News – Latest News

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…

Parents Of Proctor Teen Suing After He Was Sexually Assaulted Last Year

PROCTOR, Minn. — The parents of the teenage boy who was sexually assaulted with a plunger at Proctor High School last year are suing the school district, the coaches, and the superintendent. The lawsuit is on a federal level. The parents are suing the Proctor school district, the superintendent John Engelking, the football coach Derek Parendo, and five assistant coaches…

Twin Metals Sues Biden Administration To Regain Mine Leases

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The developers of a proposed copper-nickel mine upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota sued the Biden administration Monday to seek the reinstatement of federal mineral rights leases that are crucial to the $1.7 billion project. Twin Metals Minnesota alleged in its lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, that the Department of the…

Pfizer Seeks OK Of Updated COVID Vaccine Booster For Fall

(AP) — Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its combination COVID-19 vaccine that adds protection against the newest omicron relatives — a key step toward opening a fall booster campaign. The Food and Drug Administration ordered vaccine makers to tweak their shots to target BA.4 and BA.5 that are better than ever at dodging immunity from earlier vaccination or infection….

Coffee Conversation: Christopher David Hanson Band

DULUTH, Minn. – Singer and songwriter Christopher David Hanson stopped by the morning show Monday to play some of his original pieces.  Morning anchor Dan Hanger gave him a few live hits throughout the two-hour morning show because Hanson drove two hours to play for us!  Enjoy. Song 2: Song 3: Song 4: Song 5:   Categories: Coffee Conversation, Entertainment,…

Fauci, Top Infectious Disease Expert, To Retire In December

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert who became a household name — and the subject of partisan attacks — during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Monday he will depart the federal government in December after more than five decades of service. Fauci, who serves as President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, has been the director of the…

Minneapolis Teacher Contract Race Language Ignites Firestorm

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Minneapolis teachers settled a 14-day strike in March, they celebrated a groundbreaking provision in their new contract that was meant to shield teachers of color from seniority-based layoffs and help ensure that students from racial minorities have teachers who look like them. Months later, conservative media outlets have erupted with denunciations of the policy as racist and unconstitutional…

Jill Biden Rejoins President After Negative COVID-19 Tests

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — First lady Jill Biden left COVID-19 isolation on Sunday after twice testing negative for the coronavirus and reunited with President Joe Biden at their Delaware beach home. She had been isolating in South Carolina, where she tested positive for the virus as the couple wrapped up a vacation there last week. The president made a brief stop at the White House before going…

Wild State Sunday Market and Cider Attracts the Community

DULUTH, Minn.– With summer coming to a close soon for Wild State Cider, they brought in a new treat for their customers to celebrate their second to last Sunday Market. Wild State, teaming up with Farm Lola which is located in Wrenshall, introduced their limited time only, new Honeyberry and Apple cider. So while customers were able to walk around,…

YWCA GirlPower! Program Comes To An End As Funds Dry Up

DULUTH, Minn.– The YWCA Duluth’s afterschool GirlPower! program had their last hurrah Sunday over at the Park Point Community Center. After nearly two decades of uplifting and empowering girls and young women, leaders of the YWCA held a farewell party for the program that ran out of funding. Although it was heartbreaking for those in the program, organizers say they…

Superior National Forest Recovering Well One Year After Greenwood Fire

SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, Minn.– One year ago, the Greenwood fire tore through northern Minnesota, damaging the natural life. But now, the forest is coming back to life once again. August 15th last year, lighting sparked a massive fire that burned for months. The severe drought causing abnormally dry conditions fueled the flames that ended up scorching nearly 30,000 acres of…

Unique New Market Comes to Town

DULUTH, Minn.– We have seen dozens of markets pop up around Duluth this summer, but we haven’t seen one like this yet. For the first time, the Punk Rock Flea Market came to The Back Alley Surf and Coffee over in West Duluth. This outdoor craft fair features vendors selling vintage clothing, records, horror memorabilia, and more. It also featured…

