News – Latest News

Lake Superior Zoo Preschool Opens

The Lake Superior Zoo's Preschool is now open.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Zoo’s Preschool is now open. The program, open to children from ages three to five, focuses on nature play along with the animals all around the zoo. Children at the zoo are also encouraged to practice conservation activities at an early age like recycling and turning the lights off when they leave a room….

Haunted Shack Seeks Volunteers for 2020 Season

CARLTON, Minn.– As the Haunted Shack in Carlton gets ready for another season, they’re asking for a few extra hands as they prepare to scare. Haunted Shack is looking for volunteers to help get ready for the season, perform in the haunted shack, and other positions for the corn maze and haunted hay rides. They are getting ready to open…

All of Us Program at Essentia Looking for More Participants

DULUTH, Minn.– The All of Us Program is a nationwide research program led by the National Institute of Health and has been partnered with Essentia since 2018. Now they’re looking for more patients to join the program during the pandemic. The program shares certain health information with researchers to help them get access to more data to fight COVID-19 and…

Applefest Brought to Your Door During Pandemic

BAYFIELD, Wis.– The 59th annual Applefest in Bayfield isn’t happening this year due to the pandemic but organizers are now going to be bringing the event right to your door. The Bayfield Foods Cooperative will be putting together Applefest Boxes this year that can be delivered to any Minnesota or Wisconsin address. The boxes will have your choice of the…

Ashland Bars and Taverns to Temporarily Close After Rise in COVID-19 Cases

Just Wednesday, eight more COVID cases were confirmed in Ashland bringing the total to 74 positive cases and two deaths.

ASHLAND, Wis. – Bars and taverns are preparing to be forced to shut down for more than two weeks to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Just Wednesday, eight more COVID cases were confirmed in Ashland bringing the total to 74 positive cases and two deaths. Ashland County Administrator Clark Schroeder says bars that have recently voluntarily closed after COVID-19…

Duluth Fire Department Brings Awareness To Fire Prevention

In Duluth, there were more than 30 kitchen fires in 2019.

DULUTH, Minn. – October is fire prevention month. Every year members of the Duluth Fire Department visit area schools to teach students about potential fire dangers. The Duluth Fire Department is hoping by getting the message out community members and students will continue to think about fire prevention all year long. Kitchen-related incidents are one of the most common causes…

Pokegama River Launch Site Will Soon Get Needed Upgrades

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A boat launch site off of Pokegama River in Superior will soon receive some needed improvements. A grant for more than $100,000 from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration was awarded to the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve to help provide residents better access to the river. Other additions include bathrooms, a newly paved road, and a…

St. Louis County Partners with Minnesota Organization to Deconstruct Properties in Duluth

St. Louis County has partnered with one Minnesota organization to help deconstruct tax-forfeited and blighted properties in the Duluth area. 

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County has partnered with one Minnesota organization to help deconstruct tax-forfeited and blighted properties in the Duluth area. They are not only helping the environment but are also providing opportunities for those who need it. St. Louis County, along with Better Futures Minnesota, is working to deconstruct several properties in Duluth. The process will remove…

BoomTown to Open in Northland in 2021

The owners of BoomTown Woodfire Bar and Grill on the Iron Range will be setting up shop next year in Duluth.

DULUTH, Minn. – The owners of BoomTown Woodfire Bar and Grill on the Iron Range will be setting up shop next year in Duluth. The plans are in the works to open at the old Sunset Bar and Grill on Martin Road in January of 2021. The co-owners had purchased the bar and grill with the hopes of opening in…

Medical Cannabis Dispensary to Open in Northland

The Duluth area will soon be getting its first medical cannabis dispensary.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth area will soon be getting its first medical cannabis dispensary. Vireo Health of Minnesota has four existing retail locations in Minnesota and will soon be adding a fifth in Hermantown. The locations will go by the name “Green Goods” on the 4900 block of Miller Trunk Highway. Management says they feel the store is very…

