News – Latest News

Proctor man Arrested on Felony Drug Charges

Charges stem from a November investigation.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Saint Louis County Attorney’s Office has formally charged via summons 24-year-old Erik Lee Huberty with Felony Theft and Felony Fifth Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance today. The charges stem from a November 2017 joint investigation by the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Duluth Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration when…

Superior Elks Donation to Benefit Hundreds of Children

Superior Elks #403 Recently Donated $1,000 to Two Accounts After Receiving a Grant from the Elks National Foundation

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – The Superior Elks #403 was recently awarded two grants in the amount of $1,000 each from the Elks National Foundation. Grants Coordinator Cris Crum says one of the $1,000 checks will be awarded to the Now Account. This fund provides food for kids who can’t afford lunches. The other check will be donated to the Angel Fund,…

Treating Pain Without Opioids

A program in Colorado is testing new strategies for dealing with chronic pain without the heavy use of opioids.

The opioid crisis is causing concern around the country and several doctors are looking at ways to fight it. A program in Colorado is testing new strategies for dealing with chronic pain without the heavy use of opioids. Barkin says, “It was a huge reduction, and you know it was a comprehensive effort.” Researchers hoped to see a fifteen percent…

E-cig Flavors may Pose the Greatest Dangers

The flavorings in e-cigarettes may be the most toxic part of the vapor.

Researchers tested about 150 commercially available e-liquids finding 143 unique chemical compounds among them. Study authors say this shows these liquids are very diverse and because they are so varied they are very hard to study as a group. Investigators developed a system to test the liquid’s toxicity by exposing lab-grown human cells to the chemicals. The more toxic a…

Some Aetna Customers Will see Lower Prices

The company believes rebates should be passed along to consumers.

Some customers whose prescription medicines are covered by Aetna could get a break at the drug store next year. Aetna says, starting the first of the year it will pass along to consumers the rebates it receives from drug manufacturers. Aetna’s CEO says the company believes its customers should benefit from those discounts and rebates. The move will likely affect…

Gov. Dayton Requesting Funds To Repair State Parks

Activities such as parks and trails, timber sales, mining, fishing and hunting are managed by the DNR and contribute about $30 billion to Minnesota's economy.

CARLTON, Minn. – Minnesota has more than 60 state parks. Many needing serious repairs when it comes water and wastewater systems, roads and trails. That’s why Gov. Dayton wants the legislature to grant $130 million in funding to make park repairs across the state. If you’ve visited Jay Cooke State Park in the last few months then you may have…

Bill to Allow Pipeline Construction Advances

Pipeline progress

DULUTH, Minn. – The years-long debate on whether to replace Enbridge Energy’s line 3 oil pipeline across northern Minnesota could be coming to an end a little sooner than expected. The state has been reviewing this controversial project since 2015 with the public utilities commission expected to make its final decision this summer on whether to allow the replacement. But…

Thousands of Easter Lilies Ordered in the Northland

It's not too late to stop in and grab your Easter Lilies.

DULUTH, Minn.- Easter is quickly approaching and one flower has become a staple for the holiday. Easter Lillies are already sold out in some shops around Duluth. Engwall Florist stock ups eight weeks in advance and expects to sell out every year. The lilies are used to welcome family and for church decorations. “It is a little different than most flowers that…

Duluth’s Many Rivers Montessori School Breaks Ground On New Building

The Many Rivers Montessori School will move from a rental property to a 41,000 square foot new home.

