Minnesota

Couples Celebrate Love, Learn about Animals at Lake Superior Zoo’s ‘Best Date Ever’

Adults could sign up for 11 different tours going behind the scenes.

DULUTH, Minn.- Love was in the air this weekend even at Lake Superior Zoo and dozens of couples felt it at the zoo’s best date ever event. Adults could sign up for 11 different tours going behind the scenes of their Bear County exhibit and their Animal Care Center and glimpsing into unique animal experiences like checking out the nocturnal…

Second Saturday Marketplace Showcases Local Female Artists, Crafters

Roughly a dozen vendors were there at the Spirit of the Lake Community School in Duluth and some change at each marketplace.

DULUTH, Minn.- Local female-owned businesses shined as the Nice Girls of the North’s Monthly Marketplace returned. The Second Saturday Marketplace showcases the work of local female artists and crafters. Roughly a dozen vendors were there at the Spirit of the Lake Community School in Duluth and some change at each marketplace. Organizers say while shopping small local businesses is always…

Duluth Pack Supports Head of Lakes Fair United Way’s ‘Experience Auction’

A daily experience with be released for bid from 6 a-m – 11 p-m daily.

DULUTH, Minn.- Two local organizations are once again partnering up to give back to the community this year. Duluth Pack is once again supporting Head of the Lakes Fair United Way’s 100-Day Experience Auction. The auction runs for 100 days through May 11th. A daily experience with be released for bid from 6 a-m – 11 p-m daily. Duluth Pack…

‘If the Dress Fits’ Back with Prom Dress Giveaway

They only ask they pay $10 for an appointment, as they have a new “dress garage” location in Carlton they need some help heating.

CARLTON, Minn.- Finding a prom dress can be stressful for many families, not to mention costly. But one local mother-daughter duo is back helping with that. Amy Arntson and her daughter founded “If the Dress Fits” 7 years ago, providing free prom dresses to hundreds of teens across the northland. After taking a break due to the pandemic, they’re back…

Cleveland-Cliffs to Temporarily Idle Northshore Mining

SILVER BAY, Minn. – Cleveland-Cliffs announced on Friday it is idling its Northshore Mining in Silver Bay including both of the pellet and mining operations this spring. Cliffs Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Patricia Persico says the operations will be idled from May 1 through the fall of 2022. Northshore Mining employs roughly 430 hourly employees and 150 salaried employees….

Downtown Duluth Library Worker Assaulted, Highlights Years-Long Safety Concerns By Staff

Mayor Emily Larson's administration is expediting plans to create two "Library Safety Specialist" positions to tackle the problem better.

DULUTH, Minn. – Staff at Duluth’s downtown main library tell FOX 21’s Dan Hanger safety and security concerns are at a boiling point after a second employee was recently assaulted on the job.  This time, a punch to the face after the worker asked a patron to put on his mask. While physical violence at the downtown library has never…

Duluth Exploring Ways to Continue Drawing Film Industry to the Northland

Experts talked about the economic impact of productions shot locally, and how to keep the lights, camera and action here as much as possible, instead of pricier Los Angeles.

DULUTH, Minn. — Movie making in the Northland was the focus of a round table discussion Thursday hosted by the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. Experts talked about the economic impact of productions shot locally, and how to keep the lights, camera and action here as much as possible, instead of pricier Los Angeles. Just in the last year local…

Vax Mandate Lifted in Minneapolis, St. Paul

(FOX 9) – Minneapolis and St. Paul have both announced they have lifted a mandate requiring either proof of vaccine or proof of negative test when entering an establishment that serves food or drinks. The vaccine mandate in Minneapolis and St. Paul went into effect on January 19 and ends today. The mask mandate in both cities remains in place….

City Crews Responding to Another Water Main Break at Mt. Royal Shopping Circle

DULUTH, Minn. – City of Duluth Utility Operations crews are responding to another water main break in Kenwood. The break was reported Thursday afternoon and is located at the Mt. Royal Shopping Circle. Crews responded to a water main break at this address on Tuesday but say this break is in a different location. City officials say water has been…

School Bus Driver Shot in Minneapolis, Children Not Injured

(courtesy: Fox 9) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Authorities say a school bus driver was expected to survive after being shot in the head in Minneapolis while transporting young children. The driver was wounded Wednesday afternoon while on his or her bus route. City officials say three children younger than 10 were on board and were not physically hurt. The driver has…

Duluth Public Library Purchases Virtual Reality Devices

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Public Library was just able to purchase a new interactive device they can’t wait to share with the public. An anonymous donation to the library foundation has allowed them to purchase three virtual reality devices. A Senior Library Technician tells us, these devices have allowed her to connect with other people in the country over…

Duluth Mask Mandate Set To Expire

"We are now moving not towards ending this pandemic, but finding ways to co-exist with it,” Duluth Mayor Emily Larson said.

