Minnesota

February Spike Expected in Minnesotans’ Home Heating Bills

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s largest gas utilities are warning about sky-high heating bills because of the historic cold wave in the South and the state’s stretch of subzero weather. At a special meeting by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Tuesday, members were told February heating bills could be $400 more. The additional charge isn’t expected to show up on customers’…

Walz: Next Vaccine Priority Group Will Be Announced Within Days

(FOX 9) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he will announce within days the next priority groups to get the COVID-19 vaccine, without waiting until senior citizens are fully vaccinated. Walz said administration officials are debating whether to make the move once 60 percent of seniors are vaccinated, or 70 percent, or 80 percent. According to health officials, nearly 42 percent of Minnesota…

Dist. 709 Expands Plan For In-Person Learning For Middle, H.S. Students

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth School District is expanding its in-person learning plan for middle and high school students to include four days of in-person learning beginning March 29. The updated learning plan follows new guidelines announced by Governor Tim Walz last week. “The updated guidelines and declining COVID rates have opened up the ability to bring our middle and…

GO: Gooseberry Falls

Two Harbors, Minn. – “It’s really beautiful in the winter time,” Nisswa Resident, Marcy Byrns says. The frozen upper and lower falls are just one of the many reasons people make a return trip to Gooseberry even in the colder months. “It’s really amazing how they are frozen over to a certain extent depending on when you come and we…

Local Organization Donates Quilts To Ronald McDonald House Northland

The plan is to make quilts all year long to give back and bring comfort to the children at the Ronald McDonald House.

DULUTH, Minn- Members of a local organization are quilting their way into the hearts of families at the Ronald McDonald House in Duluth, which recently opened. Every year, the Northern Lights Machine Quilters Guild gives back to a local organization. “Quilts are made with love one stitch at a time,” said Helen Smith Stone, the founding president of NLMCQG. This…

City Crews Repair Another Water Main Break

Officials say the city has had about one or two water main breaks per day, this year.

DULUTH, Minn. – City repair crews responded to yet another water main break in the Duluth. Tuesday morning, the group was hard at work repairing a hairline crack in a water main off of Morris Thomas Road that left water gushing into the street and causing icy conditions. Officials say the city has had about one or two water main…

Four More Vaccination Sites To Open In Wisconsin Including In Douglas County

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says the Douglas County site will be split with Barron County.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. – Wisconsin is set to open four more vaccination clinics across the state including one in Douglas County. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says the Douglas County site will be split with Barron County. Those sites are expected to open within the next two months. On Tuesday, Evers said although case numbers are down, we are not out…

70-Year-Old Pedestrian Struck By Hit-And-Run Driver

Victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

RICE LAKE, Minn. – A pedestrian was fighting for her life Tuesday night after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Rice Lake. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the 70-year-old woman was struck by an SUV around 4:30 p.m. on the 5000 block of Arnold Road. She was hospitalized with a life-threatening head injury. The 33-year-old male driver…

6-Year-Old Dies, Woman Injured in Cass County Snowmobile Crash

CASS COUNTY, Minn. – According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, a 6-year-old girl died and a 35-year-old woman was injured in a snowmobile crash Monday afternoon. Deputies responded to reports of a snowmobile crash with serious injuries in Gould Township around 3:17 p.m. When responders arrived at the scene they learned that the female and child, both of Federal…

Maurices President, CEO Announces Retirement

DULUTH, Minn. – On Tuesday, Maurices president and CEO, George Goldfarb, announced his retirement after 36 years with the company. Goldfarb has accepted the role of Chairman Emeritus for Maurices and will step away from his daily responsibilities. “We are so pleased that George will join Maurice’s Board of Directors. He has spent the last 36 years, 10 of which…

Nationwide Natural Gas Price Surge Could Show up on Your Gas Bill

(FOX 9) – State leaders are hearing from Minnesota utility and energy companies who were hit with millions of dollars in unexpected costs after natural gas prices soared due to bitter cold temperatures throughout much of the country. On Tuesday, energy and utility companies will present in front of the state utility commission, explaining how they were impacted by the natural gas…

Duluth Organization Making Push for New Homeless Housing Option

"I love the space. It and peaceful. It's comfortable. But more importantly to live in here and prove its a viable housing option here in Duluth."