DULUTH, Minn. – Some Northland students will soon be attending classes in a new place. The Many Rivers Montessori School in Duluth’s Woodland neighborhood is moving to a new building this fall. School faculty and staff, students and city officials were all on hand for the groundbreaking. Parts of the former Cobb Elementary School will be renovated and the front…

Trump Floats Using Military Budget to pay for Border Wall

Departments have limited authority to reprogram funds without congressional approval.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is floating the idea of using the military’s budget to pay for his long-promised border wall with Mexico. Trump raised the idea with House Speaker Paul Ryan at a meeting last week, according to a person familiar with the discussion who spoke on condition of anonymity. And he’s tweeted that building “a…

Six Injured in Fight at Rochester Party

Five people were stabbed and one critically beaten.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) – Police say five people were stabbed and a sixth person was critically beaten after a knife fight erupted at a party in Rochester. Officers were called to an apartment building about 12:20 a.m. Tuesday after four men showed up who weren’t wanted at the party. That’s when the fight broke out and someone was armed with…

Minnesota Demographer Thinks Citizenship Question Will Hurt Census Accuracy

Brower says even legal immigrants are concerned about giving the government more information.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota’s state demographer says adding a question about citizenship status to the 2020 U.S. Census will make the count less accurate. Susan Brower said Tuesday research shows fear about the population count taken every 10 years keeps people from responding, and those fears are often highest among immigrants. Minnesota has seen waves of Somali and Hmong immigrants…

Trump to end Deportation Protection for Liberians

Liberians have been eligible for Deferred Enforcement Departure since 1999.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is ending a program that allows citizens of Liberia living in the U.S. to avoid deportation. But it’s allowing a one-year “wind-down” period to ease their return. Liberians have been eligible for Deferred Enforcement Departure since 1999. The program allows them to live and work in the U.S. A memorandum issued by…

Minnesota Farmers Endured Fifth Straight Year of Thin Profits

Extension economist Dale Nordquist says dairy farmers faced some of the toughest challenges.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A new report says bumper crops and occasional upticks in prices weren’t enough to save most Minnesota farmers from a fifth straight year of thin profits in 2017. The annual analysis from University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota State colleges and universities system finds that nearly one-third of Minnesota farmers saw their net worth decrease in…

Three Boys in Mississippi Find Part of Mastodon Jawbone

Curator George Phillips confirmed it was a lower left jawbone from a mastodon.

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) – Three boys have found a part of a mastodon jawbone while exploring family property in Mississippi. The Vicksburg Post reports that two brothers and a cousin made the discovery on plowed land near Bovina, a small community east of the Mississippi River. The newspaper says the three were on spring break from school when they found…

Yucky Ducky? Study Reveals Bath-Time Toy’s Dirty Secret

It’s billed as one of the first in-depth scientific examinations of its kind.

( AP Photo/Ferdinand Ostrop)BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Scientists now have the dirt on the rubber ducky: Those cute yellow bath-time toys are — as some parents have long suspected — a haven for nasty bugs. Swiss and American researchers counted the microbes swimming inside the toys and say the murky liquid released when ducks were squeezed contained “potentially pathogenic bacteria”…

Governor Dayton’s Budget to Protect Pre-Kindergarten Programs

Governor Dayton’s budget would protect pre-kindergarten programs from being eliminated.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – This morning Gov. Mark Dayton held a news conference calling on the Minnesota Legislature to protect pre-kindergarten programs for students across the state. Governor Dayton has proposed permanent pre-kindergarten programs funding in his Budget for a Better Minnesota proposal. “Voluntary pre-kindergarten programs have given more than 6,100 Minnesota four-year-old’s the high-quality early learning opportunities they need…

Two Harbors Church is Home to Oldest Congregation in City

Northland Uncovered: United Church of Two Harbors

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – The community at church often becomes family for those in the congregation. One church up the North Shore has had that feeling for over 110 years. Don Lindahl is a life-long Two Harbors resident and he’s passionate about the history of the United Church of Two Harbors because it represents important moments in his life. “When…

Two Officers in Black Man’s Fatal Shooting Won’t be Charged

Landry says Sterling had drugs in his system.

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana’s attorney general has ruled out criminal charges against two white Baton Rouge police officers in the fatal shooting of a black man whose death fueled widespread protests. Attorney General Jeff Landry’s announcement Tuesday comes nearly 11 months after the Justice Department ruled out federal criminal charges in Alton Sterling’s July 2016…

Fatal Accident in Iron County

Authorities continue to investigate the crash.

