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Coffee Conversation: Duluth-Superior Pride Play, ‘I Am My Own Wife’

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth-Superior Pride is hosting its pride celebrations Labor Day weekend. One event going on throughout the weekend is a play at Zeitgeist. Press release: Based on a true story and inspired by interviews conducted by the playwright over several years. I AM MY OWN WIFE tells the fascinating tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German trans woman…

‘Side String Band’ Previews The Great Northern Squash Festival

The 3rd annual Great Northern Squash Festival is coming up Sept. 16 and 17 in Chaffey, Wisconsin. More than 30 bands will be playing throughout the two-day event, including Side String Band, which played on the morning show Friday.  Click the videos to check out two songs. General contact:  Adam Staupe 218-393-6117 The Great Northern Squash Festival 2022 September 16th…

Biden Calls Abortion Restrictions ‘Beyond The Pale’

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Republican-led states continue to ban nearly all abortions, President Joe Biden said Friday that such restrictions were “beyond the pale.” Biden and Democrats are trying to harness outrage over the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide, in this year’s midterm elections. “You’re going to hear women roar on this issue, and it’s going…

Community Construction Program Holds Second Open House

DULUTH, Minn.– The Community Construction Program held their second open house Thursday, over in West Duluth. A partnership between the Housing Redevelopment Authority in Duluth, and Community Action Duluth, launched the Community Construction Program back in 2019. This program focuses on giving those who are disadvantaged, a job turning houses that need substantial work into affordable housing within the community….

Moderna Sues Pfizer Over Patents Behind COVID-19 Vaccine

(AP) — COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna is suing Pfizer and the German drugmaker BioNTech, accusing its main competitors of copying Moderna’s technology in order to make their own vaccine. Moderna said Friday that Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine Comirnaty infringes on patents Moderna filed several years ago protecting the technology behind its preventive shot, Spikevax. The company filed patent infringement lawsuits…

WI Cabinet Member Talks About Expanding Childcare Options With State Dollars

SUPERIOR, Wis. The city of Superior welcomed a Wisconsin state cabinet member to talk about paving the way for more affordable childcare. The Department of Children and Families Secretary Emilie Amundson met with city leaders to talk about a recent grant Superior received from a program called “Project Growth.” The conversation between the city and state is about what the…

The Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival Staff Setup for This Weekend’s Race at Barker’s Island

BARKER’S ISLAND, Wisc.–The long oar-driven boats will be racing this weekend in the Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival and setup preparations are well underway at Barker’s Island. The festival is the largest charitable fundraising even the city of Superior has to offer This weekend’s event resurfaced after being called off for the past two years. This was due to the…

Superior School Board Votes In Favor Of Keeping Gender Identity Curriculum

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Thursday, the Superior School District’s Board of Education held a public session discussing whether gender identity topics should be taught in the middle school, with board members ultimately voting in favor to allow it. The vote was 5-2. Held at the Superior Middle School, the meeting started with public comments, followed by a presentation from a petitioner,…

Duluth School District Identified as Struggling Academically

DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Education has identified over 300 schools and several districts with low academic performance, including the Duluth School District. The Duluth School District was identified as struggling academically, and not for the first time. Results are based on MCA standardized tests in middle schools. This year, students of Duluth schools tested at a 50%…

Decline in Childhood Vaccinations Worries Local Health Officials

DULUTH, Minn. — “We find the decrease in vaccination rates very concerning. Primarily because we’re having kids out there now that are vulnerable,” General Pediatrician at Essentia Health, Dr. Jonathan KenKnight, said. Dr. Jonathan KenKnight says that vaccination rates for younger age groups is slowly declining in the northland. And with the school year is just around the corner, health…

More Charges Against Former Superior Police Sergeant

Gregory Swanson was originally charged with one count of homicide by use of a vehicle in July.

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Superior Police Sergeant accused of causing a car crash that killed two people, and injured two others is no longer with the department. He has also been charged with 11 additional crimes. Gregory Swanson already faced one count of homicide by use of a vehicle in the July 15 crash after a 23 year-old man died….

