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Improvements to Chester Park Playground Honor Late Barry Family

DULUTH, Minn. — “Today we are recognizing the contributions of family and friends who contributed, donated, fundraised to make improvements to the Chester Park playground in honor and memory of the Barry family,” said Jessica Peterson, Duluth Parks and Recreation Manager. The lives of the Sean, Rianna, Shiway, and Sadie Barry were tragically taken, along with their dog in April…

Childcare Grants for Providers in Superior and Douglas County

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The City of Superior has established a grant program that can provide up to $10,000 for childcare providers in the city to use for capital projects. These projects should enhance the overall quality, safety, and accessibility of the childcare facilities.  Douglas County childcare providers can receive up to $5,000 for capital projects. On Saturday, September 30 the…

Charges Filed in Rustic Bar Brawl

DULUTH, Minn.  — The Duluth Police Department has completed its investigation into the bar fight that occurred at the Rustic Bar in West Duluth on September 12th. You may recall that a 39-year-old woman was beaten by two men in the bar after she had a confrontation with another woman. According to a news release from the police department, the…

Open House About Plans for New Downtown Library

DULUTH, Minn. — The vision for a new multi-million-dollar Downtown Duluth Library is continuing to take shape. Thursday, the Duluth Library Foundation held an open house for the community to learn more about the proposal. The cost to demolish the current library on west Superior Street and replace with a new one is estimated around $72 million dollars. The city…

Spirit Mountain Summer Season Recap

DULUTH, Minn. — The summer season has wrapped up for Spirit Mountain and soon it will be their busy winter season. The mountain’s interim executive director says summer revenue is about a third of their earned revenue. Summer activities have grown over the years with more mountain bike trails added and being one of 6 gold rides declared by the…

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein Of California, An Advocate For Liberal Priorities, Dies At Age 90

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a centrist Democrat who was elected to the Senate in 1992 in the “Year of the Woman” and broke gender barriers throughout her long career in local and national politics, has died. She was 90. Feinstein died on Thursday night at her home in Washington, D.C., her office confirmed on Friday. President Joe…

Hail is Not a Huge Concern for the Growing Solar Industry in the Northland

DULUTH, Minn. — In recent years, solar panels have increased in popularity as an alternative energy source for homes, businesses and power companies here in the Northland.  However, as we try to capture energy that is produced in nature, the weather itself can cause the greatest setbacks. This past summer, there were reports across the country of solar panels being…

WI Senator Explores Minnesota’s Cannabis Legalization Success

A Wisconsin senator is exploring Minnesota’s cannabis legalization efforts in hopes of changing the law in the state. Sen. Melissa Agard, a democrat from Madison, visited Minnesota lawmakers Thursday to talk about their successes around legalizing marijuana. Sen. Agard released a statement saying in part: “Visiting with neighboring legislators who led the charge to legalize cannabis in Minnesota was invigorating….

Bentleyville’s 128-Foot Iconic Tree Struck By Vandals

DULUTH, Minn. — Disappointment from the crew at Bentleyville Tour of Lights, which has become victim again to vandals before it’s even set up for the season. Vandals destroyed thousands of dollars of cords and equipment from the 128-foot Bentleyville tree. Crews noticed the damage while starting to set up Bayfront for the popular display. The tree structure was stored…

Eight Duluth Busineses to Receive $3,500 to Help Revitalize Downtown and Canal Park

DULUTH, Minn. –More than a half-dozen downtown Duluth businesses have landed storefront grants of $3,500 each. The grants are designed to improve the lighting, storefront, and patio space of the businesses to help revitalize downtown. The companies receiving the grants are Dubh Linn Pub; Anchor’s End Tattoo, Rabbit, Bird & Bear; Duluth Coffee; Joseph Nease Gallery; Hamilton Monroe & Co.;…

St. Luke’s and United Steelworkers Local 9460 Reach Tentataive Agreement

  DULUTH, Minn. — St. Luke’s has announced that it and United Steelworkers Local 9460 (USW) have reached a tentative contract agreement. The agreement covers technical workers at St. Luke’s. The USW will bring the tentative one-year contract to its approximately 140 members for their vote in the near future. In a statement on its website, USW Local 9460 said…

Lake Superior Area Realtors Host Housing Forum For City Of Duluth Candidates

DULUTH, Minn. — Lake Superior Area Realtors hosted a housing forum for City of Duluth candidates Wednesday. Over 10 candidates participated including both mayoral candidates Emily Larson and Roger Reinert. Topics included housing affordability, rent, homelessness, among others. The forum is a way for the community to learn more about each candidate and their plans for housing in Duluth. “Lake…

