ST. PAUL, Minn. –The Minnesota House passed its environmental finance bill that Republicans say will help “slow down the government spending spree.” The $1.2 billion legislation passed 80–53 late Thursday night. Republican Rep. Dan Fabian, of Roseau, says the bill will speed up the environmental review process and restructure how some state agencies operate. Democrats had fought hard, saying the…
Photo: SoulSpace Farm Sancutary SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – A pig that survived falling out of a truck on Interstate 90 in South Dakota just a few miles form a hog processing facility is now being spared from slaughter. The Argus Leader reports that SoulSpace Farm Sanctuary in New Richmond, Wisconsin, is adopting Wally the pig after no owner claimed him….
Duluth, Minn Duluth’s homeless shelter for teens known as Life House has crunched attendance numbers and the growth is large. A surge of more than 400% since 2012. The numbers stem from the rise in teenage homelessness in our area. For instance, in 2012 the number of teens seen only about 25% of them were homeless. If that isn’t…
DULUTH, Minn. – Spring is in the air, which means that allergy season has arrived in the Northland. Many people may start to notice a runny nose, itchy eyes, and sore throat, which can mimic a common cold, but are actually caused by allergies. Doctors say about half of adults in the Northland experience some types of allergies. “People with…
DULUTH, Minn. — Last night was a big night for the northern lights, and for those who love taking photos of them! The aurora borealis was visible even in the early evening last night, around 9:00pm, according to reports. Aurora hunters in the Northland say it was brightest past midnight last night, between 1:00 and 3:00am. These photos are from…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – A project in Superior is aiming to make fishing a little easier on the Saint Louis River. The city is working with the DNR to dredge the area around the Arrowhead Fishing Pier. Flooding over the last few years has caused extra sediment to pile up near the dock. Fishermen have expressed frustrations about their motors bottoming…
DULUTH, Minn.-A five-mile section of the Willard Munger State Trail between Grand Avenue and Becks roads in West Duluth will be closed from mid-April through August, during a construction project. The project is set to the tread-way damaged during the 2012 flood. It would bring the trail up to current standards as well, making it wider. “While the construction will…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), the Center for Biological Diversity, and the W.J. McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League filed suit in federal court on Monday, March 27, to overturn the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to approve a land exchange with PolyMet Mining. According to the suit filed, the Forest Service instructed its…
BAGLEY, Minn. (AP) – Some northern Minnesota counties could end up paying millions of dollars to Enbridge Energy if the company is successful in its tax appeal. Enbridge claims the Minnesota Department of Revenue unfairly valued its oil pipeline network and overcharged it in five years of tax collections. Clearwater and Red Lake counties could end up refunding more money…
The United States Coast Guard is urging the use of extreme caution on and near the waterways after the rescue of more than a dozen people in the last seven days. Ice conditions are weakening as air temperatures have consistently been above-freezing. Recently, crews rescued 11 boaters in Saginaw Bay, Michigan, after boaters’ vessels became trapped by ice floes, making…
(National Weather Service) BRICELYN, Minn. (AP) – The National Weather Service says a tornado that hit a southern Minnesota campground this month, was the earliest twister on record in the state. The agency recently conducted a survey that confirmed a tornado tore through the Pihls Park campground northeast of Bricelyn on March 6. The Mankato Free Press reports the weather…
Superior, Wis Today was world water day. 150 miles of sewer, drains 4 million gallons of water directly to the superior water treatment plant daily. The public was allowed on site for tours to find out exactly what happens after you flush water down your toilet. Every gallon that moves through the plant goes throw a vigorous process to make…
DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth will be participating along with millions around the world on Saturday, March 25 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. to commemorate Earth Hour. For one hour, the lights on the Aerial Lift Bridge and Enger Tower will be turned off as a demonstration for the city’s support and commitment for sustainable practices to protect…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – World Water Day is celebrated annually on March 22 with a different theme each year. In 2017, the focus is on wastewater treatment. The City of Superior’s wastewater treatment plant is hosting tours and an open house today in honor of the holiday. Tours take about 45 minutes and include both indoor and outdoor sites. The Open…
Duluth, Minn Invasive species have caught the attention of the St. Louis River Alliance and there doing what they can to take on the issue before it gets worse. Ordinary citizens are taking a course on how to identify invasive species and their possible impacts on the waters in the Twin Ports. They’ll also learn how to record data and…
A group of UMD Engineering students brought home some hardware this weekend.
Duluth, Minn Tonight, Mayor Emily Larson addressed the city with a speech that lacked length but packed a punch. Tonight in her state of the city address Mayor Emily Larson wanted to focus on three main points that would put the city on the right path for years to come. Larson says that throughout her first year she was laying…
ASHLAND, Wis. – Around 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a male, Ashland resident, Ronald Werchowski, 55, who was overdue from walking his dog near Krehr Park in Ashland. The caller reported finding personal belongings of Werchowski at the park, as well as several holes in the ice on Lake Superior….
DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend Northlanders are promoting wellness in the region and at home for the whole family for the Northland Community Wellness Day. This is a free community event highlighting local wellness resources and services through interactive exhibits, workshops, and family-friendly activities. There will be more than 80 wellness-related exhibits in Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota –…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A Minnesota official who heads a group that represents state environmental agencies nationwide says the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency grant programs would cripple their ability to protect air, land, and water. The Environmental Council of the States says Categorical Grants to states would take a 44.5-percent hit. Those grants support…
DULUTH, Minn. – A hardy group of Duluthians were sending a strong message to Mother Nature Friday morning. The 5th Annual Shorts Against Winter event is a chance for Northlanders to wear shorts to work before the official start of spring on Monday, March 20. Shorts Against Winter started by Swim Creative Advertising Firm employee Kevin Cain, and has since…
It was all about good food, local artist, and great company tonight at Clyde Iron Works. It was the 6th annual Art of Local Food fundraiser to benefit the Duluth Community Garden Program and the Arrowhead Professional Chefs Association. It was 40 years ago that a few gardeners saw the need for fresh locally grown food and now 220 families…
CLOQUET, Minn. – Kids from area schools got hands–on lessons on how to protect the St. Louis River Thursday. St. Louis River–River Watch is a program that gets kids involved with studying the environment up close and personal, by actually getting in the river. While students didn’t get in the water as part of Thursday’s 15th annual River Watch Congress…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Alder cruised through Lake Superior, cracking and breaking the ice that formed on the water’s surface. “The Alder is a 225 foot buoy tender, it is ice capable, so it’s not actually designated as an ice breaker, we just have the ability to break ice,” explained Lt. Christian Von Stralendorff of the U.S. Coast Guard. Shipping season…
Bird Watching
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Governor Scott Walker tells The Associated Press he opposes President Donald Trump’s proposal to remove federal funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Walker talked to AP on Thursday after Trump released his budget calling for elimination of the funding that has sent $2.2 billion to the eight-state region since 2009, Walker says “it makes sense…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota officials have confirmed the first capture of an invasive silver carp on the St. Croix River. The Department of Natural Resources says a commercial angler caught it near Prescott, Wisconsin, as part of a monitoring project, just upstream where the St. Croix meets the Mississippi River. DNR invasive fish coordinator Nick Frohnauer says it’s…
General Mills brand Cheerios is working to raise awareness for declining bee populations by starting the movement #BringBacktheBees, and removing their iconic mascot, Buzz. Cheerios partnered up with Veseys Seeds to give away 100 million wildflower seeds for the cause. Those who are interested in joining the movement can sign up on their website and are asked to plant them in…
MINNESOTA – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are issuing a public notice to those planning to participate in any “water skipping” activities. This practice will no longer be allowed and those participating will be cited under Minnesota Statute 84,87 Sub 2, which states: It shall be unlawful for any person…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The St. Louis River Summit is happening at UW-Superior. We’ll take a look at how important the St. Louis River is to our region and how Northlanders use it for all kinds of outdoor recreation. “Once I was out kayaking in the St. Louis River on opening day of fishing.” says Deanna Erickson, the Education Coordinator for…
NORTH DAKOTA-The Dakota Access Pipeline may have oil flowing through it by next week. Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the pipeline, has asked a federal judge to reject some Native American Tribes from trying to stop the project. The pipeline has gathered protesters from all over the country as they believe it’s going through sacred tribal land and has an impact…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota lawmakers have stripped out legislation meant to help reduce the use of insecticides harmful to bees. The fight over neonicotinoid insecticide has become a major environmental effort as bee populations continue to decline in Minnesota and across the nation. State regulators have sought greater authority to regulate certain seeds treated with the insecticide. Minnesota…
DULUTH, Minn.-Utility work began today on the Lakewalk trail, between Fitger’s and the old Endion building. That part of the trail will be closed for about two weeks during the day in order for crews to work on the underground drainage system. Lakewalk users will take a detour into Lake Place Park and then reconnect back to the trail. The Lakewalk…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Skiers and Snowboarders said goodbye to winter at the Annual Melt Du Lac Spring Fling. Though Mont Du Lac will still be open for another week or so, Mont Du Lac pass holders celebrated the spring with fun activities like a rail jam, face painting, and a barbecue. “We do it for the pass holders and everyone who…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s been an unseasonably cold Mid-March day across the Northland and it’s likely the last cold snap of the season. A Wind Chill Advisory was in effect earlier this morning until 9am, feel like temperatures dropped down to -30° below zero. This frigid Friday didn’t stop some Northlanders from their daily routine though. “I like the weather…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Ice anglers in northern Minnesota are being reminded by the Department of Natural Resources that ice shelter removal dates are approaching for lakes located north of Highway 200 and U.S. Highway 2. Due to rapidly deteriorating ice conditions, anglers may need to remove shelters before the deadline. Dark houses, fish houses, and portable shelters must be…
