News – Latest News

Daughter Of Missing Superior Woman Desperate For Answers

SUPERIOR, Wis.–  There is an urgent and ongoing search for Corrine Johansen, a 40-year-old mother in Superior who went missing nearly a week ago. Johansen’s daughter, Chloe, is leading the search efforts. Over the weekend, family and friends helped search in areas Johansen visits often, like the Superior Dog Park and Wisconsin Point. Corrine and her friend Joanie Matson “I…

MnDOT: Homeless Encampment Fire Caused $1.9M In Damage To I-35 In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — FOX 21 has learned of a nearly $2 million price tag to repair a section of I-35 in Duluth that officials say was caused by a homeless encampment fire. The bridge work is just south of the Heritage Sports Center on I-35, according to MnDOT. The encampment fire happened in September 2024. An inspection found “enough damage…

Intense Flooding Cancels Last Day of Wisconsin State Fair

Flooding through the streets of Milwaukee, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (CBS58 (WDJT) via AP) MILWAUKEE (AP) — Flash flooding canceled the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair on Sunday as continued heavy rainfall in half a dozen Midwest states forced motorists to abandon their vehicles, cut power to thousands of households and closed busy roadways. Organizers of the Wisconsin…

Rapids Are Flowing For Whitewater Rafting in Carlton

CARLTON, Minn. — For 12 years, Swiftwater Adventures in Carlton has been helping people cross an item off their bucket list. “We offer white water rafting trips on two different sections of the St Louis River,” Brian Pfeifer, Co-Owner of Swiftwater Adventures said. After water levels started off low this summer, rain has made for some fun times on the…

Crash Involving Construction Equipment Sends Two to Hospital in Duluth

DULUTH, MN — A crash involving construction equipment sent two people to the hospital Thursday afternoon. According to Duluth Police, it happened around 4:48 p.m. in the 600 North Block of 6th Avenue East. The DPD says a small piece of construction equipment was crossing the avenue when it collided with a northbound vehicle. The slow-moving impact caused the vehicle…

One-Vehicle Rollover In Duluth Construction Area

Submitted DULUTH, Minn. – Firefighters responded to a one-vehicle rollover in Duluth Thursday. The accident happened on 6th Avenue East and 6th Street, which is an area with heavy construction right now. FOX 21 has reached out to the Duluth Police Department to find out a cause and if anybody was injured. Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, Public…

2 People Rescued From Windy Chequamegon Bay

Ashland Fire Dept. ASHLAND, Wis. — Firefighters in Ashland rescued people out on a windy Chequamegon Bay Thursday. Fire officials said wind and a deflating raft got the 13-year-old girl and her grandmother stuck about 400 yards from shore. The winds were so bad that the nearby Solstice Outdoors was not renting kayaks for the day. Firefighters used a resident’s…

New head for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office

Guadalupe Lopez ST. PAUL, Min. – Guadalupe Lopez is the new director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Office. She began July 30. Lopez brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking and the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives to the MMIR Office….

Conviction in ‘massive’ Chicago-to-Duluth fentanyl trafficking scheme

Dugs Sized in Chicago-to-DuluthFentanyl Trafficking Scheme DULUTH, Min. & ST. PAUL, Min. – A federal jury found defendant Carl Maurice Brown 32, guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. Brown was part of what the federal government called a “Massive Chicago-to-Duluth Fentanyl Trafficking Scheme”. The Department of Justice says from December 2021 to…

Accused assassin of Melissa Hortman and her husband pleas not guilty

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The man charged with killing the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, pleaded not guilty Thursday in federal court. Melissa Hortman Vance Boelter, 58, of Green Isle, Minnesota, was indicted July 15 on six counts of murder, stalking and firearms violations. The murder charges could carry…

Duluth Public Schools and Duluth Climate Club Nearing Completion of Solar Panel Instillation

DULTUH, Minn. — Four years after lobbying with politicians for the ability to make a difference, Duluth area students have finally gotten their wish. Very soon, a brand-new solar panel field will line the roof of the Duluth Public Schools District Office, completing a major project that some students have worked on for their entire high school tenure. “I’ve been…

Coffee Conversation: Minnesota Author Bree Bacon Tackles Burnout in New Book

DULUTH, Minn. — This morning, Minnesota author Bree Bacon joined the Fox 21 morning show to share insights from her powerful new book, Your Elite Energy: A Blueprint to Break Free from Burnout and Restore Your Vitality. Drawing from personal experience, balancing a high-pressure career, motherhood, and a battle with stage-three breast cancer—Bacon delivers a practical blueprint to help readers…

Third Annual Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance Shop and Social at Maurices

DULUTH, Minn. – Ovarian cancer survivors and their loved ones were treated to a shopping spree at no cost in Maurice’s sample room in downtown Duluth as part of their 3RD annual shop and social. Kristine Greer, a survivor of ovarian cancer and board member with the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, says it’s all about connecting with others who have faced…

City of Superior Now Operating Local Museums

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Today, it was announced that the employees at the Fairlawn Mansion, S.S. Meteor, and Police and Fire museums are now considered city staff. This transition is something that has been in the works for a while. “It’s been a long discussion, but ultimately, we’ve been evaluating our relationships with all outside organizations. What we found is everything works…

