DULUTH, Minn.- The current air quality alert in the Northland is moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups, while other parts of Northern Minnesota are experiencing very unhealthy conditions. Medical experts advise people stay indoors and limit their physical exercise. “This predominantly affects high risk population. Patients that are under 18 or over 65,” said allergy specialist Dr. Minto Porter. “COPD,…
DULUTH, Minn.– The walk-run for suicide awareness and mental health returned this morning after not taking place last year. Over 200 people came out to help raise awareness for mental health in the Twin Ports starting down at Leif Erickson Park, going down the Lakewalk all the way down to the lighthouse at Canal Park and back. Nearly $10,000 have…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Fire Department and St. Luke’s Hospital are teaming up over the next few months to educate parents on car seat safety. Car seat clinics will be going on at different fire stations throughout Duluth. Organizers say 3 out of 4 car seats are not used or installed correctly, which can result in injuries to a child…
DULUTH, Minn.- Due to a national shortage Northland blood donation centers are facing a lack of inventory for local hospitals. Not only did the pandemic cause a decrease in blood donations but schools and colleges that are out for summer break have also taken a dip into the donor pool that blood centers rely on. “I think that what we’re…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Douglas County has only seen one reported case of COVID-19 in the past two weeks as vaccination rates rise. Around 54 percent of Douglas County residents have received as least one vaccine dose. Along with about 34 percent of kids between ages 12 and 15 and 43 percent of 16 and 17 year old’s have been vaccinated with…
DULUTH, Minn.- Wildfires and the lack of rain is causing drought and poor air quality here in the Northland. Normally, June is when Duluth gets most of its rainfall but this June was the third driest on record. “With the drought conditions that have happened, we’ve seen a rapid increase in our fire season,” said National Weather Service Meteorologist Joe…
DULUTH, Minn.– The Bayshore Residence and Rehabilitation center hosted “Let’s Taco ‘Bout a Job” Tuesday on Saint Louis Avenue of Park Point, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM, which is a job fair to recruit new employees for the center. Healthcare professionals have predicted a “burnout period” for current workers in the industry who have been working hard through the…
DULUTH, Minn. – An ammonia leak forced an evacuation Tuesday evening at the DECC, according to Duluth Fire Chief Shawn Krizay. The fire department got the call for help around 7 p.m. Tuesday for the leak at the Curling Club. Crews confirmed the leak and began evacuating the Curling Club, DECC and Pioneer Hall. Hazmat crews were called in to…
DULUTH, Minn.- COVID-19 restrictions have loosened quite a bit in recent weeks, but wearing masks and social distancing are still good ways to stay safe, especially for unvaccinated people. Essentia Health administered more than 30,000 COVID-19 vaccines over the past few months, having more people vaccinated is keeping case numbers down. Fewer people are also coming in for other seasonal…
DULUTH, Minn.- Healthcare workers and community members took up signs to picket up by Miller Hill Mall today as negotiations continue over Essentia Health’s contract with their employees. USW Local 9460 workers say a new contract was supposed to be negotiated last July but they haven’t gotten Essentia to the table until now. They are also pushing for higher wages,…
DULUTH, Minn. — A food service program, through the Duluth YMCA, offering free nutritious snacks and meals to kids 18 and under, is now underway in the Northland. The idea is to continue providing healthy options to kids when they are not in school for the summer. After serving over 100,000 meals last year, Food Access Director Jacob Sass, is…
DULUTH, Minn.– Today was the day everyone was anticipating for over a year, and it wasn’t only the athletes who had to prepare, but a few local members too who have been doing this for years. Hundreds of fans and volunteers lined London Road to cheer on runners. Lindsay Ekstrom, a Duluth native, has been attending these races since she…
DULUTH, Minn. – According to the Alzheimer’s Association, worldwide, 50 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. June serves as Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Sara McCumber is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the Essentia Neurology Department. McCumber says there are ways to help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. One of the ways is to exercise. She says individuals…
DULUTH, Minn.– St. Louis County Public Health had a pop-up vaccine clinic at the Mount Royal Library location Wednesday. It was open to the public, but encouraged employees from nearby businesses to come in if they wanted either the Pfizer shot or the Johnson and Johnson one. The health department wants to have these pop-ups at convenient spots to get…
DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Zoo has been granted a special piece of equipment that allows them to make diagnoses on their animals from a distance. Through a thermal imaging camera Lake Superior Zoo is utilizing a new piece of equipment that is helping them find different injuries in their animals. Teletherm Infared, based out of Florida, granted Amy Gallagher,…
DULUTH, Minn.–With temperatures in the high 80’s, and in some areas the 90’s this weekend, experts are trying to remind the community to not take any unnecessary risks when it comes to your children and pets in this weather. If you’re planning on taking your dog out to play or for a run, Animal Allies suggests doing it earlier or…
DULUTH, Minn.– As the Duluth Fire Department teaches us how to beat the heat, Essentia Health is also educating the public on signs to look for that indicate having a heat stroke. Some of the most common signs include physically looking unwell, fatigue and perspiration. But these symptoms can lead to confusion, disorientation, and sometimes even passing out. Essentia Health…
