SUPERIOR, Wis. – A new work-out program, Building Champions, is launching to box your body into shape this summer in Superior — and you don’t need to be a professional boxer. It’s called “Building Champions Boxing Boot Camp Workout.” Former boxing coach, John D’Auria, is behind the new venture, offering a 12-week boot camp at the Salvation Army’s basketball gym….
Essentia Health DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health is announcing a key new hire this week — Samuel Moose has been named Director of Tribal Government Relations. In this new role, Moose will act as the primary liaison between Essentia and tribal governments across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. His mission: to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities, support culturally responsive care,…
DULUTH, Minn. – The 30th annual Kolar Toyota Fishing Tournament on Island Lake raises $315,650 to help people living with ALS. The Kolar Toyota Fishing Tournament on Island Lake has brought anglers out for 30 years to ‘cast for a cure’ for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) also known as ‘Lou Gehrig’s disease.’ This year, the tournament reeled in a record…
DULUTH, Minn. — An air quality alert has been released across Minn. as wildfire smoke makes its way throughout the state. Due to wildfire smoke drifting from Canada, the entire state of Minn. has been issued an air quality alert by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This alert will remain in effect until noon on Wednesday, June 4, as the…
DULUTH, Minn. & ST. PAUL, Minn. – For the first time ever the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued a “Maroon Alert” which means hazardous air quality. The alert is issued from Monday, June 2, through Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The Maroon Alert is for Northwest Minnesota including the areas generally from Red Lake to the north and west including…
More than 40 students from Denfeld High School and Duluth East High School participate in hands-on activities DULUTH, Minn. — More than 40 high school students in Duluth got a unique opportunity today—to step into the world of medicine. The University of Minnesota Duluth Medical School hosted a “Mini-Medical School” event, designed to give students a hands-on look at biomedical…
Photo CourtesyMinnesota National Guard DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has extended an air quality alert for northeast Minnesota until 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 15. The Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires in the Superior National Forest remain active and will continue to produce heavy ground-level smoke through Thursday. The affected area includes International Falls, Hibbing,…
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Students raced in the annual Essentia health Fit N Fun Run. Students between third and fifth grade ran the quarter-mile race. Each student received a ribbon and commemorative T-shirt. Families and other students were also able to cheer classmates on. “I think it’s really great to have kids be part of this race style atmosphere, especially…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northeast Minnesota due to the wildfires in the area. Air Quality Alert (May 12 – May 13, 2025) Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category or worse. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Ely is in the middle of the Purple zone…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Department claimed victory in the 2025 Battle of the Badges. 9Memorial Blood Centers) It’s a friendly competition between local first responders to save lives through blood donation. Led by Katie Sandstrom, whose passion and drive were key to their success, the Fire Department edged out their fellow heroes with 35 donors. They were followed by…
DULUTH, Minn. – Keep an eye out for small cyclists. Tomorrow is National Bike to School Day. Students all over the northland are encouraged to bike to school tomorrow. Bike to school day helps raise awareness of pedestrian and cyclist safety and promotes healthy outdoor exercise. If your kids are biking to school, ensure they have a properly fitted helmet…
DULUTH, Minn. — Benedictine and the College of St. Scholastica paired up for their annual Health Fair today. The event was open to the community but really helped with the assisted living residents. RELF Optical was there doing eyeglass adjustments, Tortoise and Hare were testing feet and recommending shoes, and CSS students were there providing health assessments. “The students that…
DULUTH, Minn.– This week is all about celebrating the volunteers that are the backbone of many establishments, such as Aspirus St. Lukes in Duluth. Two of the volunteers has dedicated 20 years of helping at not just Aspirus St. Lukes, but other places as well. Sharon Buchanan and Penny Derth helps with checking in patients and keeping families updated during…
DULUTH, MN – The City of Duluth is introducing it’s Clean Streets, Strong Communities Courtesy Notice Program. Example of a Courtesy Notice from Duluth Life Safety It’s a new initiative designed to encourage voluntary compliance with city ordinances before formal enforcement actions are taken. Rather than beginning with a citation or formal inspection process, residents out of code compliance may…
DULUTH, Minn — Four individuals were recognized for their work in public health by St. Louis County today. Dr. Jan Baldwin, Christina Trok, Mel Alvar, and Nathan Kesti were each given a Public Health Achievement Award. Each has shown leadership and commitment as they worked to address a variety of public health concerns. Those include perinatal substance use, birth…
Two U-S senators, including Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar, are working across the aisle to combat human trafficking. Senator Klobuchar, a democrat, has co-sponsored three bills with Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, a republican. They held a virtual press conference today to announce their newest bill called “The Combating Trafficking and Transportation Act.” This act aims to provide federal funding toward a public…
DULUTH, The Minnesota Nurses Association is about to begin new contract negotiations with Essentia Health and Aspirus St Lukes in Duluth, as well as the Twin Cities Metro Area. The goal is to reach an agreement before the current three-year contract expires in June. The MNA contract represents 15,000 nurses total. But in Duluth, 2,500 nurses are involved. The nurse’s…
VIRGINIA, Minn.– Essentia Health has announced a 14-million-dollar expansion and renovation of its emergency room in Virginia. Right now, the emergency department has seven rooms to care for patients. But when all is completed within the next year, the facility will double to 14 rooms. The Virginia hospital has been operating for more than a decade. Officials say it’s all…
DULUTH, Minn.– State healthcare leaders, providers, and advocates are holding a series of roundtables to discuss the future of Medicaid. Right now, changes are being proposed for Medicaid funding for the federal level. This would result in 880 billion dollars in cuts over the next ten years. In Minnesota specifically, it would mean the loss of 1.6 billion dollars annually….
