DULUTH, Minn. – At least six children have been diagnosed with a rare disease in Minnesota. We’re told it’s similar to polio because it can cause paralysis. Health officials don’t know much about the disease known as Acute Flaccid Myelitis or AFM. What they do know is that it’s typically rare. The CDC reports less than one in a million…
BAYFIELD, Wis.- Believe it or not there’s more than just apples at Apple Fest. There are all types of vendors taking advantage of the large crowds to sell their unique items, like felted soap. “It’s a bar of handmade soap that has wool roving wet-felted around the outside in alternating layers,” said Naomi McFadden, daughter of The Felted Soap Lady….
DULUTH, Minn.- October is Pregnancy and Child Loss Awareness month, and it was acknowledged at Essentia Health with their white ribbon campaign. The campaign’s mission is to educate the public about the impact of pregnancy and child loss, and to offer grief resources to families. Organizers say, dedicating a whole month to this issue can have a lasting impact….
SUPERIOR, Wis.- A very quick but very productive City Council meeting took place Tuesday night. An ordinance was unanimously passed decriminalizing marijuana possession in small amounts, to avoid a life–long mark on one’s record. Previously, anyone found with any amount of marijuana would be arrested, and charged with a misdemeanor, or even a felony. But now in the City of Superior,…
DULUTH, Minn. — Active Adventures: Tai Chi Join Lake Superior Tai Chi instructor Richard and his class as Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot tries out the ancient Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. Tai Chi requires very little space, no bending or stretching and no special clothing. It also does not require a particular…
DULUTH, Minn.- The FDA is calling youth smoking an epidemic and a push to increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 is coming through Duluth and Hermantown. Tobacco 21 is being led by the American Lung Association. Organizers tell us tightening the age restriction would make a positive impact. The menthol ban as just a big step to…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Seniors got all dressed up to go to the Prom at UWS on Thursday. But they might not be the seniors you’re expecting. Senior Prom at a University sounds like a rambunctious event for college seniors. But this prom, while equally rambunctious, was all about Senior Citizens. The hoppin’ band and clinking glasses take you back to a…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Veterans in Superior got a chance to say thank you and voice their concerns about the VA program at a town hall style meeting at the Twin Ports Outpatient VA Clinic today. This is the 23rd monthly community meeting held since 2014. Where officials say their primary concern is hearing from the men and women who served. “It’s always…
DULUTH, Minn.- It comes once a year and just when the chilly weather starts to set in, the Head of The Lakes Chilli Cook-Off is here. The 27th annual Head of The Lakes Chilli Cook-Off starts Thursday, Sept. 20th at the DECC from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This savory event commemorates United Way’s Giving Campaign. United Way partners with…
DULUTH, Minn. – With 62 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, and more than 10,000 Americans turning 65 every single day, there is significant interest in Medicare health coverage. Unfortunately, there’s also tremendous confusion. According to UnitedHealthcare, roughly 39 percent of Medicare beneficiaries say they have a “fair” or “poor” understanding of Medicare, and two in five beneficiaries describes Medicare as “confusing”….
