Minnesota

Suspect Arrested in 2017 Hibbing Homicide

HIBBING, Minn. – Authorities say a suspect has been arrested and charged in connection to the 2017 Hibbing homicide of 71-year-old Courtney Fenske. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, 51-year-old Blake Stangel was charged Friday with second-degree manslaughter, He is currently being held at the St.Louis County Jail on $100,000 bail. Court documents say Fenske was found dead…

Guard Sues Minnesota State Patrol for Arrest During Protests

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Black man who worked as a security guard for a CNN crew covering protests in Minneapolis following George Floyd’s death last summer is suing two Minnesota State Patrol officers, accusing them of violating his civil rights and unlawful detention, his attorneys announced Tuesday. The lawsuit was filed in federal court last Thursday on behalf of Michael Cooper, a…

Teen Arrested for Aggravated Robbery in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police say an 18-year-old male was arrested Monday after robbing an individual at the Northland Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. According to the police, the incident happened just after 4:00 p.m. The victim told authorities that the teen threatened him with a machete and stole his backpack. The victim was able to take pictures of the suspect during…

Water Emergency on BWCA Leaves One Dead

The victim had been underwater for two to three minutes according to his party. 

ST. LOUIS COUNTY.–  The St. Louis County sheriff’s deputies responded to a water emergency on trout lake in the BWCA Monday afternoon at 2:20 p.m. Due to poor cell phone service, it took authorities longer to find out a 51-year-old male had fallen out of a boat and into the water on the north arm of the lake. The victim…

Veterans, Active Servicemen in Community Take Time to Remember Fallen on Memorial Day

Veterans and active duty military members in the Northland observed Memorial Day from work -- some in jobs that keep our community running and safe.

DULUTH, Minn.- While different events honored those who gave their lives for our country, veterans and active duty military members in the Northland observed Memorial Day from work — some in jobs that keep our community running and safe. Across the country at 3 p.m. Taps Across America events held a moment of silence and presented the colors honoring service…

Duluth Huskies Fans Excited to be ‘Out to Ballgame’ Again

It was Huskies gear as far as the eye could see and the smell of popcorn in the air at Wade Stadium Monday night.

DULUTH, Minn.- The grandstands were packed as plenty of Duluth Huskies fans got to sing “take me out to the ballgame” again after not seeing games for two years. It was Huskies gear as far as the eye could see and the smell of popcorn in the air at Wade Stadium Monday night. One super-fan was overjoyed to be back,…

Proctor Holds Annual Memorial Say Observance

Following the program, Proctors American Legion 106 visited six area cemeteries to salute the departed.

PROCTOR, Minn. — The annual proctor memorial day observance took place this morning at the proctor community center. Hosted by the American Legion 106, the event was geared towards memorializing those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. In a time when restrictions are loosening up, organizers took the time to reflect on this past year. “With the…

Firefighters Share Grill Safety Tips Ahead of Summer Barbecue Season

Charcoal should also be stored in a dry area because if it gets wet and need to be dried charcoal can be heat sensitive.

DULUTH, Minn.- With Memorial Day being the unofficial kickoff to summer, many break out and fire up the grill for the season, so the Duluth Fire Department wants to remind the public of proper grill safety. According to state rules open flames are prohibited on decks of apartments with three or more dwelling units. Firefighters also say to be cautious…

New Canal Park Business Opens

Duluth Love opened in early May

DULUTH, Minn. — “We kind of cater to a really special crowd,” Duluth Love Owner, Garrett Kirwan says. The company Pandora’s Box owns about eight stores around the Midwest including one in Wisconsin Dell. In early May, they opened up shop down in Canal Park. “Luckily things were able to fall together for us and we were able to pick…

Grandmothers and Veterans for Peace Gathered to Map Out War Spending

DULUTH, Minn. — In Duluth on the Lake Walk today, Grandmothers for Peace and Veterans for Peace gathered to draw attention to both the human and financial costs of war. They set up signs citing numbers from a Brown University study called “The Costs of War Project” that analyzed how many people have been affected by conflicts and how much…

Minnesota Legislators Miss Friday Goal for Budget Numbers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Lawmakers are still negotiating Minnesota’s next two-year budget and won’t meet the goal of Friday set by their leaders for agreeing on the final numbers that will go into the big-spending bills that lawmakers must pass in the coming weeks. Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman says negotiators are still driving as hard as they can to get…

Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Mental Health Legislation As Demand For Therapists Skyrockets

WASHINGTON, D.C./DULUTH, Minn. — U.S. Senator Tina Smith, a Democrat representing Minnesota, wants to expand and support mental health resources with several proposals in Congress as clinics are seeing their patient lists fill up like never before. For Mental Health Awareness Month, Senator Smith posted several tweets on her Twitter page about her own journey with depression. “Having that opportunity…

‘What Memorial Day is Really All About’: Northlanders Honor Veterans, Fallen Troops Sunday

"Really good to see the people here, to know that there are people that are very caring about remembering, what Memorial Day is really all about," Brad Bennett said.

DULUTH, Minn.- On Sunday the Northland observed what many call “traditional Memorial Day” to honor those who gave their lives in war, at the Northland Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Lakewalk. “136 names on our wall, of local veterans, or not veterans because they’re still in uniform,” said Dwight Nelson, Secretary of the Northland Vietnam Veterans Association. The nearly 30-year…

Barkers Island Farmers Market Continues

The weekly events at Barkers Island will continue from 8:45 a.m. to noon every Saturday until October.

SUPERIOR, Wisc. –Barkers Island in Superior continued their farmers market this weekend. Despite the challenging weather, it’s been a good year for vendors who locally grow their produce. Some say, they following up on a strong year drawing in more people each weekend. “Since then we’ve picked up a lot of customers this year. So it’s been really good for…

Burlington Station Hosts Grand Opening

Burlington station opened to the public on Saturday with plans to improve the model train room throughout the summer. 

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — A unique gift shop and candy store held its grand opening Saturday morning in Two Harbors. Burlington station opened to the public on Saturday with plans to improve the model train room throughout the summer. With that, they would be adding 5,000 feet of train tracks both inside and outside of the building. Chamber of commerce…

Canal Park Busy as Temperatures Warm Up

The Lakewalk down in Canal Park is expected to be completed by Grandmas Marathon weekend.

DULUTH, Minn. — Canal Park was packed with people enjoying the warm weather Saturday afternoon. With the slight warm up in temperatures people from around the state checked out the popular destination. We caught up with one couple who say along with the beautiful scenery, it’s also a good place for the kids to burn some energy. “The kids that…

Area Campsites Excited for Busy Season

Campsites around the area began taking reservations in early February and to no surprise, they filled up quickly.

DULUTH, Minn. — Campsites around the area began taking reservations in early February and to no surprise, they filled up quickly. “In three hours I made 50 reservations,” Penmarallter Campground Co-Owner, Pennie Burton says. Campgrounds like Penmarallter on highway sixty one in Two Harbors have seen some of their biggest numbers in years. “Going into this year. Starting taking reservations….

Vehicle Rollover in Biwabik Leaves One Critically Injured

Speed and alcohol were major contributing factors in the incident. No other persons or property was involved in the crash.

BIWABIK, Minn.- Speed and alcohol contributed to a single-vehicle rollover crash in Biwabik, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, leaving one with life threatening injuries. According to authorities, deputies and Officers from the Gilbert / Biwabik Police Department responded around 9:14 PM Friday to a one vehicle rollover on Vermillion Trail just South East Raymond Road, in unorganized…

Duluth Fire Department Introduces New Car Extraction Tool

DULUTH, Minn.–The Duluth Fire Department went to Bayside Recycling this morning for their annual car extraction training. This annual training is aimed at keeping the fire department sharp while being ready to respond to any situation. So far in 2021, there have been 149 deaths from car crashes which is already 42 more than this time last year. Duluth Fire…

Duluth Public Library Announces Summer Reading Program

DULUTH, Minn.–The Duluth Public Library begins its annual Summer Reading Program June 1st, and can’t wait to welcome children of all ages back through its doors to pick up their books. This annual program invites children to read daily and log their reading times through an online tracker to compete for different prizes like gift cards or toys. “It’s incredibly…

Community Remembers Fallen DNR Conservation Officer

Grells leaves behind a husband and three children.

