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Chinese Balloon Now Over Central US As Blinken Cancels Visit

WASHINGTON (AP) — A huge, high-altitude Chinese balloon sailed across the U.S. on Friday, drawing severe Pentagon accusations of spying and sending excited or alarmed Americans outside with binoculars. Secretary of State Antony Blinken abruptly canceled a high-stakes Beijing trip aimed at easing U..S.-China tensions. The cancelation came despite China’s claim that the balloon was a weather research “airship” that…

New Rules Would Limit Sugar In School Meals For First Time

(AP) — U.S. agriculture officials on Friday proposed new nutrition standards for school meals, including the first limits on added sugars, with a focus on sweetened foods such as cereals, yogurt, flavored milk and breakfast pastries. The plan announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also seeks to significantly decrease sodium in the meals served to the nation’s schoolkids by 2029,…

A Surprising Burst Of US Hiring In January: 517,000 Jobs

WASHINGTON (AP) — For nearly a year, the Federal Reserve has been on a mission to cool down the job market to help curb the nation’s worst inflation bout in four decades. The job market hasn’t been cooperating. Consider what happened in January: The government said Friday that employers added a sizzling 517,000 jobs last month and that the unemployment rate dipped…

Coffee Conversation: Heart Health / National Wear Red Day

DULUTH, Minn. — Friday, Feb. 3 is National Wear Red Day, held to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in women. More than 44% of women aged 20 and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. St. Luke’s Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Mary Boylan joined FOX21 on the morning show to talk heart health…

‘Big Movies’ at the DECC Kicks Off

DULUTH, Minn. – ‘Big Movies’ at the DECC kicked off Thursday with a showing of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. DECC staff chose this as February’s free monthly event because they felt it was a good month for indoor activities. Those who attended could spread out on blankets or bean bags. Theater concessions were also open for purchase. Each showing will be…

DTA Offers Free Rides On Transit Equity Day

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Transit Authority is taking on a new initiative, offering free rides to the community Friday and Saturday. Transit Equity Day is a national day to commemorate Civil Rights icons such as Rosa Parks during Black History month. The DTA is taking part in this by offering free fares on the Stride Paratransit and DTA Fixed-Route…

Family Dog, Daughter Credited For Saving Duluth Home From Fire

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth Heights man is crediting his 12-year-old daughter, Zoe, and the family’s 3-year-old lab, Dudley, for saving their home after the nearby garage went up in flames Wednesday night. 12-year-old Zoe Radzak “If she didn’t come down screaming, it would have definitely gotten to the house, and it would have been a different story. So Dudley…

Duluth Police Chief Meets With Downtown Businesses, Talks Increased Patrols In Parking Ramps

Duluth, Minn. — When downtown Duluth business leaders talk about safety issues in the downtown area, parking ramps top the list. Police Chief Mike Ceynowa addressed those concerns with a new plan Thursday during a luncheon with dozens of business owners. “Interstate Parking, beginning Monday, February 13 is going to bring an enhanced security presence to the Tech Ramp,” said…

School Closings and Delays February 3, 2023

School Closings & Delays Barnum Public Schools – Two-hour delay. Chisholm Public Schools – E-learning day February 3. Duluth Edison Charter Schools – Closed. Duluth Public Schools – Closed. Esko Schools – Two-hour delay. Hibbing Public and Private Schools – Closed, E-learning day February 3 for public schools. Hill City – Two-hour delay. Montessori School of Duluth – Closed. Stella Maris Academy…

Minnesota Moves Toward 100% Carbon-Free Electricity By 2040

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…

UPDATE: Ashland County Inmate Likely Died Of Overdose

UPDATE: An inmate’s death at the Ashland County Jail was likely caused by a drug overdose. That’s according to the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office, which is handling the investigation to avoid any conflict-of-interest with the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. The overdose is information coming from the preliminary investigation. The full toxicology report is still pending. —————————————————————————————————– ASHLAND, Wis. — An…

Duluth’s Sustainability Officer Receives Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership Award

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s Sustainability Officer has received some special recognition for her leadership efforts. Mindy Granley was honored at the 2023 Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership Awards with the Individual Adaptation Award. She was recognized due to her work as she’s provided leadership, education, and implemented strategies at the City of Duluth. Granley’s work includes securing $32 million in grant…

House GOP Votes To Oust Democrat Omar From Major Committee

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led House voted after raucous debate Thursday to oust Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar from the chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee, citing her anti-Israel comments, in a dramatic response after Democrats last session booted far-right GOP lawmakers over incendiary remarks. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was able to solidify Republican support against the Somali-born Muslim woman in the new Congress although some…