Student Loan Forgiveness Will Be Taxable In Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Student loan forgiveness won’t be taxed federally, but it will be taxable in Minnesota unless the state Legislature acts, Minnesota revenue officials say. The reason is the Legislature never passed its 2022 tax bill to conform with federal changes, including student loan forgiveness. The forgiveness would increase a person’s tax liability and potentially reduce tax credits or deductions a…

UPDATE: One Dead, Two Hurt After Rainy Lake Business Catches Fire

Courtesy Rainy Lake GuidingINTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. — One woman is dead and two more people are hurt after a business on Rainy Lake caught fire on Wednesday evening. According to Koochiching County officials, an 85-year-old woman was found dead inside the Northernaire Houseboats business. Her daughter, a 51-year-old woman, tried to go inside to save her mom. She is now…

Student Loan Forgiveness Could Help More Than 40 Million

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 40 million Americans could see their student loan debt reduced — and in many cases eliminated — under the long-awaited forgiveness plan President Joe Biden announced Wednesday, a historic but politically divisive move in the run-up to the midterm elections. Fulfilling a campaign promise, Biden is erasing $10,000 in federal student loan debt for those with incomes…

Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival Returns This Weekend

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival is make a comeback since the pandemic with all the racing, entertainment and fun for all!  Click the video for a preview and click here to learn more about the two-day festival. Categories: Coffee Conversation, Entertainment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, Wisconsin

Bus Driver Charged for Driving Intoxicated with 35 Children And Teens Onboard

CARLTON, Minn. — A 49-year-old Cannon Falls man has been charged for driving a charter bus while intoxicated with 35 students aboard. On Sunday, troopers from the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a complaint that a charter bus was swerving shoulder-to-shoulder on interstate 35 in Carlton County. Troopers located the bus and watched it weave in-and-out, continuously into the other lane….

DFD Participates in Fill a Boot Campaign

DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth Fire Department hit the streets to collect donations for the Fill a Boot campaign. Fill the Boot is a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Every year since 1954, fire departments across the nation have taken the time to hold boots on street corners in support of the cause. Dollars raised go toward finding effective treatments…

Bulldog Welcome Week Comes Back For Another Year

DULUTH, Minn.– It’s the first day of freshman welcome week over at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and students started the festivities by moving back to campus. After parents and students rush to drop their things off at their new dorms, they were able to make their way to UMD’s Kirby Student Center for their annual Bulldog Bash. An event that…

Spirit Halloween Opens Second Pop-Up Location in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn.–Spirit Halloween is getting ready for spooky season. It just opened a second location in the Miller Hill shopping district. Owners took advantage of the former Bed Bath and Beyond site and filled it with all things Halloween. To some, August may seem a bit soon for skeletons and cobwebs, but the shop’s staff say they’re already getting excited….

Budget-Friendly School Shopping Option for Children

DULUTH, Minn. — Back-to-school expenses can add up fast. If you’re buying on a budget this year, a Duluth shop can help fill the little ones’ closet with discounted items. Once Upon a Child has been a sustainable shopping option in Duluth for the last five years, buying and selling gently used children’s clothes, shoes, toys, and more. You can…

DECC Holds Job Fair to Recruit More Staff

DULUTH, Minn. — As the DECC gears up for concerts, conventions, and hockey season, they’re looking to add more staff to the team. Dozens of part-time positions are available at the DECC; anything from ice maintenance to concession stand workers. The DECC held a job fair on Wednesday to help fill the slots. Applicants were able to stop by, have…

Biden Announces Long-Awaited Student Debt Forgiveness Plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced his long-awaited plan to deliver on his campaign promise to provide $10,000 in debt cancellation for millions of Americans — and up to $10,000 more for those with the greatest financial need. Borrowers who earn less than $125,000 a year, or families earning less than $250,000, would be eligible for the…

Panel: Trump Staffers Pushed Unproven COVID Treatment At FDA

WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials in the Trump White House tried to pressure U.S. health experts into reauthorizing a discredited COVID-19 treatment, according to a congressional investigation that provides new evidence of that administration’s efforts to override Food and Drug Administration decisions early in the pandemic. The report Wednesday by the Democratic-led House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis also sheds new light on the role that…

Coffee Conversation: Local Author Katy Vanderport Talks Poetry, Science Fiction Books

DULUTH, Minn. — Grand Rapids-area author Katy Vanderport stopped by the morning show to talk about two of her most recent books. Click here to check out her science fiction book called Maggie and Elliot Defy Gravity, and click here to check out her poetry book called Try on My Glasses.   Categories: Business, Coffee Conversation, Minnesota, News, News –…

Amberwing Celebrates 10 Years

DULUTH, Minn. – “All of these folks lined up behind me are really the ones who make the magic happen here. I mean it’s a beautiful building, it’s a beautiful safe space, but it’s the people who work here that work with the kids and the families that are really making a difference in peoples lives,” Miller-Dwan Foundation President, Traci…

‘Light Duluth Teal’ Sept. 24 For Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance is shining a light on ovarian cancer in the northland next month, as September is national Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Several Duluth landmarks will light up in teal Sept. 23 and 24, including the DECC, Radisson Hotel, Enger Tower, Glensheen Mansion and Pier B. Organizers say it’s all part of raising awareness…

Local Artists Create Murals on Storm Water Drains in Downtown Superior

SUPERIOR, Wisc.–The city of Superior kicked off their 2022 Storm Drain Art Project earlier this month and painters are busy working on murals. Superior’s Environmental Services Division partnered with the Northwest Wisconsin Lung Health Alliance to organize the project and raise awareness regarding pollution, more specifically storm water litter. Each artist has their own designated drain to get creative with….