CASS COUNTY, Minn. – The Cass County Sheriff’s office received a report that a Class 2 side by side ATV had gone through the ice in the Agency Narrows area of Leech Lake, just after 2 p.m. on Thursday. Deputies and first responders arrived on scene to find the male occupant of the vehicle standing on top of the vehicle,…
DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth is planning utility work along the Lakewalk Trail in Canal Park, specifically the segment located between the restroom facilities by Endion Station and the Fitger’s Complex. The Lakewalk Trail will be closed for two weeks beginning on Monday, March 13 in order for crews to work on the underground drainage system. Lakewalk users…
TWIN CITIES, Minn.-The bald eagles on the Minnesota DNR’s EagleCam, had their first chick born today. It’s expected two others will be born by this weekend. Biologists were concerned that the first egg might not hatch, as it was left in the cold for quite a while. To view the EagleCam, visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/features/webcams/eaglecam/index.html Categories: Entertainment, Environment, News, News – Latest…
BARRON, Wis. (AP) – Officials confirm a low-pathogenic bird flu strain has been detected in a Jennie-O Turkey Store operation in western Wisconsin. The U.S. Department of Agriculture posted notice of the case to the Organization for Animal Health’s website Tuesday. Austin, Minnesota-based Hormel Foods Corp., which owns Willmar, Minnesota-based Jennie-O, confirmed the H5N2 strain was detected Saturday at it’s…
DULUTH, Minn.-St. Louis County Commissioner Frank Jewell has been tapped to chair the Minnesota Water Council. The council was established in 2006 to advise the legislature and governor on how to implement the Clean Water Legacy Act. “I am honored to have been nominated and elected by my colleagues as chair of the Clean Water Council,” Jewell said in a…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced today, it has formalized a quarantine for emerald ash borer (EAB) in southeastern St. Louis County. The EAB quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the quarantined area of the county. This is to reduce the risk of further spreading the insect. The quarantined…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A confirmed tornado near Zimmerman, Minnesota at 5:49 p.m. Monday. At 5:56 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located over the south side of Princeton, moving northeast at 40 mph. Law enforcement reported the tornado in east-central Minnesota, about 44 miles northwest of Minneapolis, late Monday afternoon. National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Krause says if confirmed, the tornado would…
DULUTH, Minn.-Discussions are looming on Capitol Hill to cut 17 percent of the budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These cuts could affect many different organizations including the National Weather Service and the local chapter of the Minnesota Sea Grant. The Sea Grant helps with fighting invasive species, along with other environmental issues related to the Great Lakes,…
DULUTH, Minn.-In other environmental news, bald eagles are migrating back to Minnesota a few weeks ahead of schedule. The early migration, comes after February melted much of the snow, while ice is breaking up along the rivers. Small groups of eagles have already been seen along the Minnesota River. Only two states have larger populations of eagles – Florida and…
(Photo: Courtesy of Hi-Crush Partners)MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The state Department of Natural Resources has given a timber company subsidiary preliminary approval for a sand plant in western Wisconsin that would destroy more than 16 acres of wetlands. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the DNR notified Meteor Timber of the approval on Wednesday. The agency has set an April 18…
EAST BETHEL, Minn. (AP) – It took more than once for two snowmobilers on a lake in Anoka County to learn the dangers of thin ice. Sheriff’s officials say the two men called 911 Sunday afternoon, after one of them fell through the ice on Coon Lake while snowmobiling. The man was able to climb out of the water on…
DULUTH, Minn.-Clients of Churches United in Ministry will now be able to use reusable bags when picking up their groceries. The bags were collected recently by the League of Women Voters at a recent Bag It Duluth film screening. The Bag It Duluth campaign, which involves 70 different organizations, has developed a proposal to phase out plastic bags. “We know…
DULUTH, Minn.- The City of Duluth is looking for volunteers for annual clean and green projects. Snow is melting, and weather is warming up, which means Duluth is preparing to clean up the city. The city is looking for people to step up to the plate and help pick up trash on the streets, in parks, and on beaches. The…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – New campgrounds, a new water trail and a new chance to see bison are coming to the Minnesota State Parks and Trails system this year. The Department of Natural Resources says two new campgrounds will open this summer at the Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park in northeastern Minnesota and Whitewater State Park in the…