IRON COUNTY, Wis. – A fatal accident occurred this morning on US Hwy 2 in Iron County. At this time a portion of US 2 is closed and authorities are unsure when it will reopen. The Iron County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate the incident. According to authorities there is no other information known at this time. The Iron…

Spring Cleaning is Necessary for Electronics, Too

Verizon Wireless Electronic Spring Cleaning

DULUTH, Minn. – Spring has arrived and you might be starting to clean up your house as the weather begins to warm up, but what about your electronic devices? Many of those gadgets need cleaning up, too. This time of year it helps to clear your phone’s storage by deleting apps or transferring pictures to another device. Experts say it’s…

How Facebook was Able to Siphon off Phone Call and Text Logs

Until recently Google let app developers gain access to a phone’s call and text logs.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) The news that Facebook’s Android app has been collecting call and text histories is yet another black eye for the social media giant. But just why was Facebook able to siphon off records of who its users were contacting — and when — in the first place? The short answer: Because Google let it. The longer…

Today: Officials Discuss State Park Funding

DNR officials will detail critical repairs.

DULUTH, Minn. – Today DNR officials will be busy giving a tour at Jay Cooke State Park with the hope of local lawmakers in St. Paul listening in. The DNR is set to detail critical repairs needed to various state parks, building, roads, and trails. The DNR Commissioner, DNR Capital Investment Director, and Department of Administration Commissioner will be on…

Prince Toxicology Report Shows Very High Drug Level

Prince was 57 when he was found alone and unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate.

(AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)CHANHASSEN, Minn. (AP) – A toxicology report shows Prince had exceedingly high concentrations of fentanyl in his body when he died. Prince was 57 when he died of an accidental overdose on April 21, 2016. A fentanyl overdose was listed as the cause. A confidential toxicology report obtained Monday by The Associated Press shows the concentration of…

Michigan State Dean Accused of Storing Nude Photos

He is due to be arraigned in the afternoon.

(Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP, File) EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) – A Michigan State University official who oversaw a clinic where former sports doctor Larry Nassar worked is facing criminal charges for allegedly inappropriately touching a student and storing nude photos of female students on his work computer. William Strampel, who was dean of the College of Osteopathic…

Court Documents say Boyfriend Admitted Firing Fatal Shot

The boyfriend has only been charged with drug possession at this time.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Court documents say the boyfriend of a pregnant teenager admitted to fatally shooting her in St. Paul, but said it was an accident. Luis Chacon-Villeda has not been charged in the death of 18-year-old Eileen Viveros-Varga on March 9. The St. Paul Pioneer Press says one of the search warrants filed in Ramsey County District…

Study: Kids With Autism Less Likely to be Fully Vaccinated

The study was published Monday in the journal, Jama Pediatrics.

According to a new study children with autism spectrum disorder are significantly less likely to be fully vaccinated than children unaffected by autism. The study was published Monday in the journal, Jama Pediatrics. It found that 80 percent of children with autism received all vaccines recommended for kids ages four to six versus 94 percent for children without autism. The…

New Affordable Housing Development Planned For Lincoln Park

DULUTH, Minn. — Plans are moving forward for a new affordable housing complex in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The location is at 10 Piedmont Avenue, which is where West Superior Street and Garfield Avenue connect. The 51-unit, one-bedroom residential building called “Garfield Square” will include 40 Section 8 rental units, according to Rick Klun, executive director of Center City Housing….

Knowing Your Neighbors: Carlton County’s Only Brewery

The Plans for Moose Lake Brewing Co. Started Back in 2015, Now the Brewery is Located at 244 Lakeshore Drive

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – The City of Moose Lake is now home to the first microbrewery in Carlton County. What started as a wild idea back in the summer of 2015 is now a reality for a group of investors and brewers. So far, customers say the choices on tap have been top notch. “My favorite beer that we brew…

‘Fences’ to Star First All-African American Cast on Northland Stage

Lake Superior Community Theatre to Perform Play in Duluth, Two Harbors, and Silver Bay