DULUTH, Minn. — Yoga North gives Brittney Merlot a stress-free night on the shores of Lake Superior in this week’s Active Adventures! Using meditation, relaxation and yoga at Brighton Beach, even this video will make you more relaxed! Give it a try! LOCATION: 4628 Pitt Street, Duluth, MN 55804 PHONE: 218-722-9642 WEBSITE: Yoga North SCHEDULE: Categories: Active Adventures, Community, Features,…
SUPERIOR, Minn.- Daycares in the Northland are already seeing flu-like symptoms and tell FOX21 this is earlier than usual. If you are young and healthy the flu may not affect your body that harshly, but by getting the flu shot it stops you from being a carrier to those who could suffer serious problems related to the flu. People over…
DULUTH, Minn.- Minnesota is leading the nation in reductions to Veteran homelessness but there’s still a lot to be done. Five hundred people are advocating for the homeless population in Duluth on Thursday, September 13th, at the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless annual conference at the DECC. Advocates tell us the hot topics for Minnesota as a whole, are serving…
DULUTH, Minn.- It’s called the ZeroG, a new piece of medical equipment that’s helping make vast improvements possible for patients attempting to walk again. It’s a balancing hoist, funded by an anonymous donor through the Miller-Dwan Foundation and medical professionals tell us the impact is amazing. The ZeroG is cutting edge technology and it’s creating more opportunities for therapists at…
DULUTH, Minn.- Surprising dentist visits are typically bad but one teeth-cleaning station cruising into the Northland is making quite the impact. Dental students from the University of Minnesota are cleaning teeth on a traveling bus, called the UCare Mobile Dental Clinic. During a pit stop in Duluth on Wednesday, September 12, Special Olympics Athletes are receiving free dental work. The soon-to-be dentists tell…
DULUTH, Minn. – Northlanders are invited to stop by UMD’s Land Lab, located at 3568 Riley Road in Duluth, on Sunday, September 16 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. Throughout the growing season, students and staff have worked to grow a plentiful harvest and educate the community on the topic of sustainability. UMD’s Land Lab Director, Randel Hanson, is excited to invite…
DULUTH, Minn.- A new sport is beginning to sweep the Northland, and it’s helping raise money for a good cause. Skyline lanes had its inaugural “Spike Out ALS” Spikeball tournament on Sunday. Spikeball is a lot like volleyball, just with a smaller ball, four players, and a circular net on the ground. It’s been gaining popularity in recent years with college…
DULUTH, Minn. – Throughout the month of September, teal will help promote the conversation of awareness for ovarian cancer. According to the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA), ovarian cancer is sometimes called the “silent killer” because the symptoms are often easily overlooked until the disease has progressed to the advanced stages. MOCA has planned a weekend of inspiration to raise funds for…
DULUTH, Minn.- If you’re looking for a new way to get active this fall, or just want to change up your current workout, you can do so for free at the Duluth YMCA this week. Now through Sunday the 9th, The “Y” is offering all of its services and programs to the public for free, no strings attached. That includes…
DULUTH, Minn.- The goal is to increase blood donations in the Northland as a brand new bloodmobile is now opening in Duluth and health professionals say blood donations are needed more than you may think. Health experts say having a mobile donation station removes a barrier to donating blood and for some families the need for blood hits close to home….
DULUTH, Minn. – Heading back-to-school comes with excitement. It’s a time to meet friends, learn new stuff and grow. But it can be difficult to do so if we don’t stay healthy. Thursday morning, Dr. Addie Licari with St. Luke’s Mount Royal Medical Clinic stopped by FOX 21 Local News to offer tips as parents prepare to get children back…
DULUTH, Minn.- The College of St. Scholastica has cloaked its first ever class of physician assistants in their white coats. The white coat ceremony included each student reading an oath to the profession, which they struggled, together, through some of the harder parts, giggling all the way. The students say they’re dedicated to the nation’s push for improving healthcare in rural…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- As fun as college may be, those 4 years are no walk in the park. A 2016 UCLA study found that in over 100 different institutions, 33% of students had considered suicide in college, due to stress. Today, the University of Wisconsin-Superior opened up a safe place for stressed students to go. Different faculty, staff and members of…
Duluth, Minn.- The Undergraduate School of Nursing at St. Scholastica was given a big gift. A nearly $3 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. The funding is meant to advance the college’s shifting focus to more quality care in rural and under-served areas. School officials say that fostering nurses to have broader, more intimate techniques in…
