Minnesota

‘Change Is Coming’ To Grandma’s Sports Garden

DULUTH, Minn. — Grandma’s Sports Garden in Canal Park is officially changing its business model — saying goodbye to the college nightclub weekend vibe that the pandemic sidelined and saying hello to a unique, rentable space for all types of special events. Brian Daugherty, president of Grandma’s Restaurant Company Pictures were posted on The Sports Garden’s social media Wednesday with…

Students Take Learning Science To A New Level

"They all grew up in and around Minnesota, so they know how to sled, but they never really thought about it from a physical perspective," said UMD Physics Professor Margaret Elmer-Dixon.

DULUTH, Minn. – A group of UMD students used Chester Bowl Ski Hill as their classroom for the day to learn more about science. Physics is a subject most people learn about in a classroom or lab but a University of Minnesota Duluth professor is taking a new approach. “They all grew up in and around Minnesota, so they know…

Grandma’s Marathon Hires A Crowd Scientist To Help Safely Host 2021 Race

Instead of a mob of runners starting the race at all once, this year they will be released onto the course five at a time.

DULUTH, Minn. – Organizers of Grandma’s Marathon has enlisted the services of a crowd scientist… to help provide a COVID safe event this summer. Through the partnership with the crowd scientist, the organization was able to gather a computer simulation of previous races to help create a plan to safely carry out this year’s event. Some changes would include transporting…

CHUM Looking to Capitalize on Minnesota’s Annual FoodShare Month

The organizations are partnering with the greater Minnesota Council of Churches to match the donations coming through their doors.

DULUTH, Minn. – CHUM is looking to capitalize on Minnesota’s annual FoodShare month. Because it is typically a slow time for the CHUM food shelf and over 300 other food shelves across the state, the organizations are partnering with the greater Minnesota Council of Churches to match the donations coming through their doors. They are also partnering with local farms…

Woman Accused of Threatening Neighbors With Machete

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — An Eagan woman is accused of threatening neighbors with a machete and cutting wires inside a utility box last week, leaving dozens without phone or internet service. A criminal complaint filed in Dakota County charges 32-year-old Kathryn Joyce with threatening violence and first-degree criminal damage to property, which are felonies. According to the complaint, officers were…

BCA: Duluth Standoff Suspect Who Killed K9 Luna Incited 2 Shootouts With Police

David Conwell, 37, was shot and killed by St. Louis County deputies when he pointed his gun at them from the house's porch after prior gunfire, according to the BCA.

DULUTH, Minn. – New details were released Tuesday involving what went down during last week’s fatal 20-hour standoff in Duluth that ended with the shooting deaths of police K9 Luna and the suspect. David Conwell | K9 Luna The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says David Conwell, 37, of Duluth shot at Duluth police two separate times before his third attempt…

Levi LaVallee’s Snowmobile Recovered From Duluth Harbor After Stunt Mishap

City spokesperson could not confirm Tuesday if scheduled stunts for the week are still happening for LaVallee's next video release.

DULUTH, Minn. – It was unclear Tuesday if professional snowmobile stuntman Levi LaVallee is continuing production in Duluth this week after a stunt went bad in the Duluth Harbor Monday. www.facebook.com/LeviLaValleeFanPage/ LaVallee was jumping off the old Railroad Interstate Bridge and onto a barge on Rice’s Point when he somehow landed in the water. Firefighters on standby for the stunt…

Some Cloquet Bar Owners Want Liquor License Relief for When Pandemic Dried Sales

While they're seeking a prorated or discounted fee, the City says reducing the liquor license fee would have other repercussions.

CLOQUET, Minn.- After months of pandemic-related shutdowns and restrictions where some or all of their establishments sat unused, some bar and restaurant owners in Cloquet are asking the City Administration for a break in liquor license fees. “Quite honestly at this point we’re just asking them to help us with something. Whether it be prorated by day, prorated by month,…

GO: Pop-Up Snowshoeing

- As part of last months cold front festival, the City of Duluth began offering pop-up snow shoeing as one of many outdoor activities.

