Minnesota

Northland Christmas Trees in Short Supply

Northland Christmas Trees in Short Supply

DULUTH, Minn. — If you’re still looking for a fresh Christmas tree this holiday season you may be out of luck. That’s because after starting to sell them in mid-November, Hoffbauer Tree Farm saw a large rush during the Thanksgiving holiday. Even though they sold the same amount of trees as last year, they sold out by December 11th which…

Depot Hosting ‘Great Hall’ Marketplace

DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Louis County Depot is preparing to host their first-ever Depot Great Hall Marketplace on Saturday. There are over 60 artists and vendors spanning three floors of the depot. Organizers hope to create a lively and festive atmosphere, all to help the local craft community who will be offering attendees a little bit of everything. “From…

Businesses Brace For Last-Minute Holiday Shoppers

DULUTH, Minn. — It’s the last weekend before Christmas, and businesses in Canal Park are bracing for holiday shoppers to come in for their last-minute gifts. Over at Lake Superior Art Glass, they are continuing to host their design your own snowmen and design your own ornaments sessions until the end of the month. The popular events have been bringing…

Duluth Public Library Launches ‘Get Wrapped Up In A Good Book’

DULUTH, Minn. – “Get Wrapped Up In A Good Book” is on display at the Duluth Public Main Library. In the spirit of the holiday season, the display features a selection of wrapped books targeted for teens, with each book giving a small description of what to expect inside. As people walk by the display, library staff encourage visitors to…

December-Soaked Storm Thaws Rinks, Quickens Slopes

While outdoor rinks lost ice to the rain, skiers and snowboarders enjoyed faster slopes.

DULUTH, Minn.- Wednesday night’s unprecedented December thunderstorm froze things to a halt at local outdoor hockey rinks like Duluth Heights, but proved beneficial to skiers and snowboarders. “Warm-ups and stuff like that have taken us out but not rain like that. Not rain where we’re getting thunderstorms and kids are running down in the middle of the night from the…

Babbitt Man Dead After One-Vehicle Crash; ‘Slippery Road’ Contributing Factor

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, Minn. – A 74-year-old Babbitt man is dead after a one-vehicle accident Thursday in Morris Township, and authorities believe it was weather related. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened around 3:30 p.m. on the 1900 block of Highway 21 North. The driver, whose name was not released Thursday, died at the scene.   Nobody else…

Duluth Fire Department Takes Part in Annual Toy Drive

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Fire Department went on a little shopping spree at Target on Thursday to support The Salvation Army and Toyland Express. To make this all happen, they collect money from retired and active firefighters which allows them to help support the community. Every year they eclipse their fundraising goal. This year, they raised nearly $7,000 all…

One Roof Bringing Back Tool Library Program

DULUTH, Minn. — If you have a home project you’re working on, you can borrow the free tools over at One Roof Community Housing. The non-profit is now relaunching its tool lending program. First started back in 2012, one roof is now updating its tool lending library courtesy of a $5,000 grant from the Northland Foundation. The library will have…

ISD 709 Addresses Concern Of School Threats Stemming From Disturbing National TikTok Trend

DULUTH, Minn. — The ISD 709 superintendent is addressing the issue of school threats being made over social media, causing safety concerns for students, parents, and campus staff in the city. In an email sent on Thursday, superintendent John Magas passed along the information that was sent to all school districts in Minnesota from the state’s Department of Public Safety…

Gov. Walz Announces Increased COVID Testing Through the Holidays

DULUTH, Minn. – On Thursday Governor Walz announced an increase of testing capacity in the state’s COVID-19 community testing network in anticipation of increased demand before the holidays. “Holiday gatherings are right around the corner and getting tested before getting together with family is vital to protecting loved ones from COVID-19,” said Governor Walz. “In addition to expanding capacity at these…

Bentleyville to Reopen Thursday Night

DULUTH, Minn. – Bentleyville will be reopening tonight after forecasted inclement weather caused organizers to close the popular holiday lights display Wednesday night. Bentleyville will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday evening. Organizers are reminding visitors to bring food items and toys for the Salvation Army. There was no mention of storm damage to any of the…

Closures, Delays Due to Weather: 12/16

DELAYS The Human Development Center – delayed until 12:00 p.m. All services will still be offered and held via telehealth and telephone until 12:00 p.m. Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank – Mobile Food Pantry Program in Cloquet delayed until Thursday, December 23 from 10:a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Click here for a list of current school closures and delays.  …