Wisconsin Legislature Appeals Absentee Ballot Ruling

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature has appealed a federal court ruling that allows for absentee ballots to be counted up to six days after the Nov. 3 presidential election in the battleground state. The appeal filed Wednesday was expected after Monday’s highly anticipated court ruling in favor of Democrats and their allies. The judge even put his…

Ashland County Bars and Taverns to Temporarily Close Following Uptick of COVID-19 Cases

ASHLAND COUNTY, Wis. – A public health order was put in place Wednesday by the Ashland County Public Health Department to temporarily close all bars and taverns in the city of Ashland and immediate surrounding areas. The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday and will be in place until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, October 11. The health department says…

Duluth Police Investigating Potential Pipe Bomb Discovered in Essentia Health Parking Lot Monday

DULUTH, Minn. – On Monday, Duluth police responded to reports of a “small suspicious item” discovered at the north edge of the Essentia Health downtown campus parking lot. Duluth police say they responded to the call around 11:48 p.m. on the report of a possible improvised explosive device. When officers arrived at the scene they found what appeared to be…

Midday Update 9-23-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, Sept. 23

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Have a great day! Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News

Male Seriously Injured in Alleged West Duluth Assault

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police say they are actively investigating a possible assault that left a male victim seriously injured. According to police, officers responded to the area of the 5900 Block of West Main Street around 2:30 a.m. on reports of a possible stabbing. When police arrived at the scene they learned that a 29-year-old male had been taken…

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Wednesday, September 23

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 92,100 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Wednesday morning and 6 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,985 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 1,873,867 tests have been completed to date. There are 83,507 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 7,303 patients have required hospitalization…

Two COVID-19 Cases Confirmed in Drummond School District, Students Move to Virtual Learning

DRUMMOND, Wis. – According to the Bayfield County Health Department, the Drummond School District has confirmed at least two cases of COVID-19 in the district. On Tuesday, the district announced that several students and staff members have been recommended to quarantine following the confirmed cases. As a result, the Drummond Area School District will be moving to a virtual learning…

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Hosting Virtual 5K Fundraiser

The Fur-K Virtual Race is Happening Sept. 25 - 27, 2020

DULUTH, Minn. – Like many organizations this year, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is expecting to take a hit due to the ongoing financial effects COVID-19. To help raise funds, Beargrease board members have come up with the inaugural Fur-K ‘virtual 5K.’ The race will take place Friday, Sept. 25 – Sunday, Sept. 27 on your own time. Participants…

Morning Update 9-23-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, Sept. 23

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Have a great day! Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News

Ruth Ginsburg’s Flag-Draped Casket Arrives at Supreme Court

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) — The casket of late Justice Ruth Ginsburg has arrived at the Supreme Court for a private ceremony with the eight remaining justices, family, and colleagues. Ginsburg’s flag-draped casket arrived at the court at 9:30 a.m. and was carried into the court’s Great Hall past her former law clerks who lined the steps and…

Saliva COVID-19 Testing Coming to Duluth Wednesday

It's all part of a pilot testing program from the state which they hope will help to decrease the spread of the pandemic.

DULUTH, Minn. – Nasal swabs are no longer the only option for people in the Northland getting tested for COVID-19. Starting Wednesday, Minnesotans can get a free COVID test by just spitting into a vial that will be shipped to a laboratory. It’s free regardless of whether anyone has symptoms. It’s happening at the DECC in Duluth. People will walk…

New Burger King Opens on London Road

DULUTH, Minn.– A new Burger King opened its doors for the first time Tuesday in the former Wendy’s location on London Road in Duluth. Cars lined up around the building to get their food for the first time at the new location. Work on the building began last December, tearing the old building down to its bones. Managers at Burger…

