Lake Superior in the northeast corner of…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – With the first day of autumn right around the corner, experts predict recent weather conditions in Wisconsin could mean fall colors will be less vibrant. Colleen Matula is a forestry specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Ashland. She tells Wisconsin Public Radio that increased rain this year means many trees are getting fungal disease…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — The weather was nice and warm this morning on Wisconsin Point during a volunteer effort to clear the critical beach habitat for the Great Lakes’ piping plover. The birds head south for the winter, but they nest right here on the shores of the Great Lakes. These volunteers are working with the St. Louis River Alliance and…
DULUTH, Minn. – The archery deer season kicked off last weekend and after talking to one local expert, it’s looking like it will be a good season for local hunters. They say one of the big reasons why is the mild weather the area has seen the last few years. “It looks like this year is looking a little better…
Satellite image taken Tuesday, Sept. 19 show Hurricane Maria southeast of Puerto Rico (NOAA via AP) ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) — Dominica’s leader sent out an emotional plea for help as Hurricane Maria smashed into the Caribbean island and caused “mind-boggling” devastation, but an ominous silence followed as the country lost all communications on Tuesday and the Category 5 hurricane took…
Remains of a damaged building stands after an earthquake in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. (AP) MEXICO CITY (AP) — A magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked central Mexico on Tuesday, killing at least 119 people as buildings collapsed in plumes of dust and thousands fled into the streets in panic. The quake came less than two weeks after another…
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. – Voyageurs National Park visitor centers will begin fall operations beginning Sunday, Oct. 1, the park announced Monday. The Kabetogama Lake and Ash River Visitor Centers will be closed for the season starting Oct. 1 and will reopen in mid-May. The Rainy Lake Visitor Center will be open Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 Wednesdays through Sundays from…
DULUTH, Minn. — Some big changes happening at Sky Harbor Airport at the end of Park Point, and it all started with environmental concerns. Crews began earlier this month on a project to rotate the runway, away from trees that are also at the end of the peninsula. The tall pine forest is a highly protected scientific natural area, so…
DULUTH, Minn.-Environmental sustainability has been sweeping across the nation. Today, UMD and four other University of Minnesota campuses, began exploring how they can be more environmentally friendly at its Sustainability Education Summit. The event focused on how to better connect students and staff with creating a cleaner campus and community. “I’m hoping the general public will take away that sustainability…
(KQDS) – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has opened a 30-day public comment period on the draft PolyMet dam safety and public works permits. From Sept. 15 through Oct. 16, the public can submit comments on two draft dam safety permits and a draft public waters work permit for the PolyMet Mining, Inc. NorthMet mining project. The DNR dam…
SUPERIOR, Wis. Protestors hoping to keep Enbridge workers from getting into their construction site on the line 3 replacement project Thursday morning are now in trouble with the law. In a dramatic scene, several protesters were arrested Thursday in Superior. One has been charged with disorderly conduct during the incident while three others were booked for resisting arrest and trespassing….
DULUTH, Minn. – Happening Saturday, September 16, hundreds will gather at Hawk Ridge Observatory in Duluth to see the fall migration of birds. Visitors from as far away as Sweden are known to come for the annual event. Different species will be making their way south as cooler temperatures push into the Northland. Organizers say the weekend of events is…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin Superior’s Lake Superior Research Institute will celebrate 50 years with a free conference featuring keynote speaker Alexandra Consteau. “This is exciting time to celebrate 50 years of hard work by an environmental organization that is largely funded by extramural funds,” said Dr. Matthew TenEyck, director of Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI.) “The celebration…
DULUTH, Minn. – A group of Northland youngsters now have the chance to enjoy their unique new classroom. After months in the making, the doors are now open at the Secret Forest Playschool’s Cabin Classroom. Founded five years ago, Owner Meghan Morrow utilized a space in the East Ridge Community Church until the congregation decided to expand on the property….