Minnesota Governor Walz Visits Iron Range To Highlight Investments

IRON RANGE, Minn. — Wednesday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz visited the Iron Range to highlight a few state investments. Walz first stopped by the Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing, a Hibbing company that is expanding and bringing more jobs to the community. The next stop was in Chisholm to visit a construction site for a new public safety center. Walz signed the…

Keewatin Man Dead After Crash Involving Commercial Vehicle

MOUNTAIN IRON, Minn. — One man is dead after colliding into a commercial vehicle in Mountain Iron Thursday morning. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened around 6 a.m. on Park Ridge Drive at the MinnTac entrance. A 28-year-old man driving a commercial vehicle carrying hazardous materials was traveling west. 44-year-old Kevin Jurek of Keewatin was driving…

Longtime Grandma’s Marathon Employee Retires

DULUTH, Minn. — A Grandma’s Marathon Director retires after an illustrious 40-year career. When Linda Hanson announced her retirement from Grandma’s Marathon, Executive Director Shane Bauer knew it would be difficult to fill her shoes. She officially served as the Finance and Operations Director, but Bauer says she did much more. She planned and organized the Michelina’s Spaghetti Dinner, which…

Coffee Conversation: St. Luke’s Discusses Importance of Healthy Aging

DULUTH, Minn. — September is healthy aging month, a nationwide observance dedicated to empowering older adults by promoting the positive features of aging. St. Luke’s Family Medicine Physician Dr. Addie Vittorio joined FOX21 on the newscast on Thursday to talk about the importance of people taking control of their health as they age. A few things Dr. Vittorio highlighted include; prioritizing a…

Council Approves Wage Increase for Duluth Firefighters

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Firefighters Local 101 is feeling some relief after finding out firefighters will receive a wage increase the start of the upcoming year. The Duluth city council passed a resolution Monday for an 8% market\-rate adjustment for the firefighters. This was in response to a study finding their pay came in last for fire departments in the…

Train Collides Crashes Into Logging Truck In St. Louis County

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — A truck driver was recovering from his injuries Wednesday after being struck by a train in Ault Township. The accident happened around noon Wednesday in the 1800 block of Brimson Road. When deputies arrived, logs were all over the roadway and tracks. The 57-year-old semi driver from Two Harbors was taken to St. Luke’s in…

Duluth’s Goodwill Rebrands As ‘True North’

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth organization over 100 years old is getting a facelift with a rebrand. True North Goodwill is what they are calling it. It is to bring the organization to the forefront of shopper’s minds in the region. As part of the rebrand they celebrated the opening of their career navigation center, a place to find a…

Coffee Conversation: 24th Annual Lester River Rendezvous in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — The 24th Annual Lester River Rendezvous will take place this weekend (9/30) in the heart of Lester Park. Committee Chair Lindsey Whitlinger joined FOX21 on the morning newscast Wednesday to talk about the event and its purpose. The fall festival will feature a range of vendor booths, food, fun and a rewarding school program that offers a…

Cirrus Aircraft Opens New Innovation Center

DULUTH, Minn. — Cirrus Aircraft is celebrating the grand opening of its 189,000 square foot Innovation Center. Located at the Duluth International Airport the new building includes new state of the art facilities. Those include a test lab, material and processes lab, new equipment and testing capabilities, and collaborative workspaces. It also includes more jobs with 30 engineers and technicians…

Working Together For the Benefit of Humans and Trout

NEAR ASHLAND, Wisc. — The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act provided $40 million dollars to increase and expand the scope of infrastructure updates. The Forest Service turned to Trout Unlimited, one of its oldest and strongest partnerships to help restore watersheds, streams, and habitat. “We sat down with Trout Unlimited and created a national agreement, our largest…

Duluth Council Reluctantly Approves $1M Loan For DECC

DULUTH, Minn. – The DECC is getting its $1 million safety loan from the city of Duluth, but councilors don’t want it to happen again. DECC Exec. Dir. Dan Hartman has said the entertainment venue’s current business model needs to be reimagined. Hartman has been the DECC’s new leader since 2021. He said the DECC’s reserves are at around $891,000,…

ISD 709 Calls For Patience Amid Investigation Into Football Coach

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth School District is asking for the community’s patience as it continues to investigate Duluth East head football coach Joe Hietala. Duluth police said Hietala was asked to leave school grounds Saturday morning after complaints by parents and staff that he was “intoxicated.” Police confirmed he had “signs of impairment.” Hietala voluntarily left on foot without…

