The Superior National Forest said a 20 to 30 acre wildfire continues to burn in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness Thursday. The fire broke out this week near Pike Lake about 10 miles away from the end of the Gunflint Trail No buildings have been damaged. However, officials have issued an emergency forest order by closing all trails, portages,…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — St. Paul had the worst air quality in the United States on Wednesday as smoke from massive Canadian wildfires drifted across Minnesota a week after similar smoke blanketed the northeastern U.S. The smoke was “near the worst” on record for the Twin Cities, the Star-Tribune reported, citing Nick Witcraft, an air-quality meteorologist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency….
BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE ARE, Minn. (FOX 9) – The U.S. Forestry Service says about 30 acres of the Boundary Water Canoe Area are currently burning. The fire is between Spice Lake and Ogishkemuncie Lake. The fire is being monitored, and at the moment it’s still small, but conditions are dry. Over 20,000 acres of the BWCA burned during the 2021 Greenwood Fire. The…
MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says burning restrictions will begin for Northeast Minnesota Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. The restrictions are for Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties. Below is part of a press release: Burning permits will not be issued for brush or yard waste No fireworks may be ignited on any public or private land…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – A new 20-minute video has been released by the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board involving the 2018 Husky refinery explosion and fire in Superior. The goal of the board is to “drive chemical safety change through independent investigations to protect people and the environment.” The 2018 incident injured 36 workers, caused roughly $550 million in damage…
A key permit for a proposed copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes, known as the NorthMet Project, has been revoked by the Army Corps of Engineers. The announcement was made Tuesday in a 27-page report. The Army Corps said the proposed mine “does not ensure compliance with water quality requirements of the Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Chippewa.” NewRange…
DULUTH, Minn. — A restoration project is underway to revive forest along the St. Louis River that’s dying from an Emerald Ash Borer outbreak from a decade ago. The work is happening along the shorelines and islands in the upper St. Louis River Estuary. Crews are preparing to plant 60,000 tree seedlings over the next three years. The Lake Superior…
HOYT LAKES, Minn. — Another step toward more solar energy took place on the Iron Range Friday. Minnesota Power unveiled and showed-off the second of its three new solar projects. This one is near Hoyt Lakes and is known as the Laskin Solar Project. It will generate enough energy to power 1,100 homes a year. There was a lot of…
The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad will soon be back on the tracks. It looks a little quiet right now, but things will definitely be picking up as they get ready to reopen in July. During a three-year pause, they’ve been working on everything from improving the tracks to refurbishing authentic rail cars. They have a ninety-minute round-trip that goes…
DULUTH, Minn. — Shearing day at the Frosty Ridge Alpacas farm was another busy one Wednesday. Around 80 alpacas showed up to get all that winter fiber buzzed away for the summer months. FOX 21 Photojournalist Adam Jagunich has more on the process and how all that fluff gets put to good use. Categories: Education, Environment, Minnesota, News, News –…
NORTHEASTERN, Minn. –As temperatures warm up and summer gets underway, it also brings some big problems. The trapping of spongy moths has begun in Minnesota. Formerly known as gypsy moths, they have been wreaking havoc on trees for years. Northeastern Minnesota will be included in the area where traps will be set. The Department of Agriculture says that last year…
The Mark W. Barker, the first U.S. ship built last year on the Great Lakes since 1983, ran soft aground early Wednesday in the Detroit River after the freighter lost propulsion. The 639-foot vessel, which was built to navigate tight ends, suffered an “electronics malfunction” near Belle Isle around 8 a.m., according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Nobody was injured….
