News – Latest News

UMD Kirby Student Center Hosts Men’s Hockey Watch Party

UMD's Semi-Final victory earlier this afternoon will mark the Bulldogs seventh straight NCAA Regional Finals appearance.

DULUTH, M.N.– Students gathered this afternoon to watch their UMD Bulldogs in the NCAA Regional Semi-finals out in Colorado. Around a dozen students turned out in the Kirby Student Center on campus to support the Men’s Hockey team in their quest for a National Title. One student was particularly excited for the event. “It’s really nice to watch this with…

Twin Pygmy Slow Lorises Born at Lake Superior Zoo

DULUTH, MN – The Lake Superior Zoo recently welcomed two new members to its zoo family. Twin pygmy slow lorises, which are related to lemurs, were born just a couple of weeks ago and are the first pair ever to be born at the zoo. The lorises have been listed as endangered since 2020 and the two new parents, Colby…

Allergy Season Getting Underway in the Northland

DULUTH, Minn. – Allergy season is already underway for some people in the Northland. While pollen numbers won’t pick up until April and May, Dr. Minto Porter, an allergist and immunologist with Essentia Health, says outdoor molds starts to increase once snow starts to melt and humidity levels rise.  “Patients will probably have more difficulty if they go into spring already…

Storage Tips for Snowmobiles as Season Winds Down

DULUTH, Minn. – As the winter outdoor season winds down for another year, snowmobile owners are getting their sleds ready for summer storage. Duluth Lawn and Sport says they have technicians ready to help with service and sell any equipment necessary for at-home maintenance.  They recommend people go through a season-end check list to ensure it will start up again in…

Tiger Dies at Minnesota Zoo

12-year-old Amur Tiger Dies Wednesday At Minnesota Zoo

  FOX 9–The Minnesota Zoo is mourning the loss of 12-year-old Amur tiger, Putin. The tiger died Wednesday when he experienced cardiac failure during a preventative health exam, the zoo announced Thursday. Putin, who was born in the Czech Republic, had been at the Minnesota Zoo since 2015. Before that, he lived at the Denmark Zoo for six years. He…

Midday Update March 24th, 2022

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, March 24th, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Natalie Noury and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, March 24th, 2022 Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, News Update, Wisconsin Tags: Ken Slama, midday update, Natalie Noury, News, news update, weather

Water Main Break on North 53rd Avenue West

DULUTH, Minn.–City of Duluth Operations Crews are responding to a water main break on the 1500 block of North 53rd Avenue West. Water has been turned off on North 53rd Avenue West from Albion Street to Columbia Street, and on Columbia Street from North 53rd Avenue West to North Central Avenue. It is not known how long it will take…

UW-Superior to Close COVID-19 Testing Site to the Public

The free site will still be open for UWS students and employees.

DULUTH, Minn.–The University of Wisconsin-Superior’s free COVID-19 testing site will close to the public on April 1. The testing site is operated in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in the Marcovich Wellness Center. The clinic will remain open for UW-Superior staff and students. Other COVID-19 testing sites are located within area pharmacies and health care clinics. Categories:…

Retired Tugboat Remains Partially Submerged In Duluth Port

DULUTH, Minn. – The U.S. Coast Guard released new information Wednesday about the retired tugboat partially sunken in the Duluth Harbor since Monday. The tugboat called Lake Superior remained partially under water Wednesday. The Coast Guard in Duluth said contractors are keeping the boat afloat and working to remove all potential pollutants like diesel fuel and oil. There have been…

Port Of Duluth-Superior Pulls Out Of Hibernation With Arrival Of Cutter Vessels

DULUTH, Minn. – The Port of Duluth-Superior is pulling out of hibernation with the Soo Locks opening in just days and ice cutting now underway. Two ice cutting vessels arrived in the port Wednesday and will focus first on freeing tugboats so they can free five domestic ships that have been docked all winter. The arrival also means the return…

Round Here Records Pop-Up at Bent Paddle

DULUTH, Minn. – Listen up music lovers, a vinyl pop-up shop is making it’s way through the Twin Ports. Round Here Records Duluth sells, buys, and trades vinyl’s and features many genres, including Classic Rock, Soundtracks, and even a local section. The company started doing pop-ups last summer, showing up at places like Pizza Luce and the Duluth Clothing Company….

