News – Latest News

Vigil Honors 66 Homeless and Advocates Who’ve Passed in 2024

DULUTH, Minn. – Homeless advocates and community members gathered to remember those who have passed away this year. The annual “Homeless Memorial Vigil” is held to celebrate the memories of people who have struggled with housing; and advocates who have fought to increase housing accessibility. Overdose deaths among the homeless population fell this year, according to advocates, but the struggle…

Lake Superior College Awarded $200,000 Grant for Accessibility

DULUTH, Minn.– Lake Superior College has been awarded a $200,000 grant, to help provide continued accessibility for all students. The funds from the 2024 Inclusive Higher Education Grant will be going towards implementing an inclusive higher education program. The program itself is called ‘PACE’. Right now, the money is being used to help map this program out to see how it…

KYN: “Chicken and Whaat?!” Opens Up Shop

DULUTH, Minn.– Despite this restaurant’s name being a big question there’s no doubt about it, “Chicken and Whaaat?!” is attracting chicken lovers in West Duluth. “My wife has been eagerly anticipating the opening here for a long time so yeah, we had it on the calendar,” said customer Jack Beahler. What used to be Charley’s Cheesesteaks on North Central Ave,…

Coffee Conversation: “The Parents Launch Code” with Dr. Jack Stoltzfus

DULUTH, Minn. — Launch coach and author Dr. Jack Stoltzfus appeared on Fox 21’s morning newscast Tuesday to discuss his book, The Parents Launch Code, and the issue of estrangement between young adults and their parents. To learn more about Dr. Stoltzfus, his work, and his latest book, click here. Categories: Coffee Conversation, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News

DECC Dir.: Managing Bayfront Again Ensures Non-Competing Events Among All DECC Venues

DULUTH, Minn. – DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman is pleased management at Bayfront Festival Park is coming back under the DECC’s control in a new five-year contract agreement beginning in January 2025. The council approved the RFP process Monday night lead by city staff who chose the DECC as Bayfront’s next manager. The contract is worth around $443,000 over five…

Mayor’s First Budget Goes to Council for Vote

The last council meeting of the year will see the city attempt to put a bow on planning for 2025

CITY HALL – Mayor Roger Reinert’s first budget is up for a vote at the last city council meeting of the year. Mayor Reinert making an appearance at the final city council meeting of 2024, as the council considers his budget proposal. The 2025 budget is the first budget the mayor’s created since assuming office. Before Monday’s meeting, Mayor Reinert…

Mayor Wants ‘Visit Duluth’ Back In Control Of Tourism Marketing After Arizona Firm

DULUTH, Minn. – As the city of Duluth gets ready to welcome in its new tourism marketing agency, Madden Media of Arizona, for the next two years, Mayor Roger Reinert told FOX 21 Monday that the goal during this new contract is to build Visit Duluth back up to a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) that will once again handle all…

Sen. Hauschild Asks President To Rescind Clemency Of Former Duluth Headshop Owner Jim Carlson

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) is calling on President Joe Biden to rescind his clemency ruling for former Last Place On Earth owner Jim Carlson. Carlson is among roughly 1,500 people whose sentences have been commuted by Biden — people who were “serving sentences in home confinement during the pandemic and who have successfully reintegrated into their…

Superior High School Students Create and Sell Christmas Wreaths

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Superior High School Northland Academy students are getting into the holiday spirit by crafting and selling wreaths. For the past 8 years, the Northland Program has been teaching kids all of the steps to creating wreaths. From mapping out a harvesting plan in spring, to putting the wreaths and swag together in the winter. The goal is to…

3 Dead, Others Injured In Shooting At Private Christian School In Madison

Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A student opened fire at a private Christian school Monday morning in Wisconsin, killing two people in the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes offered no details about the victims but said other people were wounded at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 school…

