News – Latest News

Knutson Custom Construction Has New Home

Team Built The Facility Themselves To Show Their Style

Knutson  Custom Construction will now operate out of a state of the art facility they constructed themselves. To show off their new building the construction company held an open house for the public to come check out their distinct style. The building was designed and built by the Knutson team which reflects the craftsmanship and style that the company has…

Rideshare Services Expected to Hit Duluth Streets By This Weekend

So far Lyft is the only company to file the needed paperwork to operate in the city

DULUTH, Minn. – Rideshare services will officially be allowed to operate within the city of Duluth beginning Thursday. Uber and Lyft have already started hiring drivers and putting vehicles through required inspections. Neither company has announced an official launch date, but Duluth city councilor Noah Hobbs tells us Lyft has filed all the needed paperwork to operate in the city,…

Florists Suggest Waiting for Warmer Weather to Plant Annuals

The Engwall Garden Center will open back up for the season next Monday

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Weather like what most in the Northland saw on Wednesday probably doesn’t have many people thinking about gardening. However, over at Engwalls in Hermantown, they are gearing up for planting season. Florists say trees, shrubs and perennials are safe to get in the ground right now, but encourage people to hold off on planting any of those…

Residents; Mother Nature Needs To Make Up Her Mind

Late April Storm Has Some Wanted Warmer Weather Back

Superior, Wis. As we all know with weather this time of the year can be tricky. Needless to say the tease that we had this past Saturday with those beautiful temps all across the area. People want Mother Nature to pick one season and stick with it. “Ready for spring, it’s time to get the cabin open and go fishing…

Duluth’s Best Bread Hires Arm Wrestler as Spokesman

Company Using Endorsement to Sell "Big Fat German Pretzels"

DULUTH, Minn. – A local bakery has a new, and very unusual sponsor. Duluth’s Best Bread has hired a world class arm wrestler to promote its product. Mattias “Hellboy” Schlitte, Germany’s #1 ranked arm wrestler, promotes the bakery in an ad where he says “This is everyone else’s bread and this is Duluth’s Best Bread.” Signing Germany’s top arm wrestler is…

Hoops Brewing Construction Progressing

New Brewery Should be Open by Early June

DULUTH, Minn. – Construction continues on the city’s newest brewery. Workers are busy getting Hoops Brewing ready for business. According to owner/manager Dave Hoops, the brewery should open in June and will turn out about 80 different beers each year. Hoops says he’s most impressed by support from the community. “My partners in this project have been incredible,” said Hoops. …

Local Lumber Yards Confused Over Tax Controversy

New Tariff on Canadian Soft Timber is Lower than Pre-2015 Levels

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Earlier this week, the Trump Administration sparked controversy when the President announced a new import tax on Canadian soft timber. President Trump unveiled a new tax of up to 24 percent on imported Canadian soft timber, claiming Canada’s lumber industry is government subsidized. Canadian leaders deny those claims, and say they’re prepared to fight what they call…

Joel Labovitz Success Awards Honor Local Entrepreneurs

More than 75 Businesses Honored

DULUTH, Minn.-Business owners and entrepreneurs from the Northland were honored today at an awards ceremony at the DECC. The Joel Labovitz Success Awards recognized people from big organizations to smaller ones that are just getting their start. No matter what the case, these ceremonies make business owners feel appreciated. “Several years ago, one of the individuals recognized came on the stage…

Sleet, Ice, Freezing Rain and Snow Hits the Northland

One Half of an Inch of Sleet Accumulates in Duluth, While A Quarter of an Inch of Ice Blankets the North Shore in April.

DULUTH, Minn. – Mother Nature sure has a grip on the Northland and it looks and feels like it is taking revenge on us in late April! A Wintry mix of ice pellets, sleet, freezing rain and snow fell across Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin today. It fell in a light to moderate intensity, as small ice pellets and sleet in…

Registration Opens for 2018 American Birkebeiner on May 1

HAYWARD, Wis. – The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation board of directors announced today that registration will open for the 2018 American Birkebeiner on Monday, May 1, 2017. The 2018 race is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, with the Kortelopet and Prince Haakon slated for Friday, Feb. 23. The Fat Bike Birkie, the world’s largest fat bike race is scheduled for…