DULUTH, Minn. – As part of last months cold front festival, the City of Duluth began offering pop-up snow shoeing as one of many outdoor activities. “It’s basically a couple hours where people can take some snowshoes and get out and about in their communities,” Recreation Instructor, Julianna Langlois says. Providing a great way to get outside, with social distancing…

Duluth School Board Hears Public Comment on Historic Old Central Sale

As the district nears the end of the sale process, on Tuesday they say they wanted to hear the public's thoughts related to the sale.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth School Board heard public comment on the future sale and relocation of the Historic Old Central High School downtown. Last October the district entered into a purchasing agreement with “Saturday Properties” to redevelop the building into a mixed-income apartment building. As the district nears the end of the sale process, on Tuesday they say they wanted…

Plans Move Forward In 15-Story Mixed-Use Building Project

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall on the project, which is expected to cost at least $75 million.

DULUTH, Minn. – Plans to construct a 15-story mixed-use building in downtown Duluth is moving forward after the project suffered several delays. The project was expected to begin construction back in December 2019, but was pushed back due to impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the “uncertain financial market.” The building will stand on the site of the former…

Minnesota BCA Provides More Details in Fatal Duluth Standoff

DULUTH, Minn. – On Tuesday, The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension provided more updates on the nearly 20-hour standoff that took place last week in Duluth including the identities of law enforcement personnel who used force in the incident. According to the Minnesota BCA, Duluth police officers responded to a call from a third party about a possible physical domestic…

George Floyd’s Family Only Allowed 1 Member in Courtroom During Chauvin Trial, Judge Rules

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The families of both George Floyd and Derek Chauvin will only get one seat each in the courtroom for the murder trial, a Hennepin County Judge ruled this week. Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill issued a trial management order Monday detailing the schedule, decorum and other procedures for Chauvin’s trial, which is scheduled to begin next week. Only…

38th Annual First Ship Contest Now Open

DULUTH, Minn. – Visit Duluth and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority have teamed up once again for the 38th Annual First Ship Contest. To submit your guess for the exact date and time the season’s first “saltie” passes under the Aerial Lift Bridge, head to visitduluth.com/firstship or click here. The contest closes at midnight on March 24. This year, the…

Duluth International Airport Receives $1.6M in Federal Grant Money

It’s part of $4 million in federal dollars Congress awarded to help maintain a clean and safe environment for airport employees and travelers.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth International Airport has just received $1.6 million as part of grant money from Congress given to airports across Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. It’s part of $4 million in federal dollars Congress awarded to help maintain a clean and safe environment for airport employees and travelers. Leadership at DLH say the money will go toward maintenance safety…

Historic J.B. Ford Freighter Catches Fire in Duluth Scrapyard

Firefighters were able to knock down the flames within an hour, and no one was injured.

DULUTH, Minn.- A busy day for the Duluth Fire Department brought them to a fire aboard the century-old J.B. Ford freighter in the Duluth port Monday — and age seemed to work against the ship, its old bones proving to be easily flammable. The J.B. Ford is the oldest intact lake freighter still floating, launching in 1903 in Ohio. It…

Lyric Kitchen Bar Remaining Closed One Year into Pandemic

Growing cases, coupled with Superior Street Reconstruction, kept management from opening back up.

DULUTH, Minn.- While many restaurants have re-opened for limited indoor service after Minnesota’s last shutdown, one restaurant has remained closed since the pandemic began last march. Management at Lyric Kitchen Bar in Downtown Duluth’s Holiday Center says when businesses were first closed in response to coronavirus spreading they thought it would just be for a few weeks. But the cases…

Snowmobile Stunt Rider Levi LaVallee Rescued in Duluth Harbor During Filming

Facebook: @LeviLaValleeFanPage DULUTH, Minn. — Professional snowmobile stunt rider Levi LaVallee had to be rescued from the waters of the Duluth Harbor Monday during a filming shoot for an upcoming video. The water emergency happened at 4:35 p.m. off Rice’s Point. “The Duluth Fire Department was on scene as a precautionary measure and was able to retrieve Levi in under…

Needed Upgrades At Wrenshall School Finishes, More Still To Come

The first stage cost more than $9 million and included adding a new HVAC system.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Wrenshall School has been getting some much-needed upgrades and now the first phase of the project is complete. The pandemic forced students to learn from home for the last year. Wrenshall school leaders took advantage of having an empty building to make the necessary changes. The first stage cost more than $9 million and included adding…

Study Shows That Minnesota Deer Were Exposed to Insecticides

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A preliminary study shows that deer throughout Minnesota have been exposed to a certain class of insecticides, the state Department of Natural Resources said Monday. The DNR said further analysis is required to determine if the presence of neonicotinoid pesticides is high enough to adversely affect deer health. Additional study results should be completed this spring. Neonicotinoids…

9 Rescued in Downtown Virginia Apartment Fire, Cause Unknown

The Northland Chapter of the Red Cross is assisting those displaced tenants with lodging and necessities.