Nationwide Worker Shortage Affects Northland Businesses

DULUTH, Minn — Worker shortages continue to hold-back industries across the nation, and the Northland is no exception to the struggle to hire. The pandemic disrupted life as we knew it, and while almost everything has returned to normal again, “we’re hiring” signs are still pinned to many businesses’ doors. Supply and demand issues have been a hot-topic throughout the…

Lake Superior Zoo Announces Birth Of Critically Endangered Primate Baby

DULUTH, Minn. — The Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth announced the birth of one of the world’s most endangered primates. Mira and Deno, cotton-top tamarins are the parents of the baby. “Being a part of the Species Survival Plan Program is a crucial piece of accomplishing our mission here at the Lake Superior Zoo,” said Lake Superior Zoo’s Chief Executive…

Biden To Make Long-Awaited Student Loan Debt Announcement On Wednesday, Reports Say

WASHINGTON – With the freeze on student loan payments set to expire soon, President Joe Biden is planning an announcement on Wednesday amid pressure from Democratic lawmakers to forgive more than $10,000 in student loan debt, according to multiple reports. Payments for federally backed student loans have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. The federal pause has been extended several times, and they’re finally set…

US To Send $3 Billion In Aid To Ukraine As War Hits 6 Months

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Russia’s war on Ukraine drags on, U.S. security assistance is shifting to a longer-term campaign that will likely keep more American military troops in Europe into the future, including imminent plans to announce an additional roughly $3 billion in aid to train and equip Ukrainian forces to fight for years to come, U.S. officials said. U.S….

Artist Paints Portrait Of Hanger’s Dog Brewster Live On Air

DULUTH,  Minn. — Artist Mana Bear worked her artistic magic on the morning show Tuesday to paint a portrait of Dan Hanger’s dog Brewster.  Click the videos to see the progress throughout the show, and click here to check out Mana on Instagram. Part 1: Part 2: Categories: Coffee Conversation, Entertainment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News

Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance Talks ‘Light Duluth Teal Gala’ Sept. 24

DULUTH, Minn. – Kristine Greer, board chair of the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, is shining a light on ovarian cancer in the northland next month, as September is national Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Several Duluth landmarks will light up in teal Sept. 23 and 24, including the DECC, Radisson Hotel, Enger Tower, Glensheen Mansion and Pier B. Organizers say it’s…

Trump Seeks Special Master To Review Mar-A-Lago Documents

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for former President Donald Trump asked a federal judge Monday to halt the FBI’s review of documents recovered from his Florida estate earlier this month until a neutral special master can be appointed to inspect the records. The request was included in a federal lawsuit, the first filing by Trump’s legal team in the two weeks since the…

Officers Chat With College Students About Drinking Laws And More

DULUTH, Minn. — As students of the University of Minnesota Duluth move-in to town, Officers of the Duluth and UMD Police Departments decided to give a visit to the new arrivals. They visited 114 student rental homes, letting residents know the laws and policies in-place for the school year. Students live across Duluth and beyond, meaning on-campus police are not…

Knowing Your Neighbors: Meg’s Perennials & Marketplace

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Perennials are some of the toughest plants out there, capable of surviving our harshly cold winters here in the Northland. Meg’s Perennials and Marketplace, a family run business in Hermantown, has thousands of these plants prepped and ready for your garden. “Fall is really the best time for planting perennials, it requires less water, it’s easier on…

Construction kicks off on YWCA Early Childhood Center

DULUTH, Minn. – Construction kicked off Monday on the Early Childhood Center in West Duluth. The YWCA center has four classrooms and serves kids for a six week session up until they start their first day of kindergarten. The center also has seven efficiency apartments for teen moms, and offers help in managing their situation and furthering their education. Repairs…

Superior Middle School Enforces New Phone Policy

SUPERIOR, WI. — Superior Middle School is enforcing a “no phone, no backpack” policy this school year. During the school day, students grades K-8th must keep their phones and backpacks in their lockers. Superintendent Amy Starzecki says teachers have tried regulating phone use in the classroom, but they’ve continued to be a big problem. “I think our cellphones provide a…

Duluth Firefighter Sentenced After Assaulting Hiker, Status Of Employment Under Review

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth City employee who still works for the Fire Department was sentenced Monday on a felony assault conviction. Conrad Sunde had been convicted of Third-Degree Assault after shoving and injuring a woman on a hiking trail two years ago. Sunde was sentenced to three years of supervised probation. It is a standard sentence for first time…