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Personal Trainers Could be the Key to Unlocking New Fitness Goals

DULUTH, Minn. — If you’re one of millions making New Year’s resolutions to get into shape or make new fitness goals, maybe a personal trainer could help you. Today is National Personal Trainer Awareness Day, and there are many professionals across the Twin Ports just a phone call away. At Anytime Fitness in Duluth, they are still accepting new clients…

Fundraiser Being Held for Ashland Family That Lost Home in Fire

Fundraiser Being Run Through GoFundMe

ASHLAND, Wis.-A GoFundMe page has been set up for an Ashland family that lost their home on New Year’s Eve during a fire. Richard and Diane Ketring were away from home when the incident happened. Richard represents Ward 2 of the Ashland City Council. In a Facebook Post, Ashland Mayor Debra Lewis, reiterated just how important this fundraiser is saying:…

What You Should Have In Your Car’s Winter Survival Kit

It's recommended that you keep your gas tank at least one-half full.

DULUTH, Minn. – Experts are reminding people to take this extreme cold weather seriously. When traveling, having a winter survival kit in your vehicle could save your life. At Ace Hardware in Duluth customers have been rushing in to stock up on winter survival kit basics. Fleece hats and gloves are among the big sellers over the past couple weeks….

Franken Officially Resigns from Senate

Lt. Gov. Tina Smith Will Take His Place

ST. PAUL, Minn.-Sen. Al Franken has officially resigned from the Senate. The Minnesota Democrat formally resigned Tuesday afternoon. It comes nearly a month after he announced his plans to leave Congress after a swirl of sexual misconduct allegations that began in November. His departure sets the stage for current Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to be sworn in on Wednesday…

3 Likely Hypothermia Deaths in Dane County

MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating three possible hypothermia deaths that occurred over the New Year’s weekend. The cases include the death of a 57-year-old man whose body was found in a Madison parking structure on Sunday. Preliminary autopsy results on the body of Vance Perry, of Covington, Georgia, show hypothermia as a contributing…

Wisconsin Farmers Allowed to Grow Hemp, Still Face Barriers

MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ Industrial hemp is an option for Wisconsin farmers for the first time since lawmakers lifted a ban on the crop this fall. Wisconsin Public Radio reports that the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has until March to create regulations for the hemp industry. Allison Pratt-Szeliga is researcher from the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute….

GOP’s Bachmann Mulling Bid for Franken’s Seat

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ One-time Republican presidential contender and former U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann says she’s considering a run for Sen. Al Franken’s seat. Franken resigned Tuesday after a cloud of sexual misconduct allegations starting in November. His replacement, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, will be sworn in Wednesday and plans to run for the seat in a November election….

Firefighter Discusses Cold Weather Concerns

Extra Precautions Are Taken When Fighting Fires in the Cold

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Sub zero temperatures can be dangerous for anyone outside for very long. Firefighters have to do their job in all kinds of extreme conditions including dangerously cold weather. They recommend not going outside unless you need to and wearing as many layers as possible. The Superior Fire Department takes extra precautions when battling flames in the cold….

Twin Ports Cyclery Goes Out For A Ride

Riders braved the cold and spent about 30 minutes on their bikes.

DULUTH, Minn. – Twin Ports Cyclery hosted its 40th annual New Year’s Day Ride and Potluck. Organizers say the ride and potluck are more for the camaraderie. It’s not considered an outward bound ride. Riders will go out for whatever distance they want, turn around and head back. “There are two rides now. Some of us will ride on the road,” said…

Northland Couple Welcomes Baby On New Year’s Day

At least five babies were born on New Year's Day at Essentia Health

DULUTH, Minn. – Well it’s a new year and with that comes a new baby for one Northland couple who welcomed their bundle of joy on New Year’s Day. Little Charles Everett Dreier was born at 2:13 a.m. weighing in at 6 pounds and 15 ounces. New mom Susanna Schafter says her due date was Jan. 9. She didn’t expect Charles to…

New Laws Take Effect Today for 2018

(KMSP) – There are five new laws going into effect Jan. 1, including one that honors fallen officers. According to the Minnesota House of Representatives, the new law allows for special license plates that honor fallen officers. Drivers can purchase a memorial plate for $10 and donate $25 to the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association. The law is sponsored by…

As Smith heads to DC, questions linger over her replacement

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – After a crazy year in Minnesota politics, 2018 will start with Democrats and Republicans squabbling over the next lieutenant governor and what it means for control of the Senate. Republican Sen. Michelle Fischbach is poised to become lieutenant governor after Lt. Gov. Tina Smith is sworn into the U.S. Senate this week. But Fischbach plans…

Life Coach Presents Tips on Being the Best “You” in 2018

Coffee Conversation: New Year's Resolutions

DULUTH, Minn. – As 2018 begins, many Northlanders will be looking to improve themselves in different ways. For this week’s Coffee Conversation we talked with Executive Coach Pam Solberg-Tapper about ways to ensure you fulfill these resolutions. To learn more about Solberg-Tapper and her business, you can contact her at pam@coachforsuccess.com , 218-729-0772 or www.coachforsuccess.com. Here is her blog post…