DULUTH, Minn. – “When you’re homeless you start feeling invisible,”AIM Twin Ports Chair, Kassie Standingbear Helgerson says. “People will turn their heads and look down. They don’t want to see you. If they see you, then they will acknowledge that there’s a problem.” Back in October of 2020, advocates pitched their tents outside of Duluth city hall to bring a…

Duluth City Council Approves Adding A Third Deputy Police Chief

The department will reduce one lieutenant position to add a third deputy chief.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth City Council has voted unanimously to add a third deputy police chief to its roster through a change of the city’s charter. Police Chief Mike Tusken has said the goal of the re-organized position is to help transform the department while focusing on better policies and community engagement. The death of George Floyd and the…

Duluth Woman Starts Backpack Giveaway To Help Kids In Need

Headphones and duffel bags are on the list of requested donations.

DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth woman is going above and beyond to help children in foster care or experiencing homelessness. Paige Anderson has been collecting donations to fill backpacks for those children in need. Anderson has been a foster mom for about 10 years and has fostered nearly 50 kids over the years. Many of those children came to her…

Duluth Police Partners With Tip 411 To Help People Give Tips Anonymous

The form is filled out online.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Department is partnering with tip 411, which will provide a way for the public to submit tips anonymously. The form is filled out online and asks questions like what happened, where it was seen, and a brief description. You can also attach videos and pictures when making your submission. “We don’t want any barriers….

KYN: Blue Rock Coffee & Wine Cafe

DULUTH, Minn. – Although the cafe struggled shortly after opening, now they are becoming a Northland staple. “People are knowing our name and coming in,” Blue Rock Coffee & Wine Cafe Barista, Molly Henderson says. With the cafe split in two- half of the building for coffee and the other a wine bar, customers have different choices of scenery. “It’s…

Minnesota Senator to Lead Bipartisan Hearing on Capitol Hill

The hope is to continue to allow public access to the Capitol in the future.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is helping lead a bipartisan hearing on security issues surrounding the January 6th Capitol riot, along with the Department of Homeland Security. The hearing includes first-time testimonies from the former Capitol Police Chief and the current head of the Metropolitan Police Department. Senator Klobuchar says, the constructive hearing will focus on three areas…

Duluth Man Facing Multiples Charges of Fleeing Police

DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth man known by law enforcement for his “propensity for fleeing” officers is now facing multiple felony charges after leading police on a pursuit from Superior to Duluth last week. According to reports, Joseph Jeffrey Eastman, 42, had two separate run-ins with Duluth Police over the last two weeks. The first incident took place on February…

Governor Walz Announces 2021 Local Jobs and Projects Plan

ST. PAUL, Minn. – On Monday, Governor Tim Walz announced his 2021 Local Jobs and Projects Plan. According to the governor’s office, the plan invests $518.086 million in infrastructure projects across the state to maintain existing buildings, invest in communities, and ensure that the state can leverage available federal funds. Nearly half of the plan will support asset preservation projects…

Multiple Fire Crews Battle Late Night Iron Range Fire

(courtesy: Facebook/Northland FireWire) HIBBING, Minn. – According to the Northland FireWire, eight fire departments responded to a fire that broke out at an industrial building in Hibbing Sunday night. The fire was reported around 8:15 p.m. in the 1900 black of 1st Avenue. First crews at the scene reported seeing smoke and flames coming from the large building. Crews from…

Phase 4 Lakewalk Reconstruction, Police Opioid Officer on Duluth Council Agenda Monday

The tail end of Lakewalk Reconstruction and new initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic are on the docket.

DULUTH, Minn.- The end is in sight for Duluth’s Lakewalk Reconstruction Project as Duluth City Council will look at designs for Phase 4. They’ll also vote on changes to the Duluth Police Department, including adding a civilian opioid officer position. On Monday Council will look at design work for Phase 4 of rebuilding Duluth’s Lakewalk primarily behind the DECC, after…

Minnesota Public School Enrollment Drops 2% Amid Pandemic

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Public school enrollment in Minnesota has dropped by about 17,000 students as families turned to home schooling, private schools and delaying entry into kindergarten amid the pandemic. The figures from the Minnesota Department of Education represented a 2% drop. Because of the per-pupil formula the state uses to allocate school funding, that aid will drop by about…

RJ Sport And Cycle Hosts First Annual Boat Show

Their supply of boats are typically showcased during the yearly boat show at the DECC, but the pandemic forced RJ Sport and Cycle to host their own.

