Minnesota

Governor Walz to announce new anti-fraud chief

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz DULUTH, Min. – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expected to announce a new Director of Program Integrity for Minnesota on Friday, December 12, 2025. The director’s goal is to address and prevent fraud. The governor is also expected to announce the hiring of outside experts to create a statewide fraud prevention program. Fraud in government programs have…

Lake Superior Zoo welcomes a pair of Canadian lynx brothers

  DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Zoo was thrilled to announce two new big cats, after they arrived back in October. Canadian lynx brothers six-year-old Bjorn and seven-year-old Floki traveled to Duluth from the Pittsburgh Zoo. The boys are right at home, as they originated in this region, but they also live all over Canada. Zoo staff telling us, they…

Coffee Conversation: Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel gives exclusive live interview

DULUTH, Minn. — Twiggy the water-skiing squirrel joined FOX 21 live on the morning show today, ahead of her performances this weekend at the Arrowhead Ice Fishing & Winter Show. FOX 21 was also joined live by Twiggy’s handlers, Chuck and Toni, as well as Trio — another squirrel hitting the water skis this weekend. You can catch Twiggy and…

American Legion Post 109 hosts annual lutefisk and Swedish meatball dinner

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — The American Legion Post 109 in Two Harbors hosted its 21st annual Lutefisk and Swedish Meatball Dinner, a tradition that brings together locals, travelers, and longtime supporters. Guests purchase meals, choosing either lutefisk or Swedish meatballs, to support veterans. Lutefisk is a Scandinavian tradition stretching back hundreds of years, and with its deep roots in the…

St. Louis River Alliance hold ‘River Appreciation’ party

DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Louis River Alliance set up shop at Clyde Iron Works for a “River Appreciation” party. The party was free and open to the public, with cake served to the attendees before a presentation, recapping the organization’s 2025. A focus of the event and others like it for the alliance is the organization’s ongoing “Membership Drive,”…

’12 Hours of Giving’ Blood Drive nearing Twin Ports debut

DULUTH, Minn. — In continuing with Fox 21’s partnership with the Red Cross’ 12 Hours of Giving Blood Drive, Fox 21 is taking the weeks leading up to the event to tell the stories of those whose lives have been affected for the better through blood donation. The event itself will be Dec. 18. and 19, at The Garden Event…

Norma Hoffbauer celebrates 100th birthday

DULUTH, Minn. — Norma Hoffbauer turned 100 today. She celebrated this milestone surrounded by friends and family, with some guests traveling from as far away as Alaska. Cupcakes and drinks were shared all around as everyone mingled, and the kids decorated some festive gingerbread houses. Norma shared one important piece of advice. “Live one day at a time, and make…

Lake Superior Zoo shows off pygmy slow loris babies

DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Zoo welcomed two new pygmy slow loris babies, and they’re growing fast! The little critters were born unexpectedly back on November 17th. And since then, zoo staff has been carefully managing their care with supplemental feeding, and health monitoring. Slow Pygmy Lorises are the only venomous primates in the world, and they’re critically endangered. This…

148th Fighter Wing honors TSgt Ryan Ewald with 13th annual toy drive

DULUTH, Minn.– For thirteen years, the 148th Fighter Wing has honored Tech Sergeant Ryan Ewald through their annual toy drive. And this year’s toy haul was quite successful. Two truckloads of toys were brought in for the salvation army distribution. One of the airmen said Ewald passed away from an ATV crash and was known for toy drive involvement every…

Duluth PD releases statement on officer under investigation — again

Officer Tyler Leibfried DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth Police Officer who was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing after shooting a man through an apartment door in 2020, is now cleared again of another alleged crime. This time the allegations are of sexual assault involving a fellow Duluth police officer. While he has not been criminally charged for sexual assault, Officer…

Solvay Hospice House receives nearly $45,000 from Super One’s register round-up

DULUTH, Minn. — Super One raised nearly $45,000  for Solvay Hospice House. These funds were raised during their recent Register Round-up campaign, where customers could choose to round up their change or donate more when checking out. This campaign was at 19 regional stores. Solvay has been a register roundup participant for 18 years now, raising more than $373,000  in…

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gave $7.1 billion to nonprofits in 2025, a major increase

Mackenzie Scott NEW YORK (AP) — The author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott revealed $7.1 billion in donations to nonprofits in 2025 Tuesday, marking a significant increase in her annual giving from recent years. Writing in an essay on her website, Scott said, “This dollar total will likely be reported in the news, but any dollar amount is a vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal…

Coffee Conversation: MN Ballet puts a Duluth twist on “The Nutcracker” this weekend