Birds Flock to Hawk Ridge During Migration

DULUTH, Minn.– As fall begins, birds from all over North America are getting ready to make the journey south. Hawk Ridge in Duluth has been a popular place for both birds and sight-seers. Some birds swinging through include harriers, sharp-shinned hawks, and more. The center also released two hawks back into the wild earlier today. “They’re coming from the provinces…

Memorial Held to Bring Awareness for Missing Northland Woman Sheila St. Clair

DULUTH, Minn.– Five years ago, Sheila St. Clair went missing. She was last seen at the Cascade Apartments on West 3rd Street in Duluth. Community members and law enforcement are asking for information as the case stays open. Members of the Duluth Area Northwoods Wolf Alliance, the Duluth Police Department and others met at Central Hillside Park in Duluth. The…

Voter Registration Pop-Up Helps Ex-Offenders Exercise Their Right

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s National Voter Registration Day and pop-up registration events across Duluth are helping ex-offenders qualify to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming presidential election. It is common for many former felons to be unaware of their legal status to vote in elections. Rules do vary from state to state, but in Minnesota, ex-offenders are entitled…

Grant Helps UMD Look Into Impacts Plastic Has On Lake Superior

DULUTH, Minn. – A professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biology at UMD recently received a grant for more than $100,000 from the Minnesota Sea Grant to look further into the impacts plastic has on Lake Superior and the St. Louis River Estuary. The research will provide solutions for unanswered questions such as how plastic in Lake Superior can…

University Of Minnesota Medical School Of Duluth Tests Campus Sewage For COVID-19

DULUTH, Minn. – Several colleges and universities have already seen a large number of COVID-19 cases hit their campuses. Now researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School of Duluth are conducting a study to further examine COVID-19 through sewage waste. A couple of times a week, wastewater from residence halls on both U of M Duluth and Twin Cities…

OB-GYN Offices Seeing Increase In Pregnant Patients

Patient visits for prenatal care are up by more than 30% at St. Luke's Hospital compared to August of 2019.

DULUTH, Minn. – While more people are staying home due to the global pandemic, St. Luke’s Hospital is seeing a surge in the number of newly pregnant moms visiting for prenatal care. Patient visits are up by more than 30%  compared to August of 2019. Pregnant moms going in for regular check-ups can be very beneficial for helping to keep…

Cass Lake Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder

Sentencing is Scheduled for November 6

ITASCA COUNTY, Minn. – A 29-year-old Cass Lake man pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder for the 2019 death of a four-year-old boy. Kevin Daniel Jackson, 29, was charged last August for the death of his girlfriend’s son. According to the criminal complaint, authorities responded to a call of a non-responsive four-year-old on August 21, 2019. When officers arrived on…

Two Cases of COVID-19 Confirmed at Ashland High School, Students to Temporarily Move to Virtual Classes

ASHLAND, Wis. – The Ashland County Public Health Department announced Tuesday they are investigating COVID-19 exposure in the Ashland School District after one student and one staff member at Ashland High School tested positive for coronavirus. The Ashland school district says over twenty students and nine staff members are currently in a cautionary quarantine to help prevent additional exposures. So…

Senate GOP Lines up With Trump to Quickly Fill Court Seat

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are swiftly falling in line behind President Donald Trump’s push to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court. One of the last hold outs, GOP Sen. Mitt Romney, said Tuesday he supports holding a vote. Trump is set to announce his nominee Saturday. Appeals court judge Amy Coney Barrett is…

Midday Update 9-22-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News

‘Unfathomable’: Us Death Toll From Coronavirus Hits 200,000

(AP) – The death toll in the U.S. from the coronavirus has topped 200,000, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the world’s richest nation. That’s according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University, based on figures from state health authorities. The real number of dead is thought to be much higher, in part because…

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Tuesday, September 22

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 91,422 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Tuesday morning and 10 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,979 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 1,863,694 tests have been completed to date. There are 82,833 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 7,253 patients have required hospitalization…

Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance Hosting Virtual Program, Fundraiser

Shine Teal for MOCA is Happening Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

DULUTH, Minn. – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA) will be shining a light on ovarian cancer in new ways to help support and raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer Awareness month this September. The statewide nonprofit is hosting Shine Teal for MOCA, a free virtual event and auction, on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m….

