Minnesota

Minnesota Senate Goes Home Without Votes on Commissioners

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate adjourned its special session Wednesday without taking a planned vote on confirming two of Gov. Tim Walz’s commissioners after Democrats objected to how GOP lawmakers essentially forced out another cabinet member a day earlier. Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, of East Gull Lake, said GOP senators were ready to approve…

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder to Leave Twin Ports After 17 Years

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder will leave Duluth for Baltimore Wednesday for a year-long "mid-life maintenance". 

DULUTH, Minn.- A ship tasked with breaking up Lake Superior’s winter ice for more than a decade is leaving the twin ports for the first time. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder will leave Duluth for Baltimore Wednesday for a year-long “mid-life maintenance”.  Since it first entered the water in 2004, the Alder cut ice on the lake in the…

Community Crisis Intervention, City Hall Ventilation Among Proposed COVID Relief Spending Discussed by Duluth Council

More than a dozen citizens spoke out in support of what they call a community crisis response team independent of law enforcement.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth City Council discussed accepting almost $60 million of federal funding for recovery from the pandemic and Mayor Emily Larson’s recommendations for how to spend that money. Council unanimously tabled the resolution, to further discuss the Mayor’s following suggestions to allocate the money: Affordable Housing: $20,678,130 Job Training and Workforce Services: $550,000 Utility Infrastructure and Broadband: $13,850,000…

Wilderness Experience Teaching Kids About Pioneers Through Camp

DULUTH, Minn.– Wilderness Experience in Duluth is a locally focused outdoor ministry, offering summer camp programs that teach kids about nature, the woods, and faith. Pioneers Camp for kids in kindergarten to 2nd grade helps youngsters learn how to explore and work in the woods like the pioneers did. The lessons include working with farm animals and preparing garden beds…

Lake Superior Art Glass and Love Creamery Offering Special Glass Blowing Sessions

DULUTH, Minn.– Lake Superior Art Glass and Love Creamery have partnered up for a special designer class this month. People of all ages are able to come to the glass blowing studio in Canal Park to design an ice cream dish with a professional, and receive a free pint of ice cream from Love Creamery as well. With a variety…

Bent Paddle Flips City Street Into Year-Round Green Space

DULUTH, Minn.– The dreary weather on Tuesday was actually perfect for Bent Paddle Brewing Company’s new green space in development on what used to be a city street. It’s located on 19th Avenue West between the brewery and Bent Paddle’s production warehouse in Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District, which was approved by the city. The goal is to not only…

Summer School Update

PROCTOR, Minn.- Summer school programs are in full swing across the Northland. Currently, Proctor Public School’s leadership says their summer school attendance is high. After finishing up their June session they will also have a session in August. This year Proctor is offering more interactive classes to keep students engaged before the school year begins. “In the fall–in August when…

Business is Picking Up for Bus Stations

DULUTH, Minn.- As summertime travel begins to pick up, bus stations are seeing more people come in for their transportation needs. Jefferson Lines bus station in Downtown Duluth is now open at full capacity and they are finally adding more travel times to their schedule since COVID restrictions have loosened up. “Summer always brings out kind of a more wide…

Ticks Can Pose a Threat to You and Your Pets

DULUTH, Minn.- A common misconception about ticks is that they only appear in the spring and summer. In Minnesota there are 13 species of ticks with different life cycles but Wood, Deer, and Lone Star ticks pose the biggest threat of spreading sickness to people and pets. “Ticks are actually present year round and we advise tick protection for their…

Minnesota Pollution Regulator Resigns Before Senate Vote

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has resigned after it became apparent that the Republican-controlled state Senate was prepared to oust her. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz says Laura Bishop resigned Tuesday “in order to ensure a smooth and orderly transition” at the agency she had led since 2019. The governor accused Senate Republicans of using…

One Injured in Hermantown Motorcycle vs. Vehicle Crash

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – A 56-year-old Solon Springs man was injured Friday afternoon when the motorcycle he was driving crashed into a vehicle in Hermantown. According to the Hermantown Police Department, the crash happened around 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Lavaque Road and Arrowhead Road. A preliminary investigation into the crash found that a 2000 Harley Davidson being driven by…

Cass County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Homicide

CASS COUNTY, Minn. – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says it is investigating a fatal shooting incident that left a 34-year-old Cass County man dead. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to a report of a drive-by shooting around 2:45 a.m. Monday. When authorities arrived at the scene they found a 34-year-old male had been struck by gunfire while…

Essentia Health Returning to Pre-Pandemic Patient Visitation

DULUTH, Minn. – Essentia Health announced Tuesday morning that it will be returning to pre-pandemic patient visitation in its hospitals and clinics effective immediately due to declining COVID-19 cases in the area. In 2020 Essentia limited visitors in its facilities and has adjusted its patient visitation restrictions as needed throughout the pandemic. In May Essentia began relaxing its restrictions in…