Runners Prepare for Spring

DULUTH, Minn. – With warm weather on the horizon, the Duluth Running Company is seeing more foot traffic come through the doors. The business is making the transition to spring by adding seasonal gear like shorts, capris, and tank tops, while discounting winter apparel. One of the owners says when running in the spring, you need to be prepared for…

Report Shows Lack of Homes and Apartments in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – The latest housing indicator report by the City of Duluth confirms the need for more apartments and homes. Their 2021 study found the average price for a home sold increased $35,000 to $240,000, the average rent went up $221, while the rental vacancy rate dropped around 3-percent to 2.1-percent.  Typically, a five-percent vacancy rate is considered healthy, with…

Proposed Legislation Could Pay Part of UMD Tuition for Future Minnesota Students

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesotans who graduate high school and attend UMD could have a sizable chunk of their tuition covered if a proposal in the state legislature become law. The Greater Minnesota Scholarship Program could cover around $4,000 of the student’s first year, and an additional $1,000 to $2,000 each year over their next three years. The goal is to end…

Gordy’s Hi-Hat has Reopened for its 62nd Season

CLOQUET, MN – Gordy’s Hi-Hat in Cloquet is officially open and ready to serve up classic American cheeseburgers that haven’t changed since they first opened 62 years ago. Every year around the first day of spring regardless of the weather, they are excited to see their regulars again and serve the community.  After Gordy’s passing last year, they look forward…

Coast Guard Cutter Arrives in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s not the permanent ship, but the arrival of the Hollyhock means the start of ice cutting activities in the Duluth and Superior ports. This ship, along with the Neah Bay, will start cutting around the tugboats in the ports.  That will allow them to assist the five vessels that have been docked through winter get ready…

Supreme Court Tosses Wisconsin Legislative Voting Maps

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday threw out Wisconsin state legislative maps that were preferred by the state’s Democratic governor and selected by Wisconsin’s top court, making it unclear what the boundaries will be for the fall election. But while the justices in an unsigned opinion threw out voting maps the Wisconsin Supreme Court had selected for the…

Madeleine Albright, 1st Female US Secretary Of State, Dies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Madeleine Albright, the first female U.S. secretary of state, has died of cancer, her family said Wednesday. She was 84. President Bill Clinton chose Albright as America’s top diplomat in 1996, and she served in that capacity for the last four years of the Clinton administration. At the time, she was the highest-ranking woman in the history…

Midday Update March 23, 2022

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Natalie Noury and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, News Update, Wisconsin Tags: Ken Slama, midday update, Natalie Noury, News, news update, weather

Morning Update March 23, 2022

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Natalie Noury and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, News Update, Wisconsin Tags: Ken Slama, midday update, Natalie Noury, News, news update, weather

Visit Duluth’s New President A Native Of Italy, Ready To Move Forward ‘Like A Rocket’

DULUTH, Minn. – The newly configured Visit Duluth officially has a new president to lead its convention and visitor center operations. This comes as Twin Cities marketing firm Bellmont Partners now handles all marketing for the city. Daniele Villa was born and raised in Italy, most recently managed luxury shows and conventions in Dubai and has lived in Duluth the…

Duluth Sister Cities International Won’t Drop Sister City Petrozavodsk, Russia Amid War

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Sister Cities is speaking out in support of Petrozavodsk, Russia, which is one of Duluth’s sister cities, as that country’s leader continues to pummel Ukraine. In an email Tuesday to Mayor Emily Larson and city councilors, Sister Cities board members said they condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and they stand in solidarity of the people of…

Benders Shoes Reopens at New Location in Duluth

DULUTH, MN – Benders Shoes in Duluth has moved into a new, larger location and is now open to bringing its customers a wider selection of products.  After being in its previous location for 9 years providing men’s and women’s shoes and accessories, the larger blueprint allows them the space to now offer kid’s shoes, clothing, and gifts. “We’ve been…

Birdwatching 101 at Duluth Folk School

DULUTH, Minn. – The birds are starting to come back and in preparation, the Duluth Folk School had its first Birdwatching 101 class of the season Tuesday, which is an annual class that couldn’t happen the past two years due to COVID. The class teaches how to be a successful bird watcher by learning tips on how to find them,…

Mark Anderson Memorial Concert Happening Sunday, March 27th

DULUTH, Minn. – The twin ports music scene is remembering the life of a well-respected musician with a memorial concert this Sunday. Mark Anderson, who died this month of pancreatic cancer, was a musician well known among the Duluth music community for his style and original twist on jazz renditions of pop songs. For the last couple of decades he…

UMD Grad Students Participates in Great Lakes Winter Research

DULUTH, MN – Student researchers and scientists at UMD and several other institutions recently gathered samples from across the Great Lakes to understand what is happening under the ice during the winter months.  It has been thought that the lakes lay dormant during the winter so most research is done during the summer months. The effort, known as “The Winter…

Wildwoods Preparing for Spring, Warning About Rabbit & Bird Diseases

DULUTH, Minn. – The arrival of spring weather means the emergence of baby animals in the wild. Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation took their first assistance call of the season March 21, reuniting a baby squirrel with its mother.  They are reminding people to watch for nests, burrows, and dens as they begin yard, tree, and garden work.  Removing a baby animal’s home…

