Environment

Twin Cities Council to Pay $1M in River Pollution Lawsuits

Chemicals found in the river in 2007

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) – The Metropolitan Council in St. Paul is paying manufacturing firm 3M Co. about $1 million to settle lawsuits over Mississippi River pollution. The Pioneer Press reports the settlement Monday ends the lawsuits between the two entities, which blamed each other for chemicals found in the river in 2007. In 2011, the Metropolitan Council joined the Minnesota…

North Shore Adventure Park Enters Phase One

Four Investors Break Ground on Multiphase Adventure Park in Silver Bay

SILVER BAY, Minn. – Monday was the end of an era for one decades old pit stop on the North Shore. The old Spur gas station off of Highway 61 in Silver Bay is now demolished, making way for new opportunity. Four developers are now climbing toward new adventures, hoping the community and tourists will enjoy the development. “It just needs…

6-Year-Old Drowns at Lake Elmo Beach

TED HALLER - FOX 9

LAKE ELMO, Minn. (KMSP) – A 6-year-old girl drowned in a popular artificial swimming pond in Lake Elmo Sunday afternoon. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office identified the girl as Ghia Vue of St. Paul. Another swimmer bumped into the unresponsive girl around 1:00 p.m., according to a Washington County official. The girl was in about three feet of water at…

Minnesota Joins U.S. Climate Alliance, Pledging Itself to Paris Accord Targets

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – Minnesota and eight other states, along with Puerto Rico, joined the U.S. Climate Alliance Monday, pledging to uphold targets outlined in the Paris Climate Accord after President Donald Trump decided to pull out of the agreement last week. Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Puerto Rico joined the original three…

Exploring Super Science Fridays

Mrs. KP Incorporates Science into all Methods of Learning at Homecroft Elementary

DULUTH, Minn. – For the past ten years one elementary school teacher in Duluth has been pouring out passion for science into the classroom. It’s now becoming a favorite lesson, every Friday. When walking past room 206 at Homecroft Elementary you can hear a beat and a buzz coming from inside. “Science is real, science is everywhere! This is Professor…

Lowell Elementary School Works With Nature

School Receives Award For Nature Play

Duluth, Minn. Lowell Elementary students joined by their parents enjoyed a picnic this afternoon at the schools nature play scape. Lowell elementary school received an award today for the many ways they encompass nature in their curriculum. The nature play achievement award was presented to the school today for the commitment to connecting students with learning and play opportunities in…

Rescue Crews Locate Missing Canoers in BWCA

UPDATE: Rescue crews have located the missing individuals in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Around 1 a.m. Friday, a fixed wing aircraft of the Minnesota State Patrol was searching near Oyster Lake, and spotted the lost party when they used a flashlight from the ground to signal the plane. The party was retrieved by an Air Guard helicopter out…

Trump Says U.S. will Abandon Global Climate Accord

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he was withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, striking a major blow to worldwide efforts to combat climate change and distancing the country from many allies abroad. He said the U.S. would try to negotiate re-entry on better terms. “As of today, the United States will cease all implementation of…

Registration Not Needed for ATV Riders this Weekend

"No Registration Weekend" June 2-4

DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend is the perfect time for ATV riders to spend some time outdoors. That’s because June 2-4 is “No Registration Weekend.” Meaning, Minnesota is providing ATV riders with free access to more than 3,000 miles of state forest and grant-in-aid trails. This is for Minnesotan an all-terrain vehicle registered for private or agricultural use and out-of-state…

Duluth-Superior Film Festival Kicks Off

All Movies Can Be Seen For Free

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth–Superior Film Festival kicked off the first of five days of film, music and arts Wednesday. Wednesday night’s film was shown at Clyde Iron Works called Rumble, which is a documentary about the role of Native Americans in popular music history. The festival concentrates on movies shot and produced right here in our region. Many of…

Duluth Citizens Express Concerns Over LED Lights

Public Meeting Held Tonight Could Bring Better Light To The Situation

Discussion over the use of LED lights in the city of Duluth has been going on for months now. Tonight another public meeting was held to address outdoor lighting. The City of Duluth has already converted a majority of the cities street lights to a blueish colored LED. Because so many have had concerns over the brightness, city staff was…

