MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed an emergency regulation Thursday requiring all people in Minneapolis to wear cloth face masks or coverings while indoors starting Tuesday. The Mayor made the announcement at 3 p.m. Thursday along with Minneapolis Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant and Community Planning and Economic Development Director David Frank and Interim City Attorney Erik Nilsson. The face…
DULUTH, Minn. – According to recent reports, requests for bids on the previously halted Costco project in Duluth have been posted on the Builders Exchange website. The Minnesota Builders Exchange General Manager Don O’Connor says bids for the project are needed by May 28. Construction on the site would begin May 1, 2021, and would be completed by November 1,…
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) – The Minnesota State Fair Board is meeting Friday to discuss the 2020 Great-Minnesota Get-Together, fair officials confirmed to FOX 9. Reports say the board will make a decision on whether or not the 2020 fair will go on as scheduled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In late April, Gov. Tim Walz said it was “very difficult” to…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 18,200 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Thursday morning and 32 new deaths bringing the death total to 809 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 173,556 tests have been completed to date. There are 12,488 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 2,380 patients have required hospitalization…
EVELETH, Minn. – More than a dozen fire departments on the Iron Range responded to an apartment fire at the Countryside Apartment complex in Eveleth Wednesday evening around 6:45 p.m. According to Friends of the Northland FireWire, all residents were safely evacuated. Officials believe more than 20 people have been displaced from their home as a result of the fire….
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Catholic Conference and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod say they plan to hold services next week despite a ban on in-person worship of more than 10 people. The two denominations sent Gov. Tim Walz separate letters this week to tell him they plan to open their doors to worship Tuesday, May 26. Some politicians and business…
DULUTH, Minn. – The 100th Annual South St. Louis County Fair has been canceled. Event organizers announced the decision to cancel the 2020 county fair on their Facebook page Wednesday. “With safety being the primary requirements to operate a successful fair, social distancing requirements, sterilization, and other safety precautions being recommended and/or enforced by federal and state governments to combat…
DULUTH, Minn.- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz loosened restrictions on business beginning June 1st. Bars and restaurants can open on that date with outdoor only seating, serving no more than 50 customers at a time and with employees wearing masks. “That extends to how do we find that new normal, restart Minnesota’s economy and I should say grow it from where…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and city councilors are taking a 10 percent voluntary pay cut through the end of the year. Larson makes roughly $97,000 a year. Councilors make close to $14,000. While the savings won’t be significant to the overall budget shortfall of a projected $38 million on the high end this year, Council President Gary…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota’s Catholic church and some Lutheran churches will allow services to resume later this month, choosing to defy Gov. Tim Walz’s latest regulations on public gatherings. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will allow churches to resume Mass on May 26. The Minnesota North and South Districts of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod set…
COOK CO., Minn. — Search and rescue crews have found the body of a missing 29-year-old man who went canoeing on Tuscarora Lake on Wednesday. His identity is being withheld until his family is notified. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the canoe had capsized on the lake, with two others onboard who were able to swim to an…
DULUTH, Minn. – Aviation company AAR is leaving its aircraft maintenance base at the Duluth Airport. It was not immediately known Wednesday how many jobs will be affected, but AAR employed more than 300 people at the Duluth facility with salaries ranging from $30,000 up to around $80,000 a year. AAR has not spoken publicly yet on the reason behind…
DULUTH, Minn – A new documentary highlighting surfers in Lake Superior is now being filmed up the North Shore. The documentary titled Freshwater follows surfers hitting the waves in the freezing waters of Lake Superior. The idea of the documentary came about after the director and his family witnessed the enjoyment these brave people got out of surfing on lake…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. -Face masks are still in high demand as the Coronavirus Pandemic continues across the nation. To help minimize the need, St. Louis County is partnering with area fire departments to collect masks. Masks collected through this drive are being donated for use at living facilities such as long-term care housing and senior homes. When Minnesota Governor Tim Walz…
DULUTH, Minn. – Financial impacts of Covid-19 are continuing to hit hard for Spirit Mountain in Duluth. The popular tourist attraction will now remain closed all the way through the end of summer. Spirit Mountain is in bad financial shape as the Covid-19 Pandemic continues to create money problems. Due to the city’s own financial issues, this time around, supporting…
DULUTH, Minn. – “We made significant changes to our operations and the way we do business,” Duluth Transit Authority General Manager, Phil Pumphrey says. Since March, the Duluth Transit Authority has reduced services to just 24 buses running at only 43 percent of what is normal. “When we go back to our higher level service we will be at 83…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Wednesday the next phases in his Stay Safe MN plan, which includes allowing limited restaurant dining and operation of bars beginning June 1. According to Gov. Walz, starting June 1 restaurants and bars can operate only outdoors with no more than 50 patrons at a time, maintaining social distancing, and…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota bars and restaurants will learn Wednesday afternoon when they might be able to reopen for sit-down service under restrictions meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Many eating establishments across Minnesota have been trying to stay alive with takeout and delivery service since Gov. Tim Walz ordered them to close in mid-March, putting tens of…
