DULUTH, Minn. — Ben Burns joined the FOX21 team in August 2023 as a Weekend Anchor / Sports Reporter. Burns came on the morning newscast Tuesday to talk about how he got his start in Wisconsin, his role in sports broadcasting today, and the latest headlines in Northland athletics. If you have a sports inquiry, email bburns@kqdsfox21.tv. Categories: Coffee Conversation,…
DULUTH, Minn. — With Halloween just around the corner, the Family Freedom Center: Neighborhood Youth Services is preparing to host its fourth annual Trunk-Or-Treat event. Operations Director Pez Davila joined FOX21 on the morning newscast to talk about this years event and how its grown. Trunk-Or-Treat is taking place on October 28 from 12-4 pm at the Lake City Parking…
DULUTH, Minn. — Former two-term Duluth Mayor Don Ness publicly endorsed Emily Larson for a third term Monday. Ness posted on social media saying Duluth is lucky to have “two good candidates” to choose from Nov. 7. He called Larson’s opponent, Roger Reinert, a friend but said Larson has a better understanding of the city’s operational realities and knows how…
DULUTH, Minn. — St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki has named her first-ever Deputy County Attorney to help manage all operations of her office in four locations. Veteran prosecutor Jon Holets has prosecuted high-profile cases for the county, like former Last Place on Earth owner Jim Carlson. Holets will now oversee personnel actions, coordination with law enforcement, the courts, and…
DULUTH, Minn. — A historic halt in seaway operations has sent a ripple effect throughout the system, including the Duluth-Superior Port. “Definitely a cascading series of effects throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system. It’s a system that it prides itself on reliability. And right now that reliability is being impaired by this unfortunate issue,” said Jayson Hron, communications…
TWO HARBORS, Minn, — Local solar panel installation company Wolf Track Energy announced Monday that they have merged with Real Solar out of Backus Minnesota. Each of these companies have been around less than 10 years with Two Harbors-based Wolf Track Energy starting in 2018. The merge comes as solar power continues to increase in popularity as a renewable energy…
VIRGINIA, Minn. — Two people have been arrested after a burglary in Virginia ended with a dog shot to death. The Virginia Police Department says at 4:13 a.m. on Friday police were dispatched to a burglary on the 600 block of 15th Street North. A 25-year-old woman and 24-year-old man had entered the house wearing black face masks. The man…
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A 31-year-old dog in Portugal that had been ranked as the world’s oldest dog ever has died, his owner said Monday. The guard dog, called Bobi, died over the weekend in a veterinary hospital, Leonel Costa told The Associated Press. Bobi lived on a farm in the village of Conqueiros in Portugal with Costa and four cats. He…
DULUTH, Minn. — On Monday, Duluth Public Schools Superintendent John Magas joined FOX21 on the morning newscast ahead of the Future Forward 709 Referendum vote on 11/7. The referendum vote is in regards to a $7.9 million plan to protect and progress mental and academic support for students, the ability to offer a diverse range of class options and access…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Northern Spotlight Theatre presents musical comedy “Zombies from the Beyond” at the Denfeld High School Lecture Hall, October 26-28. Music Director Steve Solkela, Director Miranda Stachowtcz and Performer Keely Waechter joined FOX21 live on the morning newscast ahead of the showcase. Zombies from the Beyond is a tribute to the cheap, 1950s sci-fi movies with tongue-in-cheek…
DULUTH, Minn. — Harbor Drive behind the DECC is temporarily closing for the next 12 months. It’s all part of the seawall-waterfront reconstruction project. Crews will work through the winter to build the new seawall. When all is said and done in early 2025, the public space between the wall and the DECC will be transformed into a new plaza…
(FOX 21/FOX 9) – It’s been more than three decades since 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was kidnapped at gunpoint while riding his bike home from a Minnesota convenience store. And now, Jacob’s mother, Patty, is putting pen to paper to honor her son’s life. Patty will make a stop at Fitger’s Tuesday, Oct. 24, as part of her book release, “Dear…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth International Airport has announced direct flights from Duluth to Phoenix are not returning this winter. But Sun Country service is returning with direct service to Fort Myers, Florida. The non-stop flights will start back up Feb. 2 and end April 24. Sun Country service to Fort Myers will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays….
