News – Latest News

New Superior Brewery to Open in Superior

Brought Forward by Fitger's Co-Founder

SUPERIOR, Wis.-A new Superior brewery will be rolling out the kegs this summer. Earth Rider Brewery in Superior is a start-up from Fitger’s co-founder Tim Nelson. It will be located at 1617 N. Third St. in the Leamon Mercantile Company Complex. There taproom will be at Nelson’s Cedar Lounge across the street. “We’re excited to bring back a production brewery…

2017 Two Harbors Winter Frolic Begins

Events will be Happening Friday and Saturday in the North Shore Community

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – Starting Friday, one community along the North Shore will be celebrating the winter season as temperatures begin to climb. Hundreds are expected to take part in the annual Two Harbors Winter Frolic. The two-day event kicks off Friday evening with a chili cook-off challenge and a community curling challenge. Sliding, skating, and snow sculptures are also…

New Officer Sworn in for Superior Police

Fullfilling a Lifelong Dream

SUPERIOR, Wis.-The Superior Police Department swore in a new officer today. Megan Myer of Berlin, Wis.will begin her field training on Monday fulfilling a life long dream. “I’ve always been drawn to law enforcement,” she said. “I’ve always thought as very interesting. I decided to major in it at UWS and heard a lot of great things. I decided this…

Madeline Island Ferry to be Open All of Winter

It's a Rare Occurance That the Ferry Stays Open All Year

BAYFIELD, Wis.- The Madeline Island Ferry Line will stay opened for the winter. With the open waters of Lake Superior still visible from the marina, it’s the second year in a row that the ferry will be traveling between Bayfield and Madeline island all winter long. Shannon Mager who has been working at the Ferry Line for over a decade, says…

Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose Ending Daylight Savings

MADISON (AP) – Republican lawmakers are looking to make the summer sun set earlier. Representatives Samantha Kerkman and Michael Schraa introduced a bill Friday, that would eliminate daylight saving time in Wisconsin. The move would mean state residents would no longer have to move their clocks ahead an hour in the spring. That would mean the sun would appear to…

Drunk Driver Attempts to Flee Deputy by Driving Across Green Lake

Fled with his children inside the vehicle

CHISAGO CITY, Minn. (KMSP – Fox 9) – Chisago County sheriff’s deputies arrested a drunk driver who got into his car with his children inside and attempted to flee authorities by driving across Green Lake in Chisago City, Minnesota Thursday afternoon. A deputy doing routine patrol on the lake was alerted to the drunk driver after concerned citizens called to…

Border Agents Seize Nearly 4,000 Pounds of Marijuana Hidden in Fake Key Limes

FOX NEWS – Authorities in Texas last month recovered about 4,000 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a shipment of fake key limes near the U.S.-Mexico Border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials found the drugs in a commercial shipment on January 30 at the Pharr International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas, the Dallas Morning News reported. Drug sniffing dogs and imaging…

Wisconsin’s Deer Overpopulation Harms Soil, Plant Growth

MADISON (AP) – New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests an overpopulation of deer is having a long-term impact on the state’s forests. Wisconsin Public Radio reports that biologists have known for a long time that an overabundance of deer negatively affects the number and diversity of plants in our forests, but a new study headed by Autumn Sabo,…

17-Year-Old Gets Probation in Hibbing Murder Case

Will be on Probation Until She's 21

HIBBING, Minn.-A 17-year-old Hibbing resident has been placed on probation Thursday for her involvement in an Iron Range murder. Julianna Sala had previously admitted that she lied several times to the police about her involvement in the murder of 20-year-old Jaysen Greenwood. She has also confessed that she went with the murder to dispose of the body in an abandoned…

Deer River Man Charged with Assault and Malicious Punishment of a Child

ITASCA COUNTY, Minn. – A criminal complaint was filed in Itasca County District Court, charging 28-year-old Corey Michael Cloud, of Deer River, Minnesota, with one count of felony Assault in the First Degree and one count of felony Malicious Punishment of a Child – Great Bodily Harm, according to Itasca County Attorney John J. Muhar. Corey Cloud, Itasca County Jail These…