Fraud Case in Minnesota Stirs New Legal Ripples Years Later

Sherburne County Jail – File, Star Tribune ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota lawmakers are considering changing the rules on money that may be recovered for victims of businessman Tom Petters’ $3.7 billion Ponzi scheme. Minnesota Public Radio reports the change would limit the recovery of investment income earned by charitable or religious organizations that took gifts from Petters or…

Chipotle Investigating Data Breach After Unauthorized Activity in Payment System

NEW YORK (AP) — Chipotle saw a key sales figure rise more than expected as it works to regain customers’ trust after a series of food scares, but may have lost at least a little ground again in disclosing a possible data security issue. The company said it recently detected unauthorized activity on the network that supports its payment system…

Aldi to Open in the Fall in Duluth

Job Seekers Encouraged to Keep Checking Website

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Aldi’s location is set to open in the fall. A spokesperson for the discount grocer told us today, they don’t have a specific date yet for a grand opening, but will be releasing more details in the coming months. There are also no hiring dates yet, but Aldi representatives are encouraging job seekers to keep checking…

UW-Superior Presents “Crimes of the Heart”

SUPERIOR, Wis. – UW-Superior is now presenting a story of three sisters reuniting and dealing with past decisions. The play is called “Crimes of the Heart.” Ellen Badger, who plays Babe Botrelle, visited FOX 21 to chat about the play. She says the show brings comedy to serious circumstances. Performances are April 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and April 30…

Thinking Turtle Safety this Spring

Experts say Turtles will Start Moving, Crossing Roadways Early May, Beginning of June

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s getting to be the time of year when certain animals in the Northland wake up and make their way into the world once again. However, it isn’t always without risk. Wildlife experts are reminding drivers to be on the lookout for turtles. “If the shell is broken and blood is coming out, you can see flesh…

Great Outdoors: Smelt Fry

Smelt Are Running and Northlanders are Getting Their Seasonal Fix

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s that time of year. Smelt are running through the waters of the Northland. In this week’s Great Outdoors, we explore the smelting tradition and how much people love to eat these small, silver fish. “I love smelt and haven’t had any for a long time.” The smelt are running and Northlanders are casting their nets to…

Psychology Conference a Chance for Students to Present Research

15th Annual Twin Ports Undergraduate Psychology Conference Held at CSS

DULUTH, Minn. – A psychology conference at the College of St. Scholastica gave students a chance to share their research from the past year. UMD, UWS, and CSS students attended the 15th annual conference that included keynote presentations by psychology professionals and a poster session where students could discuss their work with each other. “I think it’s just great to…

Concerned Residents Focus on Ending Poverty in Two Harbors

A group in the community started the program Beacons of Hope with a goal of tackling some key issues they believe haveled to increased poverty

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – There’s a growing poverty concern in the small tourist city of Two Harbors and the community is not sitting back on the issue. Residents are taking a proactive approach at putting an end to poverty within the city. A group in the community started the program Beacons of Hope with a goal of tackling some key…

Mayor Larson Recognizes Local Volunteers

Event was Part of Day for Recognition for National Service

DULUTH, Minn. – Mayor Emily Larson honored local volunteers Tuesday as part of the Day for Recognition for National Service. All of the represented groups were associated with the Corporation for National Service.  In Duluth, that means organizations like AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. The Mayor also visited a couple service sites to see volunteers in action and came away with…

Duluth Women’s Health Center Offers Free STD Testing

DULUTH, Minn. — Certain sexually transmitted infections are on the rise; so the Women’s Health Center in Duluth offered free testing all day today. “Free STI Testing Day” is an effort from the Minnesota Department of Health to curb the rates of certain diseases. A urine sample will test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and a blood sample will test for…

Seniors Learn Healthy Tips at Fair

Fair Provided Residents with Easy Access to Health Information

DULUTH, Minn. – Local health providers and students from the College of St. Scholastica teamed up to help seniors stay healthy. The Benedictine Living Community held its 2nd annual Senior Health Fair Tuesday.  In addition to exhibits from local businesses, CSS Exercise Physiology students were on hand for health checks creating a one–stop shop for residents’ health needs. “It’s hard…

Researchers Learn About Cross Laminated Timber

New Technique Allows Buildings to be Constructed Using Wood

DULUTH, Minn – Officials at the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resource Research Institute got a look at new construction techniques using wood. The seminar, put on by WoodWorks, examined how using Cross Laminated Timber helps both forest management and reducing carbon footprints. With CLT, buildings as many as eight stories high can be built using only wood.  Even wood once…