(courtesy: Facebook/Lark O’ the Lake) DULUTH, Minn. – Lark O’ the Lake announced on Tuesday that they will not be reopening their cafe this June. In a Facebook post, the cafe wrote: “After 5 years of operation, Lark O’ the Lake Cafe will not reopen this June 1st. We sincerely thank our customers for their patronage, all our past employees…
DULUTH, Minn. – Spirit Mountain announced Wednesday that they will be postponing their reopening until fall due to their current financial situation. Spirit Mountain officials say the only way to open back up this winter is if the cash-strapped city of Duluth hands over $350,000 before winter revenue at the Mountain starts rolling in again. This information comes from a…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 17,670 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Wednesday morning and 29 new deaths bringing the death total to 777 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 167,338 tests have been completed to date. There are 12,227 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 2,308 patients have required hospitalization…
DULUTH, Minn. – Wednesday morning the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild (MNCBG) Board of Directors announced the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 All Pints North Festival scheduled for August 1, 2020, at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. The decision comes amid many other summer cancellations due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “The health and safety of craft beer fans, brewery…
DULUTH, Minn. – Can you imagine shearing more than 50 alpaca all in a matter of six hours? It happened Tuesday morning at Frosty Ridge Alpaca Farm located along Maple Grove Road in Duluth. “Believe it or not we sell more socks in the winter than the summer,” said Loni Blumerich, owner of Frosty Ridge Alpaca Farm. The process only…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Airshow scheduled for July 2020 has been canceled. The announcement was made Wednesday morning citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the cancelation. Duluth Airshow President Ryan Kern said, “The Duluth Airshow routinely draws upwards of 50,000 spectators over the weekend from across the Midwest. The Airshow places a high priority on the safety…
EVELETH, Minn.- Businesses across Minnesota are anxiously awaiting the Governor’s announcement Wednesday authorizing them to open June 1st, including up on the range in the small town of Eveleth that has a population of 3,596. “Walz opening up on the first at a capacity of 25%? That’s. Not. Enough,” said one business owner. Bar and restaurant owners in Eveleth said…
DULUTH, Minn. – The financially strapped Spirit Mountain could very well remain closed through the summer because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. And Spirit Mountain officials say the only way to open back up this winter is if the cash-strapped city of Duluth hands over $350,000 before winter revenue at the Mountain starts rolling in again. This information…
DULUTH, Minn. – Churches across the Northland haven’t gathered for traditional services since the shutdown began. Religious schools have also been shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. A May Crowning traditionally happens as part of a catholic church service during the month of May in honor of the Virgin Mary. Because in-person services are not allowed right now, Duluth’s Stella…
DULUTH, Minn. – Restaurants in the Northland are still feeling financial setbacks from the Coronavirus Pandemic. That’s why a new voucher program has now launched to help boost the local economy as businesses are still trying to rebuild operations, while they wait to reopen indoor dining to the public. Strong Northland is a collaborative effort to help economically restore local…
DULUTH, Minn.-The Miller Hill Mall opened back up on Monday after being shut down for over two months. “It was kind of sporadic. I think a lot of people were kind of seeing what’s open, who’s here and what’s going on,” Apricot Lane Duluth Owner, Wendy Meyers says. For local businesses like Apricot Lane Duluth, it was a breath of…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Grand Rapids Police say a 36-year-old male suspect has been arrested in connection to the shooting of a Grand Rapids woman on May 8. According to police, the suspect was arrested around 9:50 p.m. on Highway 57 just south of Floodwood on Monday. Police reports indicate that the male suspect allegedly shot the 22-year-old woman in…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The Walz administration will announce “phased plans” for reopening bars, restaurants, and other places of accommodation Wednesday, the state’s economic development commissioner said. Commissioner Steve Grove said in a tweet that state officials would use key public health factors as guideposts for reopening decisions, including: How close you are to another person How long you are in close proximity to…
(AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File) TORONTO (AP) — Canada and the US have agreed to extend their agreement to keep the border closed to non-essential travel to June 21 during the coronavirus pandemic. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the border is a source of vulnerability, so the agreement will be extended by another 30 days. The restrictions were announced…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 17,029 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Tuesday morning and 17 new deaths bringing the death total to 748 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 161,835 tests have been completed to date. There are 11,540 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 2,221 patients have required hospitalization…