Milwaukee hunter dies after falling out of tree stand

GREENFIELD, Wis. (AP) – A Milwaukee man is dead after falling out of a tree stand while hunting in Sauk County on Sunday. The sheriff’s office says 50-year-old Jacob Herr was wearing a safety harness, but it had not been attached to the tree. A hunting companion found Herr’s body at the base of the tree. Categories: Community, Features, News,…

Man injured in New Year’s shooting at bar in Racine

RACINE, Wis. (AP) – Authorities are investigating a New Year’s shooting at a bar in Racine. Police responded to Curmudgeon’s bar shortly before 2 a.m. Monday. Bar employee Jeff Dandeneau told WITI-TV that bar patrons were celebrating the new year when “everything broke loose.” The man who was shot was taken to a hospital and reported in stable condition. No…

Self-inflicted shooting prompts lockdown of emergency room

ROBBINSDALE, Minn. (AP) – A hospital emergency room in the Twin Cities area was put on a temporary lockdown over the weekend after a self-inflicted shooting in a restroom. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the incident happened Saturday night at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale. Authorities did not immediately release details on the condition of the shooter, or…

Duluth Children’s Museum Celebrates New Year’s Eve

An estimated 400 people showed up throughout the day.

DULUTH, Minn. – Even though they may take place earlier in the day, New Year’s celebrations are for kids too. The Duluth Children’s Museum hosted its fifth annual New Year’s Eve party! There were plenty of kid friendly activities like trail mix making and even a balloon drop. Organizers say this year the event was bigger and better. The Museum offered…

Beaner’s Central Coffeehouse Brings In 2018 With A Bash

Owner Jason Wussow also took the stage.

DULUTH, Minn. – If you usually spend New Year’s Eve at your favorite bar waiting for the clock to strike midnight, Beaner’s Central Coffeehouse in Duluth has another option for you. This New Year’s bash started as an all day jam session that has now turned into a tradition for the last seven years. The stage is set and 24…

Junior Naturalists Get A Lesson In Identifying Animals During Winter

Kids also made and took home a plaster animal track.

CARLTON, Minn. – The cold is not keeping some dedicated “junior naturalists” from learning about the outdoors this this weekend  from the warmth of a classroom. They showed up to Jay Cooke State Park to learn about identifying animals in the winter. These young snow trackers discovered what animals signs to look for like animal droppings, footprints or bones. The…

Northlanders Can Connect With Super Bowl LII

Super Bowl LII is expected to attract one million visitors and leave an economic impact of more than $400 million.

DULUTH, Minn. – The last time Minnesota hosted the Super Bowl the year was 1992 and 26 years later the Super Bowl is making its return. We may be hundreds of miles away, but organizers say people in Duluth can be part of the action. Super Bowl Experience started in Minnesota and it’s grown to a more than 400,000 square feet…

Clothing Drive To Help People Stay Warm This Winter

You'll receive a ticket for the raffle for each item you donate

DULUTH, Minn. – One way to make sure someone can withstand Minnesota’s brutal winter is with suitable winter clothes. The owner of Duluth’s Red Herring along with the man behind Lizsam Entertainment have found a way to give back to the community with a winter clothing drive. It’s cold out especially this time of the year and for the people…

Duluth Public Library hosts escape room for teens

Northland teens worked together to solve the puzzle and escape the library

DULUTH, Minn. – Some teenagers simulated what might happen if they were locked inside the library.  The Mount Royal branch of the Duluth Public Library hosted a library-themed escape room puzzle on Friday. Teens worked together to find clues, and figure out how to escape the library in under 25 minutes. “There’s a whole ton of teamwork that happens here,”…

Post-holiday exercise options

9Round Fitness 30 minute Kickboxing might help knock you back into shape

DULUTH, Minn. – After the holidays is when most people start feeling like it’s time to hit the gym.A new kind of gym has opened up in Duluth recently. 9Round Fitness is a 30 minute kickboxing studio, where folks can work with a trainer, and have a slightly different workout experience than your typical gym. “The whole thing with kickboxing…

UPDATE: Officers Identified in Gilbert Shooting

GILBERT, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the officers involved in a shooting that took place in Gilbert on Dec. 22.  According to the Minnesota DPS BCA preliminary investigation, Deputy Derrick Deutsch with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Joseph Bradach of the Gilbert Police Department were looking for an…

Wisconsin Woman Dead Following Snowmobile Accident

BESSEMER, Mich. – A 51-year-old Wisconsin woman is dead after a snowmobile accident Friday. According to the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office, the report came in just before 11:30 Friday morning. The accident happened on Powderhorn Road just north of US Highway 2. The initial investigation by police indicated that a group of snowmobiles were traveling southbound in the unplowed right…

Sen. Franken Thanks Supporters in Minneapolis

  MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) – Senator Al Franken delivered a message of thanks to his supporters and friends after eight years in the Senate on Thursday night. It was his first public appearance in Minnesota since sexual misconduct allegations were made against him. He announced his plans to resign earlier this month. His fall came after Los Angeles radio personality Leann Tweeden released a photo of Franken apparently…

Officials: Deadly NYC Fire Lit by Child Playing with Stove

AP NEW YORK (AP) — A preschooler toying with the burners on his mother’s stove accidentally lit New York City’s deadliest fire in decades, turning an apartment building into an inferno that killed a dozen people as smoke and flames swept up the stairwell in minutes and blocked the main route to safety, the fire commissioner said Friday. The 3½-year-old…

Fire Claims Superior Home

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the Superior Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 1900 block of Tower Avenue. Crews arrived on scene to heavy smoke coming from the second floor of a two-story home. All residents were able to safely evacuate. Crews remained on scene for 2 1/2 hours. Damages have been estimated at $30,000….

