ST. PAUL, Minn. – On Friday, Gov. Tim Walz issued an Executive Order lifting restrictions on some outdoor recreational activities while his “Stay At Home” order is still in effect. In a Friday press release, Walz said this order means golf courses and driving ranges, along with a handful of other facilities may open or remain open. The new guidelines…
TWO HARBORS, Minn. – The Minnesota Historical Society announced the closure of all historic sites and museums to the public through June 30. The temporary closure will affect 26 historical locations including the Split Rock Lighthouse. The MNHS website says the decision was made ‘to protect the health and safety of guests, staff, volunteers, interns, and the community.’ According to…
DULUTH, Minn. – While some gatherings are closed, others are still happening virtually, including speech competitions. Toastmasters is a speech club that has groups throughout the nation and the world. Recently, a speech competition for the region was held virtually, featuring competitors from the Northland and Iron Range. The Technical Director for the competition says its important to have these…
DULUTH, Minn. – One local company is creating merchandise to help out Northland residents. Locally Laid Egg Company wanted to help with fighting off food insecurity for Northlanders, so they partnered with Duluth Screen Printing to create clothes to sell. Proceeds will be donated to multiple groups such as Duluth Screen Printing, Second Harvest Food Bank and Feeding America. “I’m…
Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, April 17, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update, William Seay
HIBBING, Minn. (AP) — U.S. Steel plans to indefinitely idle the Keewatin Taconite plant in northern Minnesota because of the drop in demand for iron and steel during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Thursday. Officials said the closure will affect 75 employees “near term,” but a total of 375 employees will be affected over the next month. In a…
DULUTH, Minn.– The federal and state tax deadline has been pushed to July 15. But many people still have a lot of questions when it comes to their taxes this year. Community Action is a place in Duluth that offers tax help to people who need it. Even though they can’t meet in person, community action can still help you…
DULUTH, Minn.– Essentia Health and St. Luke’s are talking about the impacts of the Coronavirus in Duluth and what people in the area can prepare for what’s ahead. Both hospitals have been meeting with the governor and Minnesota Department of Health about testing and which healthcare facilities in Minnesota are able to test more people. Testing is now available on…
DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth NAACP held another mask give-away for people wanting to protect themselves from the Coronavirus. Volunteers were out at Memorial Park in West Duluth to hand out masks to anybody who wanted one. They even gave out free sanitizer and bubbles and coloring books for kids. This comes after the NAACP gave out more than 400 masks…
DULUTH, Minn. — We might be reaching for comfort foods right now, but health experts recommend eating healthy to boost your lung and heart health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. New research published in the Oxford Academic Journals last month found that adding more fresh produce into your diet and reducing red meat, dairy, and sugar intake can dramatically lower…
DULUTH, Minn. – Ruby’s Pantry Coppertop distributed nearly 300 shares of food and paper products to community members. Ruby’s expected well above the usual average of 200 bundles of groceries due to high unemployment rates during the pandemic. They did it all from the parking lot instead of how they normally do it in the Coppertop Church basement Cars filled…
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. – Families and business across Wisconsin are being impacted by Gov. Tony Evers extending Wisconsin’s Safer at Home Order. Public and private schools will be closed for the rest of the academic year. Dr. Sara Croney, superintendent of the School District of Maple, tells us that’s no surprise to her. She’s happy her district now has a…
DULUTH, Minn. – First Witness Child Advocacy Center is doing everything it can to make sure children are safe from abuse during the stay-at-home order. The National Children’s Alliance says 87% of child abuse cases happen within the family. First Witness is doing more services over the phone during the pandemic, but they say they are concerned by a slight…
DULUTH, Minn. – For all the beer lovers out there, here’s your chance to have an experience of a lifetime right in the comfort of your home. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild is hosting the first-ever virtual beer fest this weekend. About 20 Minnesota breweries, including Bent Paddle, Blacklist Brewing, and Hoops Brewing in Duluth, are participating in the virtual…
DULUTH, Minn. – Its been one week since a Coronavirus outbreak has hit St. Ann’s Residence in Duluth. So far, a total of 20 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed at the senior living facility, five of those have died. St. Ann’s Executive Director tells us they have already tested nearly 80 of their residents for Covid-19. Only about eight…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The City of Superior is responding to the economic impact on its community. Superior Mayor Jim Paine recently announced proposals for the Superior Coronavirus Relief package. The package is a nearly $700,000 investment to help bring back some economic stability to the city. More than $400,000 from the package is being proposed to fund the Community Development Block…
