News – Latest News

Hearing Puts Agency Under Scrutiny Over PolyMet Mine Permit

(AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Legal challenges to the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine enter a new phase this week. A Minnesota judge will open a fact-finding hearing Tuesday into allegations that state regulators improperly tried to suppress serious concerns by federal regulators about the project’s risks. The judge will then prepare findings that the Minnesota Court of Appeals…

Midday Update 1-17-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Friday, January 17, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Brittney Merlot for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, January 17, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, brittney merlot, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update

‘Duluze’ Weight Loss Challenge Kicks Off

Challenge aims to encourage healthier lifestyles in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluze Weight Loss Challenge started Thursday at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth. Every week for the next thirteen weeks, competitors will step on a scale and log their weight. At the end of the challenge, those who have lost the most weight will become winners. The event is put on by the Duluth News Tribune. Organizers…

Twin Ports to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With Events Sunday, Monday

Events Include a Free Community Breakfast and a MLK March

DULUTH, Minn. – The Twin Ports community is set to honor and celebrate the legacy of Civil Rights Movement leader, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in a series of tribute events January 19 – 20. The events are being coordinated by the Duluth Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). These events are free and…

Regulators OK Natural Gas Power Plant in Northern Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – State regulators have approved plans for a $700 million power plant in far northwestern Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the state Public Service Commission voted 2-1 on Thursday to approve a permit for Dairyland Power Cooperative to build the plant in Superior. The Nemadji Trail Energy Center will produce 625 megawatts of power using…

Morning Update 1-17-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Friday, January 17, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Brittney Merlot for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, January 17, 2020. Categories: Community, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, brittney merlot, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update

MORE COWBELL, More Calories Burned, More Donations!

ACTIVE ADVENTURES: 11th Annual More Cowbell Fundraiser For Northern Lights Foundation

DULUTH, Minn. — In this weeks Active Adventures Fox 21 competes for the third time in the Annual More Cowbell Event, put on by the Northern Lights Foundation. All proceeds go to helping local kids with serious illnesses. This took place Thursday January 16th, 2020 at Grandma’s Sports Garden in Canal Park. The competitive and fun fundraiser featured 10 teams…

Student Shot During Attack on School Officer to Face Trial

OSHKOSH, Wis. – A Wisconsin teenager shot and wounded during an attack on a school resource officer has been ordered to stand trial. Seventeen-year-old Grant Fuhrman is charged as an adult with attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the Dec. 3 attack at Oshkosh West High School. Resource Officer Mike Wissink was stabbed multiple times with a barbecue fork and fired…

Minnesota Opens Early Voting in March 3 Presidential Primary

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota voters became some of the first in the country to cast ballots in the presidential primaries as polls opened for the state’s Super Tuesday contest. Eligible voters can now vote at county courthouses across the state, and early voting stations in some cities and they can also request absentee ballots for the March 3 primary. But…

Swenson Family donates $1.5 to UWS Research Program

The money was given by the family who brought the concept of the program to UWS in 2012.

DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior has accepted a $1.5 million donation to establish an endowment fund for their Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. The money was given by the Swenson Family who brought the concept of the program to UWS in 2012. The participation has more than doubled since the program started. The endowment ensures there will be permanent…

11th Annual More Cowbell Fundraiser Attracts Hundreds

The event is all about raising money for the Northern Lights Foundation which financially helps Northland families who have children with life-threatening illnesses.

DULUTH, Minn. – Hundreds of people showed up to Grandma’s Sports Garden for the 11th Annual More Cowbell Fundraiser. The event is all about raising money for the Northern Lights Foundation which financially helps Northland families who have children with life-threatening illnesses. Last year they raised about $15,000 and hope to do that again this year. “Tonight you just never…

‘Food for Thought’ Program Raises Money for Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

College officials hope to raise $25,000 for their scholarship program

CLOQUET, Minn. – Tables-full of delicious food help raise scholarship money for Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. More than three-hundred-fifty people attended the annual ‘Food for Thought’ fundraiser. Fifteen local vendors served up some of their best dishes to the crowd. College officials tell us it’s their biggest fundraiser of the year and a great way to show…

St. Luke’s and Duluth YMCA Announce New Physical Therapy Partnership

Physical therapy location now open inside Downtown Duluth YMCA

DULUTH, Minn. – A new partnership has been announced between St. Luke’s Hospital and the Duluth Area Family YMCA. A physical therapy location is now open inside the downtown YMCA branch. St. Luke’s tells us the new partnership will bring nearby physical therapy care to patients in Downtown Duluth. “The convenience of being downtown and then being able to walk…

Viking Cruises Announces Stops in Duluth Starting in 2022

Viking anticipates an additional 9000 visitors a year stopping in Duluth for one day of their eight day itinerary.