First Ever Twin Ports Music Festival Comes to Earth Rider

SUPERIOR, Wisc.– Crowds were swarming to Earth Rider Saturday to check out the first ever Twin Ports Music Festival. Six bands from Minnesota and Wisconsin teamed up to put on this music festival, after one they were supposed to perform at got cancelled. Event organizer Jon Miller said he couldn’t have done it without the support of the bands, volunteers,…

Community Action Duluth Receives Grant to Help Pay For Services They Offer

DULUTH, Minn. – Community Action Duluth received a large donation today through its new partnership with spectrum’s community center assist initiative. $50,000 were awarded and will be used to support the organization’s job training program. To recognize this, a revitalization event was held at the group’s headquarters Saturday morning where everyone from employees to community volunteers took part in some light…

Two Harbor Nurses Picket Outside of the Lake View Hospital

TWO HARBORS, Minn.– Healthcare workers and community members took up signs to picket by the Lake View Hospital in Two Harbors to raise awareness of the challenges they face day to day. It was not a strike, but an informational picket. This coming after the Two Harbor nurses, and the Minnesota Nurses Association Union say they started seeing an increase…

Cenovus Energy Grants Duluth Fire Department With Check To Go To New Equipment and Training Opportunities

  DULUTH, Minn.–On Friday, the Duluth Fire Department received a $30,000 check to go towards new equipment and training opportunities. Cenovus Energy, part of the Superior Refinery, hands out grants totaling $300,000 every year to it’s community partners. The fire department is one of them, and they hope to use the funds to buy a new, more efficient water hose,…

UMD Welcomes First-Year Medical Students at White Coat Ceremony

DULUTH, Minn. — The annual White Coat Ceremony was held at the University of Minnesota Duluth Friday, welcoming first-year medical students to campus. At the ceremony, students receive their first white coat in front of family, friends and the medical school administration. After being “coated,” students recite a sacred pledge — dating back hundreds of years. The pledge states that…

Superior Dedicates Benches in Honor of Community Members

SUPERIOR, WI. — The first benches of Superior’s new “Bench Sponsorship Program” were dedicated to community members today. The program allows people to sponsor a city bench in honor of someone. On Friday, ceremonies were held to dedicate benches to three individuals, including Jean Kioski. Jean was a prominent member of the Douglas County Humane Society. She passed away in…

Walmart Expands Abortion Coverage For Employees

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart, the nation’s largest employer, is expanding its abortion coverage for employees after staying largely mum on the issue for months following the Supreme Court ruling that scrapped a nationwide right to abortion. In a memo sent to employees on Friday, the company said its health care plans will now cover abortion for employees “when there is a…

US Announces New Military Aid, Drones For Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. for the first time Friday said it will give Ukraine Scan Eagle surveillance drones, mine-resistant vehicles, anti-armor rounds and howitzer weapons to help Ukrainian forces regain territory and mount a counteroffensive against Russian invaders. A senior defense official told reporters that a new $775 million aid package will include 15 Scan Eagles, 40 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles…

UPDATE: Minnesota Wilderness Assistant Coach Brendan Phelps Not Charged After YouTube Video

UPDATE (August 19, 2:00 p.m.) — Assistant Coach Brendan Phelps of the NAHL’s Minnesota Wilderness team will not face criminal charges regarding a YouTube video of him involved in a sting operation that surfaced in July. In 609.352, a Minnesota statute explains that solicitation of children for sexual conduct and sending sexually explicit materials to children is prohibited. The first…

Judge: Prosecutors Cannot Enforce Michigan’s Abortion Ban

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan judge on Friday blocked county prosecutors from enforcing the state’s 1931 ban on abortion for the foreseeable future after two days of witness testimony from abortion experts, providers and the state’s chief medical officer. The ruling comes after the state Court of Appeals said earlier this month that county prosecutors were not covered by…

Tig’s Smok’n Pig BBQ To Host Fundraiser Aug. 20 For Woman Battling Breast Cancer

DULUTH, Minn. – The owner of Tig’s Smok’n Pig BBQ, Troy Fralich, is helping put on a public benefit for a local woman, Andi Halligan, who is fighting breast cancer. Fralich is donating 100 percent of his food sales to Halligan. The BBQ fundraiser is Sat., Aug. 20 from noon until 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the Harley-Davidson…