DULUTH, Minn. – Scientists continue to study the effects of climate change on Lake Superior the big lake is still showing plenty of open water in Duluth. While we have experienced a mild winter so far, experts say a lot can change with the temperatures, which can quickly add ice cover to Lake Superior and help scientists understand what the…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Douglas County Public Health is reporting a steady rise in new COVID-19 cases, with reports coming from PCR and rapid testing. Throughout the month of December, the health department reported 439 cases. In the first two weeks of 2022, the department has reported 349 new cases. Officials say the virus is spreading throughout all ages, however, more…
DULUTH, Minn. — Even though it’s a little warmer today the cold can still pay a huge toll on the health of your skin and professionals remind us how important it is to cover up. We get some of the harshest winters in the US up here, and the frigid temps can dry our skin out while also creating long…
DULUTH, Minn. — As the blood shortage crisis continues throughout the country, the Northland Red Cross chapter is doing what they can to keep donation numbers up. Since the pandemic, donation levels have decreased by 10%. And while getting donors has been a challenge, finding volunteers to work drives has also been hard. But now the Red Cross is promoting…
PROCTOR, Minn. – Students at Proctor High and A.I. Jedlicka Middle schools got the chance to learn more about the various job opportunities the medical field has to offer. Proctor Pathways and Essentia Health showcased nearly two dozen different departments, ranging from nursing to athletic training to sterile processing tech. Organizers say this is the first time since the start…
DULUTH, Minn.- There will be no indoor mask mandate in the City of Duluth, as the emergency ordinance failed to garner the unanimous vote needed by City Council Monday night. The discussion about a mask mandate turned into a discussion about the council’s powers and whether or not it is their job to manage how the city navigates the pandemic….
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Recent deadly building fires in New York City and Philadelphia are bringing extra attention to safe home heating practices. The Superior Fire Department says heating equipment is one of the top causes for fires in the fall and winter. By taking several action steps before turning out equipment, such as having a professional check it and using space heaters…
DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health and St. Luke’s had a united front when it came to endorsing the now-failed mask mandate proposal that went up for a vote on Monday during Duluth city council’s meeting. One Essentia doctor who works in the emergency department says she knows a new possible mask mandate seems sudden, but explained that hospital beds are…
DULUTH, Minn. — A second city wide Duluth mask mandate will be front and center for a vote at Monday night’s first city council meeting of 2022, with a hot topic to start the new year for sure. If Thursday night’s tense agenda session says anything about the mask mandate topic, this proposed emergency declaration isn’t going to be a…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota’s COVID-19 positivity rate over the past seven days reached 15.6% on Friday, in an indication of the rapid spread of the omicron variant across the state. State health officials said the figure demonstrates the increasing spread of the omicron variant and expect a new surge of case growth for at least the next month. Minnesota’s previous…
DULUTH, Minn. – The mask mandate debate is firing back up in Duluth and being fueled by Councilor Terese Tomanek. But the push for a mandate was not received well Thursday evening at the agenda session by the majority of the council after some felt surprised by the topic, which wasn’t on the list of items to discuss ahead of…
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin just broke a record as it tallied up more than 11,000 new COVID cases on Thursday, the highest single-day total ever for this state. Just on Wednesday, the state saw roughly 10,000 new cases. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the daily rate is 200% higher than it was just two months ago. The state…
DULUTH, Minn. – The return of arctic temperatures and wind chills means added attention is needed to keep pets safe from the cold. The Duluth Fire Department says despite their furry appearance and coat of hair, many pets are just like humans and do not like being in the cold for long periods of time. They recommend people watch for signs…
Duluth and Superior mayors told FOX 21 Wednesday there are no immediate plans to bring back a mask mandate for their cities after Minneapolis and St. Paul both announced indoor mask mandates returning at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6. Duluth Mayor Emily Larson’s office released the following statement: “The City is tracking the infection and spread of COVID-19 in Duluth,…
Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith is applauding lawmakers on both sides of the isle in D.C. for a new law now in effect to stop surprise medical bills for most emergency care. The “No Surprises Act” went into effect Jan. 1. Smith said Americans have faced unexpected medical bills for years after seeking emergency care ranging from hundreds to tens of…
DULUTH, Minn. – The end of the Christmas holiday season means people with live trees will need a place to properly dispose of them. The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District is reminding people that they cannot be part of curbside pickup. They will need to be dropped off at one of 11 locations in Duluth and Carlton County. Environmental Program Coordinator…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Masks are no longer required in the Superior school district. The mandate, which was only in place for students in 4k through sixth grade and the staff and visitors who were around them, was lifted on Monday when the holiday break ended. The superintendent, Amy Starzecki, said that there has been a decline in cases within the…