DNR Commissioner Says Minnesotans Spoke Up for the Outdoors

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) – The Department of Natural Resources got most of the money it requested from the Legislature, and its head credits an outcry by Minnesotans who hunt, fish, use state parks, and ride snowmobiles and ATVs. Commissioner Tom Landwehr tells The Associated Press the user fee increases his agency needed weren’t a foregone conclusion. He says the original…

Pond Scientists on the Rise at Hartley Nature Center

Many Student Groups Flocking for Field Trips to Northland Educational Hub

DULUTH, Minn. – In this week’s Animal Answers we’re taking you on a field trip! For some, it may be a trip to the park, museum or movie theater. However, many groups of Northland students are becoming seasoned pond scientists. “I think if you start kids at an early enough age they’ll have an appreciation for the outdoors,” said Matt…

Many Anglers Trying to Set State Records This Year

DNR Officials See Uptick in Record-Setting Applications

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Minnesota is seeing a surge in record fish submissions. The Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday it has received five applications for four species, including lake sturgeon, shortnose gar, golden redhorse and the quillback carpsucker. Mike Kurre, the DNR’s state record fish program coordinator, says the agency has never had so many record submissions in…

Wisconsin Lawmakers Looking to Sweeten the Deal for Beekeepers

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Republican lawmakers want to sweeten the deal for Wisconsin beekeepers. A proposal from Rep. Amy Loudenbeck and Sen. Steve Nass would eliminate the state sales tax on bees and equipment used by beekeepers. Loudenbeck said at an Assembly committee hearing Tuesday the bill would extend exemptions given to farmers to beekeepers and help address the rapidly…

Minnesota Farmers Hoping for Warm Sunny Days as Season Finally Begins

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota farmers could use some warm, sunny days to speed crop development and get the last of their planting done. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Tuesday that cool and cloudy conditions across Minnesota last week prevented fields from drying out and limited farmers to 2.8 days of fieldwork. Corn planting is almost done in…

1 Dead after Highway Washes Out Between Iowa, Wisconsin

Crawford Co Sheriff’s Office LANSING, Iowa (KSMP) – Iowa and Wisconsin authorities have closed a bridge over the Mississippi River after a washed out section caused a fatal crash Tuesday morning. The accident took place around 4:22 a.m. on Iowa Highway 82 between Lansing, Iowa and Freeman, Wisconsin. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office says a 59-year-old man was on his…

Fuel Oil Leak in Hermantown

Officials Concerned for Runoff into Keane Creek

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Hermantown police and fire departments responded to reports of a fuel oil spill Saturday. According to investigators, a residential fuel oil tank leaked in the 48–hundred block of Maple Grove Rd. Saturday afternoon. The fuel oil may have run off into the Keane Creek water system. Hermantown officials have notified the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Categories: Community,…

Adventure Park Now Open at Spirit Mountain

Summer Adventures Begin Memorial Day Weekend at Spirit Mountain

DULUTH, Minn. – Spirit Mountain in Duluth is now back open for business as we head into the Memorial Day weekend. The Mountain’s Adventure Park opened gates Friday for the Alpine Coaster, zip line, jumping pillow, mini golf and disk golf. Five mountain bike trails are now open as well. Executive Director Brandy Ream tells FOX 21 she’s optimistic going…

ReUSE Minnesota Explores Duluth Network

Group has been Operating in the Twin Cities Since 2012

DULUTH, Minn. – A successful Twin cities re-use program Is coming to the Twin Ports. Representatives from ReUSE Minnesota and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency met with local re-use businesses to create a network to share resources. Officials say they’re targeting businesses like thrift stores, habitat restores, and consignment shops. “These are the stores that allow the rest of us…

IRRRB Announces Ilmenite Breakthrough

New Processing Method Produces Nearly Pure Samples

DULUTH, Minn. – Officials from the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute announced a breakthrough in ilmentite processing Thursday. NRRI partnered with Canadian firm Process Research Ortech to find a way to separate titanum dioxide and iron oxide from ilmenite deposits. The results, nearly pure samples of both titanium oxide and iron oxide.  But, officials say they’re a long…

Gardeners Hoping for Warmer Planting Conditions

Bending Birches Greenhouses has seen some eager gardeners, but the cold, rainy weather has impacted sales

