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…
DULUTH, Minn. – SUPERIOR, Wisc. – For the past week we’ve known that this storm is coming. The storm is bringing a lot of snow and wind and these are two things that power companies regularly prepare for. Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power are no different, they have plans in place to deal with this type of…
DULUTH, Minn.–Poinsettias are popping up all over. In fact, it’s estimated that during the six week, peak season for the plant, 35 million of them are sold. Shelly Tomlin of Engwall Flowers says the poinsettias are very popular in our area as well. This past week has been very busy for the flower shop as people are stopping in to…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission has granted $11.4 million dollars to enhance 14 Minnesota parks and tails. This comes through the commissions Legacy Fund, which granted nearly one and a half million of that total toward the Duluth Waabizheshikana, Martin Trail. The plan is to use this funding to build on the existing 3.3-mile…
PIKE LAKE, Minn.– When the snow falls, St. Louis County has up to 120 trucks out clearing the streets. To ensure their trucks are in good shape, the county replaces about 10% of its fleet each year. This year 10 new trucks have all been delivered and the County is pleased to show them off. A supervisor in the St….
(FOX 21) – An estimated 200 anglers became stuck on a broken chunk of ice Monday, according to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office. Courtesy: Kelliher Fire & Rescue, Beltrami Sheriff’s Office The incident was reported around 11:30 a.m. on Upper Red Lake. The sheriff’s office originally reported about 100 people stranded, but officials updated that number to 200 after all…
CARLTON, Minn. – Jay Cooke State Park was one of Minnesota’s 75 state parks that opened for free on Black Friday, which is just one of four free days the state offers. Categories: Business, Community, Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
CARLTON, Minn. — The Christmas season has begun with the opening of the Jansson Tree Farm. FOX 21’s Pat Brink gives you a tour of the farm that has a Swedish Christmas flair. Categories: Business, Entertainment, Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
SAWYER, Minn. – A native-owned farm in Sawyer celebrated the arrival of a dozen buffalo to its land on Friday. Native Wise farm sits on 380 acres. Community members gathered with a welcoming song for the buffalo and a meal for all to enjoy. The Nature Conservancy’s preserves in Nebraska helped make the delivery possible to help preserve Native American…
DULUTH, Minn. — It’s that time of the year when the nights reach below freezing temperatures, and daytime stays above. Due to this annual freeze-thaw cycle, Duluth’s natural trails are closed until further notice. The mix of below and above freezing temps, can make the soil wet and vulnerable, ultimately damaging trails with continued use. Because of this, the Duluth…
DULUTH, Minn.–Not sure what to do with your Jack-O-Lantern after Halloween? Well instead of letting it turn to mush, you can add it to a compost pile. UMD students researching Sustainable Food Systems are coming together to collect unwanted pumpkins. There are two dumpsters on campus designated for collecting pumpkins. One is located near the Bagley Nature Center and the…
DULUTH, Minn. – A special honor for Duluth today as the Minnesota Land Trust awarded the city their Partner of the Year for its effort in recognizing the potential of outdoor recreation and green space preservation. This is part of the trust’s 2022 Treasured Places event, and the first time Duluth has received this award. Contributing factors include cleaning up…
DULUTH, Minn. – It will be at least another eight months until a portion of Duluth’s Cross City Trail is back open. The City of Duluth and the Environmental Protection Agency recently provided an update on the work being done to clean up and restore the ponds behind Erie Pond. This area is part of the St. Louis Area of…
DULUTH, Minn. – The November 8th election is just around the corner, and Duluth residents will be voting on whether to approve a new Parks Fund levy that would replace the current levy that took effect in 2012. Jim Filby Williams, the city’s Property, Parks and Libraries director, told FOX 21’s Dan Hanger Wednesday that many of Duluth’s 120 invested…
DULUTH, MN – In recent years, local farmers have been experiencing changing seasonal patterns which are causing concern and forcing them to adjust and adapt some of their farming techniques. In partnership with the Minnesota Sea Grant, The Minnesota DNR is hosted a Climate Conversations at Whole Foods Co-op Denfeld Tuesday with local food leaders, farmers, and members of the…
DULUTH, Minn. – “The magic of Hartley Park is getting kids and people outside and connected to the natural world,” Hartley Nature Center Executive Director, Tom O’Rourke said. Hartley Nature Center held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of its building expansion along with other park related improvements. New additions to the building include two classrooms, a restroom, office…
