Minnesota

Rice Lake expected to name Acting Mayor

UPDATE: The City of Rice Lake says in a news release they still consider Suzanne Herstad to be Mayor until her resignation letter is presented at their Monday, July 14 city council meeting.  The news release says if the letter is accepted which it “most likely” will be, then Jayme Heim would officially become Acting Mayor. Heim was selected to…

One Roof Community Housing Awarded 10k Grant

DULUTH, Minn. — One Roof Community Housing received a ten thousand dollar grant today. Members Cooperative Credit Union in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines awarded the grant from the Member Impact Fund. FHLB Des Moines created the fund to partner with not-for-profit organizations that focus on affordable housing and community development. Members has worked with One…

Coffee Conversation: Taste Twin Ports to Take Over Bayfront Festival Park Saturday

DULUTH, Minn. — Taste Twin Ports, formerly known as Festival by the Lake, is set to take place on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Bayfront Festival Park. Pez Davilla and Joe Macor, the co-hosts of the Taste Twin Ports podcast and the creative minds behind the event, joined FOX 21 live on the Friday morning newscast to share more details….

Mama Duck Hatches Ducklings In Essentia Health Courtyard For Third Time

SUPERIOR, Wis. — A mama duck recently hatched ducklings in the courtyard at Essentia Health in Superior. But because it’s enclosed, the only way out is to prop open a few doors and let her do the rest by guiding her babies to safety. Melissa Walrath and her fellow co-workers in Outpatient Surgery took this video. Melissa says this is…

Port Authority: Closure Of CHS Superior Terminal Is ‘Disappointing Blow’

SUPERIOR, Wis. – “Disappointing blow.”  Those are the words from the Duluth Seaway Port Authority about the shutdown of one of the Twin Ports oldest and largest grain shippers. Employees at the CHS Superior Terminal told FOX 21 they were notified Thursday that they will be out of a job on Sept. 8. The grain facility has been operating at…

Scammers posing as St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Office

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is warning about a new scam appearing in people’s in-boxes. St, Louis County Seal The Sheriff’s Office has “taken numerous calls” about scammers are sending invoices via email that claim to be from St. Louis County Planning and Zoning. The invoices demand money be wired to various locations. The Sheriff’s Office…

Duluth Transit Authority General Manager to retire

DULUTH, Minn. – After a nearly 40-year career with the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA), General Manager Rod Fournier has announced his retirement. Rod Fournier Fournier’s last day will be on July 24th. He began as a part time Bus Operator in August of 1988, working in Dispatch, Supervisor, and Scheduling roles. Fournier became Director of Operations, which laid the groundwork for…

APP strike begins, bargaining stalled by legal review

  DULUTH, Minn. — Today, July 01, 2025, marks the start of the Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) striking at Essentia. APP’s joined the picket lines at the Duluth, Superior, and Virginia locations. Negotiations are currently off the table as Essentia awaits a legal review from the National Labor Relations Board. The MNA proposed creating the APP bargaining unit in a…

Acute Care Nurses Approve Agreement with Essentia

DULUTH, Minn. — Acute Care nurses at Essentia have voted to ratify the agreements made last week. Nurses voted on the agreement Wednesday, July 9, 2025. The agreement includes provisions that will give nurses more scheduling predictability and flexibility. It also provides a nearly ten percent increase in pay spread over the next three years. RELATED: Minnesota Nurses Association Nurses…

Parking ramp behind St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth closing for repairs

  DULUTH, Minn. – The parking ramp behind the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth will be temporarily closing for repairs. The ramp is off of Third Street. Beginning Monday, July 14, the ramp which connects by skywalk to the rear of the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth, will close for scheduled maintenance. The closure for resurfacing work is expected…

MNA Labor Relations Field Manager to run for Congress

DULUTH, Minn. – Chad McKenna has announced he will be running for Congress. Chad McKenna McKenna says he’ll be running for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District – the seat currently held by Pete Stauber. In a news release McKenna said. “I’m running for Congress because Pete Stauber has stopped working for us – his constituents… He seems more focused on appeasing…

Coffee Conversation: Annual Nordlager & North Star Chapter Show in Cloquet

CLOQUET, Minn. — Beer lovers, collectors, and nostalgia enthusiasts, mark your calendars — the Nordlager Beer Show is happening this Friday and Saturday, July 11–12, at the Northeastern Hotel. Bert Whittington and none other than Hammy the Bear joined the morning newscast on Thursday, July 10, to talk about this fan-favorite summer event: the Nordlager & North Star Chapter’s Annual…

Twin Ports Celebrates its First Disability Pride Event

DULUTH, Minn.– Across the state of Minnesota, numerous disability pride events have been celebrated. And now, advocates felt it was time for the Twin Ports to join in. “The reason we’re doing this, is we want to celebrate disabilities, their contributions to our community, we’re here to stay. It doesn’t discriminate,” said Amanda Crosby, Executive Director ‘Arc Northland’. Around the…

Harbor City International School Wins Innovation Award

  DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s own Harbor City International School has won an award that recognizes its learning approach. The school won the 2025 Minnesota Charter School Innovation Award. The award highlights the hands-on learning approach that Harbor City prides themselves on. Three times a year, students are offered immersive sessions, ranging from sailing, to winter survival skills. Last year…

Minnesota State Fair Foods Announced!