DULUTH, Minn. – Below average conditions around the Northland have led to a slow start to planting season. Bending Birches Greenhouses opened up May 1st and have seen some eager gardeners, but overall the weather has impacted sales. Jahn Hibbs, the greenhouse manager and grower at Bending Birches says it’s best to wait until the first week of June, when…

State Parks Offering Several Programs for Outdoor Fun and Learning

CARLTON, Minn. – Spring is here and summer is around the corner meaning state parks are beginning to bustle with visitors. Kristine Hiller, Jay Cooke State Park Naturalist, says many programs are open to all interested. Hiller points out some are geared toward outdoor enthusiasts, some toward outdoor beginners and some to families and children. Here are a few she…

New Viewfinders Unveiled at Taconite Harbor

  SCHROEDER TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the North Shore Scenic Drive Council, and Schroeder Township unveiled new viewfinders at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Tuesday. Taconite Harbor sits on the North Shore, just southwest of Temperance River State Park off of Highway 61. These viewfinders will allow tourists and residents to view boats, birds, and wildlife seen…

Minnesota Lawmakers Push to Finalize Budget Deal

Lawmakers Doubtful Deal will Pass; Look Toward Special Session

ST. PAUL, Minn. – One-hundred twenty days have passed since the Minnesota Legislature first started work on the state’s budget bill. Monday evening the clock is ticking before the state constitution calls for a deal to be reached or the session will end without an agreement in place, resulting in a special session. “It’s compromise and it’s democracy and it’s…

Damage Estimates at $10 Million for Chetek Tornado

One Man Was Killed in the Tornado

CHETEK, Wis.–The Barron County Sheriff’s Department has released initial damage estimates from a tornado that tore through the Chetek area of northwestern Wisconsin last week. The department said Sunday that the storm damaged 231 homes and four commercial properties across the county, though those numbers are likely to change. The storm caused about $10 million in damages, not including damage…

SLRA Volunteers Team Up To Clean Portion In Superior

St. Louis River Cleanup

Duluth, Minn. – Volunteers from the St. Louis River alliance spent the day cleaning up the river. Decade’s worth of trash that had been dumped alongside the St. Louis River continues to be a problem for the St. Louis River alliance. “We find TV’s and other electronics down in there and those certainly are hazardous,” says Bill Majewski, Chair of…

Wisconsin DNR Looks to Reduce Buck-Only Counties Again this Fall

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The state Department of Natural Resources wants to again reduce the number of counties where hunters can shoot only bucks this fall in a sign Wisconsin’s herd continues to grow. The agency’s board is poised, Wednesday, to approve a 2017 season structure that would designate Ashland, Iron, and Vilas counties and the eastern half of Eau…

Lincoln Park After Dark

Finding Ways To Attract More People

Duluth, Minn. Duluth businesses gathered tonight at the Duluth Children’s Museum in Lincoln Park for another round of Lincoln Park After Dark. A program aimed to bring businesses in the area to come together to discuss ways to make the community better. “We believe in building the neighborhood to be a very vibrant really economically vibrant place where tourists want…

Local Projects Rely on Yet-to-Be-Passed State Bonding Bill

Projects Like Duluth Steam Plant and St. Louis River Clean-Up Need State Funding

DULUTH, Minn. – The deadline is Monday for this year’s Minnesota legislative session to adjourn, and with no budget agreement in place yet, elected officials from all over Minnesota have been in St. Paul calling attention to the needs of cities across the state. Projects like the Duluth International Airport runway reconstruction and the St. Louis River clean up need…

Warm Spring Brings Ticks Out Early Across Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The early spring has brought the ticks out ahead of schedule across Minnesota and experts are warning people to protect themselves against the diseases they carry. The Minnesota Department of Health says anyone who goes outdoors should be alert for the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. Epidemiologist Elizabeth Schiffman tells Minnesota Public…

ATV Riders Can Explore Minnesota Trails for Free June 2-4

Free access to over 3,000 miles of state trails

ATVs on Spider Lake Trail MINNESOTA – Minnesotans with an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) registered for private or agricultural use won’t need to pay the additional registration fee ($53.50 for three years) to ride the state’s public ATV trails June 2-4, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Out-of-state riders can explore the ATV trails, as well without the need for…