AP file photo, June 23, 2017 SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Wildfires that are blackening the American West in one of the nation’s worst fire seasons have ignited calls, including from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, to thin forests that have become so choked with trees that they are at “powder keg levels.” The destruction has exposed old frictions between environmentalists and those…
TOWER, Minn. – A new state park campground has opened on the Iron Range. Today the Lake Vermilion–Soudan Underground State Park officially opened for campers. The new campground used $7 million in bonding to become a reality. The new spot includes 33 campsites and electricity. “To be able to have campsites open to people can enjoy our natural beauty in…
Highways around downtown Houston are empty as floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey overflow from the bayous around the city Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 in Houston. (AP Photo) WASHINGTON (AP) – The head of the National Flood Insurance Program said Wednesday early estimates show Hurricane Harvey will result in about $11 billion in payouts to insured homeowners, mostly in southeast Texas….
DULUTH. Minn Imagine Duluth has been collaborating with residents and the Canal Park Business Association to consider the future of Canal Park. The hope for the Imagine Canal Park project is to build upon the successes in this part of the city, while also preserving the area. Imagine Canal Park is working with the public to address issues and figure…
TOWER, Minn. – Fall colors are starting to appear in the Northland. According to the Minnesota Fall Color Map, portions of the state are at 50 percent capacity for color. This color explosion is helping bring tourists to the area. “You still got plenty of light hours during the day, trees are just starting to turn colors, and every day you’re…
A roof is strewn across a home’s law as Rick Freedman checks his neighbor’s damage from Hurricane Irma in Marco Island, Fla., Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 (AP) LOWER MATECUMBE KEY, Fla. (AP) — Search-and-rescue teams made their way into the Florida Keys’ farthest reaches Tuesday, while authorities rushed to repair the lone highway connecting the islands and deliver aid to…
HAYWARD, Wis. – A Wisconsin woman captured two elk fighting on Highway M in Clam Lake, Wisconsin. Ellyn Conhartoski shared the video on her Facebook page and stated the event happened around 12:10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11. As it is mating season or the “rut” for elk, these bull males appear to be sparring in an effort to assert their…
DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Power and Superior Water Light and Power (SWLP) crews are hitting the ground in Miami Monday. Sunday night, 31 utility workers were stationed waiting out the storm in Orlando at Florida Power and Light’s staging area. They have now been moved to Miami at the request of Florida Power and Light. The crews will help with…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Harvest Festival celebrated 24th years of connecting the community to local food growers as well as sustainable energy providers. Harvest Festival is hosted at Bayfront Festival Park by the Lake Superior chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association. The event featured locally grown food, live music and craft demonstrations. “We are a really vibrant community, and lots…
DULUTH, Minn. – After Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, Duluth Entrepreneur Mike Letica organized a drive, gathered a group of volunteers and drove south with a truckload of 45,000 pounds of donations for storm victims. Letica and his group are doing it again, Saturday and Sunday. “How much more can people take,” said Letica. It’s a question he may never have…
Sept. 6, 2017 photo of Hurricane Irma storm damage in St. Martin in the Caribbean. (Jonathan Falwell via AP) MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Irma turned its deafening winds and punishing downpours toward Florida on Friday after strafing the Caribbean. The Sunshine state issued mandatory evacuations and was bracing for impact as the storm barreled toward the U.S. mainland. Irma had…
(Explore MN) The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports that state IT security specialists discovered malware on state computers at Tettegouche State Park in Silver Bay in late August. While the MnDNR has no evidence that credit card numbers were accessed, out of caution, they are advising those who visited the park and charged items from Aug. 22-25 are asked…
Soldiers remove debris from a partly collapsed municipal building after an earthquake in Juchitan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. (AP) MEXICO CITY (AP) — One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in Mexico struck off the country’s southern coast, toppling hundreds of buildings, triggering tsunami evacuations and sending panicked people fleeing into the streets in the middle…
DULUTH, Minn. -Fresh produce and sustainable energy are the focus of a festival in Duluth this weekend. The 24th Annual Harvest Festival will be held in Bayfront Festival Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 9. This festival is considered one of the largest farmers’ markets in the region. In the park visitors can enjoy live music,…
DULUTH, Minn. – Hurricane Irma is slowly making way toward mainland Florida. Thursday evening, the storm impacted Puerto Rico. Forecasters are still uncertain which route the storm will take, but it’s not stopping local power workers from heading south to help. “It’s going to be pretty much mass devastation,” said Minnesota Power Lineman Mike Linn. The natural disaster is continuing…