VIRGINIA, Minn.- An investigation is underway after an apartment building in downtown Virginia went up in flames Sunday morning. All tenants inside the apartment at the time of the fire got out alive without injuries. The cause of that fire is still under investigation by the state fire marshal. “We ask anybody that has any info to come forward, that…

9 Residents Displaced in Downtown Virginia Apartment Fire

Courtesy: Northland FireWire VIRGINIA, Minn. – An apartment went up in flames in downtown Virginia Sunday morning. Fire officials tell FOX 21 nine residents were inside at the time of the fire.  All got out uninjured, including one of the tenants who needed to be rescued by firefighters.  Two cats were also safely rescued. The fire was reported around 10…

Growing Tension in Minneapolis As Trial Looms In Floyd Death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Barbed wire and concrete barriers surround the courthouse where the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd is due to soon go on trial. It’s a sign of the deep uneasiness hanging over the city where violence erupted after the Black man’s death and protests reverberated around the world. Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov, Tim…

2 Dead, 2 officers Struck In Police Shooting in Wadena County

NORTH GERMANY TOWNSHIP, Minn. (FOX 9) – Authorities are investigating a police shooting that left two people dead and a deputy injured in Wadena County, Minnesota. According to the sheriff’s office, at about 8:48 p.m. Saturday, deputies tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic offense near the intersection of 205th Avenue and 280th Street in North Germany Township. The vehicle eventually stopped near…

BCA: Emergency Response Team Fatally Shot Man Who Killed K-9 Luna

The Midwest Medical Examiner's Office has identified the man as David Joseph Wayne Conwell, 37, of Duluth. 

  ST. PAUL, Minn.- The man who held Duluth Police and St. Louis County Sheriff’s crews in a 20-hour standoff from Thursday night to Friday evening was fatally shot, according to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man as David Joseph Wayne Conwell, 37, of Duluth. According to Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension,…

Vaccination Help for Minority Communities

St. Louis County Public Health along with Essentia and Healthy Alliances for All reached out to the West Duluth neighborhood today and offered a vaccine clinic, specifically targeting minority communities.

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County Public Health along with Essentia and Healthy Alliances for All reached out to the West Duluth neighborhood today and offered a vaccine clinic, specifically targeting minority communities. Up to 50 people were expected to attend today and management say they wanted to make sure the vaccine was available to all kinds of people. “Black…

Duluth Police K9 Luna Shot, Killed During Standoff

Standoff with suspect continues on the 2300 block of West 4th Street.

UPDATE: Our reporter on the scene says multiple officers entered the home and gunshots were fired. Police have not confirmed if the standoff is over. We’ll update you as more information becomes available. __________________________________________________________________________ 24th Avenue West between 3rd Street and 5th Street is closed to traffic until further notice. Our reporter on the scene says at 11:45 a.m. the police…

Minnesota Budget Swings From $1.3B Deficit to $1.6B Surplus

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s budget outlook has swung from a nearly $1.3 billion deficit to a $1.6 billion surplus, state economists announced Friday, an improvement that sets up debates for the rest of the legislative session over taxes and spending. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz called for raising taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans and large companies as part of the $52 billion…

Power Outages Reported in Duluth, Hermantown, Cloquet and Surrounding Areas

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Power crews are working to restore power to roughly 1,000 customers Friday afternoon. The outage was reported around 11:30 a.m. and is affecting customers throughout the Duluth, Hermantown, and Cloquet area. So far, power has been restored to customers in the west Duluth and Proctor areas. You can click here to view the current power outage…

Ex-Cop Appeals Murder Conviction to Minnesota Supreme Court

(Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The former Minneapolis police officer convicted of third-degree murder in the 2017 fatal shooting of an Australian woman is asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to take his case. Mohamed Noor is seeking to have his conviction in the death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond overturned after a Court of Appeals panel upheld…

Minnesota Officer Deadly Force Working Group Gives One-Year Progress Report

They group was key in the bi-partisan passing of the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020.