Ely Celebrates 30th Annual Winter Festival Event

ELY, Minn. — Just in time for the ice cold weather, Ely’s 10-day Winter Festival is kicking off this week. The Winter Festival has been taking place for the past 30 years, featuring all things snow and ice. A few things festival goers might find, include; Giant snow sculptures in Whiteside Park Local creations in the Ely ArtWalk End of…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Fat-Tire Bicyclist to Tackle Alaskan Iditarod

DULUTH, Minn. — Local fat-tire bicyclist Leah Gruhn gears up for Alaskan Iditarod 1,000-mile race, becoming the first person from Minnesota to do so on the Southern Route. Gruhn joined FOX21 on the morning show to talk about race preparations and prior success. The Iditarod Trail Invitational will feature qualified athletes and adventurers from around the world in late February….

Groundhog Day 2023: Punxsutawney Phil Sees Shadow, Predicts 6 More Weeks Of Winter

(Fox 9) — Punxsutawney Phil, Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog, awoke Thursday morning and saw his shadow — which, according to folklore, means there will be six more weeks of winter. Each year on Feb. 2, thousands descend on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to watch the giant rodent make his annual weather prediction at dawn with the help of his “inner…

Hobbs, Anderson Won’t Seek Reelection To Duluth City Council

DULUTH, Minn. — Two Duluth city councilors are not running for reelection in 2023. First District Councilor Gary Anderson announced Tuesday he is proud of the work he’s been able to accomplish over the past eight years. At one point, Anderson served as council president. He started in politics in 2012 as an organizer for the Minnesotans United For All…

Feb. 1, 2018: Historic NorShor Theatre Reopens With ‘Mamma Mia!’

DULUTH, Minn. – Tuesday marked the historic NorShor Theatre’s five-year anniversary since its $30 million re-opening in downtown Duluth. Opening night was Feb. 1, 2018 with the popular musical “Mamma Mia!” It was a special moment after 19 months of construction and renovations. The NorShor first opened as the Orpheum Theatre in 1910. The building ran into trouble in the…

Brutal Wind Chills Mean Brutal Firefighting Conditions

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…

Ashley Furniture Quietly Donates 20 Mattresses To Steve O’Neil Apartments For Homeless Families

DULUTH, Minn. — Some residents in the Steve O’Neil Apartments in Duluth are resting easier after a furniture company donated mattresses to them. CHUM posted on Twitter that it was Ashley Furniture that donated 20 mattresses and frames to the complex. CHUM, which operates the apartments that are designated housing for families facing homelessness, said that the Coast Guard helped…

2023 Beargrease Wrap

GRAND PORTAGE, Minn. – “It’s a great weekend, it’s a lot of fun. You know mushers and handlers; you don’t get much sleep out there, but you enjoy it and this weekend it was cold, but it was great. You get to see lots of stars, and everyone enjoys that at some point,” Handler, Erin Aili says. 300 miles, the…

Genealogy Seminar at Richard I. Bong Center

SUPERIOR, Wisc.–A genealogy seminar was held at the Richard I Bong Veterans Center in Superior on Tuesday. The event was free and open for up to 25 people to learn about and start the research for their family trees. The workshop had three sections, basic genealogy, how to navigate ancestry, and how to research service members. Computer skills were not…

‘We Love You, Tyre’: Mourners Gather For Nichols’ Funeral

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tyre Nichols ’ family and friends gathered Wednesday for a funeral intended to celebrate his life three weeks after he died following a brutal beating by Memphis police that has sparked a new round of calls for police reform. As the service began, a group of singers and drummers beating African instruments proceeded to the front of the church where…

Fate Of Last Ex-Cop Charged In Floyd Murder Lies With Judge

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The attorney for a former Minneapolis police officer who held back bystanders while his colleagues restrained a dying George Floyd said in court filings Tuesday that his client is innocent of criminal wrongdoing and should be acquitted on state charges of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter. But prosecutors argued in their filings that Tou Thao “acted…

Spirit Mountain Now Open 6 Days A Week

Spirit Mountain had been open 5 days a week since November 25.

DULUTH, Minn. — After only being open 5 days a week since November, Spirit Mountain has added another day of operations. According to a press release, Spirit Mountain had been struggling with staffing shortages and after an aggressive recruitment and retention effort, now have enough staff to keep the hill open longer. The slopes will now be open Tuesdays starting…

Tom Brady Retires At 45, Insisting This Time It’s ‘For Good’

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady, who won a record seven Super Bowls for New England and Tampa, has announced his retirement. Brady — the most successful quarterback in NFL history, and one of the greatest athletes in team sports — posted the announcement on social media Wednesday morning, a brief video lasting just under one minute. “Good morning guys….