Minnesota Man Fatally Shot Hunting Coyotes in North Dakota

EDGELEY, N.D. (AP) – A Minnesota man has died in an accidental shooting while hunting coyotes in North Dakota. LaMoure County Sheriff Bob Fernandes says 57-year-old Ron Rechtzigel of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, was hunting near Edgeley when he died Tuesday. Fernandes says Rechtzigel was hunting coyotes with two other men in a field. The sheriff says the weather was poor,…

Active Adventures: Winter Bike to Work Day

Dozens of Duluthians Rode Their Bikes to Work Friday, Celebrating Winter Bike to Work Day

DULUTH, Minn. – Friday morning, more than 30 Northlanders grabbed their bikes and headed to the Duluth Rose Garden to celebrate International Winter Bike to Work Day. The day is observed across the globe and aims to normalize winter biking. Cyclists gathered at the Rose Garden around 7:30, and rode via Superior Street to the Minnesota Power Plaza. Event organizers from…

Special Report: The Canadian Connection | Part Two

FOX 21's Brett Scott Speaks with Local Tourism Officials and Business Owners on Canadian Cash Flow in the Northland

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – Nearly fourteen million Canadians call the Province of Ontario home. Located directly north of Minnesota, thousands of our northern neighbors travel south each year. “A lot of them are on their way to Mall of America, and we are one of their major stops,” said Anna Klobuchar with Visit Cook County. Many miles separate the Canadian…

Zoo Receives Donation Toward Animal Dental Health

The Lake Superior Zoo Started Dental Work Thursday, After Receiving a $9,500 Donation from the Make Me Smile Program

DULUTH, Minn. – A recent donation toward animal dental health was put to use for the first time Thursday at Duluth’s Lake Superior Zoo. A $9,500 dollar grant was recently given to the Zoo, from the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry’s Make Me Smile Program. In 2012, flood waters washed through the Zoo causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage. Included,…

Neighbors Lend a Hand in Time of Need

Family Who Lost Their Home Welcomed by Neighborhood

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Rhonda Manthey was coming home from dinner when she saw fire trucks in her neighborhood. “There was smoke coming out and I couldn’t determine who’s house it was,” said Manthey.  “I came right around and it’s Bob’s house.  Oh my gosh.” Bob is Bob Moniasque, who lived two doors down on Ogden Ave. “Bob cuts our lawn,…

Red Cross Offers Smoke Detector Replacement

Officials Say to Replace Smoke Detectors Every 10 Years

DULUTH, Minn. – With all the fires in the area lately officials remind everyone to make sure their smoke detectors are good to go. The American Red Cross and area fire departments teamed up as part of the Home Fire Campaign, to reduce deaths and injuries by 25%. The problem with most smoke detectors isn’t dead batteries, it’s age.  Smoke…

Boat Club Set to Open at Fitger’s

New Restaurant Replaces Midi on Lower Level

DULUTH, Minn – The newest addition to Duluth’s Fitger’s complex is set to open its doors. The Boat Club officially opens Saturday. They’re serving up fresh Lake Superior fish, seafood, steaks and pasta on the lower level of the Fitger’s mall. Fitger’s is excited to show off the new look. “This is beautiful, it’s a transformation,” says Tami Tanski-Sherman, mall…

U.S. Appeals Court Refuses to Reinstate Trump’s Travel Ban

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court refused Thursday to reinstate President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. The panel of three judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to block a lower-court ruling that suspended the ban and allowed previously barred travelers to enter the U.S. An appeal to the U.S….

Appeals Court: Decision on Trump Travel Ban Coming Thursday

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A federal appeals court in San Francisco is set to issue its ruling in the legal fight over whether to reinstate President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven predominately Muslim nations. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced that it will release its decision before the end of the business day Thursday in California….