MINNESOTA- A working group looking at ways to reduce deadly force encounters between police and citizens in Minnesota says many of their recommendations are being implemented — but there is still work to be done. The group was organized last year by Attorney General Keith Ellison and Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, before the killing of George Floyd under the…

US Bombs Facilities In Syria Used By Iran-Backed Militia

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. military conducted airstrikes against facilities in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said were used by Iran-backed militia groups, in response to recent attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq. The airstrikes were announced by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who said the action was authorized by President Joe Biden. Kirby said the U.S. attacks destroyed multiple facilities…

Bayfront Ice Rink to Close for the Season Due to Warm Temperatures

DULUTH, Minn. –  Due to recent warm temperatures, the Bayfront Park ice rink will close today for the remainder of the season. The City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Department says the Bae-Front Valentine’s skating event that had been postponed due to cold temperatures, has now been canceled due to the rink’s closure. The event was scheduled to take place…

UMD’s Annual Equity, Race, & Ethnicity Summit Going Virtual March 2-4

Registration is Now Open for the Summit Taking Place March 2, 3, & 4, 2021

DULUTH, Minn. – Northland residents are encouraged to register and take part in the 2021 Equity, Race, & Equality Summit at UMD. The event has taken place on the campus since 2003, but this year will move to a virtual platform due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Participants are welcome to attend for one day, one workshop, or for one…

Female Victim Identified in Rice Lake Hit-And-Run Incident

RICE LAKE, Minn. – The female victim of Tuesday night’s hit-and-run crash in Rice Lake has been identified. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia E. Berger, 68, remains hospitalized in stable condition with serious injuries. The Sheriff’s Office says Berger sustained a life-threatening head injury when she was struck by a white SUV on Arnold Road around…

Walz to Announce Next Phase of Vaccine Rollout Plan Thursday

(Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, Pool) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — At least 70% of Minnesotans age 65 and older will get at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine before the state moves on to the next phase of vaccinations, according to Gov. Tim Walz. The governor is expected to announce the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan Thursday,…

Spirit Mountain Thanks Community with “Spirit Loves Duluth Days” Discounts

Northlanders can go tubing, skiing, snowboarding and more for only $5.

DULUTH, Minn.- Northlanders can go tubing, skiing, snowboarding and more for only $5, as Spirit Mountain is hosting “Spirit Loves Duluth Days” Wednesday and Sunday the 28th. They say it’s a low-cost way for residents to experience what Spirit has to offer, and their way to say thank you for the public’s help and patience during the pandemic. “To let…

“Finding Answers” COVID-19 Vaccine Special: FOX21 Talks With The Experts

DULUTH, Minn. — FOX21 and other news media outlets in the Northland came together at the DECC on Wednesday to interview experts and community organizers about the vaccine and distributing it to the current priority groups in our community. We spoke with St. Louis County Public Health Division Director Amy Westbrook. Westbrook says that St. Louis County hasn’t lost a…

Duluth Labor Organizations to Distribute Thousands of Food Boxes at DECC Thursday

They'll go through two semi-trucks carrying about 24 wrapped pallets of food boxes.

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth Labor unions and organizations teamed up Wednesday, preparing to distribute thousands of boxes of food to anyone in need, secured from the US Department Of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Program. On Thursday at the DECC, The Duluth Building and Construction Trades, Central Labor Body, and United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 11-89 will distribute those boxes…

Health Equity Groups Work to Vaccinate Northland’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color

According to the CDC, many racial and ethnic minority groups can face economic, social, and geographical barriers to healthcare, and therefore COVID Vaccines.

DULUTH, Minn.- As vaccine supplies and vaccination initiatives increase throughout the country and the Northland, efforts have started zeroing in on helping racial and ethnic communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. According to the CDC, many racial and ethnic minority groups can face economic, social, and geographical barriers to healthcare such as difficulties finding affordable and quality housing and health…

WATCH: COVID-19 Vaccines: Finding Answers

DULUTH, MN — Whether it’s safe to get vaccinated if you have an underlying health condition or learning about the differences between the available vaccinations, people no doubt have plenty of questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. As the Northland navigates the next chapter in the fight against COVID-19, Duluth media outlets are teaming up for a special report called “COVID-19…

St. Luke’s Processing Thousands of Vaccine Doses to Ship Out Statewide

The hospital is one of the medical facilities designated as hubs, shipping to five different smaller "spokes" across the state.

DULUTH, Minn.- St. Luke’s in Duluth is sharing how they process their vaccine shipments. The hospital is one of the medical facilities designated as hubs, shipping to five different smaller “spokes” across the state. St. Luke’s processes 1,120 doses per flat of vaccines, stored at negative 60 to negative 80 degrees Celsius. Pharmaceutical staff at St. Luke’s says it’s a…