CARLTON, Minn. — There are 50 miles worth of trails at Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton, and of those trails only 15% are fully clear for visitors to walk on. This is because winter storms have taken down or moved tree branches. This doesn’t mean the trails aren’t open to the public as all trails are open. The park…
DULUTH, Minn — One of the drawbacks of winter coming to an end and the snow melting is that the deer ticks are waking up. Ticks are picky when it comes to the weather and up here in the Northland, they prefer the spring and fall months. Ben Clarke works at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Duluth and…
DULUTH, Minn. Sixth graders from across the region had a chance to find out what the water in our area is all about. Its official title is ‘2023 St. Louis River Quest.’ As a practical matter, it teaches fifteen hundred sixth graders about Lake Superior, the harbor, the St. Louis River, and everything connected with those waters. The kids learn…
Warmer air, dry fuels, low humidity and wind are creating a high danger for wildfires in the Northland through Monday evening. A wildfire ignited Saturday near Adolph in St. Louis County. The Grand Lake Volunteer Fire Department said the flames spread quickly. Multiple agencies assisted in successfully extinguishing the flames, including a DNR helicopter with a 210-gallon bucket to drop…
The critical fire conditions in the Northland Sunday come on the 10-year anniversary of the Germann Road Wildfire in Douglas County. The fire, which is one of the largest in Wisconsin state history, consumed more than 7,400 acres and destroyed 104 structures in the towns of Gordon, Highland and Barnes. Twenty-three of the structures destroyed were residences. The DNR said…
The Duluth Parks and Recreation Department said some of its trails will be opening on Saturday at noon. Thirteen of the local trails will be opening, but another eight remain closed. The Lake Superior Hiking Trail is also officially opening in some areas. A big concern is over muddy areas that could damage trails if used too soon. The department…
This week for Fox Along the North Shore: Waterfalls and More, Fox21 Meteorologist Ken Slama was at the falls and river at Lester Park with photographer Joe Polecheck. They talked about tips and advice on how to photograph waterfalls. There are dozens of waterfalls to choose from. Starting in Duluth and heading all the way to the northeastern tip of…
BEAVER BAY, Minn. — A new version of camping is starting up along the North Shore in Beaver Bay. It’s a brand-new glamping resort called the North Shore Camping Co. And if you are wondering what glamping means, it’s glamorous camping, which is an easier way for people to get in touch with the outdoors. Instead of packing a tent…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth is one of 11 communities across the country receiving a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help design a geothermal heating district. “This extremely exciting opportunity to analyze and design a district geothermal and heat recovery possibility—one that hasn’t been designed in the US before—comes to us with a ton of potential to further reduce…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – It wouldn’t be fifth grade in the Superior School District without a visit to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Over 300 students are getting the chance to see the facilities and learn the seven steps of the water treatment process, plus the two steps for solid treatment, and where it goes afterwards. “5th graders are at that age…
DULUTH, Minn. – The proposed Kinseth Hotel in Duluth will not be delayed for an environmental review that some local residents had petitioned the State of Minnesota for. By a unanimous vote Monday evening, the Duluth City Council reversed a decision made by the Planning Commission back in April to order an environmental assessment worksheet for the hotel that will be…
TWIN PORTS – A lot of action has taken place to clean up the St. Louis River of nutrients and sediment dumped in the past. A new grant hopes to keep improving that water quality in the future. Scientists with the UW-Madison Extension Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve and UMD’s Natural Resources Research Institute will use the $400,000 to increase…
TWIN PORTS — It is migratory shorebird season in the Twin Ports and the St. Louis River Alliance is keeping an eye on the beaches for one endangered species. It’s the Piping Plover, which is a small bird that nests and feeds along beaches. Plover monitoring will be happening at the Wisconsin Point and Minnesota Point beaches to ensure its…
DULUTH, Minn. – Capt. Riley Leslie of Happy Hooker Charters, one of Duluth’s premiere charter fishing companies, is back in the water for the season in the Minnesota Slip. Crews got the docks loaded down into the slip Wednesday morning. Some of the spots are rented for personal boats, but most are for charter businesses. Happy Hooker has been serving…
The mineral deposits in Northeastern Minnesota brought congressional lawmakers to the area Tuesday. Representative Pete Stauber brought members of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources to Mountain Iron for a hearing. Stauber said it was a chance for members to hear directly from the community. Congressman Rob Wittman of the state of Virginia said the entire country had an…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning due to extreme fire risk for most of the state. From noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 76 counties will be under the warning. There are 87 counties in Minnesota. The warning means fire could spread quickly, due to dry air and strong winds. Residents in the counties listed…
DULUTH, Minn. – April 30th marked 56 years since three teenage brothers were swept away from the Duluth Ship Canal during an intense storm and massive waves. A U.S. Coast Guard officer also lost his life trying to rescue the boys. On Sunday, a special ceremony was held by the Coast Guard near a plaque along the Canal dedicated to…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — A collaborative event took place at the Superior YMCA Friday in honor of Earth Day It was to teach students ways to prevent pollution and live a healthy lifestyle. Groups that were there to teach elementary school students from around the area included the Northwest Wisconsin Lung Health Alliance and Superior’s Environmental Services Division, among others….
DULUTH, Minn. — Students are getting green thumbs at Lake Superior College. As part of Earth Week, the Eco3 Urban Farm on a 2-acre site at LSC hosted an open house for students to check out what it’s all about. Students learned how to replot plants, sew milkweed, and make seed-art signs. Ecolibrium 3 is a non-profit in Lincoln Park….