Duluth Standoff Ends, Suspect Dead From Apparent ‘Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound’

8:30 P.M. Update:  “Tactical Response Team and Crisis Negotiations Team responded on scene and attempted to make contact with the involved individual. After multiple failed attempts, members of TRT made entry into the residence and located the individual with what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The name of the individual will be released once next of kin has…

Judge Rules Donald Trump Defrauded Banks, Insurers While Building Real Estate Empire

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House. Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling in a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing…

Damiano Center In Need Of Winter Clothing Donations As Weather Cools Down

DULUTH, Minn. — A local organization that offers free meals, clothing, and other programs to people in need are asking for the community’s help. The Damiano Center in Duluth is seeking winter clothes ahead of the cooler months. That includes jackets, hats, scarves, socks, boots, and anything that can help someone stay warm. There are 2 clothing programs at the…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Cider’s 5th Annual Big Bad Apple Bash

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Cider is cheers-ing to five years of cider making with its Annual Big Bad Apple Bash of Saturday, September 30. Duluth Cider Owner Jake Scott joined FOX21 on the morning newscast Tuesday to talk about the celebration and its purpose. Bring your apples and your appetite, your friends and your family, your doggo and your dancing…

Coffee Conversation: ‘Ready North’ Helps Homeowners/Renters Prepare in Case of Disaster

DULUTH, Minn. –With the recent rain and flooding in Duluth and surrounding areas, the Ready North network is reminding renters and homeowners to be prepared in case of disaster. Members Karen Sunderman and Dan Williams joined FOX21 on the morning newscast Tuesday to talk about the mission and purpose of Ready North. September also marks National Disaster Preparedness month, coinciding…

Grandma’s Miller Hill Restaurant Mops Up After Weekend Flooding

DULUTH, Minn. – The staff at Grandma’s Restaurant up by the Miller Hill Mall spent the day mopping up Monday after flood waters moved inside Sunday. Water surrounds the restaurant along Mall Drive Sunday. Tony Boen, the restaurant’s director of operations, said the staff started getting chairs and other items off the floor Sunday morning when they saw the water…

Sawyer County Deputy Arrested, Accused Of Domestic Abuse

A Sawyer County Sheriff’s Deputy is under arrest and accused of domestic abuse, according to Sheriff Doug Mrotek. Mrotek issued a news release Monday that said his office learned of the allegations against Schick on Sept. 21. Due to the nature of the allegations, Mrotek said he handed the investigation over to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators in Polk…

City of Duluth Responds to Flash Flooding

DULUTH, Minn. — One day after heavy rainfall caused flooding and washed out roads in and around Duluth, officials lined up for a press event, saying the damage couldn’t have been much worse. Duluth saw flash flooding that it hasn’t seen since the Northland flash flood of 2012. Since then the city established more flood defense which remained resilient after…

Lahaina Residents Begin Returning To Sites Of Homes Destroyed By Deadly Wildfire

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Some Lahaina residents returned to their devastated properties Monday for the first time since the Hawaii town was destroyed by wildfire nearly seven weeks ago. The prospect of returning has stirred strong emotions in residents who fled in vehicles or on foot as the wind-whipped flames raced across Lahaina, the historic capital of the former Hawaiian kingdom, and overcame people…

Trump Argues First Amendment Protects Him From ‘Insurrection’ Cases Aimed At Keeping Him Off Ballot

DENVER (AP) — Attorneys for former President Donald Trump argue that an attempt to bar him from the 2024 ballot under a rarely used “insurrection” clause of the Constitution should be dismissed as a violation of his freedom of speech. The lawyers made the argument in a filing posted Monday by a Colorado court in the most significant of a series of challenges to…

Search Planned For Missing Bemidji Teen Who Disappeared Two Years Ago

BEMIDJI, Minn. (FOX 9) – Indigenous groups and law enforcement are working together to conduct a large-scale search for evidence in the disappearance of Nevaeh Kingbird. Kingbird went missing back in Oct. 2021, when she was seen leaving a party and then leaving a second location an hour later. According to Bemidji police, Kingbird’s disappearance started as a runaway case. The investigation intensified…

Police: Duluth East Football Coach ‘Displayed Signs Of Impairment’, Placed On Leave

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth East High School’s longtime head football coach, Joe Hietala, has been placed on administrative leave due to what the district calls “alleged violations of our polices and ethics.” The district said Coach Hietala, who had been in that position since 2002, will be prohibited from participating in any coaching activities, attending team events, or having any…