Red Flag Warning Issued for Park Point Beaches

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Department has issued a warning for dangerous swimming conditions at Park Point beaches effective immediately until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. The warning means that wind and wave conditions can support rip currents, which are life-threatening to anyone entering the water. Red flags are flying along the beach to indicate dangerous swimming conditions. You are advised…

Another Candidate Joins Minnesota AG Race to Unseat Ellison

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A Minneapolis criminal defense lawyer who described pandemic restrictions and lawsuits against businesses that violated state public health guidelines as “intrusive state government” announced her bid on Sunday to unseat Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Attorney Lynne Torgerson announced on Sunday that she will run for attorney general in 2022, citing “destructive government lockdowns, lawsuits by (Ellison)…

Duluth Huskies and Salvation Army Pair Up for Every Monday Matters

DULUTH, Minn.– For the 7th summer baseball season, the Duluth Huskies and Salvation Army have partnered up for “Every Monday Matters”. This is an opportunity for fans to donate toiletries or non-perishable food to the Duluth Salvation Army and in return receive a voucher for dollar hot dogs on these Monday night home games at Wade Stadium. The General Manager…

Duluth Art Institute at Lincoln Park Offering Summer Camps

DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth Art Institute at Lincoln Park began their sculpture and plaster camp on Monday, July 5th, where the young artists were able to let their imaginations run wild. This weeks art class teaches children about wildlife in North America, and hopes to inspire them to learn and appreciate different species through art and sculpting. “They’re going to…

Bayfront has a Busy Weekend of Events

DULUTH, Minn.- Events held at Bayfront Festival Park are some of the largest gatherings in the Northland. More specifically, this past weekend’s lineup of events takes months of preparation. Country Jam, Hairball, and Fourth Fest combined had attendance upwards of 20,000 people. This is the largest crowd they have had since being back for events. “There is a lot of…

Air Quality Alert in the Northland

DULUTH, Minn.- There’s an air quality alert for Northeastern Minnesota at this hour. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued the warning this morning due to wildfires along the Canadian border. The National Weather Service in Duluth recommends people with respiratory issues to try to avoid going outside as smoke from wildfires 100 miles North of the Canadian border are moving…

Tourists Returning to Minnesota Resorts but Workers Are Not

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With COVID-19 limits fading away, tourists are returning to Minnesota resorts, many of them from neighboring states. A lot of the workers are not coming back. The worker shortage has been building for more than a year, said Ben Wogsland, a spokesman for Hospitality Minnesota, the trade association for the state’s hotels, restaurants, resorts, and campgrounds. The…

Semi-Tanker Fire Causes Six-Hour Shutdown of Highway 169 Near Ely

Fire officials figure about 350 gallons were spilled.

Photo: Morris-Hall Fire Chief Ted Krueger ELY, Minn.- Minnesota Highway 169 was shut down for six and a half hours Saturday due to a fire involving a semi tanker truck pulling gas, according to the Northland FireWire. According to a post on the FireWire’s Facebook page, the incident was reported around 2:15 p.m. Morris-Fall Lake Fire Chief Ted Krueger told…

City of Tower Forced to Cancel Saturday Fireworks Due to Dry Conditions

According to a post on the City's Facebook Page, "this decision was made on the recommendation of the fireworks display operator, the Tower Fire Chief, and Tower City leadership."

TOWER, Minn.- “Extremely dry conditions” have forced the City of Tower, Minnesota to cancel their fireworks display for Saturday evening. According to a post on the City’s Facebook Page, “this decision was made on the recommendation of the fireworks display operator, the Tower Fire Chief, and Tower City leadership.” According to Mayor Orlyn Kringstad, plans had been made to wet…

Workforce Development Creates Guide to Help with Employee Shortage

DULUTH, Minn.– Duluth Workforce Development is finding a way to help out, to hopefully prevent more local businesses from having to close its doors due to labor shortages. Workforce Development put together a guide with strategies both current and long term, to suggest ways employers can recruit new employees, and find a way to fully-staff their businesses again. This comes…

Duluth Police Department Reminds Community to Drive Safe this Weekend

DULUTH, Minn.– With an increased number of motor vehicle accidents every year around the Fourth of July, the Duluth Police Department is telling the community to always be aware when driving, to avoid any accidents. Extra officers will be patrolling the roads this weekend, foot traffic and vehicle traffic are expected to pick up especially around the waterfront this weekend,…

Duluth Fire Department Warns About Dry Conditions and Fireworks

DULUTH, Minn.– It will be a very hot and dry weekend for the holiday but the Duluth Fire Department reminds the community that even though we have had some rain, there is still a high fire danger warning. With fireworks, campfires, and grills expected to be in use all weekend, there is still high potential that if you don’t extinguish…

Country Jam Kicks off Fourth of July Festivities in Bayfront Festival Park

DULUTH, Minn.– Country Jam made its return to the stage tonight in Bayfront Festival Park and after a year off from social gatherings and festivities, the event was a welcome change for the community. The Fourth of July festivities began Friday night in the park, and among the thousands of people who came to watch the show, one spectator in…

Northwood Children’s Services Steps in to Fill Gap Left After The Hills

Programs will resume through Northwood on July 12th. 