DULUTH, Minn – RJ Sport and Cycle in Hermantown is helping boat enthusiasts fantasize about warmer weather and spending time out on the water. The shop hosted its first annual boat show. Their supply of boats are typically showcased during the yearly boat show at the DECC, but the pandemic forced RJ Sport and Cycle to host their own. A…

MDH Postpones Sunday Vaccine Appointments at DECC; Winter Storms Delay Shipments

A spokesperson with the Minnesota Department of Health said the winter storms have delayed the Federal Government's ability to ship at least part of this week's COVID-19 vaccine doses to Minnesota. 

  DULUTH, Minn.- The severe winter weather across other parts of the country has once again delayed  COVID vaccine appointments at the DECC and other sites in the state Sunday. A spokesperson with the Minnesota Department of Health said the winter storms have delayed the Federal Government’s ability to ship at least part of this week’s COVID-19 vaccine doses to…

Boy Scouts celebrate the first group of female Eagle Scouts

One of the new Eagle Scouts is 16-year-old Isabella Tunney of Minneapolis.

This Oct. 1, 2020 photo provided by Edmund Tunney shows his daughter, Isabella, center, with Bev Verweg, her scoutmaster, and Brian Reiners, the scoutmaster of the corresponding linked boy troop, in Edina, Minn. (Edmund Tunney via AP) by DAVID CRARY (AP) – The Boy Scouts of America is celebrating a major milestone this weekend with a virtual event honoring the…

Businesses Have Moving Sale, Featuring Computers, Cables, Audio and Video Equipment

Sound Central along with T& E Concert Services and Audio Visual Resources of Duluth are having a moving sale featuring everything from computers to cables and a variety of audio and video equipment.

DULUTH, Minn. – Sound Central along with T& E Concert Services and Audio Visual Resources of Duluth are having a moving sale featuring everything from computers to cables and a variety of audio and video equipment. While the move isn’t COVID related, the businesses have experienced a big change because previous to the pandemic, 80% of what they did was…

Duluth Fire Department Share Ice Safety Tips Ahead Ice Fishing Tournament

It is recommended to monitor the weather and paying attention to the wind direction before and during time on the ice.

DULUTH, Minn.- More people have been going ice fishing in recent weeks and the Duluth Fire Department is sharing a few tips on how to stay safe to help avoid potential water rescues, like the one last week on lake superior. It is recommended to monitor the weather and paying attention to the wind direction before and during time on…

An City-wide Alert System Helps Inform Residents Of Public Safety Incidents

Northland Alert is a free tool available for residents to use.

DULUTH, Minn. – After multiple water main breaks occurred in the last few weeks, the City of Duluth is reminding the community of an alert system that helps them stay informed of public safety incidents. Northland Alert is a free tool available for residents to use. It pushes out notifications informing of incidents like water main breaks or floods that…

Chester Bowl Gets A Helping Hand From Spirit Mountain

"The cold is very hard on machines and that's exactly what the chair lift is," said Sam Luoma, the programs and operations manager for Chester Bowl.

DULUTH, Minn. – The chairlift here at Chester Bowl suffered a mechanical difficulty after more than a week of frigid temperatures, but thankfully, crews at Spirit Mountain came to the rescue. “The cold is very hard on machines and that’s exactly what the chair lift is,” said Sam Luoma, the programs and operations manager for Chester Bowl. Just like most…

UPDATE: Suspicious Device at Line 3 Protest Site Not an Explosive

Update: According to the Carlton County Sheriff's Office "after careful examination, it was determined that the device was not an explosive agent."

  Update from Carlton County Sheriff’s Office: In the afternoon hours of Friday, Feb. 19th, bomb squad personnel responded to a suspicious device on the 3200 block of Ditchbank Road in Perch Lake Township. After careful examination, it was determined that the device was not an explosive agent. During the incident, forty residences were evacuated within a ½ mile radius…

Seven Arrested, Charged in Itasca County Human Trafficking Operation

ITASCA COUNTY, Minn. – On Friday, seven people were arrested and charged during a human trafficking operation in Itasca County. According to the Itasca County Attorney’s Office, a three-day operation led by investigators with the BCA Human Trafficking Task Force in partnership with the TRUST Task Force and the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrests. According to a…

Man Arrested for Shots Fired Incident in Cloquet

CLOQUET, Minn. – A Roseville man was arrested early Friday morning at a Cloquet apartment complex after the man fired several gunshots inside one of the building’s apartments. According to the Cloquet Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance at 1535 Sahlman Avenue around 4:17 a.m. Reports state when the first officer arrived on the scene they encountered a man…