Grit & Gratitude: 5th Annual Bike Race for Pediatric Cancer Research

TWO HARBORS, Minn.– Coming up on August 17th, a bike race for a very important cause will be taking place at Two Harbors. ‘Grit & Gratitude’ is a bike race that raises money for pediatric cancer research. The event was inspired by the organizer’s daughter Lily, who fought with stage four liver cancer. After overcoming this hardship, the family decided…

Haley Hedstrom Announced as Visit Duluth’s New Executive Director

Haley Hedstrom DULUTH, Minn. — Visit Duluth has announced their new Executive Director. Haley Hedstrom, Executive Director for the Lake Superior Zoo, has been chosen to lead the tourism organization. Her achievements at the zoo demonstrated her strong dedication to Duluths tourism and economy. She will lead the effort to grow tourism while overseeing the strategy, culture, and operations of…

Septic system tank manufacturer fined $75K for potential sealing issue

WRENSHALL, Minn. — A Wrenshall Septic Tank manufacturer has been fined for septic tanks that may contain weep holes. The Minnesota Pollution Control agency fined Del Zotto Products $75,000 for the issue. Weep holes were drilled near the bottom of tanks to drain rainwater from the tanks while they are stored. While the holes were sealed before installation, it was…

Essentia Health Foundation Hosts 24th Annual Legacy of Hope Golf Classic

DULUTH, Minn. — The Essentia Health Foundation hosted the 24th annual Legacy of Hope Golf Classic on Monday. The 18-hole scramble saw golfers at Northland Country Club teeing off for a good cause. The proceeds raised by the event go towards local health care programs and supports Essentia Health patients and their families The funds also help provide state of…

70 Duluth Locations Participate in National Night Out

DULUTH, Minn. – Communities across the Northland celebrated National Night Out to help strengthen relationships between law enforcement officers and people of all ages. “Community partnerships is super important, you know, and a lot of times people are calling they need help for something bad happening, whereas this gives us opportunity to come out and meet people, make those connections in a…

St. Louis County Expands Public Land Ownership

DULUTH, Minn. — More of Northern Minnesota’s forests are now protected and publicly owned. Map of New Forest Land Managed by St. Louis County St. Louis County has acquired over 4 and a half thousand acres of timberlands. Originally owned by a timber company, The Conservation Fund purchased the forests to be incorporated into public land. The county will manage…

The Nature Conservancy Plants 2.5 Million Trees in Minnesota in 2025

DULUTH, Minn. — 2.5 million seedlings were planted across six counties, including Cook, Lake, Saint Louis, Itasca, Cass and Carlton County. A TNC employee plants a tree in the area affected by wildfire. © Derek Montgomery It’s the second year they’ve planted more than 2 million seedlings and a record number for the organization. Over 5,000 of those trees were…

Coffee Conversation: Family Freedom Center Fundraiser, Empowered by Zenith City Radio

DULUTH, Minn. — The Family Freedom Center is set to host its fundraiser, It Takes a Village, on Wednesday, August 13th, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the historic Greysolon Ballroom. This year’s event is proudly presented in partnership with Zenith City Radio. Victor Martinez, CEO of Zenith City Radio, appeared on FOX 21 Tuesday morning to share details…

New Trail Center Underway

SILVER BAY, Minn- The Silver Bay multi-modal trailhead center had their ground breaking Monday, August 4, 2025. The recreational center will allow people to park large vehicles like RVs and trailers in its parking lot. It will also come with a coin operated showers. Most importantly, Minnesotans can enjoy the outdoors safely. Trails will be provided for activities like hiking,…

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Advises Families to Vaccinate Ahead of School Year

WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services released the vaccination data report from the previous school year The data shows 86.4% of students in Wisconsin met the minimum immunization requirements, which is below the national public health standard of 95%. DHS says a majority of Wisconsin families are getting their children vaccinated, but this level is not quite where…

Police Investigator suing City of Superior has also filed union grievance

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Investigator suing the Superior Police Department in Federal Court, Mikayla LeRette, has also filed a union grievance. It was filed by Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA) Local #27 Grievance and Discipline Committee. The filing was submitted on June 30, 2025. That was about five months after her federal lawsuit was filed. The grievance was submitted to Chief…

Park Point Forestry Project Begins

DULUTH, Minn.– Starting today, you may begin to notice a lot of noise and commotion over at park point. That’s because a new project aiming at preserving and landscaping park point has just started. The goal is to remove invasive species, trim down overpopulating trees, and eventually fill in space with white pine seeds. “There’s a strip running from the…

Xcel Energy Announces Ashland-Ironwood Transmission Rebuild Project

ASHLAND, Wisc. — Xcel Energy announced the start of construction on the Ashland-Ironwood Transmission Rebuild Project Over the course of a few years’ crews will be rebuilding two power transmission lines previously built in the 50’s and 70’s. The project will improve reliability and long-term growth across northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The three main phases will be prepping…