ESKO, Minn. – 4-H is an organization that gives young people opportunities for service projects. Here in the Northland, 4-H members have made more than 400 masks and have also been making scrub caps. The items are being donated to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities in the Carlton County area, Fond Du Lac Reservation, and Duluth. For…
DULUTH, Minn. – Despite the challenges with the coronavirus, one local choir group is still finding a way to sing. The Lake Superior Youth Chorus has now created virtual orchestra spaces for each choir. The organization is also hosting musical moments, where choir members can submit pictures or videos of themselves making music in their homes. Winners are chosen from…
NEW YORK (AP) — The government’s lending program for small businesses is tapped out, and business owners who still need loans are waiting on Congress to approve more funding. The Small Business Administration said Thursday that it reached the $349 billion lending limit for the program, after approving nearly 1.7 million loans. Thousands of small business owners whose loans have…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Today, several Midwest Governors announced they will work together to coordinate the reopening of the Midwest region economy. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers along with Governors Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Mike DeWine (OH), JB Pritzker (IL), Eric Holcomb (IN), and Andy Beshear (KY) said they will work closely to examine the best way to…
DULUTH, Minn. – Plans to furlough 500 non-medical staff at Essentia Health began earlier this month and on Thursday the hospital announced those employees will have their leave extended another 30 days. Additionally, Essentia says more clinical staff will continue to be placed on leave as they continue to face financial impacts due to COVID-19. “Colleagues in both medical and…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday extended Wisconsin’s stay-at-home order that was originally slated to expire next week for another month, keeping non-essential businesses closed until May 26 to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Schools will be closed the remainder of the academic year under the order. News of the extension comes amid growing criticism from…
Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, April 16, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update, William Seay
TOWNSHIP OF SANBORN, Wis. – A 21-year-old male from Ashland County died Wednesday night when the car he was driving crashed in the woods. Authorities say the accident happened on Birch Hill Road in the Township of Sanborn around 7:00 p.m. Officers, Bad River First Responders, and Ashland Ambulance responded to the scene where the male was found deceased. The…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health released updated COVID-19 numbers Thursday morning reporting 1,912 confirmed cases in the state. That is 103 new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday. Minnesota is also reporting 94 total deaths in the state due to new coronavirus. To date, 1,020 in the state no longer require isolation. The MDH website reports that…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Legislative leaders have agreed on a plan to let Minnesota restaurants offer beer and wine to go to help them stay afloat while they subsist on takeout orders during the shutdown for COVID-19. The bill is scheduled for votes Thursday in the Senate and Friday in the House. It would allow licensed restaurants to sell up to…
DULUTH, Minn. – We’re all stuck at home making the most of cooking dinner night after night, and Meteorologist William Seay wants to help spice things up in your kitchen! He shared his favorite Jalapeño green sauce recipe in this week’s Cooking Connection. The sauce could be used on tacos, nachos, or simply for dipping chips. Recipe: 1 lb. jalapeños…
(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, WI (AP) — Wisconsin faces $2 billion in revenue losses due to skyrocketing unemployment and other hits to the economy caused by the coronavirus, Gov. Tony Evers told President Donald Trump in a letter sent this week along with the governors of Michigan and Pennsylvania. Evers and the governors from Michigan and…
Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, April 16, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update, William Seay
WASHINGTON (AP) — The ranks of Americans thrown out of work by the coronavirus ballooned Thursday to at least 22 million in just four weeks. Trump planned to announce new recommendations later in the day to allow states to reopen, despite warnings from business leaders and governors that more testing and protective gear are needed first. The government said 5.2…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Sutherland CBD and Dr. Juice USA, both on Tower Avenue, are now offering handmade hand sanitizer. And hundreds of bottles of their product are going to first responders in need. “In these difficult times everybody’s got to do their part to stop the spread of this thing, to stay safe,” said Jacob Tout, CEO of Dr. Juice USA….