ST. PAUL, Minn. — This year’s lineup of savory, sweet, and downright strange foods at the Minnesota State Fair have been announced. They’ve announced the lineup of new foods, as well as a list of new vendors. The Fair runs from August 21st through Labor Day. Afro Bean Pops Afro Deli Savory deep-fried bites of ground black-eyed peas, onions, jalapeños,…

Aerial Lift Bridge and Minnesota Slip Bridge to have special hours during Festival of Sail

DULUTH, Minn. – The Aerial Lift Bridge and Minnesota slip bridge will have special lift schedules during Festival of Sail. On Thursday, June 10, 2025 the Parade of Sail will travel under the Aerial Lift Bridge. The parade is scheduled to begin at 11:00 am and end around 1:00 pm. During the Parade of Sail, the public should expect longer…

Cars crash in front of Tortoise&Hare Footwear

DULUTH, Minn. – A car crashed right in front of the Tortoise&Hare Footwear store Wednesday morning. Duluth Police tell FOX21 at approximately 8:50 a.m. on July 9, 2025, Duluth Police responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of North 40th Avenue West and Grand Avenue. Initial information shows a vehicle was traveling southbound on 40th Ave W. The other vehicle, traveling…

LSC Awarded Grant to Develop Unique Program for Students with Disabilities

DULUTH, Minn. — Lake Superior College has received a significant grant to support the development of a new Program for Accessible College Education, called PACE for short. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education awarded LSC over $185,000. LSC is one of only three grantees awarded funding statewide. According to the press release, this is the first program of its kind in…

Video shows 2024 Duluth Drive-By Shooting; Suspect Sentenced

DULUTH, Minn. – Doorbell video shows a 2024 Lakeside/Lester Park drive-by, where a man shot at his brother’s home. In doorbell footage, obtained by FOX 21, 43-year-old Justin Lee Miller is seen rolling to a stop in his truck on Sep. 22, 2024, and firing one shot into his brother’s Lakeside/Lester Park neighborhood home. The bullet struck the bedroom of…

Rice Lake Mayor Suzanne Herstad Resigns

  RICE LAKE, Minn. – Rice Lake Mayor Suzanne Herstad has resigned. In a news release, Mayor Herstad’s resignation letter was quoted saying, “Serving this remarkable community has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together during my time in office, and I leave hopeful in a future of…

St. Louis County waiving permit fees for wildfire rebuilding

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Board has voted to temporarily waive the fees associated with land use and septic permits for those trying to Jenkins Creek fire in the distance. Camp House fire in the forefront. rebuild after the 2025 spring wildfires. They are waiving permit fees through January 4, 2026. It’s specifically for replacement of structures and…

Coffee Conversation: Festival of Sail Returns to Duluth July 10-13

DULUTH, Minn. — The Festival of Sail Duluth returns to the city this week, July 10-13, with an exciting new addition: a high dive competition. Festival organizer Craig Samborski and Owen Weymouth, national event coordinator for USA Diving, joined Fox 21 on the morning newscast with more. The annual celebration brings maritime history to life with towering ships, deck tours,…

Cloquet DWI Suspect headbutted Nurse at Hospital – Charges

CLOQUET, Minn. – A man arrested for DWI, is accused of also headbutting a nurse at Cloquet Memorial Hospital. Kash Steven Ankarlo, 34, of Esko, is charged with offenses including fourth-degree assault on a hospital personnel, escape from custody, and child endangerment, in relation to an incident on July 3, in Cloquet. According to court documents, Cloquet Police were called…

Temporary Wildfire Waste Collection Site Now Open in Brimson

BRIMSON, Minn. — St. Louis Environmental Services has opened a temporary solid waste collection site in the Brimson area for residents to dispose of fire damaged materials. The temporary transfer station is expected to handle scrap metal, burn debris, wood structures, shingles, brick and concrete. Those items will be accepted free of charge. Liquids, trees and brush will not be…

Fire Damages Longtime Manufacturing Plant In Floodwood

FLOODWOOD, Minn. — Firefighters in Floodwood remained on the scene Monday after a large fire ignited Friday at a longtime business. Courtesy: Northland Fire Wire The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. Friday at the Mat, Inc. facility on Highway 2. When firefighters arrived, they encountered an 18,000-gallon propane tank with 40-foot flames, according to the Northland Fire Wire. A…

Tiffany, Stauber, and other members of Congress send letter to Canadian Ambassador about wildfire concerns

WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Tom Tiffany (WI-07) and Pete Stauber (MN-08) along with other members of Congress sent a letter to Canada’s Ambassador. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R) Wisconsin It urged stronger forest management practices to mitigate wildfire risk after consecutive years of heavy smoke blowing south from Canada to Minnesota and Wisconsin. It read in part, “We know a key…