WUORI TOWNSHIP, Minn. – A fatal two-vehicle collision in Wuori Township involved alcohol and cannabis, according to preliminary charges on the St. Louis County Jail’s roster. The driver under arrest is a 38-year-old Virginia man. FOX 21 does not normally name suspects until they are formally charged. The crash happened around 8 p.m. Saturday on northbound Highway 169. The Minnesota…
DULUTH, Minn. — One day dedicated to cats, one day dedicated to dogs. The annual Subaru Love-a-Pet adoption event introduced people to their new family members. “We always love this event because it’s so successful and we see a lot of animals that have been long term find homes in Duluth,” said Isabel Glover, Babinski Foundation Marketing Coordinator. Multiple animal…
DULUTH, Minn. — UMD students got outside Saturday to plant 1000 bulbs of garlic on the school farm. The UMD Land Lab is just north of campus and has 10 acres of farmland. The farm helps educate students about food and agriculture, while giving them hands on experience. Produce such as carrots, cabbage and broccoli are grown at the Land…
DULUTH, Minn. — One of Duluth’s most popular destinations is preparing for the cold months ahead. Roses in the Rose Garden in Leif Erikson Park need to go through a process called rose tipping, which protects the flowers during winter conditions. The public is invited to assist in rose tipping Monday, October 23, from noon to 3 P.M. No experience…
DULUTH, Minn. — Nothing says fall quite like a pumpkin patch, and for some people in Duluth Friday, they had quite the ride to the field of picking. The Great Pumpkin Train is back in Duluth for this weekend only. The fall tradition, put on by the North Shore Scenic Railroad, features a 90-minute ride from the depot to and…
DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health is helping further the education of medical students. The hospital is donating medical equipment to UMD’s Medical School for students to use in simulation labs. All the equipment was used at the old St. Mary’s and will give the students access to the latest technology helping them further their education. “It is up to date,…
CLOQUET, Minn. — The fall fun continues at the Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet this weekend. The Volunteer Service Organization or VSO is hosting the Fall Vendor and Craft Fair. Proceeds from the event will help with scholarships and various items for the hospital. This is the third year of the craft fair, and the president of VSO says it…
DULUTH, Minn. — There’s a new opera in town and it’s showcasing the adventure of speed dating. Lyric Opera of the North is kicking off their season with a fun packed popular opera. The opera will be at Clyde Iron Works for two days, this Sunday evening at 4:00 P.M. and Monday night at 7:30 P.M. Lyric Opera of the…
DULUTH, Minn. — A silent vigil at the Minnesota Power Plaza this afternoon was held by the group ‘Women in Black’ in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. Dozens of people, the vast majority dressed in black, were there in support of a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. Additionally, they demand that humanitarian aid be allowed into Gaze to save…
DULUTH, Minn. –It’s been nearly two months since the Duluth Transit Authority made major changes to its system. It added two new “GO” routes and consolidated many of its local stops. On October 29 the DTA will announce updates to its system. But, it’s not been Easy Street. Detours and keeping track of where the detours are have been a…
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump was fined $5,000 on Friday after a disparaging social media post about a key court staffer in his New York civil fraud case lingered on his campaign website for weeks after the judge ordered it deleted. Judge Arthur Engoron avoided holding Trump in contempt, for now, but reserved the right to do…
(AP) — Israel is bombarding Gaza and evacuating a sizable town near the Lebanese border in the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Israel’s defense minister has ordered troops to prepare to see Gaza “from the inside,” hinting at a ground offensive aimed at crushing Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers. Aid shipments badly needed…
DULUTH, Minn. — If you enjoy looking at all the Halloween decorations that are out this time of year, you may want to make a visit to Pier B resort for a spooktacular sight. Right now, they have a couple of freshly carved giant pumpkins out front as part of their Halloween display. One of them is over 1500 pounds. …
ASHLAND, Wis. — Two brothers from Mexico were shot and killed in Ashland Saturday, and now their family is trying to get their bodies home to be buried. 30-year-old Manuel Garcia and his 27-year-old brother, Luis, were visiting a third brother who lives in Ashland. The two were shot and killed early Saturday morning. Manuel’s wife is still in Ashland….
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes on Thursday, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, and the country’s defense minister told ground troops to “be ready” to invade, though he didn’t say when. Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities…
DULUTH, Minn. — The University of MN Duluth, Institute on the Environment and Office of Sustainability are hosting a two day, in person conference, Our Climate Futures, October 23-24, 2023, at the UMD Kirby Student Center. Institute on the Environment Director Julie Etterson and Office of Sustainability Director Jonna Korpi joined FOX21 on the morning newscast Thursday to talk about…
DULUTH, Minn. — Hundreds of firefighters are in Duluth this weekend for the annual state fire chief conference. The event has firetrucks on display, as well as new firefighting technologies. They’re holding educational sessions on leadership, professional development, and safety measures. The fire conference is the largest of it’s kind in the Midwest. MnFIRE is a health and wellness advocacy…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — The dreary day is not stopping a local flower shop owner in Superior from putting a smile on people’s faces. Petal it Forward is an event that Artistic Florals by Leslie has been participating in for a few years now. Leslie spent the morning giving random strangers 2 bouquets of flowers, one meant for the person and…
DULUTH, Minn. — A fitness center focusing on being judgement free and inclusive is now open. Planet Fitness located in Duluth near the Miller Hill Mall offers over 22,000 square feet of fitness. That includes cardio and strength machines, as well as express circuit, tanning beds, and massage chairs. There are over 2,500 locations in the U.S., and this is…