DULUTH, Minn. – A play opening tomorrow in Duluth stars the region’s first all-African American cast. August Wilson’s ‘Fences’ tells the story of an African-American family in Pittsburgh in the late 1950s. Lake Superior Community Theatre Director Paul Deaner was inspired by the movie version that came out in 2016 and thought the time was now to bring the language…

Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance Debate Continues

Business Leaders Share Opinions and Counselors Consider Amendments

DULUTH, Minn. – Discussion continues about the proposed Duluth earned sick and safe time ordinance that would mandate businesses to provide earned time off to employees. After hearing people speak for about two hours, the Duluth City Council discussed possible amendments to the ordinance. One amendment included rollover of safe and sick time from one calendar year to another, how…

Kindergarten Round-Up Underway for the Class of 2031

Lowell Elementary School is welcoming the future kindergartners to sign-up for the Fall.

DULUTH, Minn.- Although many parents are having spring break and summer thoughts, it’s time to enroll little Northlanders for Kindergarten. Lowell Elementary School is welcoming the future 2031 graduates, to sign–up for the fall. Parents can browse from offered programs including Spanish and Ojibwa Immersion. “This is a great opportunity for families to come in and learn about things that…

Big Changes in the Works for “Can of Worms” Interchange

Looking to replace aging infrastructure and do away with blind merge areas

DULUTH, Minn – Big changes are being planned for the interstate 35 interchange in West Duluth known as the “can of worms.”  One goal is to  replace aging infrastructure with bridges that can support oversize loads. Another goal is getting rid of blind merge areas. A meeting held on Monday allowed Lincoln Park residents to see potential plans and voice…

Councilor Jay Fosle Addresses Controversial Statements

DULUTH, Minn. –  Duluth city councilor Jay Fosle read a prepared statement during Monday night’s city council meeting in response to those who felt offended by comments he made toward a woman who was speaking at the podium in support of Earned Sick and Safe Time.  The woman talked about how her miscarriage from 31 years ago — at the…

New Plans Prompts Discussions to Tighten School Safety in Superior

Governor Scott Walker signed a $100 million plan to tighten school security.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Monday in Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed a $100 million plan to tighten school security, which asks the questions if this affects local schools. Security update discussions began before it passed legislation. Officials say the district may add an automatic door locking system to all schools. They’re reviewing outside cameras and might add more communication devices. Superior Superintendent Janna…

Progress in Northern Lights Express Project

The proposed high-speed train will connect the Twin Ports and Minneapolis.

DULUTH, Minn.- A high speed train connecting the Twin Ports has been under the works for nearly a decade, on Monday officials announced the Northern Lights Express project is moving along. Officials say the window of opportunity for the Northern Lights Express is finally open.  The half billion dollar train has been cleared to seek government funding. The next steps…

Update: Stormy Daniels now Suing Trump’s Attorney

Stormy Daniels is now suing Michael Cohen for defamation.

(CBS News/60 Minutes via AP)WASHINGTON (AP) – Adult film star Stormy Daniels is now suing President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen for defamation. The new allegation is part of a revised complaint filed Monday by Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti. It comes a day after a ratings-grabbing “60 Minutes” interview in which Daniels said she’d had sex with Trump years…

Pilot in NYC Helicopter Crash Blames Passenger Restraint Harness

The pilot, who was not wearing a harness, escaped with only minor injuries.

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)NEW YORK (AP) — The pilot of a helicopter that crashed into New York City’s East River told federal investigators that he believed the aircraft’s fuel was cut off when a passenger’s restraint tether tangled with an emergency fuel cutoff switch, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report on the crash released Monday. The…

Level Three Offender Relocating to Cherry Township

An information community meeting will be held on Thursday.