Late Season Winter Storm No Issues for MnDOT

DULUTH, Minn. – Winter weather is not leaving the Northland yet, and road crews have been busy prepping for the wide range of precipitation that has fallen. MnDOT says this winter has seen few days of rest with persistent light snowfalls and below zero temperatures.  Preparations for this storm have been routine, with warmer temperatures last weekend allowing them to pre-treat…

Wisconsin Dad Wants Cop Charged For Restraint Of Daughter

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A Wisconsin father is demanding that prosecutors charge an off-duty police officer who appears to have briefly pressed his knee into his 12-year-old daughter’s neck similar to how Derek Chauvin restrained George Floyd. Surveillance video appears to show off-duty Kenosha Police Officer Shawn Guetschow press his knee into Jerrel Perez’s daughter’s neck for about 25 seconds…

Minnesota DNR: Line 3 Work Harmed Groundwater More Than We Knew

The state Department of Natural Resources says Enbridge Energy crews ruptured three groundwater aquifers while building the 340-mile pipeline across northern Minnesota last year.

(AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9/AP) – The damage to public groundwater resources in Minnesota from missteps during construction of the Line 3 oil pipeline is more severe than previously known, state environmental regulators said. Enbridge Energy crews ruptured three groundwater aquifers while building the 340-mile (550-kilometer) pipeline across northern Minnesota last year and the company faces…

Wisconsin Anglers Ready For Steelhead Trout Opener On Brule River

A late-season storm is on its way, but anglers are getting anxious for this weekend’s steelhead trout opener in Wisconsin. The owner of Great Lakes Fly Shop, John Fehnel, says fly fishing this early in the season isn’t the easiest because many rivers are still iced up, but the diehards will get out this weekend on the popular Brule River,…

Duluth’s Second Harvest Food Bank 41% Toward Fundraising Goal During FoodShare Campaign

DULUTH, Minn. — March is Minnesota FoodShare Month, a campaign through the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. From now until April 10th, donations made to food banks will be reported to the GMCC FoodShare program, which will turn around and match a portion of what they raised. The Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth not only has its…

Park Trails Shutting Down For Maintenance

DULUTH, Minn.- Spring is in the air, which means some trails will be closing soon for the season. The bi-annual spring thaw is a crucial time for hiking trails. The freezing and thawing of the ground makes activities such as biking, hiking, walking, and running, damaging. During this period, vulnerable trails will be shut down. Duluth Parks and Recreation reminds…

First Free Cone Day in Two Years

DULUTH, Minn. – Free Cone day was back Monday at Dairy Queen, after it was called off the past two years due to COVID. It was Dairy Queen’s way of kicking off spring and the warmer weather to come. The deal was limited to one free cone per person and if you wanted to upgrade, you can do so for…

Babbitt Mayor Running As Republican For District 3 State Senate Seat

BABBITT, Minn. — The mayor of Babbitt is launching her campaign for the District 3 Minnesota State Senate seat. Andrea Zupancich, who has served as Babbitt’s mayor since 2014, is running as a Republican. She also held a seat on Babbitt’s city council for two years before becoming mayor. Her announcement comes on the heels of State Senator Tom Bakk…

Local Café Helps Raise Awareness with Ukrainian Inspired Menu

DULUTH, MN – Over the weekend, Sara’s Table in Duluth was raising awareness for Ukraine by creating a menu of Ukrainian inspired dishes.  Aside from the eastern European cuisine, they shared information on how customers could get involved in donating to the Ukrainian relief effort themselves. “Well that’s sort of the mission statement of the restaurant, is to help the…

Tugboat ‘Lake Superior’ Partially Sinks In Duluth Port

The U.S. Coast Guard is monitoring the situation but has not seen any environmental impacts, according to officials.

DULUTH, Minn. — The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating after a retired tugboat partially sunk in the Duluth Port Monday morning. At this time, there are no reports of any pollution impacts to the environment, according to Lt. Joseph McGinnis, with the Coast Guard. McGinnis said the partial sinking was reported around 9 a.m. near the Compass Minerals dock off…

U of M Asks Lawmakers for $30M for Scholarships

Each student would get $4,000 to $5,000 in their first year and $1,000 to $2,000 in each of their next three years.

DULUTH, Minn.- University of Minnesota officials are asking legislators to approve $30 million for scholarships for students who attend regional campuses. The Star Tribune reports the proposed Greater Minnesota Scholarship Program would go give money to Minnesota residents who enroll as freshmen at the university’s Duluth, Rochester, Crookston, and Morris campuses. Each student would get $4,000 to $5,000 in their…

Comedian, Podcast Host Tom Segura Headed to DECC this September

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

DULUTH, Minn.- In September, comedian and podcast host Tom Segura will be performing at the DECC, as part of the third leg of his world tour. According to a spokesperson with the DECC, Segura is one of the biggest names in the comedy business.  He recently performed to sold-out audiences on his 100+ city Take It Down Tour. He is best…