4th Annual Great Hall Marketplace Held at the St. Louis County Depot

DULUTH, Minn. — Shoppers were out and about at the annual Great Hall Market place on Saturday, wrapping up their Christmas gift list. The marketplace at the St. Louis County Depot featured over 50 artists, crafters and local businesses, showcasing their holiday creations, from artwork, to jewelry and even baked goods. Shoppers were greeted with a festive atmosphere, as carolers…

Annual Holiday Bake Sale Held in Gary New Duluth

GARY NEW DULUTH, Minn. — A holiday bake sale was held at the Gary New Duluth recreation center, which saw baked goods flying out the door. The annual bake sale grows more and more every year. With strudels, cookies, brownies and plenty more available, which are all made and donated by community members. This year hungry shoppers filled the rec…

Lego Robotics Tournament Held in Hermantown

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — It was a weekend of problem solving at Hermantown High School as students tested their skills during a robotics competition. Two robotics tournaments were held at the school Saturday and Sunday. One being the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) tournament. 37 teams across the northland participated in this years tournament, more than ever before. The event sees students…

Essentia Health Strike at Standstill

With no meetings scheduled, Essentia and union workers are stuck in an open-ended strike

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…

All Aboard The Christmas City Express!

DULUTH, Minn. — Each year holiday memories are made at the North Shore Scenic Railroad with The Christmas City Express. The experience starts with an interactive story telling of The Christmas City Express book. Passengers can then climb aboard a festive train for a 30 minute ride to Lake Superior and back to depot. Kids also get the chance to…

Truckers for Tots

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – A toy drive aims to bring a truckload of toys for the local Salvation Army. Truckers for Tots has been partnering with the Toys for Tots Organization for years, working to fill truck trailers with toys for those in need. This year has seen drives hosted at four Wisconsin locations, and tonight, at the Hermantown Fleet Farm….

Photographers Capture the Deep Freeze

DULUTH, Minn.– The severe cold isn’t stopping photographers to emerge from the thick fog on the lake, just to get that perfect shot. Typically, in the summer, you can find people crowding around the harbor waiting for boats to come in. The boat enthusiasts aren’t letting the cold stop them. Some of the dedicated photographers, coming from out of state, and…

Coffee Conversation: Arrowhead Ice Fishing & Winter Show Returns to the DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — The highly anticipated Arrowhead Ice Fishing & Winter Show is back this weekend at the DECC, presented by Eskimo. Shamrock Production President Chris Navratil and Eskimo Representative Matt Halverson joined Fox 21 on the morning newscast Thursday ahead of the event. Among the highlights is the popular Sea Lion Splash, where attendees can enjoy a show and…

Management Of Bayfront Festival Park Set To Return To DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — Management of Duluth’s premier entertainment venue, Bayfront Festival Park, is headed back to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center for the next five years if the council signs off on Monday. For the last year, Winterfell Management has handled all promotions, productions and management of Bayfront with a one-year agreement with the city. Newly elected Mayor Roger Reinert…

Young Entrepreneurs Showcase Products

DULUTH, Minn. – Young entrepreneurs bring their products public, at a showcase in Duluth’s Hillside neighborhood. The Family Freedom Center hosted an event Monday, to allow local kids a chance to showcase their self-made products. Their families, friends, and the public could purchase hand-made jewelry, cosmetics, smoothies, sweet treats and more. Located at the Washington Center in Duluth’s Hillside neighborhood,…

AFSCME Local 66 Takes Duluth Mayor To Task Over Contract Offer

DULUTH, Minn.– Following a vote Tuesday, AFSCME Local 66 overwhelmingly authorized a strike as early as mid-January if the city of Duluth does not come back with an offer that they feel is fair and equitable. Union members held a press conference Wednesday to voice their frustrations, calling the city’s latest offer “insulting, inadequate, and unacceptable.” “We are being asked…

Coffee Conversation: MN Ballet Presents “The Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale”

DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Ballet will showcase The Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale at the DECC Symphony Hall from December 13 to 15, with performances starting at 7:00 PM. Minnesota Ballet Dancers Juliana DeBellis and Isaac Sharratt joined Fox 21 on the morning newscast Wednesday ahead of opening night. You can get tickets at Ticketmaster, or by calling the box…

City Of Duluth’s Largest Employee Union Authorizes Strike Mid-January If Needed

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth’s largest employee union, AFSCME Local 66, voted Tuesday to authorize a strike, demanded “fair wages and dignity” and called on Mayor Roger Reinert to fix it. AFSCME called the city’s next contract offer “insulting, inadequate and unacceptable,” according to a news release. The union said the police and fire departments got 8% market…

Former Central HS Site to become $500 Million Housing Development

The groundbreaking of 'Incline Village' comes 13 years after the school's controversial closure, and a period of vacancy

DULUTH, Minn. – After sitting largely dormant for years, the wheels have begun turning on a development plan for the former Central High School site. Incline Village’s groundbreaking, today, at the former site of Central High School marks the beginning of the second-largest private development in the city’s history. Developers and city officials gathered at the site today to mark…

Staff Oppose Duluth Federal Prison Camp Closure

Prison camp staff object to closure of Duluth facility, site lack of warning

DULUTH, Minn. – Workers from Duluth’s Federal Prison Camp meet to discuss next steps, after the FBOP announced they will close or ‘deactivate’ multiple facilities across the country. A flurry of emotions at tonight’s workers’ union meeting over what comes next, after being informed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons that Duluth’s camp will be among the facilities to either…

Sax Zim Bog Draws in Diverse Crowd

MEADOWLANDS, Minn.– When the temps drop in northern Minnesota, most of the time, you can expect people to stay inside where it’s nice and warm. But the bog is a different story, as it draws quite the crowd during the winter months. “It’s really fun, and we definitely get a lot of global attention from folks coming in. Last year,…

KYN: Cloquet Writer Embarks on a 6 Month Journey

DULUTH, Minn.– An ambition to travel the world, is something Cloquet writer Jess Waldbillig has felt for years. And just recently, she finally made it happen. “I think like a lot of people who got into the van life thing, I became kind of obsessed with it during college and during quarantine. And so, I like followed a ton of…

Coffee Conversation: Rubber Chicken Theater Holiday Sketch Comedy Shows

DULUTH, Minn. — Rubber Chicken Theater is wrapping up 2024 with a pair of holiday sketch comedy shows sure to bring festive laughter to the Twin Ports. Co-founder Brian Matuszak joined us this morning to discuss the upcoming performances. First up is A Christmas Comedy Carol, or, How I Learned to Stop Scrooging and Keep Laughing, running December 20-21 and…

City Council Approves $3.6 Million Tourism Marketing Contract to Arizona Firm

Expressing uniform frustration with the selection process and lack of information, councilors still vote 8-1 to approve the multi-million-dollar contract

CITY HALL – Duluth City Councilors approve a $3.6 million tourism marketing contract to Arizona-based Madden Media, in an 8 to 1 vote at Monday’s meeting. Councilors made it known that they felt their “hands are tied” before voting on Duluth’s 2-year tourism marketing contract. Arizona-based Madden Media was the winner of the city’s request for proposal process earlier this…

‘Chicken And Whaaat?!’ Opens In West Duluth

DULUTH, Minn.–‘Chicken and Whaaat?!’ is now open in West Duluth. The Hansen family is behind the new eatery and responsible for restaurants like Duluth Grill, Corktown Deli, and OMC Smokehouse. Chicken and Whaaat?! is located in the former Charley’s Cheesesteaks at 231 North Central Avenue. The new business specializing in chicken tenders and six different sandwich options, with quick service…

‘Trains and Toddlers’ Program Returns to Lake Superior Railroad Museum

DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is bringing back its ‘trains and toddlers’ program after it was derailed by COVID. The program at the Depot is all about getting youngsters up close and person with all types of trains. The fun begins with story time in the Zelda Theater followed by arts and crafts. Organizers say it’s a perfect…