DULUTH, Minn. – The FDA’s recent approval for COVID vaccine booster shots for kids ages 12 through 15 has local healthcare providers encouraged that parents will take their kids to get them. Sherry Johnson, a Certified Nurse Practitioner in Infectious Disease at St Luke’s says they have seen a steady demand for kids’ vaccine shots during the recent winter break. She hopes…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz says coronavirus cases due to the fast-spreading omicron variant will most likely race through Minnesota’s public schools in the next few weeks now that students are back in class. Walz told Minnesota Public Radio on Monday that school administrators across the state are right to be concerned. He noted that modeling by the Mayo…
UNDATED (AP) -The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters as it confronts the omicron surge. The Food and Drug Administration on Monday allowed extra Pfizer shots for children as young as 12. Boosters already are recommended for everyone 16 and older, and the FDA says they’re also warranted for 12- to 15-year-olds. The FDA also said everyone eligible for a Pfizer…
DULUTH, Minn.- It’s time to kick off those new years resolutions, and for those who have yoga on your list, Svalja is the place to start. The yoga studio in Duluth offers a diverse array of weekly classes including strength-based workouts, cardio-based classes like piyo, and stress relief programs. The in-depth training and workshops provided are intended to assist people…
DULUTH, Minn.- With temperatures dipping in and out of subzero the past few days, Duluth’s firefighters are telling people to be extra careful in the cold to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite can set in in less than 10 minutes on exposed skin, so emergency officials say layers are your friend in the cold. But it’s still good to recognize…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – COVID-19 has now claimed the lives of more than 10,000 Wisconsin residents. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that state health officials counted 34 deaths on Wednesday, bringing the death total since the pandemic began to 10,014. The state tracked 5,748 COVID-19 deaths last year and 4,266 so far in 2021. Nearly three-quarters of people who died…
DULUTH, Minn. — Gyms are prepared for a surge in clients, knowing that the New Year resolutions have been made, and January first tends to be the days that those start. One gym in Duluth, XMT-3 Training isn’t your ordinary gym, it specializes in one-on-one personal training that focus on workouts that promote your overall health, and are tailored to…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) – The head of the Minnesota Nurses Association is ripping new CDC guidelines that shorten the recommended COVID-19 quarantine periods. Under the new recommendations, vaccinated health care workers who are exposed no longer must isolate. M-N-A president Mary Turner called the new policy a “disaster.” Turner said,” It may be good for businesses’ bottom lines to…
DULUTH, Minn. — Thousands of people who have had covid in the Twin Ports, have also received what are called Monoclonal Antibody Treatments from Essentia and St. Luke’s. The antibody treatments have been around for over a year now, and are given through an IV infusion. St. Luke’s has been giving this to around 30 covid patients weekly, but now…
DULUTH, Minn. – On Tuesday, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar hosted a panel of six guests to discuss the topic of Alzheimer’s in America. Among the individual topics discussed included education of the debilitating disease, long-term insurance, support for caregivers, funding to pay living wages for healthcare workers, and reducing the stigma surrounding the disease. Many of the panelists that brought…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota has topped a million cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March of 2020. The state Department of Health confirmed 4,155 new cases, lifting the total number of infections to 1,000,361. The figures released Monday do not include cases from the holiday weekend, which are expected to be updated Tuesday. Minnesota’s case count includes…
NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. health officials are cutting isolation restrictions for Americans who test positive for the coronavirus and shortening the time that close contacts have to quarantine. People with the virus can leave isolation after five days, down from 10 days. People exposed to the virus can also leave quarantine after five days. The Centers for Disease Control…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- In this week’s Active Adventures, FOX 21’s Ken Slama tours the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center in Hermantown and learns about the programs they offer in the upcoming year. Categories: Active Adventures, Community, Health, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News Tags: Duluth Area Family YMCA, YMCA
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A judge has temporarily halted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for St. Paul city employees. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that Ramsey County District Judge Robert Awsumb issued a temporary restraining order blocking the mandate on Thursday. The mandate was supposed to go into effect at the end of December. The order comes after St….