DULUTH, Minn. — FOX 21 Meteorologist Ken Slama takes us inside the Duluth office of the National Weather Service in this week’s Knowing Your Neighbors. Categories: Education, Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
DULUTH, Minn. – It was a perfect fall day in the Northland Saturday, especially for those wanting to see the foliage. People were out and about over at Enger Park, taking advantage of the overview of Duluth’s east and west side. Reds, oranges, and yellows have taken over Duluth as we are nearing our peak. We caught up with Prudie and…
DULUTH, Minn.–The leaves are beginning to change colors, which means pretty soon trees will be bare and the ground will be covered with leaves, but here’s some good you can do with your leaf piles. Through the early days of this fall season, you can bring bags of leaves or yard waste to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD),…
DULUTH, Minn. — Tuesday, a plan is in place to euthanize hundreds of geese next summer in Duluth to help restore native wild rice on the St. Louis River. Wildlife officials with the Minnesota and Wisconsin DNRs say decoys and fencing can help scare off some of the Canada geese. This is not enough to restore nearly 300 acres of…
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis River Alliance held an Estuary Extravaganza to honor the designation of the St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail. The St. Louis River Estuary was officially designated in 2020, but due to COVID concerns, an official ribbon cutting was held off until today. Up until its designation, people were unable to recreate freely on…
DULUTH, Minn. – Monday, the Forest Service visited Hartley Pond as part of a national lake study. Hartley is one of 250 lakes across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan that have been sampled this summer. The survey is being conducted to determine whether there are any stressors to the lakes as well as the differences between them. It’s been 40 years…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Water Is Life Festival is coming up Sunday, Sept. 4 at Bayfront Festival Park. One of the many musicians playing at the event, David Huckfelt, stopped by the morning show to talk about the mission behind the event and what to expect! Check out his interview and songs below, and click here for more info. on…
SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, Minn.– One year ago, the Greenwood fire tore through northern Minnesota, damaging the natural life. But now, the forest is coming back to life once again. August 15th last year, lighting sparked a massive fire that burned for months. The severe drought causing abnormally dry conditions fueled the flames that ended up scorching nearly 30,000 acres of…
Greenwood Fire/USDA Forest Service DULUTH, Minn. – One year ago, Aug. 15, 2021, lighting sparked the massive Greenwood Wildfire in northern Minnesota that would burn for months. The abnormally dry conditions fueled the flames, scorched nearly 30,000 acres of land and destroyed dozens of cabins and outbuildings. Nobody was hurt or killed during the weeks-long firefight and evacuations, which included…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Department issued a Rip Current Warning for Park Point beaches Monday, which will last until 10 a.m. Tuesday. “This warning means that wind and wave conditions can support rip currents,” according to Assistant Chief Dennis Edwards. “Rip currents are life-threatening to anyone entering the water. Stay out of the water regardless of your swimming…
ASHLAND, Wis. – Enbridge’s Line 5 was shut down for a short time period this week after a trace amount of petroleum product was found in the soil from what is being called a historical discharge. The company says it was detected during scheduled system maintenance Wednesday, August 3, near a valve site around Old Airport Road and Holmes Road southeast…
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. – The recovery from this year’s historic flooding in the Rainy Lake Basin continues in Koochiching County. All No Wake zones that were placed in late May have been removed. They were first established within 300 feet of shorelines, then 500 feet, to limit potential damage to buildings and infrastructure along waterways. Sheriff Perryn Hedlund says water levels…
DULUTH, Minn. – Solar energy and beer are colliding in a good way at Ursa Minor Brewing in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The brewery has installed a 24.8 kilowatt solar panel system on the roof. It’s part of the company’s effort to prioritize going green. We’re told beer is a very energy intensive product to produce, so the system doesn’t…