DULUTH, Minn. — The Hills Youth and Family Services in Duluth is officially closed. The facility announced its closure in June because of an due to extraordinarily high fixed costs, the state’s inaction on rate adjustments and the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. Now stepping in, Northwood Children Services will be taking on 40 children ages 10-18 along with ten…

Gary-New Duluth Stabbing Suspect Charged

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Police say the suspect in Thursday afternoon’s Gary-New Duluth stabbing has been formally charged. Police say a 37-year-old male was stabbed outside of Reed’s Pine Board Lodging on the 100 block of West Gary Street around 2:18 p.m. According to the criminal complaint, the victim was a tenant of the building and got into a physical…

Suspect in Two Cloquet Shootings Located, Arrested

CLOQUET, Minn. – The Cloquet Police Department says a suspect believed to be involved in two separate shootings in Cloquet on May 17 has been arrested. According to police, 26-year-old Nicholas Joseph Ammesmaki was taken into custody on Thursday on an unrelated charge and is now being held at the Northwest Regional Corrections Center in Crookston. Authorities say in May,…

Body of Missing Woman Found in Virginia Lake

VIRGINIA, Minn. – The body of a woman reported missing on Tuesday by the Virginia Police Department was found in a lake in Virginia Thursday evening. According to Virginia Police, a distraught caller contacted St. Louis County dispatch on June 29 to report that Amanda Bjork, 30, had not had contact with her family since June 26. Authorities were told…

DTA Looking for Feedback on New Transit Routes

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) is continuing the Better Bus Blueprint, which is a re-design of its transit route to be more accessible for new housing and employment areas around the city. In the public outreach part of the process, the DTA is looking for feedback from the community about what they think of the recommended draft…

Visit Duluth’s Future Uncertain As Mayor Larson Reevaluates City’s Tourism Marketing Vision, Dollars

The city has typically given Visit Duluth $2 million in tourism tax revenue every year.

DULUTH, Minn. – Visit Duluth, the city’s main tourism marketing arm since 1935, could be no more when its contract is up with the city at the end of the year. This comes after Mayor Emily Larson and her administration opened the job up through a new application process for a one-year contract through 2022. The “request for qualifications,” as…

Bayfront Festival Park Preparing for a Busy Fourth Fest Weekend

Up to 30,000 people are expected to come through Bayfront Festival Park this weekend for three days of live music and celebratory events.

DULUTH, Minn.– Big preparations are underway for one jam-packed 4th of July weekend at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. Bayfront Festival Park is expecting between 20,000-30,000 people for Fourth Fest Weekend. We stopped by to find out what they’re doing to prepare, and how they plan on getting these large crowds through the gates. “We’re very excited. By losing a…

67th Spooner Rodeo Starts Next Week

Event goers can expect big crowds after the cancellation of the 2020 rodeo.

SPOONER, Wisc. — Yeehaw! The 67th Annual Spooner rodeo is just around the corner. Thursday, Friday and Saturday next week competitors from all over the world will be in Spooner participating in annual tradition complete with live music and a parade at noon on Saturday. Event goes can expect big crowds after the cancellation of the 2020 rodeo. “We are…

UMD College of Liberal Arts Changes Name

DULUTH, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Duluth is changing the name of their College of Liberal Arts. After the College of Fine Arts and College of Liberal Arts merged into one school in 2020 a name change was brought forth. As of today, the school is officially known as the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Those with the…

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center Opens

DULUTH, Minn.- Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center has reopened after closing for more than a year due to the pandemic. Their museum and gift shop is fully open just in time for summer travelers after a year of doing virtual tours they are ready for visitors to come in. “It feels great,” said director Sara Summers-Luedtke. “It’s really nice to…

Housing Development Plans for Duluth’s Enger Park Golf Course Driving Range Area Are On Hold

DULUTH, Minn.- The city is pausing the residential development idea for the Enger Park driving range due to the cost of moving and building the range in a new location. New estimates show it would cost around $1.2 million for a new driving range. Because that is much higher than anticipated, the Public Golf Committee is planning to keep that…