DULUTH, Minn. — With the Duluth mask mandate ending Saturday, businesses are looking forward to serving their community face to face, once again. “We are now moving not towards ending this pandemic, but finding ways to co-exist with it,” Duluth Mayor Emily Larson said. The past 30 days, Duluth has had to mask up in attempts of trying to slow…

Mayor Larson to End Duluth’s Mask Mandate on Saturday

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Emily Larson announced at a Wednesday press conference that she will allow the local state of emergency declaration and face-covering requirement to end on Saturday. “This declaration expires at 5:00 pm on February 12, and I am not extending it,” Mayor Larson said. “I have based this decision on conversations with health care providers and…

1 Juror Dismissed From Federal Trial in George Floyd Killing

(Cedric Hohnstadt via AP, File) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The judge overseeing the federal trial of three former officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights has dismissed a juror because his son is ill. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson on Wednesday replaced the juror in the trial of  J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao with one…

Journalists Settle Suit Over Mistreatment Covering Protests

(AP Photo/John Minchillo) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The state of Minnesota has agreed to pay $825,000 and change several policies to settle a lawsuit brought by journalists who say they were hurt or harassed while covering protests over the police killings of George Floyd and Daunte Wright. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and the state’s Department of Public Safety…

Fatal Accident at 3M Plant in Alexandria Investigated

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. (AP) – An investigation is underway into a fatal accident at a 3M plant in western Minnesota. Authorities in Alexandria say a female employee got caught in some machinery Tuesday during an overnight shift. The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration is trying to determine how the worker became trapped. A statement from company officials at 3M’s headquarters…

$19 Million in Federal Infrastructure Funding Awarded to Port of Duluth-Superior

It's one of the first grants to go out for ports as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act enacted in November.

DULUTH, Minn.- Millions of federal dollars are now going toward shoring up and improving the infrastructure of the Port of Duluth-Superior. It’s one of the first grants to go out for ports as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act enacted in November. The act awards $19 million the Senator says to ensure the biggest port on all…

Business at Local Flower Shops Blooming Ahead of Valentine’s Day

The owner of the Rose Man on Central Entrance says in a typical Valentine's Day week she can sell upward of 12,000 flowers.

DULUTH, Minn.- With Valentine’s Day less than a week away local flower shops are seeing more business. The owner of the Rose Man on Central Entrance says in a typical Valentine’s Day week she can sell upward of 12,000 flowers. But this year, she says due to the supply chain shortage her wholesalers are sending her fewer flowers per box….

Warm Winter Day Makes Ely Winter Festival Snow Sculptures Shine

The almost month-long event includes an art walk, ice fishing tournament, and broomball competition.

ELY, Minn.- A fan-favorite Northern Minnesota festival is back showing off all the things you can do in, and with, the snow. The big snow sculptures are back in town marking the return of the Ely Winter Festival. The almost month-long event includes an art walk ice fishing tournament and broomball competition. But with the warmer sunny day Tuesday even…

Warm Day Fills Tommy’s Express Car Wash with More than Thousand Vehicles

They say even though they use water heated up to 120 degrees and 18 blowers to dry the car people still feel better coming in on days where the water is less likely to freeze on their vehicles.

DULUTH, Minn.- That warmer air and melting snow had people anxious to wash off months of winter. On warmer days like Tuesday the folks at Tommy’s Express Car Wash on Central Entrance can get more than 1,000 cars coming through a day with more than 100 an hour. They say even though they use water heated up to 120 degrees…

City of Duluth Looking to Fill 25 Openings on Boards, Commissions

DULUTH, Minn.- The City of Duluth is looking for a couple dozen people to fill open positions on city-run boards, commissions, and authorities. There are currently 25 openings, some of them carried over from the year before, but a majority are due to staffing changes after the New Year. Vacancies include one on the Indigenous Commission, one on the Parks…

U Of M Ending COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate For Athletic Events

(University of Minnesota) DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota has announced it will end its vaccine mandate Wednesday for large campus and athletic events. This includes UMD men’s and women’s hockey and basketball games. The policy had been in place since Jan. 26, but in a letter from U of M President Joan Gabel Tuesday, she credits a decrease…

Mayor Emily Larson To Provide Emergency Declaration Update Tomorrow

DULUTH, Minn. – Mayor Emily Larson says she will provide an update tomorrow on the local state of emergency and face-covering requirement that went into effect on January 14. “I will be providing an update tomorrow at noon virtually regarding the emergency declaration that is in effect until February 12, 2022,” Mayor Emily Larson said. “I have been talking to…

Two Arrested in Duluth Drug Bust

DULUTH, Minn. – Two men were arrested last week after authorities found weapons and 57 grams of methamphetamine during a search warrant at a residence in Lincoln Park. According to a Tuesday news release, the Duluth Police Department, Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant just before 3:00 p.m….