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. – Going to camp is a summer tradition for many families but, with so much uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, nobody knows if kids will have the chance to attend Northland camps this year. “What we provide is the opportunity to get outdoors and to learn in the outdoors and we really feel that families, kids are going to…
DULUTH, Minn. – The coronavirus has impacted businesses throughout the Northland. Touching Hearts at Home located is an in-home services and transportation provider. The company hasn’t laid off any of its employees. Owners say it’s important to keep home healthcare services available. “I would say a big part of it is an isolation factor that sometimes the only person they…
MOOSE LAKE, Minn. (AP) – The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is suing to release inmates endangered by COVID-19 at Moose Lake prison in northern Minnesota. The organization filed a petition Wednesday against the state Department of Corrections. According to a DOC database, 12 inmates in Moose Lake are confirmed positive for the coronavirus and another 31 inmates are…
MINNESOTA, As stimulus checks begin rolling out, additional help through forgivable loans have been awarded to over 33,819 Minnesota small businesses as of Monday. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) grants loans to small businesses as part of the Stimulus Package. The loans are forgivable to businesses who retain or rehire their workers. Senator Tina Smith (D), who helped pass the…
DULUTH, Minn.– As the summer months get closer, it’s time to start getting ready for road construction season. Crews will soon be working on the roads to improve infrastructure around the Northland. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is getting ready to hit the pavement as construction season gets underway. “We’re improving our infrastructure and providing construction jobs,” said Margie Nelson,…
SUPERIOR, Wis.– In Superior, one church has been working to help those who might be food insecure right now. Ruth House in Superior has been giving out free meals for the last couple of months. Food is donated by members of the community and served daily from 5:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m. They give out around 40 to 60 meals every night….
SUPERIOR, Wis.– The Superior Fire Department is investigating a duplex fire in the northern part of the city. It happened around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 700 block of Weeks Avenue. Officials say the fire started in the rear wall and extended to the attic. Firefighters had to cut through the roof to put out the flames. Nobody was injured….
ST. PAUL. – The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act was signed into law on Wednesday by Governor Tim Walz. In 2017, 26-year-old Alec Smith died of diabetic complications because he was rationing his insulin which he could not afford to be uninsured. Lawmakers and advocates took up this issue in Alec’s memory to stop this from happening again. The program…
DULUTH, Minn- The Duluth International Airport is receiving more than $5 million in relief funding to support operations during the pandemic. This comes after Congressman Pete Stauber recently announced nearly $30 million in funding to assist more than 25 airports in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. Those funds were made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Duluth…
DULUTH, Minn – A local restaurant is making sure kids in the area have access to an affordable lunch during the pandemic. At the Trophy Cafe in Gary New Duluth, kids can receive a cheeseburger, chips, and a fruit cup all for just $3 for lunch. The cafe jumped into action as soon as the the pandemic hit. This was…
DULUTH, Minn – More layoffs are spreading throughout the northland. Nearly 300 employees from Goodwill Industries locations around the area are out of work as a direct result of Covid-19. Goodwill’s core mission is to help people dealing with social and economic barriers, gain viable employment. With operations in the northland being closed for nearly a month, due to Covid…
DULUTH, Minn. – A lot of gatherings are being canceled these days because of the coronavirus, but people are still figuring out alternative ways to do things like baby showers. Lynsey Haala and her husband Chad are expecting a new baby in June. When they had to cancel their planned baby shower, they knew they needed to get creative. Then…
DULUTH, Minn. – The zoo is asking for monetary donations as well as selling membership extension and advanced tickets. Because the zoo is a nonprofit, it relies on revenue to keep animals fed. “It’s pretty much business as usual for them,” said Emily Perala, Lead Zookeeper. “Some of them seem to really miss having a lot of the folks come…
MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – According to a recent press release, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota filed a petition on Wednesday against the state Department of Corrections asking for the immediate release of Moose Lake inmates. The ACLU-MN says that the state DOC is not keeping prisoners and staff safe from the rapid spread of COVID-19. “The ACLU of…
KEEWATIN, Minn. – Layoffs are expected this Sunday, April 19 at the US Steel owned Keetac Mine. According to a letter from the Steelworkers Union, the layoffs will affect employees who have been at the mine for three years or less. Maintenance staff who have been with the company for three years or less will continue to work until the…
(Breanna Retherford/University of Minnesota via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a low-cost ventilator developed by the University of Minnesota and aimed at helping COVID-19 patients breathe. The FDA authorized use of the compact device, known as the Coventor, that was quickly developed and designed by a team of university researchers, a…
DULUTH, Minn. – Officials with the Superior National Forest announced on Wednesday that the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness will be closed for day and overnight use starting tomorrow. The closure will go through May 4 to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Officials say any reservations made through May 4 will receive a full refund including reservation fees. “In…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health reported 114 new cases and eight additional deaths Wednesday morning. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 1,809 and the death total to 87. According to the MDH website, 940 of the 1,809 cases have recovered and no longer require isolation. On Wednesday, the Minnesota Department…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Nearly two dozen local elected officials are calling on Gov. Tim Walz to suspend rent and mortgage payments and stop commercial property evictions during the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to Walz, the officials say “mass displacement, home foreclosures, and the shuttering of businesses are imminent unless aggressive measures are taken immediately.” The officials include a…