(Merck & Co. via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. regulators have authorized a second pill against COVID-19, an antiviral drug from Merck that may help blunt the wave of infections driven by the omicron variant. The Food and Drug Administration granted the drug emergency use Thursday for adults with early COVID-19 who face the highest risks of hospitalization. It comes…
DULUTH, Minn. – The American Red Cross blood supply is at historically low levels and it continues to decline. Officials with the American Red Cross say if more donors don’t come out to give, hospitals may be forced to delay care to patients relying on blood transfusion. The Red Cross is announcing all who come to give through Jan. 2…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Interest in new COVID-19 vaccinations is slowing in Itasca County. Leaders with Itasca County Public Health say roughly 60 percent of eligible residents in the county are vaccinated, a number that hasn’t grown as of late. Four percent of vaccinated residents in the county have still tested positive for COVID-19. The Public Health Dept. is reporting…
WISCONSIN – State health officials in Wisconsin echo the desperate pleas of those regionally and across the country, declaring a public health advisory as they anticipate a surge in disease activity due to the Omicron variant. There were more than 13 hundred new COVID cases reported in the state yesterday, with 19 Omicron cases detected so far. Experts expect that…
UNDATED (AP)- The Occupational Health and Safety Administration says it will not issue citations tied to its coronavirus vaccination mandate before Jan. 10. This will give companies time to adjust to and implement the requirements. The federal agency separately says there will be no citations of companies regarding its testing requirements before Feb. 9. Saturday’s announcement came after the U.S….
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The president of Planned Parenthood’s affiliate in the upper Midwest says she is stepping down from her position next year. Sarah Stoesz oversaw the organization for nearly 20 years and grew it into one of the largest Planned Parenthood affiliates in the country as it expanded from Minnesota and South Dakota to incorporate North Dakota, Iowa, and…
DULUTH, Minn. — As the Omicron variant and others continue to threaten the US including the Northland, people are starting to wonder if mask mandates will make a return. Multiple states have already re-instated their indoor mask mandates like California and New York, but with cases rising, and Minnesota seeing a larger surge of the virus, the question lingers of…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Department held a procession for fallen New York Mills, Minnesota police officer Ron Smith as his body made a final trip back home. Smith, 58, died Dec. 15 after a weeks-long battle with COVID-19. Smith was admitted to Lakewood Health System in Staples on Nov. 26 and was put on a ventilator to help…
DULUTH, Minn. – One of the many effects the pandemic has created is that fewer people have gone in for cancer screenings. Medical providers say that trend is starting to reverse, but they are advocating that more people return to these preventative measures for their overall health. “We had a lot of patients coming in, especially spring and summer of this…
DULUTH, Minn. — So far in 2021, 30 people have died from overdoses in Duluth but according to the police department, 2 of those deaths are overdoses from counterfeit Percocet 30’s. These counterfeit pills contain fentanyl, which is more powerful than actual Percocet pills. Officials say it is a deadly drug and hard to tell apart from real pills, but…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Some people who got the covid shots earlier this year are now choosing to go in for booster shots. One vaccine clinic in Superior is seeing more foot traffic come through right now because of it. The AMI vaccination program has been set up at UWS since April, and has moved around with the demand of new…
DULUTH, Minn. — Total overdoses are 7 times higher than they were in 2013 in Duluth from opioids, this epidemic continues to cause problems in Duluth, we took a look at the current numbers that might be surprising to some. In 20-13, there were 42 total overdoses in one year in Duluth. This year, which isn’t even over yet, has…
DULUTH, Minn.- Even though winter has chilled the great outdoors out, Northland runners sure have not, mostly unfazed by the change in temps. “Once you start running outside you realize that it’s something that you can do once you have the right equipment,” said Clint Agar, Manager at the Duluth Running Company. According to Agar, it all comes from staying…
MADISON, Wis.- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has detected the state’s first case of the Omicron variant, in a resident with recent travel history to South Africa. According to the DHS, the person with the Omicron variant is an adult male and is a Milwaukee County resident who recently returned from a trip to South Africa. The person…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Omicron variant was discovered in Minnesota Thursday, contracted by a man who attended an anime convention in New York City last month — casting a shadow of concern over the already overwhelmed healthcare systems everywhere, including the Twin Ports. “This will never end until we get 100%– until we get virtually everyone vaccinated,” said Dr. Jon Pryor,…
PROCTOR, Minn. — Proctor public schools is partnering with St. Luke’s to offer additional opportunities for kids in the 5 to 11 age group to get vaccinated. There will be three separate clinics open to anyone wanting to receive a vaccine at the St. Luke’s event center in Proctor to accommodate those receiving the first and second shot. The staff of…
TORONTO (AP) – Canada says it’s banning the entry of foreign nationals who have traveled through southern Africa in the last 14 days. That’s due to discovery of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus that has stoked worldwide fears. Government ministers also said Friday that all Canadians who have travelled to southern Africa in the last 14 days will…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Union Gospel Mission in downtown Duluth, which is about to celebrate 100 years of providing food, shelter and hope, put smiles on many people’s faces Thursday by handing out free Thanksgiving meals. “On a holiday, the people who are isolated and feel alone feel so much more alone on a holiday, so it’s so vital that…
DULUTH, Minn. – The holiday season is a time of joy and happiness for many people, but for others who may be grieving the loss of a loved one it can be a time of emotions, sadness, and seclusion. Essentia Health offers a variety of grief support services for those dealing with a recent of past loss, especially during the…