DULUTH, Minn. – Viking Cruises announced some of its cruise ships will be stopping in Duluth starting in 2022. Two brand new cruise ships are being built right now called the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris. The ships will cruise the Great Lakes from Thunder Bay to Milwaukee. Viking anticipates an additional 9000 visitors a year stopping in Duluth…

Residents And Business Owners Speak Out About Union Plow Driver Strike

"I think they should just think of people, think of the community more than they do their paychecks," said Pike Lake resident Eric Bergum.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – With more snow in the forecast, the lack of plow drivers out on county roads could mean major impacts for many communities Some business owners and residents, who depend on county roads being cleared, are speaking out. St. Louis County currently has more than 30 replacement drivers ready to go for when the snow comes….

Chief Justice Arrives at Capitol for Impeachment Trial

The Full Trial Will Begin Next Week

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Chief justice of the United States has arrived at the U.S. Senate to preside over President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. He will be swearing in the senators with an oath to ensure “impartial justice” as jurors for only the third such proceeding in U.S. history. Earlier, Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, stood…

The Noble Pour Cocktail Lounge Features Karin’s Cup

Cooking Connection: The Noble Pour Cocktail Lounge

DULUTH, Minn. – Nearly one month after opening date, Noble Pour Cocktail Lounge in the Lincoln Park Craft District joins FOX 21 Local News for this week’s Cooking Connection. While there are no stovetops or ovens involved this week, the handcrafted beverage is shaken, and strong! Karin’s Cup cocktail is crafted with 1.5 oz of Cruz de Fuego Agave, .5…

Women In Construction Bond At Networking Event

DULUTH, Minn. – Dozens of women who work in the construction industry came together for a networking event at Clyde Iron Works in Lincoln Park. The women had the opportunity to participate in speed mentoring, where they were able to connect with other women to get advice on working in the industry. The ladies also got a chance to hear…

Midday Update 1-16-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, January 16, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Brittney Merlot for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, January 16, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, brittney merlot, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update

Learn to Say, “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad!”

Classes Begin Thursday, February 6 at the Duluth Depot

DULUTH, Minn. – If you’ve ever seen a train go by and wonder what it would be like to sit up in the cab, hand on the throttle, or be a conductor welcoming passengers and actually being in charge of the train, then this class is for you. The North Shore Scenic Railroad is again hosting its very popular and…

Parents Sue After Bemidji Students Sexually Exploited

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The parents of two students are suing the Bemidji school district, alleging it was negligent in allowing a former assistant principal to sexually exploit their children. Brandon Bjerknes, who was arrested in 2017, is serving a federal prison sentence for producing child pornography and coercing minors into sexual contact. A lawsuit by the parents of two of…

Former Beargrease Champ Returning to 2020 Race

DULUTH, Minn. – Four-time John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon champion Nathan Schroeder will be returning to the race this year. The announcement was made Thursday morning on the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Facebook page. Schroeder won his 4th Beargrease title in 2016 and has completed the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race four times. He was also named the 2014…

Morning Update 1-16-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, January 16, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Brittney Merlot for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, January 16, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, brittney merlot, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update

PolyMet Will Appeal Permit Ruling to Minnesota Supreme Court

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – PolyMet Mining Inc. will ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that canceled three permits needed for its proposed copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota. PolyMet President and CEO Jon Cherry says Monday’s decision from the Court of Appeals has far-reaching impacts for Minnesota and any future project that depends on state permits. The…

Curlers as Old as 92 Play in Curl Mesabi Senior Curling League

Senior Curlers play for an hour and a half to two hours.