Man Drowns In Tettegouche State Park

A man drowned while swimming in Tettegouche State Park. The incident happened on the 4th of July around 1 p.m. The Lake County Sheriff’s said Hari Senagana, 25, of Kansas was seen struggling at Illgen Falls before going under. The St. Louis County Rescue Squad was called in to help with the recovery efforts. The victim’s body was recovered in…

Coffee Conversation: Downtown Duluth Days Kick Off This Week

DULUTH, Minn. — Downtown Duluth is gearing up for its biggest summer celebration with the newly rebranded Downtown Duluth Days, formerly known as Sidewalk Days. Kristi Stokes, Downtown Duluth President, joined Fox 21 live on the morning newscast Monday to talk more about it. The event is taking place July 9 and 10. Click here for more information. Categories: Coffee…

Minnesota Nurses Association announces agreement with Essentia for acute care nurses; other strikes loom

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Nurses Association and Essentia Health have reached a tentative agreement, averting the strike for acute care nurses in the area. The agreement affects roughly 1,500 Essentia Health hospital nurses at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center, Essentia Health-Duluth and Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Superior. According to a release from the MNA the agreement includes updates to…

Hibbing Break-In Suspect Shot, Flees to Grand Rapids Hospital

HIBBING, Minn. – A man was shot in the stomach after he broke into a Hibbing Apartment and assaulted the two occupants, charges allege. Hibbing Police responded to an apartment on the 500 block of East 40th Street around 5:30 a.m. last Friday, Jun. 29, for a report of shots fired, according to court documents. Officers spoke with the apartment’s…

The Blue Angels Prepping for the 2025 Duluth Air Show

DULUTH, Minn. — Anyone that’s been in Duluth long enough knows the roar of the Blue Angels’ jets racing across the sky. Thousands will gather at the Airport this weekend, to watch as they perform dazzling stunts. They’ll do practice runs throughout today and tomorrow, getting a lay of the land before the big event. But, before the practice runs…

Rep. Pete Stauber statement on One Big Beautiful Bill Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 1. H.R. 1 is also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “In November, the American people elected President Trump and gave him the majorities in both the House and Senate with a clear mandate: to restore safety and unleash prosperity across our nation. Today,…

Minnesota Nurses Association comes to agreement with Twin Cities hospitals; Duluth strike still imminent

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) has announced it has come to tentative agreements with Twin Cities-area hospitals. In their announcement they said, “Duluth prepares for action”. MNA agreed to the tentative terms with Allina Health, Children’s Minnesota, M Health Fairview, HealthPartners and North Memorial Health. The MNA is still working to get deals with Aspirus St. Luke’s…

Spongy Moth aerial spraying in Northland to start soon

Exact dates will depend on weather conditions

Spongy Moth spraying plane DULUTH, Minn. & ST. PAUL, Minn. –  The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is preparing to do aerially spraying across parts of Aitkin, Carlton, Itasca, Pine, and St. Louis counties to slow the spread of Spongy Moth. There will be 24 sites sprayed across the area. The Spongy Moth is a destructive invasive forest pest. The spray…

St. Louis County opening Brimson Wildfire Complex debris collection site 

Photo CourtesyMinnesota National Guard DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County Environmental Services is opening a temporary solid waste collection site in the Brimson-area to dispose of materials damaged by recent wildfires. The collection site will be at the old County garage, 3115 Highway 44 in Brimson. This site is for wildfire debris only. Beginning Monday, July 7, the site will…

Coffee Conversation: Great Lakes Woodwind Quintet Performs Live

DULUTH, Minn. — As part of Duluth Navy Week, members of the U.S. Navy Band Great Lakes Woodwind Quintet appeared live on Fox 21’s morning show Thursday. Petty Officer Third Class Cameron West and Lieutenant David Harbuziuk joined the broadcast to talk about their ensemble, Fair Winds. The group performed their rendition of the national march, “The Stars and Stripes…

Charges for Duluth Hillside Apartment Assault and Knife Threats

DULUTH, Minn. – A woman is threatened with a knife after walking in on an active domestic assault, charges allege. Ray Charles Brantley, 65, is charged with second-degree terroristic threats and domestic assault for an incident that occurred at an apartment on the 200 block of North 2nd Ave East around 3:00 a.m. Sunday. Duluth Police responded to the apartment,…

President’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Would Cost St. Louis County At Least $16M, County Says

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Louis county leaders put out a warning to residents Wednesday to say President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” – if passed — would cost the county at least $16 million. As written now, the federal bill would shift Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs from the federal government to the states, according to the county. For…

Fire Destroys Home in Holyoke Township

Holyoke Township, MN — July 1, 2025 — A house fire late Tuesday night in the 1000 block of N Holyoke Drive resulted in a total loss of the home, according to the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to the scene around 9:50 p.m. and found the residence fully engulfed in flames. The homeowners were not present at the…

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering, convicted of prostitution offense

Sean “Diddy Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offense but acquitted Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put one of hip-hop’s most celebrated figures behind bars for life. The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations. It could still send Combs, 55, to prison for as long as a decade, and is likely to…