(Brian Peterson/Star Tribune via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge blocked a Minnesota tavern owner from reopening his chain of six establishments Monday in violation of a state order that bars and restaurants must remain closed to sit-down customers for now to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Stearns County Judge William Cashman issued the temporary restraining order at the…
DULUTH, Minn.- As summer gets closer, Duluth begins to shine as a waterfront destination again. After looking at summer with uncertainty, boating rental and tour services are excited to say they can provide people that gateway to the big blue lake. The Vista Fleet is missing the big Memorial Day opening, but owner Justin Steinbach expects to be open by…
DULUTH, Minn.- Downtown Duluth is reconnected once again with the Skywalk back open after a two-month closure due to COVID-19. The Skywalk was noticibly emptier than usual, but that didn’t stop businesses from swinging their doors open. Frame Corner and Gallery in the Holiday Center has been selling custom frames through curbside pickup but owner Sara Sarvella said she’s looking…
DULUTH, Minn. – Hundreds of smiling faces drove past Lakewood Elementary School in Duluth Monday. The teachers and staff recently coming up with an idea to safely see their students and say ‘thank you’ for a great year even though it didn’t get to end as planned. “I miss my teachers all I can,” said Wyatt, a first-grade student at…
DULUTH, Minn. – Teachers, staff, and other educational employees have been stepping up to meet the needs of Duluth Public School children as they transitioned to distance learning. And that big change has certainly included some struggles and challenges. But the Education Equity Alliance wants to make sure all the hard work of teachers and staff doesn’t go unnoticed. The…
DULUTH, Minn. – Many summer camps around the Northland are already choosing not open for the season to prevent the potential spread of the coronavirus. Fortunately, University Nursery School isn’t one of them canceling summer programming. University Nursery School’s location, in the Harbor Highlands community, has been transformed to offer a full-time summer program. It can accommodate up to 30…
HIBBING, Minn. – Two men arrested last week in connection to a shot fired incident in Hibbing have been formally charged. One of the suspects, Nicholas Ray Champa, 22, has been charged with second-degree felony assault, felon in possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, and intentionally pointing a gun at another. The other suspect, Levi Jean Jacobson, 24, has…
HINCKLEY, Minn. – Grand Casino announced on Monday that while they have not yet set a date for their reopening, they have developed a health and safety plan so they can open as safely as possible. Grand Casino says guests will notice several procedural and physical changes due to a multi-phase reopening strategy they are implementing. “We looked at every…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 16,372 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Monday morning and 9 new deaths bringing the death total to 731 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 156,606 tests have been completed to date. There are 10,764 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 2,128 patients have required hospitalization…
DULUTH, Minn. – Miller Hill Mall announced Monday morning that they are reopening. According to a recent press release, the mall will reopen today at 11:00 a.m. “The health, safety, and well-being of the community we serve will always be our highest priority, and we have developed a thorough and detailed set of protocols highlighting the exceptional measures we’ve implemented…
(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers were unable to break an impasse over a major public construction borrowing package as the legislative session ground to a halt ahead of Monday’s adjournment. The bonding bill and other issues that could not be resolved by Sunday night could be addressed in a special session in June when legislators…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s attorney general is suing the owner of a chain of bars and restaurants who plans to open this week in violation of a state order to remain closed to on-site customers to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The lawsuit from Attorney General Keith Ellison Sunday was met with criticism from House Republicans who…
Some people had to be rescued Sunday after their canoe capsized on the Cloquet River. It happened around 3:30 p.m. in New Independence Township. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the canoe hit some rocks, got severely damaged and then capsized. The five people on board made it to shore safely. They weren’t injured. The St. Louis County Rescue…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- More changes could be coming to Downtown Duluth this summer as the Allete Company is working to renovate Minnesota Power Plaza at the corner of Lake Avenue and Superior Street. Staff with Allete said the plaza will include increased accessibility including a sidewalk into Canal Park. They’re also looking to put in more seating, shading, gardens, and solar…
DULUTH, Minn.- A sign that summer is just around the corner–the popular Portland Malt Shoppe in Duluth re-opened Friday. People can once again stop in for sundaes, malts, and more frozen treats while walking the lakewalk by Fitger’s. “It’s nice to be able to support local businesses when we can. Just nice to be able to help out the community,”…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Police Local 807, the union representing the department’s officers, investigators and sergeants has started its own Facebook page to help connect with the community better by showcasing the work officers are doing on a daily basis. And just this weekend to cap off Police Week, the page featured a video featuring Paul Harvey’s “Policeman” narration. Click…
DULUTH, Minn.- On Saturday a Duluth teenager got her own personal birthday parade to help her celebrate another milestone. Much of the traffic on Arrowhead Road honked to celebrate Haley Kovach-Hubert turning 14. The birthday girl also got a special parade organized by her family. Haley says despite not having a party, this birthday was one to remember. “I feel…