EVELETH, Minn.- On Mondays and Wednesdays at the Curl Mesabi Curling Club, the curlers taking over the ice are more experienced in the game, and in life. Curl Mesabi’s Senior Curling League is made up of 65 curlers. The youngest are 50-55, and the oldest curler sweeping those rocks is 92-years-old. According to organizers, the hour-and-a-half to two-hour sessions are…

New Child Care Planned for Superior Street in Downtown Duluth

The business is expanding from its Proctor location into the Weiland Building on East Superior Street across from the Tech Village building.

DULUTH, Minn. – The challenge to find child care in Duluth is easing up just a bit with a new facility opening in the heart of downtown called Mesabi Preschool Academy. They will serve infants from 6-weeks-old to children 5-years-old. The business is expanding from its Proctor location into the Weiland Building on East Superior Street across from the Tech…

Soo Locks Close for Season Halting Twin Ports Shipping

Officials with the port authority say they are on pace to come close to the 35 million short tons of cargo for the season.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Soo Locks closed for the season on Wednesday marking the official end to the year’s shipping season in the Twin Ports. This year was another busy year for the shipping industry. The ports received a record amount of wind energy at more than 300,000 freight tons. Iron ore was just slightly down from last year’s record…

Duluth’s Third Warming Shelter to Open in Lincoln Park

The new warming shelter will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. starting Thursday night at the Harmony Club.

DULUTH, Minn. – Thursday night will be the first night open for Duluth’s third warming shelter. It is opening in the current Harmony Club which is a daily drop-in center located in the former Lincoln Park Elementary School. It is a big partnership between the city of Duluth, St. Louis County and the CHUM Drop-In Center. Last year was a…

City of Duluth Hires Full-Time Sustainability Officer

Mindy Granley will start serving the city in February

DULUTH, Minn. – Mayor Emily Larson has announced the hiring of Duluth’s first-ever full-time sustainability officer. Mindy Granley will start serving the city next month. She spent the last twelve years as the sustainability director at UMD. Granley tells us she’s excited for the opportunity to make Duluth more sustainable by reducing waste, adding solar resources, and working with partners…

Essentia Health Opens Partial Hospitalization Mental Health Program in Superior

Eight patients can go through the three-week program at once

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Essentia Health has opened a new Partial Hospitalization Program at its Superior hospital for adults with mental health concerns. Eight patients can go through three-week program at once. They are at the facility for six hours a day working through struggles like anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Essentia has offered this program in Duluth for…

Union Plow Drivers Go On Strike; St. Louis County Responds

"We are taking this seriously. We expect them to take it seriously. We want to go back in and do a deal. Let's get this done," said Cory Garden.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – Dozens of union plow drivers posted up outside of more than ten public works locations hoping to get the attention of St. Louis County officials. “It’s heartbreaking because we know the impact this is having on employees. It’s disappointing, we know it has impacts on the citizens,” said St. Louis County Communications Manager Dana Kazel….

Fatal Eveleth House Fire Victim Identified, Neighborhood Mourns

77-year-old Bonnie Mae Phinney was trapped in the house as it burned to the ground.

EVELETH, Minn.- The identity of a 77-year-old woman who died in a house fire in Eveleth Tuesday morning has been released. Several area fire departments responded to a structure fire on North Court, after a woman called saying she was unable to get out. “Me and my wife were talking about when the reports were coming in that her body…

McCollum Proposes Permanent Mining Ban Near Boundary Waters

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Copper-nickel mining would be permanently banned upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness under a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum. The Minnesota Democrat said at a news conference in Washington that the bill would protect over 234,000 acres within the Superior National Forest outside the Boundary Waters from copper-nickel mining. The land includes the…

House Sending Trump Impeachment to Senate, Trial to Follow

WASHINGTON (AP) – The House has voted to send two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate. Delivery is set for a dramatic late-afternoon procession across the U.S. Capitol for only the third such trial in American history. Trump complained anew of a “hoax,” even as new details emerged about his political efforts in Ukraine. The move…

Authorities Identify Victim in Eveleth House Fire

(courtesy: Facebook/Northland FireWire) EVELETH, Minn. – Authorities have released the name of the victim who died in a house fire in Eveleth on Tuesday. The Eveleth Police Department identified the victim as 77-year-old Bonnie Mae Phinney. The fire was reported around 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the 700 Block of North Court. When fire crews arrived on scene the home was…