DULUTH, Minn. — What better way to honor Earth Day than finding a way to use leftovers? And not food leftovers! That’s what Frost River has going this month. When they make their various bags and leather goods, no matter how careful they are about making good use of their raw materials, there are always still some leftover scraps, or…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – A doorbell camera in Superior picked up a pretty scary — but proud — moment for some dog parents. Coop Two Mini Aussies recently were approached by a coyote in Superior’s Billings Park neighborhood. Roxie Owner Dennis Johnson told FOX 21 that Coop, the 1.5-year-old male, sprang into action to protect his 10-month-old sister, Roxie. Coop did…
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Pack launched their 6th annual Arbor Day campaign. Duluth Pack stores across the nation are using this time to partner with the Minnesota DNR to work on forest restoration. For every product sold Duluth Pack will plant a tree in the company’s home state of Minnesota. They have planted a total of 20,000 trees in the…
Wildfire season has begun in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin National Guard Black Hawks have been deployed to multiple large wildfires in the southern part of the state. Juneau and Monroe counties are being affected. The Jake Pine Fire is affecting more than 80 acres, as of Thursday. Residents have been evacuated there. The fire is contained. The second fire is near…
DULUTH, Minn. — The spring thaw has caused trail conditions to be vulnerable to damage if walked or ridden on during this time. Because of that the City of Duluth Parks and Recreation has announced they are closing all natural surface trails for the time being. Trails closed include the Duluth Traverse, Superior Hiking Trail, and other dirt trails in…
Current Wisconsin Fire Situation – Wisconsin DNR WISCONSIN — Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #191 declaring a state of emergency in response to elevated wildfire conditions. “Protecting Wisconsinites from the destructive danger of wildfire is a top priority. Although northern Wisconsin still has considerable snow cover, the danger is extreme across much of the state today,” said Gov….
INT’L FALLS, Minn. — Following a summer of massive flooding on the outskirts of International Falls, the Voyageur National Park maintenance team has been recognized for their contributions to protect and preserve park grounds and beyond. The park, located just outside of International Falls overcame a range of challenges amidst a record-setting flood. This leading the Midwest Regional Office of…
BRULE, Wis. – The state known for its cheese is moving full swing with another popular food product–maple syrup. FOX 21 photojournalist Nathaniel LeCapitaine takes us to the Brule River Farm where maple tapping is underway as long as temperatures cooperate. Categories: Business, Community, Environment, News, News – Latest News, Weather in the News, Wisconsin
TWO HARBORS, Minn. — A type of beetle known as the Emerald Ash Borer was first identified in Two Harbors last spring. The species can be a huge problem as they can kill trees. Tuesday experts from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture were teaching people outside of Seagren’s Home Hardware how to find trees becoming sick from beetles. They hope…
(AP) — Greenhouse gas emissions from the way humans produce and consume food could add nearly 1 degree of warming to the Earth’s climate by 2100, according to a new study. Continuing the dietary patterns of today will push the planet past the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) limit of warming sought under the Paris climate agreement to avoid the…
DULUTH, Minn. — The film industry in Duluth has been growing in recent years, but one winter festival in particular looks to reel in some action. Over at Clyde Iron Works, more than a dozen films directed by fly fishermen were shown in the International Fly-Fishing Festival. This year’s event was hosted by Gitchee Gumee Trout Unlimited in partnership with…
Duluth, Minn. — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a bill into law on Tuesday that mandates Minnesota’s public power companies become 100% carbon-free by 2040. Power companies and political leaders are not sure how this will be accomplished. What is clear, is that there is a need for many more solar, wind and biomass facilities to be added to replace…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota utilities would be obligated to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 to step up the fight against climate change under a bill speeding through the Legislature. The bill was slated for a final vote on the Senate floor Thursday night after passing the House 70-60 last week. It’s a top priority for Democrats, who control both chambers, and for…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – With wind chill temperatures at 30, 40 or 50 below zero, it’s probably safe to say nobody likes that type of weather, especially firefighters. The dangerous conditions happened just two days ago for Superior firefighters who were fighting brutally cold air during the Wasabi restaurant fire on Tower Avenue. Battalion Chief Steve Miner described what it’s like…
DULUTH, Minn. – Excitement is building for Sunday’s John Beargrease Sled Dog marathon. And that’s especially true for the new owner of Billy’s Bar. Billy’s is the starting line for Beargrease. It’s the prime spot to see all the dogs and mushers getting ready for the big race. For owner Brian Larson, he’s beyond ready to experience his first-ever Beargrease….
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Biden administration moved Thursday to protect northeastern Minnesota’s pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from future mining, dealing a potentially fatal blow to a copper-nickel project. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order closing over 350 square miles (900 square kilometers) of the Superior National Forest, in the Rainy River Watershed around the town of Ely, to…
ISLE ROYALE, Mich. — The annual wolf and moose survey is underway on Isle Royale. Last Friday, researchers based out of Michigan Tech arrived on Isle Royale to begin their annual survey to count the wolf and moose populations. Starting in 1958, researchers have studied the relationship between the two, and have discovered how their populations are affected by things…
Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture caught a record number of spongy moths during 2022, catching over 100,000 with a majority of them in Lake and Cook Counties. The spongy moth, formerly known as gypsy moth, is an invasive species that can eat the leaves of over 300 different species of trees…
DULUTH, Minn. — Some of us hang on to our real Christmas Tree until it becomes a fire hazard, but some of us can’t wait to get that tree out the door. If your tree is real–not artificial–you can recycle it at a number of WLSSD sites. The Yard Waste Compost Site will be open every day between now and…