DULUTH, Minn.-Thank to donations from the community and the Essentia Health Foundation, St. Mary’s Medical Center will be the first hospital in the Northland to offer robotic-arm assisted surgery. Called MAKO, the robotic arm aid surgeons performing knee and hip replacements. The technology allows for less invasive procedure, closer precision and a quicker recovery time. Orthopedic surgeons at Essentia, like…
CLOQUET, Minn – One out of every ten babies is born prematurely nationwide, a number that is on the rise nationwide according to the Minnesota Department of Health. In Minnesota, prematurity is the second leading cause of infant death. Roxanne Wood and her finance Ryan Worgren know that experience all too well after their baby, Beau was born at 26…
Duluth, Minn.- Lake Superior Health Center in Duluth is celebrating its accomplishments and its patients, while raising awareness for overall health in the community, during National Health Center Week. On Wednesday Aug 15, the Health Center held a block party, filled with live music, games, crafts, The Flash and his trusty sideckick Super Chicken, and free hotdogs. They even gave…
(AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)LONGBOAT KEY, Fla. (AP) — Tons of dead fish. A smell so awful you gag with one inhale. Empty beaches, empty roads, empty restaurants. A toxic algae bloom has overrun Florida’s southern Gulf Coast this summer, devastating sea life and driving people from the water. “I’ve never seen it this bad,” said 31-year-old Heather Lamb of Venice. She’s…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota health officials say measles has been diagnosed in a 5-year-old child who lives in Hennepin County. The state Health Department said Tuesday the child became ill in early August shortly after returning from traveling to a region where measles is common. The child likely was infectious from July 30 through Aug. 7. Health officials say the…
DULUTH, Minn.- Now’s the time to take advantage of the warm summer days and one local business is giving an excuse to grab a cone for guilt free. Although ice cream doesn’t have many big health benefits earning a free cone from Lou’s Fish House helps a local boy towards his journey to health. 14–year old David Pierce from Two…
DULUTH, Minn. – According to the Epilepsy Foundation, nearly three million people in the United States have epilepsy, also known as a seizure disorder. The foundation states 60,000 people in Minnesota have the disorder, which amounts to enough people to fill TCF Bank Stadium. This Thursday, August 2, Northlanders have the chance to help make a difference by raising awareness…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- One community is celebrating the abilities of people with disabilities, all while raising money for a local organization. The North Country Independent Living Expo at Superior’s Mariner Mall was held Thursday. The event is a staple for the community, hosting numerous free activities and food. But it’s also a hub for disability organizations highlighting services offered locally. “The…
(AP Photo) CHICAGO (AP) — McDonald’s is stopping the sale of salads at 3,000 restaurants after people became sick from a parasite causing intestinal illness. The Chicago-based fast-food chain said Friday it’s acting “out of an abundance of caution” until switching to another supplier. Health officials in Illinois and Iowa say they’ve identified roughly 100 combined cases of cyclosporiasis apparently…
Duluth, Minn.- An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about a book a day? The folks at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s library think they have the answer. The library just opened a new Wellness Collection. The aim is to increase awareness of well-being with different health related books. While the library provides some books, students are…
DULUTH, Minn.- While blankets are always needed in Duluth weather, they are extra special at St. Luke’s Hospital and Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center. About 40 blankets were given out to cancer patients at both hospitals. And it’s all thanks to Miller Hill Subaru in Duluth. As part of their 3rd annual Subaru Cares Program, they accepted donations of…
DULUTH, Minn. – State Attorney General candidate for Governor, Lori Swanson (DFL), and her running mate, U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan (DFL) were in Duluth Monday to announce a plan they say would lower prescription prices for Minnesotans. The plan would allow Minnesota residents to buy their drugs on the same bulk order the state uses to purchase prescriptions for state-run…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – A new store in Superior will soon be selling hemp-based CBD products. CBD is said to treat everything from pain to epilepsy to anxiety and doesn’t give users a high like marijuana. Cannabidiol or CBD oil was recently approved by the FDA to treat epilepsy through a doctor’s prescription, but many users say the product derived from…