DULUTH, Minn. — The Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale returns to Symphony Hall at the DECC this weekend, bringing a magical Northland twist to the holiday classic. Minnesota Ballet’s Karl von Rabenau and Juliana DeBellis stopped by the FOX 21 studio to share what audiences can expect from this year’s production. The story follows Clara as her Nutcracker doll comes to…

Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College receives largest unrestricted gift in its history

CLOQUET, Minn. — The Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC) has received a multimillion-dollar gift, the largest unrestricted git in the college’s history. The gift was from the Mackenzie Scott foundation, Yield Giving. “This transformative and incredibly generous multi-million dollar gift will impact our students and community for generations to come in powerful ways,” said FDLTCC President Anita Hanson. “We are deeply thankful to…

Lake Superior Train Museum hosts holiday party

DULUTH, Minn. — The Superior Railroad Museum held its after-hours annual holiday party alongside the History in a Pint event put on by the Veterans Memorial Hall. The family-friendly events featured crafts, festive Christmas decorations, and plenty of photo opportunities. While some browsed the trains, others sat down to enjoy a pint of beer from a local brewery and listen…

City Council approves transfer of former Lester Park Golf Course

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth City Council has approved an ordinance allowing the transfer of the former Lester Park Golf Course property to the Duluth Economic Development Authority. After extensive debate among a roomful of Duluth residents, the ordinance passed by an 8-to-1 vote. The ordinance approves the transfer of the 230-acre parcel to DEDA, but the transfer will only…

Lake Superior College hosts student art show for Fall ’25 semester

DULUTH, Minn. — Lake Superior College is treating Twin Ports residents to the artistic visions of their students with a campus-wide art show. The free-to-the-public art show runs through the college’s main campus building, showing off art produced by the school’s students during the Fall 2025 semester. With the art forms ranging from photography, to painting, to jewelry, the show…

Aspirus St. Luke’s becomes first hospital in U.S to earn AAP level 2 NICU designation

DULUTH, Minn.– Aspirus St Luke’s in Duluth is the first hospital in the country to be designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for their level 2 NICU. The designation shows that they’ve met new guidelines for proper equipment, protocols, and staff training. The AAP implemented these designation guidelines in 2023 to help standardize NICUs across the country. A…

Nearly a quarter million visits to Great Lakes Aquarium in 2025

Great Lakes Aquarium Logo DULUTH, Min. – The Great Lakes Aquarium is projecting a record number of visits in 2025. 2025 is the aquarium’s 25th anniversary year with a projected 235,000 visitors. It’s the fifth consecutive year of attendance growth. Great Lakes Aquarium commissioned the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at UMD’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics…

Filter with special guests Finger Eleven and Local H coming to Duluth

Richard Patrick of Filter DULUTH, Min. – Rock bands Filter, Finger Eleven and Local H are coming to Duluth. They’ll be taking the stage at DECC on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 7:30 PM. Filter is an industrial rock band formed in 1993 by former Nine Inch Nails guitarist Richard Patrick.  Take a Picture, Hey Man Nice Shot and Welcome…

Attempted homicide charge filed against Superior man accused of shooting police officer

Dylan Charles-Edward Wallace is also charged with domestic abuse involving his girlfriend

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Serious charges were filed Monday against a Superior man accused of shooting a Superior police officer, ramming his vehicle into the middle school and physically assaulting his girlfriend. “The allegations here would tend to cause a significant threat to the community and the public at large. So the court will accept the recommendation of the state and…

Carlton County Animal Rescue hosts open house for interested families

CLOQUET, Minn. — The Carlton County Animal Rescue held an open house to showcase some cats and kittens who are looking for their future homes. Those in attendance were treated to some quality time with their potential forever friends, as well as a presentation in which they could learn more about the organization and the people behind it. Through donations…

Union Gospel Mission unveils new resting area for community

DULUTH, Minn.– Union Gospel Mission, a nonprofit dedicated to helping out the homeless community, has unveiled a new space for anyone to take advantage of. The Nest resting area is in response to the mission’s goal to accommodate their growing population. Union Gospel Mission officials said they have 75 seats in their dining facility. But they have been seeing up…

Nemadji Trail Rally brings racing to the Northland

DUQUETTE. Minn — Cars flew through the Nemadji State Forest Saturday in a test of skill and speed. The Nemadji Trail Rally brought together 13 different cars from around the region to compete on the snowy course. Nemadji Trail Rally The race, officially sanctioned by the American Rally Association(ARA), spanned 33 miles of state forest road closed off for the event….