Evers Extends Wisconsin Mask Mandate Until Nov. 21

(courtesy: WI Dept of Health Services via AP) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Faced with soaring coronavirus cases across Wisconsin, particularly on college campuses, Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday extended a statewide mask mandate until Nov. 21. The order, which has been in effect since August, was scheduled to expire on Monday. Evers extended the order even as his authority to…

Spring Creek Manufacturing Seeing Increase in Business Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The Company Dates Back to 1985, With Tom and Grant Sega Purchasing the Business Back in 2017

MOUNTAIN IRON, Minn. – Taking a business from point A to point B is no easy task – toss in a global pandemic, and things can get messy. For one company with deep roots on the Iron Range, sales show huge growth in the past year, and the product that helped get it all started decades ago could be one…

Morning Update 9-22-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News

Wisconsin Health Officials Recommend Against Usual Trick-or-Treating

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — State health officials are recommending against trick-or-treating as usual this Halloween because of the coronavirus pandemic. Going house-to-house and having in-person contact is not a good idea, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. If individual communities decide to go ahead with traditional trick-or-treating, health officials recommend leaving individual treat bags on the porch for…

DFL Elected Officials Come Together To Shed Light On The Importance Of Early Voting

"Everybody needs to vote. Its our right to vote. Its our duty to vote. Voting matters," said Duluth City Councilor Janet Kennedy.

DULUTH, Minn. – Several Democratic elected officials banded together outside Duluth City hall to highlight the importance of early voting. Early voting in the state began on Friday. Nearly 950,000 Minnesotans have already requested absentee ballots for this year’s election compared to about 70-thousand the same time in 2018. For Duluth city councilor Janet Kennedy voting has a strong significance…

DECC, Visit Duluth Discussing Potential Merger

DULUTH, Minn. – The advisory boards for the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center and Visit Duluth are starting conversations about potentially merging together as they face severe financial setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic. Both entities have assembled their own sub-committees to discuss what a merger could look like. The committees would develop an idea for an organizational structure that would serve…

Minnesota’s First COVID-19 Saliva Testing Site Coming to Duluth Starting Wednesday

The free testing will be available at the DECC through at least the end of the year.

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota’s first COVID-19 saliva testing site is opening in Duluth this Wednesday. It’s all part of a pilot testing program from the state. The testing will be free to those who feel the need to be tested. The nasal swab is no longer the only option for COVID testing. “We want testing available to anyone who feels…

Northland Red Cross Volunteers Helping with Wildfire Relief

Some volunteers are on the ground in Salem, Oregon near where the Beachie Creek fire is burning.

SALEM, Oregon – Nearly one dozen Red Cross disaster workers from the Northland are deployed to the wildfires out west and down south with the hurricane response efforts. Some volunteers are on the ground in Salem, Oregon near where the Beachie Creek fire is burning. They are helping feed and comfort people who unsure if their homes are burned to…

Duluth Elementary Students Begin In-Person Hybrid Learning

Elementary students with the Duluth school district are on a hybrid model where kids get in-person learning two days a week with the rest distance learning.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth students at Homecroft Elementary masked up and headed into school for the first time in six months. Elementary students with the Duluth school district are on a hybrid model where kids get in-person learning two days a week with the rest distance learning. A mother of a kindergartener told Fox 21 she was sad she couldn’t…

1 Killed, 1 Injured in Head-On Crash in Bayfield County

TOWN OF BARKSDALE, Wis. — One person is dead and another was hospitalized Monday after a reported erratic driver slammed into oncoming traffic — setting both vehicles on fire. The accident happened Monday just before 12:30 p.m. on Wedal Road in the Town of Barksdale, which is in Bayfield County. First responders and a bystander helped get the victims out…