DULUTH, Minn. – Over 46 percent of the eligible population in Minnesota is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In Wisconsin, over 44 percent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated. While the numbers continue to climb, health officials say there is still plenty of work to be done. Dr. Jon Pryor is the President of Essentia Health in Duluth. Pryor says…
WASHINGTON, D.C./DULUTH, Minn. — U.S. Senator Tina Smith, a Democrat representing Minnesota, wants to expand and support mental health resources with several proposals in Congress as clinics are seeing their patient lists fill up like never before. For Mental Health Awareness Month, Senator Smith posted several tweets on her Twitter page about her own journey with depression. “Having that opportunity…
DULUTH, Minn.- St. Louis County is continuing to find success with its vaccine clinic at the Duluth Transportation Center downtown. Public health officials say they’ve vaccinated about 80 people over their three visits there. They add people coming in have been a variety of different ages and living situations. It’s been a mix of people who may have trouble scheduling…
DULUTH, Minn. — St. Luke’s opened its doors to European sailors from the ship MV Isolda, to receive the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. A Bulgarian sailor who has been in the business for 27 years, received his shot today and spoke of its importance. He said as the crew sails internationally, getting the vaccine was a priority as they’ve…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A key state health department leader is hedging on whether Wisconsin can attain COVID-19 herd immunity by mid-2021. Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk has previously said that 70% of Wisconsin’s population would need to be vaccinated to attain herd immunity and the state could reach that benchmark by July. But vaccination…
DULUTH, Minn. — If you want to go fishing while supporting a great cause, you can head out to Island Lake on the first weekend of June. Kolar Toyota is hosting its 26th annual ALS Fishing Tournament on June 5th. For the past 25 years, this tournament alone has raised more than $3.5 million to fight for those diagnosed by…
DULUTH, Minn. — If you want to go fishing while supporting a great cause, you can head out to Island Lake on the first weekend of June. Kolar Toyota is hosting its 26th annual ALS Fishing Tournament on June 5th. For the past 25 years, this tournament alone has raised more than $3.5 million to fight for those diagnosed by…
DULUTH, Minn. – Although fewer children and teens have been infected with COVID-19, they can still become infected and also spread the virus to others. Local infectious disease experts with St. Luke’s are encouraging parents to bring their teens aged 12-15 in for the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Sherry Johnson, Infectious Disease Specialist at St Luke’s, says parents are coming in…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Superior City Council voted Tuesday night to immediately lift the city’s mask mandate. Councilor Craig Sutherland said it was a unanimous decision by councilors. This comes as the state of Wisconsin hasn’t had a mask mandate for more than a month, and after the CDC announced last week that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing masks…
SUPERIOR, Wis.–With the Pfizer vaccine now being available to children ages 12 and up, more locations are opening its doors to give the vaccine to children. The Wessman Vaccine Site in Superior has been giving vaccines since April 13th, but staff at the site say they are seeing even more people come in due to the recent age change on…
DULUTH, Minn.– With the recent approval from the CDC allowing children as young as 12 to be vaccinated, Northland healthcare providers are getting even busier as more people come in to get the shots. Children have always dreaded shots and vaccinations, until now. It was finally announced that the COVID-19 vaccine is available for kids ages 12-15, which means, they…
DULUTH, Minn.- A new nutrition store in Duluth is offering not only supplements, but also diet planning and personal training programs. All-Star Nutrition opened right across the street from the Miller Hill Mall last week. The owner says he’s seeing a boom in people focusing on improving their health after being stuck at home. And he says his store is…
DULUTH, Minn. – The FDA now says the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is safe and offers strong protection for younger teens based on the testing of 2,000 volunteers. Shots could begin soon once a federal vaccine panel issues recommendations for using the vaccine in that age bracket. St. Louis County Public Health is already planning. Officials with the county say they’re…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- The ribbon was cut Monday for a new therapy center in Hermantown for children on the autism spectrum. Caravel Autism Health celebrated its grand opening. The center is filled with brightly colored, sensory-friendly spaces where therapists will work with kids on skills, relationships and confidence building. According to specialists, Caravel staff will also work with families to continue…
DULUTH, Minn.– A Duluth non-profit has been helping pregnant mothers in need for almost two years, but the Star of the North Maternity Home needs to find a new location. The current Star of the North Maternity House has been sold, and relocation to a new place has to happen by the end of the month. $60,000 is needed for…
DULUTH, Minn. – If you’ve packed on a few pounds over the past year, you’re not alone. In a poll of more than 1,000 WebMD readers, nearly half of the women and almost one-quarter of the men said they’d gained weight “due to COVID restrictions.” St. Luke’s Clinical Dietitian, Mary Cherne, says she’s seeing an influx of patients coming in…
DULUTH, Minn.- On Tuesday and Wednesday Duluthians could not only catch a bus at the Duluth Downtown Transit Center — but also get a COVID vaccine there if they wanted. St. Louis County partnered up with the Duluth Transit Authority to open up a clinic at the DTC, the latest in their vaccine outreach efforts. Health officials say they have…