Minnesota Reports 1st Child Flu Death of Season

The flu is widespread in the state now, according to a MDH weekly update

ST. PAUL (AP) – Minnesota has recorded its first child death due to influenza this season. The state Department of Health said Thursday one child death related to influenza has been reported since the start of the flu season. Influenza is considered widespread in Minnesota, according to a weekly update. The Health Department says 156 people were hospitalized with flu…

St. Louis County Holds Huge Property Auction

County Makes $600,000

DULUTH, Minn.-St. Louis County had a financial windfall today. The county scored nearly $600,000 during tax forfeited land sale. Nineteen properties went up for sale and were bid on by 180 Northlanders. About 100 properties were featured in total. Those that weren’t sold can still be bought from the county. The county said this was the largest auction they’ve had…

$75K Cash Bond Set for Man Accused of Killing UW-Stout Student

Cullen OsburnMENOMONIE, Wis. (AP) – A judge has set cash bond at $75,000 for a Minnesota man accused of killing a Saudi Arabian college student in Wisconsin. Twenty-seven-year-old Cullen Osburn appeared in Dunn County court on Thursday after waiving extradition from Minnesota. He remains in jail and is due back in court March 27. The Minneapolis man is charged with…

Amendment Introduced for Recreational Use of Pot in Minnesota

Still Has a Long Ways to Go

ST. PAUL, Minn.-A Minnesota state representative from Virginia introduced a proposed amendment today to legalize recreational marijuana Democrat Jason Metsa is hoping the amendment can reach a general election ballot in 2018. If passed, it would allow those older than 21 to buy or produce the drug. Metsa does include terms for how sales would be taxed. The measure still…

Owl Lands on Squad Car

Owl Eventually Flew Away

Courtesy of Duluth Police DULUTH, Minn.-An owl landed on the hood of a Duluth Police squad car Monday. Originally an officer was flagged down to check on it on the road, according to an officer’s Facebook post. When getting ready to check on it, the owl flew up on the hood of the car. It eventually flew away. Categories: News,…

Trump Blocks Listing Bumblebee as Endangered

One day before it was to be added to the endangered species list

This 2012 photo provided by The Xerces Society shows a rusty patched bumblebee in Minnesota. Federal officials said Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, that the rusty patched bumblebee has become the first bee species in the continental U.S. to be declared endangered after suffering a dramatic population decline over the past 20 years. (Sarina Jepsen/The Xerces Society via AP)TRAVERSE CITY, Mich….

Health Insurance Sign-ups Rise to Record Level

117,500 Residents Signed Up

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)-Rising health insurance premiums and Minnesota’s novel financial help program have driven record enrollment in private health plans. Officials at the state’s exchange announced Thursday it had signed up more than 117,500 residents during 2017’s open enrollment period. That’s up by more than a third from last year. The spike in insurance signups comes amid uncertainty at…

Forest Lake Police Dog Dies After Helping Make Arrest

Dog Had Been With Department for Seven Years

FOREST LAKE, Minn.(AP)-A police dog from the Forest Lake Police Department has died in the line of duty. Authorities say the German shepherd named Ranger suffered cardiac arrest Tuesday night while helping police and the Minnesota State Patrol with a traffic stop in Forest Lake. Police say Ranger was deployed when the driver did not follow orders. The driver was…

Cliffs Announces Huge Fourth Quarter

Revenues Up 58 Percent from Last Year

DULUTH, Minn.-Final financial reports released today for Cliffs Natural Resources revealed a huge fourth quarter for them. Revenues were up to $754 million this quarter for the ore pellet manufacturer, which is an increase of 58 percent compared to last year. Overall revenues were up five percent for the company in 2016 topping out at $2.1 billion. The C-E-O of…

Proctor Referendum Passes

New Sports Facilities To Be Built

PROCTOR, Minn. – It’s good news for the city of Proctor as the referendum to build new sports facilities has passed. The vote to build a $12 million sports complex passed and will move into construction soon. Administration, coaches and students were on pins and needles waiting for the results to come in. “Yesterday was a little bit nerve–wracking. We…