Prosecution Rests Case Against Kim Potter in Wright Death

(Court TV via AP, Pool File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors on Thursday rested their case against Kim Potter, the suburban Minneapolis police officer charged in the shooting death of Daunte Wright. After a week of hearing from witnesses called by the prosecution, Potter’s attorneys will get their chance to defend the former Brooklyn Center officer, who they said will take…

Ordean East Middle School Investigates Snapchat Threat Made By Unknown Person

DULUTH, Minn. — An email sent to parents from the Ordean East Middle School administration on Wednesday addressed a threat made over Snapchat reported by multiple students. According to the email, a few students said that they were sent a photo showing guns on Snapchat from a person they didn’t know. The administration said the photo didn’t have a message…

Bentleyville Crews Hunker Down for Windy Winter Storm

Volunteers were out as early as 3 p.m. battening down the Bentleyville hatches, securing signage and some lights with cement blocks so they don't blow away.

DULUTH, Minn.- While forecasters kept their eyes to the sky Wednesday, crews at Bentleyville were hard at work on the ground, preparing the tour of lights in Bayfront Park for its second major storm of the 2021 season, closing for the precipitation and 50 mph wind gusts that are all but expected off Lake Superior. Volunteers were out as early…

Cloquet Police Hope to Stuff Six Squad Cars with Gifts for Kids

After filling 5 squad cars last year, officers hoped to get five and a half or even six stuffed this year with unwrapped toys and gifts for kids ranging from infants to 17-year-olds.

CLOQUET, Minn.- The Cloquet community banded together with law enforcement and Cloquet Salvation Army tonight to fill some squad cars with toys and hopefully some cheer for kids in need. Cloquet P.D. held their 5th annual Stuff the Squad event outside the Walmart and L and M Fleet Supply. After filling 5 squad cars last year, officers hoped to get…

Second Harvest Food Shelf Seeking Volunteers

DULUTH, Minn. — Second Harvest Food Bank is ramping up its food distribution for the holiday season to help more families in need. The food bank says right now, grocery stores are donating less surplus food, and the supply chain issues may be partly to blame. The organization also needs more volunteers to help with food distribution which happens year-round….

Essentia Health Hopes to Double Bentleyville Food Donations

DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health is partnering with Bentleyville in hopes of boosting food donations. Some Essentia employees will be at Bentlyville on Thursday encouraging people to donate as they walk in. The tour of lights usually collects about 300 pounds of nonperishable food items each night. Essentia Health wants to see that number double. “It’s part of our mission and…

Bentleyville Closes Due to Inclement Weather

DULUTH, Minn. – Bentleyville will be closed Wednesday due to forecasted inclement weather. According to Bentleyville’s Facebook page, the popular Tour of Lights display will reopen Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Any changes to the reopening will be posted on its Facebook page or at Bentleyvilleusa.org. Categories: Community, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News

Evictions on the Rise Months After Federal Moratorium Ends

BOSTON (AP) – Housing advocates say evictions are increasing around the country, several months after a federal moratorium was allowed to end. The rise in cases, although below pre-pandemic levels in most states and cities, shows the limits on the tens of billions of dollars in federal assistance and the impact of lax protections in some places. Data collected by…

Surgery Delays Grow at Hospitals Dealing With COVID-19

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota health care systems say surgery delays are growing as coronavirus patients crowd hospitals. Doctors say hospitals have deferred procedures to free up beds, leaving some patients in prolonged pain. Patient demand over the past month has been the highest in the 21 months of the pandemic, according to health care providers. “I’m not sure the public…

Derek Chauvin Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Death of George Floyd

The Guilty Plea Means Chauvin will not Face a Federal Jury Trial in January

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin has pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating George Floyd’s civil rights. Chauvin’s plea Wednesday means he will not face a federal trial in January, though he could end up spending more years behind bars. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted this spring of state murder and manslaughter charges…

Duluth Firefighters Use Unstable Ice, Open Waters For Rescue Training

DULUTH, Minn. – The unstable ice and open waters are creating great conditions for the Duluth Fire Department to train for possible rescues this winter. Firefighters hopped in their rescue suits Tuesday to take advantage of the dicey conditions in a slip in the Duluth Port. Officials said this type of training is crucial to react fast to emergencies on…

GO: Hartley Nature Center

DULUTH, Minn. — The Hartley Nature Center in Duluth is gearing up for the winter season. “A lot of people have discovered the outdoors and really have embraced getting out on the trails and getting outside. It’s one of the things that are safely available to us,” Hartley Nature Center Executive Director, Tom O’Rourke says. While the center is scaling…