DULUTH, Minn.- Local breweries across Minnesota are teaming up with a nonprofit to raise money and awareness for brain cancer research. Ursa Minor in Duluth’s Lincoln Park is partnering with nonprofit “Stache Strong.” they focus on supporting brain cancer researchers, survivors, and those suffering from disease. This weekend Ursa Minor will debut their “Smash for Stache” brew. $2 of every…
DULUTH, Minn.– The first Monday in May is nationally recognized as “Melanoma Monday” to remind Americans of the risks of skin cancer as we head into summer. Twin Ports Dermatology in Duluth offered free skin checks on Monday for new patients to raise awareness. Dermatologists are teaching patients about the ABCDE’s, which is an acronym representing possible signs of of…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Itasca County Public Health and area residents are reflecting on the gratitude of science after surpassing the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Public Health Department reports new cases of COVID-19 to continue to rise in Itasca County, especially among residents aged 30 – 50, and school-aged children. As of Thursday, April 29, in the…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Faith United Methodist Church in Superior continued its 20 plus year food pantry tradition Tuesday – although a little different because of the pandemic. People could drive up, tell a volunteer how many people were in their family, and boxes of food would be loaded into their car. “We serve those who feel like they were in need…
DULUTH, Minn. – A recent report released by the CDC shows nearly eight percent, or five million Americans have not received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. St. Luke’s Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Andrew Thompson, has mixed reaction to the new data. Thompson says while the number is somewhat cause for concern, 92 percent of adults who have received…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.- Some University of Minnesota Medical School students have complied research that suggests tear gas can have long-lasting health impacts. The short-term reactions to tear gas such as breathing problems and skin and eye irritation are well-known already. So, the PHD Graduate Neuroscience students analyzed other studies on the longer-term health consequences, and summarized those findings. They found one…
DULUTH, Minn. – A multi-million dollar development is changing the skyline of Duluth’s downtown district. Ground broke on Essentia’s Vision Northland Project in 2019, and if you’ve recently driven by, you’ve noticed a large amount of progress has been made on the exterior of the new structure. What started as a vision in 2017 is now becoming an impressive reality….
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The number of COVID-19 infections in Minnesota continues to rise. State health officials reported 1,805 newly confirmed cases on Saturday. Eight more people died. The state has now seen 529,353 confirmed cases since the pandemic began in March. The state’s death toll stood at 6,685 as of Saturday. Nearly 30,000 people have been hospitalized. As…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s National Volunteer Week, and one healthcare clinic is happy it has its volunteers back in action. St. Luke’s Hospital had to say goodbye to its volunteers who work in the hospital for almost a year after the pandemic hit, but now they’re allowed to return. Volunteers are placed in areas they may want to work. They…
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – The Twins’ games against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday and Sunday have been postponed due to Minnesota’s COVID-19 problems. Major League Baseball didn’t immediately announce when the games will be made up. Kyle Garlick, another unnamed Twins player and a team staff member tested positive in the two days before the postponements, manager Rocco Baldelli…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Even with the pause of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine, the rollout continues to be strong in Itasca County. Public health leaders say only 6.6 percent of the vaccines delivered to Minnesota have been from Johnson & Johnson. As of Thursday, April 15, 78 percent of the 65-plus population in Itasca County has been vaccinated while…
DULUTH, Minn. – With the pause of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, many are left wondering what comes next regarding safety and efficacy. Dr. James Conniff is a family medicine physician with Essentia Health in Duluth. Conniff says the pause is reassuring as the FDA takes a closer look into the problem. The CDC says six women between…
DULUTH, Minn.- Researchers with the University Of Minnesota Medical School says they have discovered a rise in unhealthy eating behaviors and eating disorders among young adults during the pandemic. Up to 53% of young people transitioning out of high school experienced one or more unhealthy eating or weight control behaviors. These ranged from binge eating or skipping meals to self-induced…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – 64 percent of residents living in Douglas County have not been vaccinated against COVID-19. That’s why health officials in the county can’t wait for shots to start being administered into arms Tuesday, April 13th. The fifth community-based vaccination site will be located on the campus of UWS inside Wessman Arena. Appointments are now open, with the Pfizer…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – In Itasca County, the COVID-19 case rate per 10,000 people continues to increase steadily, however, there is light at the end of the tunnel. 41 percent of the county’s population has begun their vaccination efforts. Over 45,000 residents live in the county, and health officials report nearly 10,000 have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine….
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Starting next Monday, Wisconsinites 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Now Douglas County Health Officials look to add to the more than 19,000 people in the county who’ve already gotten one dose. “With eligibility opening up to Wisconites next week, especially with the holiday weekend upon us, we need folks to be as diligent…