CHICAGO (AP) — Go ahead and have that cup of coffee, maybe even several more. New research shows it may boost chances for a longer life, even for those who down at least eight cups daily. In a study of nearly half-a-million British adults, coffee drinkers had a slightly lower risk of death over 10 years than abstainers. The apparent…
DULUTH, Minn. – Independence Day falls on a Wednesday this year and many folks will be firing up the grill to help celebrate, but St. Luke’s in Duluth says it’s important to remember a few simple safety tips when it comes to setting out your favorite picnic foods. Monday morning, St. Luke’s Clinical Dietitian Mary Cherne stopped by FOX 21…
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – The hepatitis A outbreak in Louisville and other parts of Kentucky is now the worst in the country. The Courier Journal reports state health officials confirmed Wednesday at least 969 people have contracted the liver disease. State Public Health department Commissioner Dr. Jeff Howard says the outbreak is the worst on record across the nation and…
DULUTH, Minn – Wednesday evening, Essentia Health is looking to celebrate healthy children, families, and lifestyles throughout the Northland. The program includes many activities like a bike rodeo, bike helmet giveaway, and a healthy dinner. It runs Wednesday 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center on 30th Avenue West in Duluth. Categories: Health, News, News –…
(Andy Morrison/The Blade via AP, File) SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The words blasted to cellphones around Oregon’s capital city were ominous: “Civil emergency . prepare for action.” Within half an hour, a second official alert clarified the subject wasn’t impending violence but toxins from an algae bloom, detected in Salem’s water supply. Across the U.S., reservoirs that supply drinking water…
DULUTH, Minn. – On Thursday, June 21, members in the community living with or affected by Alzheimer’s Disease will have the chance to raise funds and awareness for care and support. People across the globe will be putting on activities on this day to raise awareness not only for patients, but for their caregivers as well. Curves Miller Hill in…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – As the summer campfire season picks up Minnesota Poison Control has a warning about a product used to generate colored flames. KARE-TV reports the chemical, sold in a small foil packet, has sickened several young children in Minnesota, including one that was sent to the hospital. The Minnesota Poison Control center has handled four poisoning cases involving…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health issued multiple beach advisories on Tuesday following recent heavy rainfall and flood conditions throughout the area. The following advisories are in place due to elevated E.coli bacteria levels that have been identified from recent samples and indicate the possible presence of fecal contamination. The beaches listed on the advisory list are: Agate…
DULUTH, Minn. – Volunteer physicians, nurses, athletic trainers, and physical therapists staff the Grandma’s Marathon medical tent every year. They treat many conditions like muscle cramping, stress fractures, and runners feeling too hot or too cold. The medical director tells us this year’s race had some of the fewest medical visits they’ve ever had. “Most of the medical issues at…
DULUTH, Minn.- There are over a dozen charity partners with Grandma’s Marathon, but this year one man is starting a first-time charity to honor his wife. Runners are raising money for the Scleroderma Foundation, for team Carole. Scleroderma is a chronic tissue disease, which has no cure. Kevin Berg is organizing a fundraiser to help find a cure, now nearly…
DULUTH, Minn.- A new The Human Development Center in Duluth is providing multiple services at one location. The center helps individuals in Saint Louis County dealing with mental illness and addiction. The new location allows all 75 community support workers to work under the same roof. Previously the services were scattered throughout Duluth, being at one location helps workers coordinate…
PROCTOR, Minn.- It’s a multi-million dollar addition to the Northland sports scene and now the facility has a sponsor for naming rights. Proctor Public Schools unveiled St. Luke’s as its partner for the school’s new sports and events center. The new building is a big deal for the community and athletes who were previously playing in what some might call…
DULUTH, Minn.- A startling report by the center of disease control shows the rates of suicide of increased by 40% in Minnesota over the last 18 years. Suicide is a serious issue and with free public resources, it can be prevented. But suicide needs to be talked about, when talking with children suicide needs to be discussed in an age-appropriate…