GOODLAND, Minn.– Engines roared to life this morning as one of the state’s largest snowmobile fundraising races began. After last year’s event was canceled, the recent snowfall brought in over 200 racers to compete in the three-day Blizzard Tour event. The money raised from this race will toward ALS research. The course spans about 180 miles. Starting at Black Bear…
DULUTH, Minn. — A 49-day strike ended Sunday between Essentia Health and 70 employees at its Deer River Hospital. On Sunday evening, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents the Deer River workers, said Essentia “significantly” improved its latest offer compared to the original offer before the strike began. SEIU said the agreement includes a 12 percent raise…
MINNESOTA — Essentia Health and the University of Minnesota are looking to build a more sustainable future together with $1 billion dollars investment over the several years. Both organizations’ leaders have proposed the formation of a new non-profit health care organization, which aims to improve patient outcomes, expand access to health care, and combine both institution’s visions towards a stronger…
DULUTH, Minn. — Piedmont Dental hosted a winter blood drive Monday, honoring an employee who passed away from cancer. The Kathy Andrews Memorial Blood Drive started in 2020 after front desk supervisor Kathy was diagnosed with Leukemia and under went multiple blood transfusions. Since then Piedmont Dental holds an annual blood drive for employees, patients and other community members….
DULUTH, Minn. — One of the biggest emergency services expos took place last week at the DECC. The EMS Expo provided an opportunity to equip first responders with practical knowledge of management skills. It also aimed to help first responders deal with trauma that follows some calls. First responders from around the state attended various seminars, like how to aid…
DULUTH, Minn. — Aspirus St. Luke’s held a ribbon cutting on Thursday, Jan. 16, to celebrate their new 83 thousand square foot cardiac and intensive care units. The new expansion will allow for more quality and efficient inpatient care. “The new spaces will create an even better experience for our patients and their families, with more centralized services…
DULUTH, Minn. — Union workers from Essentia’s facility in Deer River, picketed in Duluth on Wednesday. The workers are apart of the Service Employees International Union, but were joined today by local chapters of ASFME and the United Steel Workers. The various unions showed their support by braving the cold in front of Essentia’s 2nd Street facility. The Deer River…
UPDATE: As of Tuesday evening Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital’s status as a Critical Access Hospital was restored and will continue to care for patients as they have in the last two decades. ORIGINAL: ELY, Minn. — Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital (EBCH) has lost its status as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) after the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) found the…
DEER RIVER, Minn. – As workers strike for better pay, Essentia Health says some patient services may be suspended at their Deer River location. Workers with the Service Employees International Union held a picket line Friday, as their open-ended strike for wage increases drags on. Those who braved the cold claimed the wages at the Deer River facilities, are lower…
DULUTH, Minn.– After trying for several years, the Minnesota Ballet took their show on the road to spread some holiday spirit. Dancers of the Minnesota Ballet visited Essentia Health and performed several scenes from the Nutcracker for visitors passing by. In addition, they also passed out coupons for the upcoming Friday and Saturday performances. A free child ticket, with a…
MINNESOTA — At least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef, federal health officials said. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Residents of Douglas County were able to get a brain health checkup on Friday to see where their cognition is at. The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Douglas County hosted this memory screen event at the Superior YMCA. It’s a free test that takes about 15 minutes. The goal is to get an overall image of…
DULUTH, Minn. — The holidays are fast approaching, and now you can prepare for a good cause at Essentia. The Duluth Area Volunteer Service Organization is hosting a Christmas Gift Extravaganza. It kicked off Thursday and will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. There is Christmas decor, stocking stuffers, and other gifts for sale. Various hospital departments have…
BIRCHDALE, Minn. — Minnesota logging companies are working together to raise money to help support Children’s Miracle Network hospital. It’s part of the Log a Load for Kids. An annual campaign in which loggers donate the value of a load of logs all for a good cause. This is video from a timber harvest in Birchdale, Minnesota just west of…
DULUTH, Minn. — Whooping cough is on the rise in Minnesota and as respiratory illness season ramps up doctors at Essentia Health say it is important to remember to stay up to date on vaccines and stay home when sick. Over 1,200 cases of Pertussis or whooping cough have been reported across Minnesota. Essentia Health says they haven’t seen numbers…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Superior Public Library hosted an event helping people with memory loss, while also having some spooky fun. The Superior Library hosts a monthly memory cafe, bringing awareness to those dealing with memory loss. For October, they ended the month with a Halloween themed party. People who went got to enjoy treats, and drinks, and even see…