Shark Jawbone Caught While Fishing on Mississippi River in Grand Rapids

It has Been Identified as a Sand Tiger Shark

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.-A Minnesota angler landed an unusual trophy when he reeled in a shark jawbone while fishing on the Mississippi River. Joe Piskel, of Grand Rapids, caught the jawbone near the town over the weekend. He and his son, Joey, brought it to a Department of Natural Resources office, where a fisheries biologist identified it as being from a…

Great Outdoors: Minnesota Fishing Opener

Northland Youth Learns The Lure of The Lake

ISLAND LAKE, Minn- It’s the pursuit of the catch, that has so many of Minnesota’s anxious anglers up well before dawn and hitting the water at first light. Youth Angler, Keegan Charnley says, “We had to wake up pretty early to get here, but, well we’ve had a few bites.” For Keegan Charnley and is father Richie, they look forward…

Harrison Park To Be Revamped

Work To Be Done Over This Summer

Duluth, Wis. The Harrison Park neighborhood will see some big changes to the community park this summer. The park is one of 13 parks that qualify for 90 thousand dollars’ worth of half and half funding. Some of the bigger changes will include making the facility ADA accessible a formal gathering space and a new revamp community garden. “We know…

New Cranberry Research Facility to be Located in Jackson County

(Ocean Spray) WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (AP) – Plans are being made for a new research facility to support Wisconsin’s $1 billion cranberry industry. The Wisconsin Cranberry Research and Education Foundation said Monday it’s purchasing about 155 acres in Jackson County for the research station. The purchase is being made with federal funds and private contributions. The foundation expects research on…

Fishing Season Opens in the U.P.

SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. (AP) – Fishing season has started in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The state Department of Natural Resources says the seasons for walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge open Monday, May 15, for all Upper Peninsula waters. That includes the Great Lakes, inland waterways, and the St. Mary’s river, which runs between Sault Ste. Marie and the city of…

Alfalfa Crop Losses Experienced in Eastern Wisconsin

A warm winter and a wet, cold spring are to blame

MANITOWOC, Wis. (AP) – Unusual seasonal weather variations have made it tough on alfalfa crops in some parts of Wisconsin. A warmer winter and a cold, wet spring have caused a significant portion of the alfalfa crop to fail in Manitowoc County. University of Wisconsin Extension agriculture specialist Scott Gunderson says at least 10,000 of the 18,000 acres of alfalfa…

Enbridge Pipeline Replacement Environmental Review Up for Public Comment

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Department of Commerce is soliciting input on a draft environmental review of Enbridge Energy’s proposed replacement for its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota. The release Monday of the environmental review kicks off the public comment period. The $7.5 billion project would replace a pipeline from the 1960s that no…

North Shore Tourism Season Begins

Officials Are Expecting Busiest Summer Ever

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – Once summer weather arrives, the tourism rush is on along Lake Superior’s North Shore. If the recent trend continues, this could be some destinations’ busiest season yet. The North Shore has always been a favorite Minnesota vacation spot. “When the sun is shining, people like to take rides up from the Twin Cities and see the…

Gov. Dayton Reels One In at Opener

The Governor Caught a Smallmouth Bass

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) Gov. Mark Dayton caught a 3-pound, 17-and-a-half-inch bass during the annual Governor’s Fishing Opener. The Democratic governor shared a pontoon boat with Republican legislative leaders on Saturday. They went out on the Mississippi River in St. Cloud. Dayton told reporters that no one discussed the budget, after talks stalled last week. He says budget talks will…

Cooking Oil Dumped at Head of Superior Hiking Trail

Parks Department Looking for Volunteers to Clean-up Area

DULUTH, Minn.-The Duluth Parks Department was left with a mess yesterday, after finding 14 jugs of cooking oil that were dumped at the head of the Superior Hiking Trail. The parks department is reminding the public that these types of situations create major challenges for them. You can help by volunteering. To find out more, call 218-730-4334. Categories: Crime, Environment,…

Lakewalk Mini-Master Plan Will Focus on Safety, Infrastructure

The group Friends of the Lakewalk met Thursday to discuss ways to improve the trail

DULUTH, Minn. – The Lakewalk is one of the most used trails in Duluth, which is why the city is looking at ways to preserve and improve it. The lakewalk  mini–master plan is in its initial inventory stage. Crews were out today looking at the existing infrastructure of the trail, noting possible areas of improvement. Later this fall, the city’s…