Duluth rink rats brave the cold for the love of hockey

Well below-zero temps won't stop these little athletes

DULUTH, Minn. – Well, it may be cold outside but that’s not stopping hearty Northlanders from keeping busy out there. Being that it’s Minnesota, kids don’t seem to mind that it’s a few degrees below zero. FOX21 caught up with some young rink rats playing a game of pick-up hockey at the Glen Avon hockey rinks. “It’s cold, but, I…

Adventure Zone busy during cold snap

Families look for inside fun thanks to these freezing temps

DULUTH, Minn. – With kids also out of school during this cold snap, cabin fever is also growing. Adventure Zone in Canal Park is a popular spot for kids and their families. It features all kinds of activities to keep those kid’s attention, and again, with the bitter cold outside, being inside is also a plus. “We have a two–level…

Duluth YMCA sees uptick in members during colder months

The YMCA offers a variety of activity to keep people active during the Northland's freezing season

DULUTH, Minn. – So many cold days in a row means its getting harder to stay active. FOX 21 spoke with the Duluth YMCA about what they’re doing to keep people up and active, and just staying warm during these frigid temps. “We have so much going on indoors, everything from our  rock climbing wall, we have two pools, lot…

Northland businesses prepare for New Year’s Eve celebrations

Liquor stores are sure to be busy this weekend

SUPERIOR, Wisc. –  Now that Christmas is out of the way, it’s time to start to think about those New Year’s Eve plans. Liquor stores are obviously a major stop for many people getting ready for the celebration. Stores are getting rid of the Christmas gifts sets to make room for the champagne. Employees say this time of year is…

Island Lake Inn Announces Closure

DULUTH, Minn. – The owner of the Island Lake Inn have announced they will be closing, effective immediately. According to a Facebook post on the restaurant’s page, they will open for one last day, which will be Sunday, Dec. 31. Owners cited a growing family and a military deployment of a manager as a few reasons they will be closing…

Depression Happens In the Northland Around This Time Of the Year

The economic burden of depression, including workplace costs, direct costs and suicide- related costs, was estimated to be $210.5 billion in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DULUTH, Minn. – There can be dark days living in Duluth and being so far away from the equator means not enough sunlight, which can affect how you feel. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is where people typically get more depressed during certain seasons. “There is a variation of that where some people have a different kind of depression in the…

Franken to Formally Thank Supporters Before Leaving Senate

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Sen. Al Franken is meeting with supporters and friends in Minnesota before he officially resigns. The Democrat planned to attend an event Thursday night in Minneapolis to thank supporters and friends after his eight years in the Senate. Media outlets were expected to be allowed to attend part of the event. Franken announced his plans to resign…

Lynx Give Coach Cheryl Reeve Contract Extension

(Courtesy of MN Lynx)MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) – Following another championship season and several high-profile accolades, the Minnesota Lynx signed Head Coach Cheryl Reeve to a multi-year contract extension Thursday, also giving her the role of general manager in addition to her coaching duties. Reeve won her fourth WNBA title with the Lynx in 2017, notching her 195th total win as the coach of the franchise…

Ely Man Dead After Apartment Fire

330 South 3rd Avenue West

ELY, Minn. – A 70-year-old man is dead after an apartment at the Grahek Apartments in Ely. According to the Ely Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the Grahek Apartments at 5 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Initial reports indicated flames and smoke coming from a third story apartment. An occupant, who has been identified as David Curtis Cashman, 70, of…

Minnesota IT Chief to Step Down in February

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The state’s top information technology official will retire in February. Minnesota Information Technology Services Commissioner Tom Baden announced his plan to step down on Thursday, citing health reasons. But it also comes amid problems with the state’s overhaul of its computer system for license plates and tabs. He will officially depart Feb. 2. Baden was…

Walker Says Tax Change Will Be $2,508 Cut for Typical Family

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Gov. Scott Walker’s administration says the typical family of four in Wisconsin will see a $2,508 tax cut under the recently passed Republican tax overhaul. Walker released details Wednesday of the analysis completed by the state Department of Revenue. Using Census data and expected growth, the median income for a Wisconsin family of four in 2018…

Twins’ Miguel Sano Facing Sexual Assault Allegations

(AP) MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) – A professional photographer has come forward with an allegation that Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano assaulted her after an autograph signing. Betsy Bissen also alleges that sexual harassment she endured while covering the Twins “started off with the first base coach hitting on me almost every game I was at.” In a letter posted on Twitter,…