High School Students Compete in Battle of Wits

This Year's Quiz Bowl Season Ends with Intense Face-to-Face Tournament

ASHLAND, Wis. – High school students from all over Northern Wisconsin faced off in a battle of knowledge today in Ashland. Competitive energy filled the air in the CESA 12 building in Ashland as the region’s top quiz bowl teams squared off in their only face-to-face tournament this season. “It’s a high stakes situation, you know?” says Phillips senior Harrison…

Special Report: The Canadian Connection | Part One

FOX 21's Brett Scott examines the Canadian Cash Flow into the Twin Ports

GRAND PORTAGE, Minn. – Over 150 miles separate the Twin Ports from our northern border. Each year hundreds of thousands of Canadians travel along Highway 61, making their way down to invest in our local economy. “We see four-hundred, five-hundred, up to one-thousand packages a day.” Jaime Spry, General Manager at Ryden’s Border Store, might be decking the halls while…

Do North Pizzeria Opens in New, Larger Location

The new space is nearly three times the size and now includes a full bar, party room, and a large patio

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – A popular Northland restaurant opened its doors in a new location today. Do North Pizzeria held a grand opening and ribbon cutting this afternoon. The Hermantown restaurant closed its previous location and opened up in a larger building just down the street on Miller Trunk Highway. The new space is nearly three times the size and now…

Social Emotional Learning Helps Kids After School

The YMCA in Duluth is one of 37 programs to implement a new Social Emotional Learning initiative.

The Duluth YMCA is one of only thirty-seven YMCAs across the country to be selected for a new pilot project. The program aims to help kids develop their social and emotional skills. This program is intended to help kids kindergarten through fifth grade learn more about themselves in an after school setting. They hope the lessons learned stay with them…

Girl Scout Cookies Arrive in the Northland

Orders will be fulfilled on February 11th with booth sales starting on February 16th.

DULUTH, Minn. – Girl Scout cookies have arrived in Duluth by the truckload. The Girl Scouts will begin fulfilling their orders this Saturday. They will start their booth sales next week on Thursday. The scouts use their proceeds for activities, community events, and camps. “It teaches the girls a lot of financial skills obviously customer service skills, leadership skills and…

Updated Water Appropriation Permit Application from PolyMet Received by DNR

Technical experts with the DNR will now review the updated applicaion

ST. PAUL – PolyMet Mining, Inc. has submitted their updated water appropriation permit application to the Department of Natural Resources. This updated permit application includes a request for an appropriation from Colby Lake. Technical experts from state, local, and tribal governments associated with the DNR will review the updated application, and it will be considered with the previously received applications…

Ashland School District Building Project Moving Forward

District Reveals Final Project Plans at Community Meeting

ASHLAND, Wis. – Last April, a $34 million referendum passed allowing Ashland schools to complete a building project. The tax levy for that project went into effect as expected, but due to declining enrollment, another tax levy was introduced to increase funding, upsetting some Ashland residents. School district officials say the second tax can be removed after this school year when…

Professional Surveyors Attend Conference at DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — In just about every industry, technology has gotten more and more advanced in recent years. And for professional surveyors that is especially true. It’s a job that requires advanced math skills, knowledge of physics, engineering, and zoning laws. And professional surveyors from around the region are in town for a three day conference at the DECC in…

Canadian Forces Snowbirds Make Visit to Cirrus Aircraft

The Snowbirds are Preparing for the Upcoming 2017 Duluth Air and Aviation Expo Presented by St. Luke's

DULUTH, Minn. – Despite the frigid cold we experienced in the Northland Wednesday, it didn’t stop the Canadian Forces Snowbirds from flocking into Cirrus Aviation earlier in the day. The visit by the military flight demonstration team is in preparation for their longer visit this summer when they will be performing at the 2017 Duluth Air and Aviation Expo presented…

Co-op Makes Large Donation to Food Bank

Co-op Celebrating 10,000 Members

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Whole Foods Co-op recently hit a milestone with 10,000 owners. Today they celebrated by donating $5,100 to the Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. That amount of money will supply Northlander’s in need with 20,000 pounds of food. “This donation provides the ability to rescue and rehabilitate 20,000 pounds of food and to know that equals…