Police: Man In Custody Had Gun, Mask, Writings Tying Him To Killing Of UnitedHealthcare CEO

FOXNews.com NEW YORK (AP) — Police arrested a “strong person of interest” Monday in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after a quick-thinking McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon and writings linking him to the ambush. The suspect, identified by police as 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, had a gun believed…

Duluth Angel Of Hope Vigil Helps Parents Of Deceased Children Grieve

DULUTH, Minn. – Parents who have lost children gathered together by candle light in Duluth Friday evening. Duluth’s Angel of Hope statue in Leif Erickson Park is one of more than 100 identical statues that echo back to a book called “The Christmas Box.” In the book, an elderly woman visits her young daughter’s grave, adorned with an Angel Statue….

Scores Released For Top 5 Finalists Of Duluth’s Next Tourism Marketing Contract

Council to vote for or against Madden Media of Arizona at Monday night's city council meeting (Dec. 9)

DULUTH, Minn. — We now know the scores for the top five marketing agencies that applied for Duluth’s next multi-million dollar tourism marketing contract. Below are the scores based off a 100-point scale: Madden Media of Arizona: 81.65 Hailey Sault of Duluth: 78.31 AIMCLEAR of Duluth: 78.29 Lawrence & Schiller of South Dakota: 75.20 Swim Creative of Duluth: 73.55 Any…

Stolen Ruby Slippers Worn By Judy Garland In ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Auctioned For $28M

  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A pair of iconic ruby slippers that were worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” and stolen from a museum nearly two decades ago sold for a winning bid of $28 million at auction Saturday. Heritage Auctions had estimated that they would fetch $3 million or more, but the fast-paced bidding far outpaced that…

Local Veterans Honor Pearl Harbor Fallen

DULUTH, Minn. — 83 Years ago, on December 7th, 1941, over 2,400 American service members and civilians lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor Now, decades later, Duluth Veterans held a ceremony, to honor and remember the fallen. The ceremony started with the presentation of colors by the Duluth Honor Guard, which was followed with the singing of…

Shoppers Pick Up Gifts at Duluth Winter Village

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Loves Local hosted the 8th annual Duluth Winter Village at the DECC this weekend. As Christmas gets closer each day, shoppers explored vendors from over 50 local businesses. While many vendors were in Pioneer Hall, dozens of wooden cabins were also set up outside of the DECC, bringing a festive feel to the Northland. One of…

Volunteers Prepare for Hmong New Year Celebration

  DULUTH, Minn.– The annual Hmong New Year is right around the corner and volunteers are rolling out 800 egg rolls and purple rice for this celebration. Every year, the Northland has the opportunity to experience the Hmong New Year celebration. The event is described as a reunion, regulars will often return every year to experience the gathering. The Hmong…

Finishing Touches on the 8th Annual Winter Village at the DECC

DULUTH, Minn.– It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the DECC, as they prepare for their 8th annual winter village weekend. Taking inspiration from European winter villages the DECC is excited to bring this back for another year. This year, they’re introducing their tinsel tavern, where you can immerse yourself in a Christmas wonderland. In addition, they’re featuring…

Coffee Conversation: Boat Club Productions Presents the Winter Wonderettes

DULUTH, Minn. — The holiday season just got a little brighter with the debut of Winter Wonderettes, presented by Boat Club Productions. This morning, Producer Jason Vincent and Denfeld High School senior Reagan Kern, who plays Betty Jean, joined us in the studio to talk more about the production and what audiences can expect. Winter Wonderettes continues the beloved story of…

New $16.5M Snowmaking Operation At Giants Ridge

BIWABIK, Minn. — 74 new automated snow machines are now operating at Giants Ridge in Biwabik as part of a $16.5-million dollar investment there. A small ceremony was held on Thursday, Dec. 5, to celebrate. The new snow-making system is weather controlled turning on and off automatically for optimal snow production based on optimal air conditions. The 74 new snow…