Minnesota Public School Enrollment Drops 2% Amid Pandemic

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Public school enrollment in Minnesota has dropped by about 17,000 students as families turned to homeschool, private schools, and delaying entry into kindergarten amid the pandemic. The figures from the Minnesota Department of Education represented a 2% drop. Because of the per-pupil formula the state uses to allocate school funding, that aid will drop by about $10,000…

Itasca County Cancels Monday’s Vaccination Clinic

ITASCA COUNTY, Minn. – The Itasca County Public Health Vaccination Clinic scheduled for Monday, February 22, is canceled. Officials say the clinic has been canceled due to inclement weather across the country that has delayed shipment of the vaccine. At this time the clinic has not been rescheduled because it is unclear when the shipment will arrive. Anyone who had…

COVID-19 Precautions Keep Flu Cases Historically Low in Minnesota

(FOX 9) – While the world’s focus is on COVID-19, those at Hennepin Healthcare’s urgent care in Minneapolis are still testing for the virus that usually dominates these winter months. “It’s the same swab that we use for the COVID-19 test that we use for influenza, so it’s very easy for us to test for both,” explained Hennepin Healthcare Urgent Care nurse…

Minnesota Passes Milestone of 1M Coronavirus Vaccine Doses

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesotans have now received more than 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccine. Updated figures from the administration of Gov. Tim Walz show that more than 728,000 Minnesotans have received at least one dose, including close to 287,000 who’ve completed the two-dose series. The seven-day rolling average of doses administered is now close to 30,000. Minnesota…

Pet Chiropractic Care Helps Promote Better Wellness For Animals

Visiting an animal chiropractor can help address chronic issues such as arthritis.

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s National Responsible Pet Owner month and one responsibility some pet parents may not think of is taking the animal to a chiropractor. Chiropractic for Body and Life in downtown Duluth partnered with Animal Kingdom Chiropractic to host an event offering pet screenings. Screenings can typically help check the mobility and flexibility of the spine in most…

Remembering Entrepreneur Joel Labovitz

"He was really larger than life and extremely optimistic," said daughter Anne Labovitz.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth entrepreneur and community leader Joel Labovitz passed away over the weekend at the age of 93 and now he is being remembered. “He was really larger than life and extremely optimistic,” said Anne Labovitz. Anne and Mark Labovitz go down memory lane expressing the type of person their father Joel Labovitz was just days after his…

Woman Helps Rescue Injured Coyote Found on Side of Road

Wildwoods employees helped secure the animal and provide it a safe place to rest

(courtesy: Facebook/Wildwoodsrehab) DULUTH, Minn. – On Thursday, Wildwoods wildlife rehabilitation center shared a story on their Facebook page of how a woman helped rescue an injured coyote she found lying in a snowbank on the side of the road. According to Wildwoods, the woman was driving down the road and saw the wild animal who was clearly injured. Rather than…

Voting Begins for Final 50 Finalists in MnDOT’s Name a Snowplow Contest

(courtesy: Minnesota Department of Transportation) ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation says voting is now open for its ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest finalists. MnDOT says they have received close to 24,000 name submissions so far and have narrowed the list down to 50 finalists. A MnDOT spokesperson said to narrow the list down they, “focused on selecting…

COVID-19 Vaccine Connector Will Alert Minnesotans When They’re Eligible for Vaccine

(FOX 9) – Minnesota is launching a new vaccination website to help people find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Minnesotans who have not yet been vaccinated are encouraged to sign up for the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector, regardless of their current vaccine eligibility status. There is no cost and no deadline for signing up. After you fill out a…

Carlton Restaurants Continue To Adapt Amid Pandemic

CARLTON, Minn. – It was a roller coaster 2020 for restaurants like The Street Car in Carlton. “That’s when it really hit hard for us. That brought a whole different style of business. We had to essentially recreate how we do business,” Street Car Kitchen & Pub General Manager, Mike Walsh says. Going to only curbside the pandemic forced them…

Birkie Organizers Create More Virtual Race Options

Organizers say that in an effort to keep everything socially distanced, participants will start in waves.

HAYWARD, Wisc. – The 47th annual Birkie will be looking a lot different this year. Organizers say that in an effort to keep everything socially distanced, participants will start in waves throughout the week. With around thirty-thousand people in attendance in past years, this year spectators will be able to view the race virtually. Skiers will also be encouraged to…