Coffee Conversation: Arrowhead Ice Fishing & Winter Show returns to Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — The Arrowhead Ice Fishing & Winter Show is back at the DECC starting Friday, December 12, bringing everything cold-weather fun under one roof. Russ Francisco with Marine General joined our morning show Monday to break down the new gear, biggest discounts, and vendors you’ll see this year. 📍 DECC — 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 🕒 Show…

Santa eats breakfast with local families

DULUTH, Minn. — Families gathered at the Miller Hill Mall Applebee’s this Saturday to have breakfast with Santa. Seating was first-come, first-served, with each plate of food costing $10. Alongside breakfast, Santa spoke with the children about Christmas lists and checked who had been naughty or nice. “I really had a lot of nice kids all the time, and I asked…

CAD Staff: We’d rather have Community Action Duluth fail than see Classie Dudley succeed

Classie Dudley DULUTH, Min. – FOX21 has obtained a 2022 document from the Minnesota Department of Human Services where staff members at Community Action Duluth (CAD) allegedly said they wanted to see Classie Dudley fail as the organization’s Executive Director. It described CAD in late 2022 as a “chaotic organization.” The report says, ” company time to gather staff, write…

Canelake’s Candies brings nostalgic holiday cheer to Virginia, MN

VIRGINIA, Minn. — Canelake’s Candies in Virginia is spreading holiday cheer and nostalgia with its classic Christmas display. When the candy store came back to the Canelake family in 2018, it was the perfect opportunity to display a piece of Minnesota history. After the Dayton’s department store in Minneapolis closed and auctioned off items, the Canelake family purchased an animatronic…

Sabor by Pedro’s to take over MadHouse Burgers location

Local Mexican chain is adding a third location in Duluth

SUPERIOR, Wis — Sabor by Pedro’s will be taking over the space previously held by MadHouse Burgers on Woodland Ave. The restaurant will be an extension of Pedro’s Grill & Cantina, bringing a unique twist on their current menu, focusing on brunch items and fun Mexican dishes. The new location will not compete with their existing restaurants in Cloquet and…

Mesabi Trail sees record number of users in 2025

EVELETH, Minn. — One of Minnesota’s largest trails has seen a record breaking number of users this year. The Mesabi Trail is a 10 ft. wide bike path that runs from Grand Rapids to Ely, stretching over 165 miles. The trails popularity rose this year after various marketing campaigns invited people to see what the area has to offer. 18…

Lutsen residents address the loss of Lutsen Lodge and its lingering impact

LUTSEN, Minn.– Following the recent news regarding the Lutsen Lodge arson case, several community members told FOX 21, the potential bankruptcy, and the debt left behind, will impact numerous people. That being said, they’re all still mourning the loss of the historic landmark. One Lutsen resident is speaking out about the aftermath the charges bring the community. “Losing that piece…

Minnesota Ballet performs scenes of ‘The Nutcracker’ at Essentia

DULUTH, Minn. — Healthcare Workers and patients at Essentia saw some dazzling dances from the Nutcracker. The Minnesota Ballet visited the hospital ahead of their full performance at the DECC. They performed a few excerpts from the ballet in the atrium, then headed up to the pediatric unit to perform for the children. “It’s a wonderful way to appreciate the…

Essentia and MNA reach tentative agreement for over 100 Virginia nurses

VIRGINIA, Minn, — Essentia Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) have reached a tentative agreement on contracts for more than 100  nurses in Virginia. Friday, Essentia announced the tentative agreement on a three-year contract for the nurses. “This milestone comes after productive discussions and reflects our deep appreciation for the extraordinary work these nurses do every day,” said Rhonda Kazik,…

Minnesota DNR acquires 16,000 acres of land for permanent protection

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — The Minnesota DNR has acquired 16,000 acres of land for permanent protection. This is one of the DNR’s largest land acquisitions in recent history, resulting in the permanent protection of nearly 16,000 acres across a 10-county area in Northern Minnesota. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to protect these forests, lakes, and waterways – now and for…

Man arrested for stealing car warming up at MnDOT office then getting stuck in snow bank following chase

Kane Charles Bonga DULUTH, Min. –  A man is accused of stealing a car warming-up at the MnDOT office at the corner of Mesaba Avenue and Central Entrance. Charging documents accuse Kane Charles Bonga of stealing a 2008 Subaru Outback. The car belonged to a MnDOT employee.  That employee got into a co-worker’s car and followed the stolen Subaru.  They…

Atlanta Most Wanted man arrested in Duluth will not fight extradition back to Georgia

Kmauri Burnett DULUTH, Min. –  A man on the Atlanta Police Department’s most wanted list for allegedly committing two murders will not fight extradition back to Georgia. He signed court documents saying so about 24-hours after his arrest in Duluth. 20-year-old Kmauri Burnett was arrested bv the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force, DPD, and St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office near the…