DULUTH, Minn. — Pickleball players rallied for a cure on Friday. Games were held to raise funds for an important cause. The Duluth Area Pickleball Association hosted glow-in-the-dark pickleball, raising money for breast cancer awareness. The event was “open play” and different courts held games of all experience levels, from beginner to challenging. Each participant donated money towards the National…
DULUTH, Minn.– After enduring a ski accident back in 2021, it left 17-year-old Duluth native paralyzed. It became an injury that inspired him to help others. “I became a wheelchair user. And not just a wheelchair user. But I had to deal with the chronic symptoms that came along with spinal cord injuries. Like bowel and bladder management, taking care…
DULUTH, Minn. — The American Heart Association is celebrating a record amount of donations by customers at Super One Foods — $90,000 worth. For the month of September customers at dozens of Super One locations across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan could round up their total bill at the register or simply make a donation toward the cause. The American Heart…
DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health already has high hopes for the former site of St. Mary’s Hospital. Along with support from the Duluth City Council, Essentia wants the land to be used by the University of Minnesota as a new medical school. Essentia says that they share the University’s mission to improve rural healthcare across the region. “The Minnesota Department…
DULUTH, Minn. — The 42nd annual St. Louis County Health and Human Service Conference is taking place at the DECC. Around 3,000 people gather each year to gain a better understanding of how to improve public health. The theme of this year’s conference is “Choosing Hope.” The two-day-long event includes various workshops, and also provides an opportunity for health workers…
DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health is receiving recognition for its commitment to hiring people with disabilities. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded Essentia with the Outstanding Disability Employer Award. The presentation took place in the hospital’s new atrium on Second Street and included an exhibit by the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. Essentia’s Support Services Director describes…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s that time of year again, as the temperature begins to drop, the likelihood of catching a seasonal illness goes up. Essentia Health is encouraging everyone six months and older to prepare for the increase in cases by getting up to date on their vaccines. Erin Labatt, Essentia’s Immunization Program Coordinator, clarified exactly why vaccines for the…
DULUTH, Minn. — Registration for the 2025 Grandma’s Marathon weekend opens Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. on GrandmasMarathon.com. The William A. Irvin 5K will have a different court next year. It’ll start on Harbor Drive by the Irvin before headed to Canal Park Driver, underneath the main marathon finish line structure, and then ending in Bayfront Festival Park. The change…
DULUTH, Minn. — Health care is a necessity that many Americans still struggle with, but receiving fair treatment is important no matter the cause or how the person identify. Over the last year, father-daughter duo and local podcasters Cameron & Raven Kruger have holding educational seminars at Aspirus St. Luke’s. Their podcast, called the Transagenda, is focused on broad topics…
DULUTH, Minn. — They say, if you want something bad enough, you will make it happen. That was the case for this local spine surgeon. Dr. Jared Broadway had a vision and a dream. And his dream finally became a reality. The Arrowhead Surgery Center opened about a year ago. “I really have to pinch myself. Because it was a…
DULUTH, Minn. – The rollerblading community is mourning after one of their own collapsed and died during the NorthShore Inline Marathon in Duluth Saturday. Medical personnel responded the tunnels of I-35 around 7:30 a.m. for a skater who was down along the course, according to Duluth police. The skater, Mike Lufholm, 36, of Minneapolis, who is a graduate from Hermantown…
Essentia Health is dropping in-network coverage for 20,000 patients who have Medicare Advantage plans through UnitedHealthcare and Humana. Essentia said those two companies are too often “denying or delaying” patient care at more than twice the rate of other Medicare Advantage plans. “This was not a decision we made lightly. The frequent denials and associated delays negatively impact our ability…
DULUTH, Minn. — A specialty clinic in Duluth is celebrating one year since opening. Dr. Jared Broadway had a dream of starting his own business to assist with spine and neck issues. This dream became a reality as they opened the Arrowhead Surgery Center. What started off as United Healthcare cubicles, transformed into a surgery center. Dr. Broadway says, day…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert said on Sunday that he has directed internal leadership to review all procedures and training to figure out how 1.7 million gallons of treated drinking water got into Tischer Creek in August, ending with the killing of more than 1,000 fish. Reinert took to social media Sunday to say the city’s drinking water…
photo courtesy: CNN Wisconsin health officials initiated a recall of eggs following an outbreak of salmonella infections among 65 people in nine states that originated on a Wisconsin farm. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said in a statement Friday that among those infected by salmonella are 42 people in Wisconsin, where the eggs are believed to have been sold….