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — The Grand Rapids community and people from across the state met on Friday to remember the life of a DNR officer that lost her life in the line of duty earlier this week. On Monday, Cohasset resident and veteran DNR conservation officer Sarah Grell, 39, was killed in the line of duty when a semi struck…

Summer Kicks Off at Spirit Mountain with Busy Memorial Day Weekend

According to resort staff, as of Friday the campgrounds were completely full for the weekend.

DULUTH, Minn.- Summer is kicking off at Spirit Mountain, set to be packed for the holiday weekend. According to resort staff, as of Friday the campgrounds were completely full for the weekend. They say excitement’s been building for opening day of the Adventure Park Friday, which includes the alpine coaster, mini golf, and more. After being closed last summer, staff…

Minnesota Legislators Miss Friday Goal for Budget Numbers

(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Lawmakers are still negotiating Minnesota’s next two-year budget and won’t meet the goal of Friday set by their leaders for agreeing on the final numbers that will go into the big-spending bills that lawmakers must pass in the coming weeks. But Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman said negotiators are still “driving as hard as…

Governor Walz Appoints Shawn Pearson to Fill Sixth Judicial District Vacancy

ST. PAUL, Minn. – On Friday, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of Shawn Pearson as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District. “I am proud to appoint Shawn Pearson to the Sixth Judicial District bench,” said Governor Walz. “Mr. Pearson brings a wealth and depth of experience and steadfast leadership to the bench. I have…

Superior Armed Robbery, Shoplifting Suspect Formally Charged

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Authorities say the male suspect arrested in Duluth Wednesday in connection to an armed robbery and shoplifting incident in Superior has been formally charged. Norman Wayne Cutbank, 25, of Duluth is charged with one count of armed robbery with use of force, one count of attempted armed robbery with threat of force, and one count of attempting…

One Injured in Virginia House Fire

(courtesy: Facebook/Northland FireWire) VIRGINIA, Minn. – One person was hospitalized after a house fire in Virginia Thursday evening. According to reports from the Northland FireWire, the fire was reported around 7:30 p.m. on the 300 block of First Street North. The fire was contained in the kitchen and living room of the house. The sole woman occupant was taken to…

Groundbreaking Held for Ely Schools Renovation Project

ELY, Minn. – On Thursday, the groundbreaking was held for the $20 million expansion project for Ely Public Schools. The project will include a new structure that connects the elementary and high schools, and renovations of the existing school buildings which will include building a new gym, cafeteria, media center, and classrooms. Renovations are expected to be completed by the…

Enbridge’s Line 3 Oil Pipeline Enters Critical Month in June

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — June will be a critical month for Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 crude oil pipeline as the company resumes construction and opponents mobilize for large-scale protests and civil disobedience. Winona LaDuke of Honor the Earth says she expects thousands of people from across the country to join the protests in northern Minnesota. Both sides are also waiting for…

Minnesota State Patrol Pleads with Drivers to Use Caution as Summer Travel Begins

As of May 27, 2021, 149 Traffic Fatalities Have Been Reported on Minnesota Roads

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota State Patrol is out with alarming new numbers as the Memorial Day weekend approached, just five months into the new year. The Department of Public Safety says 149 lives have been lost on Minnesota roads in 2021. That’s in comparison to 107 lives lost at this time in 2020. Troopers are reporting a 96 percent rise…

Food Giveaway Held in Hermantown

HERMANTOWN, Minn.– As the pandemic continues, the AEOA in Hermantown sponsored a food distribution site which is part of a program from the USDA. They started out with 1300 boxes, handing out 300 in the first half-hour. “This is extremely important to everybody, to the entire economy, both those farmers, and those who really need it, just to put food…

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. There are no lifeguards on Park Point and red flags are flying along the beach…

Governor Walz Launches ‘Your Shot to Summer’ Campaign to Encourage COVID-19 Vaccinations

ST. PAUL, Minn. – On Thursday, Governor Walz announced a vaccine incentive campaign called “Your Shot to Summer” to encourage Minnesotans to get their COVID-19 vaccine by July 1. The governor’s office said in a Thursday news release, “The first 100,000 Minnesotans who get their first shot between May 27 and June 30 will be able to choose the reward…