Biden, McCarthy, Once Breakfast Mates, Wrangle Over US Debt

WASHINGTON (AP) — Not so long ago, Joe Biden and Republican leader Kevin McCarthy used to talk things over at breakfast in Biden’s vice presidential home at the Naval Observatory. Biden was intent in those days on “keeping up relations with the opposition party,” as he writes in his memoir, and the new House majority leader often arrived with fellow GOP lawmakers in tow….

Keith Aili Holds Off Ryan Anderson for 2023 John Beargrease Title

This is Aili's first Beargrease title since 2006.

GRAND PORTAGE, Minn.- It would come down to two mushers, but Keith Aili was able to outrace Ryan Anderson for the 2023 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon championship on Tuesday. Aili was the first out of the Mineral Center checkpoint 12 minutes ahead of Anderson. They would each pass each other before Aili was able to finish at 52 hours…

Duluth Police Department Releases First-Ever ‘Stop Data Report’

DULUTH, Minn. — For the first time, the Duluth Police Department released a stop data report for 2022 Tuesday. The report shows 5,944 traffic and subject stops were conducted between January and December last year. Of that number, 61 percent were moving violations, 36 percent were equipment violations, and 3 percent were suspicious activity. 4,686 of those stops ended in warnings….

Will Northern Lights Express Receive Funding this Legislative Session?

Duluth, Minn. –Duluth Senator Jennifer McEwen is leading the effort in the State Senate to get funding in the budget for Northern Lights Express (NLX).   McEwen stressed the point that the project has broad support from a variety of people and places. “We have broad, bi-partisan support for this project and we have for some time,” said McEwen. “Some of us…

Duluth Police Assisting With Investigation Into Vineyard Church Pastoral Assistant Allegations

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police have confirmed that they are assisting in the investigation into allegations against a pastoral assistant at the Vineyard Church. Members of the congregation received an email Sunday from the special committee of the Vineyard Church council. It said in part that the special committee is asking “for patience as seek truth and justice.” The allegations…

Progress Made For St. Louis River Area Of Concern

MINNESOTA — Well things are looking up for the St. Louis River Area of Concern as they recently checked off a crucial item on their list to make the river cleaner and healthier. This accomplishment was the Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations Beneficial Use Impairment, which they achieved by habitat restoration to improve healthy wildlife and fish populations. According to…

Abortion In Minnesota: Walz Signs ‘Fundamental Right’ To Abortion Into State Law

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation Tuesday guaranteeing abortion access in state law, which puts Minnesota among the first states to implement new abortion protections since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. The law creating a “fundamental right” to abortion takes effect Wednesday, making it harder for a court to roll back Minnesota’s existing abortion protections. Abortion…

Unarmed Man Arrested After Making Threats To Shoot Up Duluth Airport

DULUTH, Minn. — A man is behind bars after making threats to shoot while at the Duluth International Airport Tuesday morning. The Duluth Police Department says the incident happened at 8:30 a.m. when a 51-year-old man from Virginia was supposedly suffering from a mental health issue and making threats to shoot. Police set up a perimeter when they got there,…

Durenberger, Former US Senator From Minnesota, Dies At 88

(AP) — Former U.S. Senator David Durenberger, a Minnesota Republican who espoused a progressive brand of politics and criticized the GOP after his political career, died Tuesday at age 88. Durenberger’s health had declined in recent months, his longtime spokesperson Tom Horner said. Horner told The Associated Press that Durenberger died Tuesday morning of natural causes. He was at his…

Knowing Your Neighbors: Haulin’ Hotdish Food Truck

DULUTH, Minn. — “Hotdish has everything that you need as far as hitting all the food groups and also like I feel like hotdish is so Minnesota. And it’s cold and it’s comforting,” said Rachael Morris, customer of Haulin’ Hotdish. The Haulin’ Hotdish Food Truck is officially in business after deciding winter would be the perfect time to open. Haulin’…

Wasabi Restaurant In Superior Destroyed By Fire; Owners: ‘We Will Be Back’

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Wasabi Restaurant building was declared a complete loss after an early Monday morning structure fire, according to the Superior Fire Department. Crews were dispatched to a report of a structure fire at 3333 Tower Avenue at 12:27 am. First arriving fire crews found heavy smoke coming from the back of Wasabi, the department said. Interior attack…