Soo Locks Closed for Maintenance Until Spring

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The U-S Army Corps of Engineers says the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan are now closed to navigation until March 25th. The Corps uses this downtime for critical maintenance of the lock structures. The last vessel through the locks early Wednesday morning was the Burns Harbor, a thousand footer that is on its…

Midday Update 1-15-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Brittney Merlot for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, January 15, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, brittney merlot, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update

Governor Includes Shoreline Projects in Duluth in Latest Bonding Proposal

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the final bonding packages Wednesday morning in their Local Jobs and Project Plan which includes funds for Duluth’s shoreline projects. The Local jobs and Project Plan includes The Public Safety and Asset Preservation package, an $857 million proposal, includes funding for armories, police stations, fire departments, and…

Northern Lights Foundation to Host 11th Annual More Cowbell Fundraiser

The Energetic More Cowbell Fundraiser is Happening Thursday, January 16 at Grandma's Sports Garden in Canal Park

DULUTH, Minn. – For folks dealing with a strange fever in the Northland, the Northern Lights Foundation has a prescription — More Cowbell! The 11th annual Northern Lights Foundation Fundraiser supports local children facing life-threatening illnesses. The comical event is happening Thursday, January 16 at The Sports Garden in Canal Park. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. with the show…

New Childcare Facility to Open in Downtown Duluth This Spring

The New Facility Plans to Open in May 2020

DULUTH, Minn. – A new childcare facility plans to open this spring in downtown Duluth. According to a recent press release, Mesabi Preschool Academy plans to open a second facility in the Wieland Building located at 26 East Superior Street in May. Mesabi Preschool Academy is currently located in Proctor and provides childcare to 70 children ages two through fifth…

Wisconsin Choice Schools Win Lawsuit Over Virtual Learning

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A judge has ruled that Wisconsin’s education department is illegally treating private choice schools differently to public schools by not allowing them to count online classes toward instructional time. The ruling on Tuesday from Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren is a win for School Choice Wisconsin Action. The group includes private schools in the state’s…

Pelosi Names Schiff, Nadler as Prosecutors for Trump Trial

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced the House prosecutors for the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. They include Democrats Adam Schiff of California and Jerrold Nadler of New York, who led the House impeachment probe. Pelosi made the announcement Wednesday morning, hours before the House was expected to vote to send the articles of impeachment…

Morning Update 1-15-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Brittney Merlot for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, January 15, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, brittney merlot, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update

5 Residents Displaced After Pickup Truck Slams Into Building, Causes Gas Leak

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Police were investigating Tuesday after a pickup truck slammed into a multi-unit residential building and caused a gas leak. The single-vehicle accident happened around 5 p.m. at 4010 E. 2nd Street. The vehicle’s impact severed multiple natural gas meters, according to authorities. Police closed down the area to the public at one point until Superior Water Light…

3 Suspected Opioid-Related Overdoses Of Inmates At Ashland County Jail

ASHLAND, Wis. — The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating three suspected opioid-related overdoses of inmates at the Ashland County Jail. Two inmates experienced symptoms and were hospitalized Jan. 9.  Another inmate was hospitalized on Jan. 11. All three were eventually discharged from the hospital. Officials say the inmates were all housed in the same cell block.  It’s believed a…

Bearboo Coffee Escape and Car Wash Gets New Owners

Previous employee became owner on New Year's Day.

CLOQUET, Minn.- Cloquet’s only combination coffee shop and car wash is seeing new ownership this year. Natalie and Chris Swanson officially owned Bearaboo Coffee Escape and the adjacent car wash as of New Year’s Day. Natalie had been working at the hangout since February, she said customers warned not to change much and she respects that. So people can still…

Public Input Wanted Involving Changes To IDS 709’s School Boundaries

Survey available online through Feb. 3

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth Public Schools is looking for public feedback to possibly re-do boundaries within the district, which could affect where your child attends school in the future. According to district officials, Congdon Elementary and Lester Park Elementary schools are currently over capacity, while Lowell Elementary is on track to be as well because of the addition of its immersion…