IRON, Minn. – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is notifying the public that a level three sex offender has relocated to the Cherry Township area. Registered predatory offender Robert Alan Keogh, 43, moved to Fraser Road in rural Iron this week. Keogh has a history of sexual conduct and contact with adolescent female victims (age 15). The Sheriff’s Office…

Polymet Restructures Glencore Debt

Polymet restructures debt with Glencore AG.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Polymet announced today that it has secured a 12 month payment extension and lowered interest rates on its approximately $152 million of debt owed to Glencore AG. Glencore also committed to an additional $80 million debenture to Polymet over the next 12 month’s “to complete pre- and post-permitting work, including detailed engineering and environmental cleanup, and…

Dow Surges 669, Clawing Back Lost Ground

Investors were encouraged by signs Washington and Beijing are open to negotiating on trade.

(AP Photo/Richard Drew)NEW YORK (AP) – The Dow Jones industrial average surged nearly 670 points, erasing nearly half the ground it lost last week and marking the biggest gain since August 2015. The broad gains Monday were led by technology stocks and banks, which took some of the biggest losses last week as trade tensions flared between the U.S. and…

Minnesota Bill Would Slow Efforts to Grow Muskie Population

There will be a public hearing on the bill Monday.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A group of Minnesota lawmakers are proposing a bill that would slow a year’s long state effort to expand muskie stocking. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that the bill would put a moratorium on the Department of Natural Resources’ fish stocking plans to slowly increase the number of lakes where muskies are stocked. It…

Senate OKs Pension Boost, Ratifies Public Worker Contracts

But it's unclear if and when the House will follow suit.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Senate has signed off on raises for the state’s 30,000 public employees and voted to plug a budget shortfall in state pension plans. Underfunded pensions and state employee contracts have been controversial at the Capitol for years. Republicans on a legislative panel last fall rejected new contracts with a 2 percent raise for…

FTC, States Increase Pressure on Facebook on Privacy

Facebook’s stock, which already took a big hit last week, plunged further on Monday.

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. regulators and state attorneys general are increasing pressure on Facebook as they probe whether the company’s data-collection practices have hurt the people who use its services. Facebook’s stock, which already took a big hit last week, plunged further Monday after the Federal Trade Commission confirmed news reports that it was investigating. Separately,…

Grandson Charged With Killing Paynesville Couple

Scheel was arrested after the bodies were discovered when he was spotted walking in the area.

(Courtesy of KMSP)PAYNESVILLE, Minn. (AP) – A Paynesville man has been charged with killing his grandparents who had taken him into their home. A criminal complaint filed Monday charges 33-year-old Gregory Scheel with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of 93-year-old Wilbert Scheel and 80-year-old Gloria Scheel. Their bodies were found in their car along a rural road…

Walker Signs School Safety Legislation

The governor signed the $100 million measure at a Kaukauna elementary school Monday morning.

KAUKAUNA, Wis. (AP) – Gov. Scott Walker has signed a school safety bill that would provide money to help district make building improvements, but places no limits on guns. The governor signed the $100 million measure at a Kaukauna elementary school Monday morning. The legislation comes at a time when young people have stood up, marched and urged politicians to…

Lawyer for Trump Attorney Says Daniels Lied

Trump has denied an affair

(CBS News/60 Minutes via AP)WASHINGTON (AP) – A lawyer for Michael Cohen, a Trump attorney who has said he paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels as part of a nondisclosure agreement, says Daniels lied in her “60 Minutes” interview about having an affair with Donald Trump in 2006. “The lying is all over that piece,” says David Schwarz, Cohen’s lawyer, on…

Body Found at Golden Eagle Lodge

An autopsy is being performed to determine cause of death.

COOK COUNTY, Minn. – The Cook County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from the Golden Eagle Lodge on Flour Lake Sunday evening. According to authorities a male was found deceased after workers noticed a water meter running for an extended period of time. The male was identified as 49-year-old Ken Merkey of Minneapolis. Merkey was a guest of the…

Monday’s Council Meeting Includes ESST

The proposed ordinance is in its second reading tonight.

DULUTH, Minn. – The controversial Earned Sick and Safe Time proposal is back in front of Duluth City Councilors tonight. Earned Sick and Safe Time has been a controversial issue in town with local businesses speaking out. Local restaurants are in opposition saying the proposal could lead to cutting down business hours or staff. Supporters say workers shouldn’t have to…