DULUTH, Minn. — Whole Foods Co-op is going a little greener with the completion of a solar array on the rooftop of their Denfeld location. Grocery stores are known for using a high amount of energy through keeping food refrigerated, frozen, or warm, according to an employee at the Co-op. The 145 panels will significantly offset the electricity consumption needed…
One Northland lawmaker held firm in his support of Representative Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House Wednesday, but another moved away from Jordan. Jordan, a Republican lawmaker from Ohio, lost his second vote in his bid to become speaker. On Tuesday, both Minnesota 8th District Congressman Pete Stauber, and Wisconsin 7th District Congressman Tom Tiffany voted for Jordan. Wednesday,…
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — President Joe Biden swept into wartime Israel for a 7 1/2-hour visit Wednesday that produced a heaping dose of support for the Israeli people, a deal to get limited humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt and a warning not to allow rage over the deadly Hamas attack to consume them. “I understand. Many Americans understand,” Biden said…
RICE LAKE, Minn. — Tuesday, loggers were busy preparing trees to be hauled away. The logs aren’t just headed for paper mills and construction sites. It is a joint fundraising effort between St. Louis County and Log-A-Load for Kids. The county is donating the timber and Log-A-Load is doing the heavy-lifting. It will raise funds for children with medical conditions…
DULUTH, Minn. — On Monday night the Duluth City Council voted unanimously to continue the tourism tax for another 30 years. The state legislature had given its okay for the city to continue collecting the tax for three decades. Because it is a tourism tax, the money raised must encourage tourists to come and recreate in Duluth, but the use…
DULUTH, Minn. — The actual Lincoln Park, which is in the Lincoln Park area, had a grand reopening Tuesday. Seven years after the city council adopted the Lincoln Park Mini-Master plan. The plan provided direction for the updating of the park. It was a celebration at the park, which has been referred to as a gem in the park system….
DULUTH, Minn. — 5th grade students at Piedmont Elementary School had the opportunity to expand their scientific minds Tuesday. Clear skies made it possible for the young scientists to launch a weather balloon thousands of feet into the air. Weather balloons take several hours to reach altitudes up to 100,000 feet before they pop and parachute back down to Earth….
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A massive blast rocked a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter Tuesday, killing hundreds of people, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. Hamas blamed an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military said the hospital was hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. The health ministry said at least 500…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans rejected Rep. Jim Jordan for House speaker on a first ballot Tuesday, as an unexpectedly numerous 20 holdouts denied the hard-charging ally of Donald Trump the GOP majority needed to seize the gavel. More voting is expected as Jordan works to shore up support to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy for the job. The House went into recess as the…
DULUTH, Minn. — Now that we are well into the fall months, the weather is noticeably cooler and some of you may be thinking about kicking that furnace out of hibernation. Before you do, local experts recommend giving it a quick visual inspection before turning it on. Whether your furnace vents through PVC pipes or a chimney, make sure they…
Courtesy Duluth Police Department, via Twitter page. DULUTH, Minn. — Tuesday is National Move Over Day and the Duluth Police Department is reminding those out and about to follow this law. The Ted Foss Move Over Law is for any emergency vehicle with its lights activated that may be on the side of the road. It is important for the…
HIBBING, Minn. — A drug bust revealed nearly 5 pounds of methamphetamine at the U.S. Post Office in Hibbing. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says around 4 p.m. on Monday, K9 Murphy who during a narcotics investigation conducted a sniff of a suspicious package that indicated the presence of narcotics. A warrant search of the package revealed about 5…
SUPERIOR, WI. — The North End Nightmare 5K is set to take place on October 28 at 11:00 am in Superior. Grandma’s Marathon Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider joined FOX21 on the morning newscast Tuesday to talk about the event. In coordination with the annual Superior Spooktacular, this event offers participants a mix of scary surprises and haunted…
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth city leaders, the Chamber, project managers and labor representatives were among the many taking the shovel to the dirt Monday for the official start of the seawall-waterfront reconstruction project behind the DECC. Mayor Emily Larson described the area behind the DECC “tired” and “old.” But she said after years of planning, it’s now time for that…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. — The Hermantown YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center put a spin on a hockey classic to raise money for various programs. The YMCA hosted its 3rd annual Chuck-a-Puck event today. People could try their hand at winning prizes donated to the center. Including a mountain bike and many gift cards. Pucks were available for purchase and then…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Sen. Grant Hauschild of Hermantown is announcing what he calls his “Northland Strong” initiative. The DFLer’s District 3 is largely rural. He wants to bring the region together with five key priorities. They include strong families, safe communities, outdoor heritage, an innovative economy, and a state that works. “Making sure that Minnesota works really well for our…
You can’t turn around without hearing about Taylor Swift these days. But she’s not the only performer with hardcore fans. Duluth gets a visit Tuesday night from Dropkick Murphys. Some of you may be saying, “Who?” But others know big songs like “Shipping up to Boston” or “The Boys Are Back.” The group has made quite the name for itself…
CHICAGO (AP) — A 71-year-old Illinois landlord upset over the Israel-Hamas war attacked a Palestinian American woman with a knife when she proposed they “pray for peace” and killed her 6-year-old son, authorities said Monday. The details emerged as Joseph Czuba appeared in court on murder, attempted murder and hate crime charges while the boy’s Muslim family prepared to bury him in the…