Minnesota Company, MyPillow ‘Forced to Lay Off’ 140 Workers

FOX 9 - KMSP

(KMSP) – MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell says his company was “forced to lay off” 140 workers in Chaska, Minnesota. The MyPillow inventor and company founder didn’t say why the layoffs were needed, but said he doesn’t take decisions like this lightly, and the layoffs were “very unexpected.” Lindell added the company is working on new commercials and hopes to begin…

Ashland School District Awarded Fab Lab Grant

WEDC grants awarded during "Fab Lab Day" in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Governor Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced Tuesday, 21 school districts that have been awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to establish and expand local fabrication laboratory (fab lab) facilities. A fab lab is a high-technology workshop equipped with computer controlled manufacturing components such as 3D printers, laser engravers, computer numerical control routers, and…

Superior Water, Light and Power Begins Installation of Advanced Meters

Project will enhance customer service and experience

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior Water, Light, and Power’s (SWL&P) plan to replace analog meters with advanced digital meters moves forward this month. Installation of these meters began around mid-April in the Billings Park area of Superior. The work is part of a five-year plan to deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure, which is a reliable and proven technology that is being used…

Trump Slaps Tariff on Canadian Softwood Lumber

Escalates Trade Dispute Between the Two Countries

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Trump administration has moved to impose a 20 percent tariff on softwood lumber entering the United States from Canada, escalating an intensifying trade dispute between the two countries. The president announced the decision during a gathering with conservative media outlets at the White House Monday evening. Trump’s initial comments were relayed by four people who were…

Frito Lay Issues Recall Due to Salmonella Risks

Frito Lay announced a voluntary recall of select Jalapeno Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips and Jalapeno Flavored Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips due to the potential presence of Salmonella in the seasoning. This action is a direct result of a seasoning blend which includes jalapeno power that could contain Salmonella. There have been no confirmed illnesses related to this…

Minnesota Couple Accused of Sexually Assaulting Teenage Girl

Michael and Heather Germain Photo: Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office GOODHUE, Minn. (AP) – A southeastern Minnesota couple is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and trying to recruit her for a swinger’s lifestyle. Michael Lowell Germain, 43 and 49-year-old Heather Laverne Germain of Goodhue appeared in court Monday on charges including criminal sexual conduct and interfering with the privacy…

ATV Accident Northwest of Bemidji

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies responded to a call of an Off-Highway Vehicle accident in the 17000 block of Nelson Dam Rd in Buzzle Township, approximately 15 miles northwest of Bemidji. Deputies and Bemidji Ambulance arrived on scene to investigate the crash, which revealed that a 64-year-old female rolled a 1995 Honda Fourtax ATV….

Bent Paddle Brewing Company is Paddling it Foward

Meet this week's Knowing Your Neighbors

DULUTH, Minn. – In this week’s Knowing Your Neighbor, photojournalist Graham Hakala, takes us to Bent Paddle, where they’re on a mission to do more than serve up a refreshing brew. For more information on Bent Paddle’s Paddle It Forward initiative and how they continually work to minimize their carbon footprint, visit their website www.bentpaddlebrewing.com Categories: Business, Features, Knowing Your Neighbor,…

Trump, Walker Discuss Wisconsin Dairy Dispute

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Governor Scott Walker says he spoke with President Donald Trump about the nearly 40 Wisconsin dairy farmers desperately seeking help after being dropped by their milk buyer following a Canadian policy change. Walker told Trump on Twitter Tuesday that it was “great” to speak to him that morning and thanked him for supporting Wisconsin dairy farmers….