Superior Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested in Duluth

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior police say the suspect in a Wednesday evening armed robbery and shoplifting incident was located and arrested in Duluth following a short pursuit from Superior. Authorities say officers responded to a CVS located at North 28th Street and Tower Avenue around 5:45 p.m. on reports of an armed robbery. Police say the suspect had robbed the…

Essentia Health Eases Visitor Restrictions

DULUTH, Minn. – Essentia Health announced Thursday morning that it is moving to ease visitation guidelines as COVID-19 positivity rates decrease in the community. Starting today, two adult visitors per patient will be allowed in Essentia clinic and hospital settings, including emergency departments. Some surgical and procedural spaces may have special instructions that will be communicated to patients prior to…

St. Louis County Continues Vaccine Clinic, Information at Duluth Transportation Center

Public health officials say they've vaccinated about 80 people over their three visits there.

DULUTH, Minn.- St. Louis County is continuing to find success with its vaccine clinic at the Duluth Transportation Center downtown. Public health officials say they’ve vaccinated about 80 people over their three visits there. They add people coming in have been a variety of different ages and living situations. It’s been  a mix of people who may have trouble scheduling…

Duluth Library to Open with Masks, City Hall to Open Without

The Duluth Public Safety Building and Comfort Systems is also opening back up to the public Tuesday.

DULUTH, Minn.- The City Of Duluth has announced most of their public buildings will reopen to the public on June 1st, and while most things will be business as usual, don’t expect to ditch your masks at the library. The doors to the main Duluth Public Library will open again to the public one June 7th after finishing construction, and…

Forest Service Offers Tips on How To Prevent Wildfires

DULUTH, Minn.– The Superior National Forest is reminding the public of the near-critical fire conditions in the Northland as the amount of rain we’ve seen is low, and showers have been spotty. As some areas experience droughts, the foliage is extra dry this spring. Wildfires are a huge concern this time of year, and prevention is a priority, “we just…

St. Lukes Continues Vaccinations of International Sailors

Another international vessel will soon arrive in the Twin Ports with crew members planning on receiving their vaccinations once they dock.

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Luke’s continued their vaccinations of international sailors in the Twin Ports Wednesday morning. About 20 sailors from India aboard the Federal Champlain received the Johnson & Johnson vaccination. Because of the pandemic, these sailors haven’t been able to go to shore as they faced local regulations from each country they visit. “There families are going to be…

Duluth’s Environmental Initiative Recognized for Carbon Reductions

The steam plant provides heating services to 160 buildings in downtown Duluth and Canal Park. 

DULUTH, Minn. — The city of Duluth was recognized today for their efforts on going green. The city was announced as the winners of the the Environmental Initiative Energy and Climate award for their work on the steam plant. Back in 2018 the city of Duluth and their partners replaced sixteen blocks of aging steam pipe on Superior Street with…

Walz Orders Flags at Half-Staff In Honor of Conservation Officer Grell

ST. PAUL, Minn. – On Wednesday, Governor Tim Walz ordered all U.S. flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all State and Federal buildings in Minnesota on Friday in honor of Conservation Officer Sarah Grell. “Sarah Grell was an outstanding Conservation Officer, who was highly regarded and respected by her colleagues and her community, serving the people…

Minnesota Researchers Develop Wafer as Potential New Vaccine Delivery Method

(courtesy: Polymeric Biomaterials Lab, University of Minnesota via Fox9) (FOX 9) – Researchers believe a newly developed wafer could be the vaccine-delivery device of the future. A University of Minnesota professor and a Mayo Clinic professor were part of the team of researchers that created a polymer wafer that can deliver and preserve vaccines when placed under the tongue. In a release…

Many COVID-19 Restrictions Ending, Not Eviction Moratorium

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota housing officials are urging state legislators to proceed carefully in negotiating an end to a moratorium on rental property evictions. While other coronavirus restrictions are being lifted, lawmakers have failed to reach a compromise on ending the eviction moratorium. Housing commissioner Jennifer Ho said the anxiety of both owners and renters is real. “Why…

Duluth Police Arrest Second Suspect in Fatal Downtown Shooting

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Police announced Wednesday morning that a second suspect wanted in Saturday’s fatal downtown shooting has been arrested. According to police, Laurel Ladd, 25, was arrested around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after investigators identified an address on East Village View Drive in the Harbor Highlands as a possible location for Ladd. Ladd was located at the address and…