Amir Locke’s Cousin Arrested in Probe That Led to Fatal Raid

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Authorities arrested Amir Locke’s 17-year-old cousin in connection with the homicide investigation that led police to the Minneapolis apartment where a SWAT team officer fatally shot Locke while conducting a search warrant. The St. Paul Police Department said Tuesday on Twitter that the teen was arrested Monday afternoon in the southeastern Minnesota city of Winona. He was…

Duluth Opens City’s First-Ever Permanent Warming Center in Lincoln Park

The facility in the basement of the Lincoln Park Community Center on West 3rd Street includes 3 showers and handicap-accessible restrooms

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth opened its first-ever permanent warming center Monday, located in Lincoln Park. While acknowledging the major step forward in bringing more people across the city inside from the cold, advocates said this new facility barely scratches the surface of housing the 600+ people without a permanent place to live in Duluth right now. “It is good to have…

Hibbing PD Chooses Winning Name For New K-9

HIBBING, Minn. — The Hibbing Police Department has a name for its new K-9 who will work in electronic detection. Meet Dottie, the chosen name for this beautiful 2-year-old black lab who is completing K-9 training in Indiana. The winning name was picked out of more than 400 ideas sent in by the community. The police department says the meaning…

‘Unity Fund’ Launches In Twin Ports To Strengthen African Heritage Communities

To celebrate Black History Month, the Unity Fund has launched in the Twin Ports to help strengthen African Heritage communities through current and future projects. The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation and the Ordean Foundation are supporting the fund by each matching up to $50,000 in donations. Organizers say it’s critical to acknowledge racism and our nation’s dark history with…

Majority of Jobs Lost During Pandemic Recovered, Twin Ports Employers Still Short on Labor, Officials Say

So employers have been trying to make themselves more appealing. For example, wages have gone up 10% on average.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Twin Ports job market is headed in the right direction. That’s according to Duluth Workforce Development officials, who say 76% of the jobs lost since the pandemic began have been recovered. But according to the Director of Workforce Development, Elena Foshay, every industry is still experiencing labor shortages with about 2 jobs per seeker for each field….

Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines To Merge

DENVER, Colo. – Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines announced a merger on Monday in a $2.9 billion cash-and-stock deal that would create the fifth-largest airline in the United States, making Spirit Airlines’ stock soar on Wall Street. Frontier Group Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Frontier, is buying Spirit in a deal valued at $6.6 billion when accounting for the…

Trial of 3 Cops in Floyd Killing To Resume After COVID Pause

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s rights is expected to resume after it was paused because one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19. The court never said which defendant had the coronavirus, but J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were in court the day the trial…

Amir Locke Protesters Seek Acting Police Chief’s Resignation

(courtesy: Fox 9) MINNEAPOLIS – A caravan of vehicles drove through Minneapolis demanding justice in the death of Amir Locke, the 22-year old Black man who was fatally shot by Minneapolis police as officers served a no-knock search warrant. Sunday’s caravan of about 50 vehicles was organized by the Racial Justice Network and other police accountability groups. Some in the…

Chester Bowl Celebrates 54th Alpine Races with 93 Competitors, $30K Donation

Orthopedic Associates in Duluth donated a check of $30,000 for the Chester Bowl Improvement Club to use on programs and outdoor and indoor infrastructure.

DULUTH, Minn.- While Olympic skiers took to the slopes in Beijing Sunday, some younger athletes tackled the slopes at Chester Bowl in Duluth, for the 54th Annual Kiwanis Alpine Ski Races. “To see the energy of all the kids out here ready go fast on their skis and snowboards so much fun,” said Dave Schaeffer, Chester Bowl Director. The 93…

Charges Still Pending In Duluth’s First Homicide Of 2022

Ryan Roessler DULUTH, Minn. – Charges are still pending in Duluth’s first homicide of the year that happened almost one month ago. St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki told FOX 21 her office is still waiting on the medical examiner’s report involving 42-year-old Ryan Roessler’s death. Maki said the investigation remains open and active. Roessler was killed after getting punched…

Duluth YMCA Bans Official, Stands with Girl Wearing ‘Black Lives Matter’ Swimsuit

An independent volunteer race official claimed the 12-year-old's suit went against USA Swimming's policy of no political language. The YMCA said that was inappropriate.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Duluth YMCA has banned an independent volunteer official from all future swim meets after that person nearly disqualified a young girl for wearing a swimsuit sporting the words “Black Lives Matter” at an event at Superior High School Sunday. “I was like, why do I have to take my suit off if like my life matter, other…

Mayor’s Office, Reception Room Renovated, More Secure

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 got a first look inside the newly renovated Mayor’s Reception Room and Mayor’s Office at Duluth City Hall. For decades, the Reception Room was dark and very outdated from the 60s or 70s, according to Mayor Emily Larson.  But now, it’s looking brighter with improved lighting and sound for press events, a fresh coat of…

Snowmobiling Blizzard Tour Raises More Than $1.5 Million To Support Those With ALS

PROCTOR, Minn. — The Black Woods Blizzard Tour just raised more than $1.5 million to support the needs of those diagnosed with ALS. The three-day snowmobiling ride ran from this past Thursday through Saturday. Riders go up to Lake Vermillion, then over to Two Harbors and Proctor. Participants must raise or donate the money, and they clearly have a lot…

Lundeen Productions, Women’s Expo Hold Hygiene Drive for Safe Haven

DULUTH, Minn. — With the Women’s Expo coming up in 2 weeks, Lundeen Productions is bringing back their hygiene drive to help support the Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center. Women, children and sometimes their pets, seek out the services of Safe Haven to escape the threat of at-home abuse or violence. 2020 was the last time Lundeen Productions held…