DULUTH, Minn. — Summer is heating up and you may be tempted to take to the local beaches. Before you jump in the water, it’s important to know if any beach advisories are in place. Lake Superior had a recent series of beach advisories. On July 20th, no water contact advisories were placed on Bluebird Landing Beach, Minnesota Point Harborside…
DULUTH, Minn. – Perch Lake is located on Duluth’s south side, between New Duluth and Fond du Lac. The 25-acre body of water used to be a bigger part of the St. Louis River estuary until human intervention occurred. “It used to have a really nice connection to the St. Louis River before Highway 23 and the railroad went in,” says…
DULUTH, Minn. — Teacher and environmentalist April Hepokoski stopped by the morning show Wednesday to talk about ways we can all reduce, reuse and recycle in our daily lives. Hepokoski started Zero Waste Duluth on social media and is also a contributor to “Zero Waste Kids,” a book designed to help young people think smarter about trash. For more on…
CARLTON, Minn. – June 11 was the latest “free park day” for all 75 of Minnesota’s parks and recreational areas. It also coincided with “national get outdoors day”, to promote the benefits of being outside in nature. Fox 21’s Owen Zagrabelny caught up with several people enjoying Jay Cooke State Park. Categories: Environment, News – Latest News, Video
DULUTH, Minn. – A community event was held today in support of pollinators and helping to increase their numbers in the northland. The Duluth Monarch Buddies hosted a marketplace at First United Methodist Church in Duluth. Several booths offered information and plants for sale that will help attract butterflies and other species that help pollinate them. The group was formed in…
DULUTH, Minn. — Volunteers began planting on superior street this morning, for the 19th annual “dig in for the downtown waterfront,” tradition. Each year, the event is put on by Duluth’s Greater Downtown Council. Kristi stokes, the Downtown Council President, said that the planting event is a way for community members to be a part of beautifying the area. If…
INT’L FALLS/KABETOGAMA, MINN. –“Mother nature has not been kind to us this year so far at all. So every week it’s like it could come up another foot, every week it could come up another foot, and it has.” Northern Minnesota residents who border Canada continue to battle historic flooding. It has devastated the area and hindered the beginning of…
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn.- On Saturday Governor Tim Walz and U.S. senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith got a first-hand look at the damage historic flooding has caused in International Falls. The lawmakers toured the Emergency Operations Center, sandbagging sites, and various areas of flood damage. Back in April the governor authorized the national guard to support emergency flood operations in…
Photo: Michael Reid, Mallard Island Board Treasurer. KOOCHICHING COUNTY, Minn.- The historic flooding of the Rainy River Basin near International Falls is soaking and filling buildings on Mallard Island, one of the 5 review islands used for wildlife research, education, and advocacy in Rainy Lake. According to posts on the Mallard Island Facebook Page, volunteers have been working the past…
UPDATE: DULUTH, Minn.- The City of Duluth spokesperson announced that as of 5:21 p.m., Duluth City crews and a contractor restored power to the water pump station that serves the City of Proctor. Water service to Proctor residents has resumed normal operations. DULUTH, Minn.- Crews from the City of Duluth are on-scene at the Water Pump Station that serves the…
Photo: Hibbing Police Department Facebook Page HIBBING, Minn.- Officials with the Hibbing Police Department plan to take a volunteer team Thursday to the Kabetogama area, as the floodwaters continue to claim more homes. According to the National Weather Service, the flooding in the Rainy River Basin is historic, and already exceeded the records set in 2014. It could break all-time…
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn.- The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office asked that International Falls residents prepare to evacuate, as historic flooding of Rainy Lake forced the closure of County Road 135 and Town Road 225 Friday. According to an alert from the Minnesota Integrated Alert and Warning System or IPAWS shared on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page, County Road 135 closed at…
DULUTH, Minn. – Some homeowners on Park Point are getting buried in fine sand and silt, and some are even losing their yards to inches of the super fine particles. The problem is a result of the beach nourishment project from last year that built back multiple feet of beach by using dredging leftovers from the harbor. The city calls…
KOOCHICHING COUNTY, Minn. — Although the rivers in Duluth don’t seem to be too affected, just two and a half hours north, they’re experiencing what they’re calling historic flooding, and they expect it to get much worse. Residents of Rainy Lake up by the Canadian border and near International Falls, have not seen water levels like this since 2014, and…