Juvenile in Custody After Pursuit

COOK, Minn. — A 17-year-old male is in custody after a pursuit in Cook Aug. 2nd. Around 7:45am, deputies received reports of a man passed out in a driver’s seat of a parked car. The juvenile woke up and sped off when Cook ambulance arrived on the scene. A pursuit took place but the male did eventually stop on his…

National Night Out to Take Place Tuesday, August 5

DULUTH, Minn. — Communities across the nation, including here in the Northland, are gearing for National Night Out. National Night Out is an annual event where communities host block parties and other gatherings to connect with local law enforcement and their neighbors. The mission of the campaign is to promote strong police-community partnerships. Across the Twin Ports, dozens of residents…

Carl Crawford Appointed to Governers Council on MLK Jr. Holiday

Carl Crawford DULUTH, Minn. — A former Human Rights Officer for Duluth has been appointed to the Governor’s Council on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. Governer Walz appointed Carl Crawford on Aug. 1st. Crawford currently serves as the Senior Accessibility & Engagement Coordinator for St. Louis County. The Council on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday helps plan celebrations…

Coffee Conversation: St. Joseph’s Church Neighborhood Night Out

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Joseph’s Church is gearing up for its 2nd annual Neighborhood Night Out, happening Tuesday, August 5th, from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Gloria Brunette and Father John Petrich from St. Joseph’s Church joined Fox 21 live on the Monday morning newscast to share more about the event. The event will feature free food, live music, a bounce…

Popular 1980s actor Loni Anderson of the hit TV series ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ has died

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday. Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan. “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,”…

Whoopsa Daisy Kicks off 5TH Annual Weekend Opening

DULUTH, Minn. – The Whoopsa Daisy Farm held its 5th annual weekend opening. The family-friendly farm welcomed visitors throughout the weekend, offering a wide variety of outdoor activities. The farm activities include an obstacle course, exploring fairy land and dino land, feeding donkeys, goats, and chickens, a corn pit for playing, and a 14-foot mushroom you can walk into. “We’re…

Duluth Coast Guard Station Celebrates 235th ‘Coast Guard Day’

DULUTH, Minn.– Friday afternoon on the Duluth harbor of Park Point, laughs, and yells can be heard across the bay. Because today, the Coast guard Station has something big to celebrate. “We’re celebrating the 235th year of the Coast Guard’s founding. So, we were found in 1790 this is just a day to celebrate that. So, we get all the…

Entire state of Minnesota has Unhealthy Air Alert until midday Monday

Air Quality Alert 08/01/2025 DULUTH, Min. – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has extended an air quality alert for all of Minnesota through noon Monday, August 4, 2025. Surface high pressure will camp out over the region through Friday evening and will result in light winds and poor dispersion. Smoke with widespread red/unhealthy air quality index (AQI) concentrations will likely…

From DWI to Service Dogs: New laws go into effect in Minnesota

Great Seal Of The State Of Minnesota DULUTH, Minn. – Many new laws are going into effect in Minnesota on August 1, 2025. Housing protections for service dog trainers: Minnesotans who train service dogs will now receive the same housing rights as people who rely on trained service animals. This means homeowners associations and landlords are not allowed to deny…

House fire in Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A fire broke out in the Village of Superior the night of July 31, 2025 around 11pm. It was a two-story residential building at 6614 John Ave. The building had heavy fire conditions on the 1st and 2nd floors when crews arrived. The Superior Fire Department crews say they found the lone occupant of the residence in the…

Maria Vollom Jumps From Plane to Explore Psychology of Skydiving

DULUTH, Minn. — From skydiving to mountain climbing, extreme sports continue to attract thrill-seekers. To understand why, Fox 21’s Maria Vollom joined them—jumping from 12,500 feet with Skydive Duluth. A local psychotherapist, Makena Easker of Arrowhead Psychological Clinic, joined Maria live on the morning show to explore the psychology behind fear and thrill. Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News

40 Years Later, Leif Erickson Viking Ship To Become Housed Exhibit In Knife River

KNIFE RIVER, Minn. — The day has finally arrived — 40 years in the making.  The Leif Erickson Viking Ship is fully restored, has a permanent home and will soon be fully protected from the weather with a roof and public exhibit. “One-of-a-kind ship. This is an antique that’s been restored,” said Neill Atkins, chair of the Leif Erickson Restoration…

Authority Elite Launches First Non-Profit Cheer Program

DULUTH, Minn. – A first-of-its-kind non-profit all-star cheerleading organization opened its doors last month over on West Third St. Authority Elite offers a variety of affordable youth cheer classes, including competitive and non-competitive teams, as well as skill classes. Their program prioritizes removing financial barriers, giving young athletes the chance to be part of a team while building confidence and…

Local Swimmer to Compete at World Aquatics Championship for Fifth Time

DULUTH, Minn. – Local competitive swimmer Amy Flessert has qualified for the upcoming world aquatics masters swimming championship. Flessert qualified for the 2025 Worlds swimming competition after meeting the time standard at Long Course Nationals in Mission Viejo, Calif., last year. Throughout her 34 years of competitive swimming, this will be her fifth time competing at Worlds, which will he…