Warm Spell Causing Winter Activities to Wait

DULUTH, Minn. — As the Northland continues to experience warmer temperatures, it’s causing a few roadblocks for those who enjoy the winter activities. Minnesotans find plenty of things to keep them busy through the winter, but with the melting going on, it’s made it a bit difficult to do their favorite things like skiing or snowmobiling. “You know its Minnesota,…

With Warm Weather, Caution Urged for Ice Fishermen

DULUTH, Minn. — With the temperatures warming up, ice fishermen may have to wait until the next big freeze before getting back out on the lakes. The DNR recommends 4 inches of ice for walking and 12-15 inches for driving a vehicle on it. Although the fishing conditions have been good for anglers, the warm weather could prove troublesome for…

Peace United Church of Christ Hosts Sandy Hook Vigil

DULUTH, Minn. — The Peace United Church of Christ in Duluth hosted a vigil Tuesday afternoon to remember the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting. The mass shooting took place nine years ago on Tuesday. 26 people lost their lives, the majority of them were children between the ages of six and seven years old. On Thursday, two groups,…

St. Louis County Board Approves Budget, Funding for Body Cams for Deputies

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Board on Tuesday approved its 2022 budget at $463 million. The board also unanimously voted to pass a resolution approving the purchase of body cameras for its deputies. The authorization will allow the purchase of 110 body cameras with supporting accessories and equipment. The cost for the new cameras and equipment will be…

16th Annual Holiday Window and Lighting Display Contest Winners Announced

DULUTH, Minn. – The winners have been announced for the Greater Downtown Council’s 16th Annual Holiday Window and Lighting Display Contest. Nineteen local businesses participated in this year’s contest. Official judging took place November 19 through November 23 and winners were chosen based on execution of theme and design presentation. The winners of the 2021 Holiday Window and Lighting Display…

Unseasonable Weather Not Wanted at Lester-Amity Chalet

DULUTH, Minn. — The unseasonably warm days are adding a little concern about the longevity of this winter’s ski and snowboarding season. At Lester-Amity chalet in Duluth the warmer weather can ruin ski trails. The lack of frozen ground has not let the trails develop a consistent snowpack. It’s a mixture of conditions that are making some in the skiing…

New Kenwood Plaza Building Proposal

DULUTH, Minn. — The potential for a new building to go up in Duluth’s Kenwood Plaza is just a day away from being decided. The developer wants to build a 1,200 square foot retail or office building and potentially a new restaurant. The planning commission will meet tomorrow at five to decide if the proposal is a go. The commissions…

Red Cross Sending Northlanders to Kentucky for Recovery Efforts

DULUTH, Minn. — The Northland Division of the Red Cross will be sending down volunteers to assist with the tornado relief in Kentucky. Three Duluth-area volunteers are heading out today, and one Iron Ranger will be going out there tomorrow. The volunteers range in their expertise, some are nurses and others have the skillsets to help with shelter needs. The…

Duluth’s Assistant Fire Chief Receives High Honor Of Clarence Maddy Award

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s Assistant Fire Chief was recently awarded one of the highest honors a city employee can receive. Duluth’s Assistant Fire Chief, Clint Reff was recognized with the Clarence Maddy Award, which is named after a former chief administrative officer for the city. Reff, who is retiring at the end of the month, has worked for the department…

Carlton County Man Charged With Murder

CARLTON COUNTY, Minn – A 65-year-old Carlton County man arrested Friday afternoon for the alleged shooting death of his 62-year-old wife has now been formally charged with intentional second-degree murder. The Carlton County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to 3665 Heiskari Road in Kalevala Township for a welfare check on Raymond Julian and his wife Tracy. According to the…

Chauvin Expected To Plead Guilty in Floyd Civil Rights Case

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin appears to be on the verge of pleading guilty to violating George Floyd’s civil rights. A federal docket entry on Monday shows that a hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday for Chauvin to change his current not-guilty plea in the case. The court system also sent out instructions for the media…

Potter Trial Opens 2nd Week With Wright Autopsy Details

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The trial of a Minnesota police officer charged with the shooting death of Daunte Wright has opened its second week of testimony with an assistant medical examiner explaining his autopsy. The 20-year-old Black motorist was slain on April 11 after police pulled him over in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center for having expired license plate tags…