UMD Hosts Shark Tank Competition

Students present their business ideas to local leaders

DULUTH, Minn. – UMD students got the chance to show off their business skills in a Shark Tank style competition on Monday. Six presenters showed off their business ideas to their peers, as well as local business leaders. Each presenter would give their business pitch, and took questions from the panel and the audience. The competition was modeled after the…

Free Lead Testing for Young Children

The Lead Testing Will Be Held Again on Tuesday

DULUTH, Minn.- From toys and jewelry to soil and dust, lead can be found everywhere. But it’s not a normal part of the human body, and too much lead exposure can cause serious health problems, especially in children. That’s why the American Lung Association and Sustainable Resources Center joined forces to provide kids 6 years and younger, pregnant people, and…

Gypsy Moth Spraying Coming Back to Wisconsin

Douglas County Will be One of Many Counties Getting Sprayed for Gypsy Moths

MADISON, Wis.-An annual rite of spring in western and central Wisconsin counties is about to return. Starting next week, the distinctive sound of loud, low-flying airplanes spraying an insecticide to combat the invasive gypsy moth caterpillar will return. The spraying is scheduled for 20 counties weather permitting. The gypsy moth are non-native pests that defoliate trees, causing stress and possible…

Wisconsin at High Risk of Wildfires After Dry Weather

Burning Permits Halted in Multiple Counties

GREEN BAY, Wis.-The Department of Natural Resources has deemed most of Wisconsin at a “high” or “very high” risk of wildfires following several days of sunny weather with no rain. According to reports, the department has also halted burning permits in multiple counties with the concern that dry grass and high winds provide the perfect equation for a wildfire to…

House Republicans Pass Abortion Bills

Governor has Vetoed Similar Bills Before

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota House has passed legislation that would increase restrictions on abortions in Minnesota. The bills, passed on the strength of Republican votes, require abortion providers to obtain permits from the state’s health department and would ban the use of state funds for abortions. The Senate is planning to take up the permitting bill next…

Two Juveniles Confess to Playground Fire

Juveniles Will Attend Class to Avoid Future Fire Starting Behavior

DULUTH, Minn.-Two juveniles have confessed to starting the fire and vandalizing the playground at Bay View Elementary School in the early hours of April 15. Both juveniles have agreed to attend the Duluth Fire Department FIRST (fire intervention referral safety team) class. Those classes provide educational intervention to ward off future fire-starting behavior for young people prone to that. Reports…

911 Restored in Douglas County

Was Restored at About 5:30 a.m.

SUPERIOR, Wis.-The 911 service in Douglas County is back to being fully operational. Fox 21 was told it was restored at about 5:30 a.m. today. There’s no word yet on what caused the outage. Categories: News, News – Latest News Tags: news duluth 911

Council Approves Spirit Mountain Budget Amid Financial Woes

Two Years With Tough Weather Has Resort On Edge

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve Spirit Mountain’s new budget for the upcoming season. This, as the attraction on the hill is coming off a nearly 10 percent revenue drop and 6.5 percent increase in expenses, according to councilor Joel Sipress.  And when those numbers are balanced out, Spirit Mountain saw a profit of…

New Spirit Pole Raised at UW-Superior to Honor Anishinaabe Culture

A ceremony was held on campus to honor the indigenous people who once lived on the land the campus sits on

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – A ceremony was held at UW-Superior to honor the indigenous people who lived on the land the campus sits on. Each spring, a new spirit pole is decorated with an eagle feather and colored ribbons, then raised as a symbol of connecting past generations to the present. Today, members of the Lake Superior Chippewa band led a…

Minnesota Couple Collaborates to Create Visual Memoir of Holocaust Survival

Sandra Brick has been working the last 9 years to craft the pieces of art based on her husband Fred Amram's story

DULUTH, Minn. – After narrowly escaping Nazi German with his Jewish family more than 70 years ago, Fred Amram is sharing his story of survival and he’s doing it with the help of his wife. Over the past nine years, Amram’s wife Sandra Brick has been collaborating with her husband, creating pieces of art to help visually tell his story….

Superior Mayor Asks City Councilor to Resign After Domestic Violence Incident

Graham Garfield is Facing Criminal Charges for the Incident

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Superior Mayor Jim Paine publicly demanded Councilor Graham Garfield to resign from his position on the Superior City council. Garfield is facing criminal charges after an alleged domestic violence incident on Friday. According to court documents Garfield allegedly bit his fiancée on the top of the head, and pointed a gun at her. As the Mayor, Paine doesn’t…

Man Extradited to Douglas County for Connection to New Years Homicide in Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. – On January 9, 2017, an arrest warrant for Jamar Maurice Smith was issued in Douglas County, according to Douglas County District Attorney, Mark Fruehauf. Smith is being charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and misdemeanor bail jumping in connection with an incident that occurred on New Years Day in Superior, Wisconsin outside the…