Minnesota

Beatrice Ojakangas Displays Many Uses of Rhubarb Juice

Cooking Connection: CHUM Rhubarb Festival

DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend rhubarb will be filling Duluth for an annual festival. CHUM’s Rhubarb Festival is Saturday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m There will be everything rhubarb from pies and jams to sausage and juice. There will also be games, crafts, music, auctions and stage shows. This is all taking place at 11th Ave. E….

Special Olympics Torch Passes Through the Northland

Law Enforcement Officers Are Escorting the Flame of Hope to the Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games

DULUTH, Minn. – The Flame of Hope is on its way to the Minnesota Special Olympic Games. As it travels from Thunder Bay, Canada to Apple Valley, Minnesota, the torch made some stops in the Northland. Law enforcement officers from across Minnesota are escorting the torch through the state to raise funds and awareness for the Special Olympics. “Communities have…

Pride to Limit Police Participation in Parade after Castile Verdict

FOX 9 - KMSP

Twin Cities Pride Parade 2016 – Fox 9 MINNEAPOLIS (KSMP) – Twin Cities Pride says it will limit police presence and participation in its annual parade and other festivities this year in response to the verdict in the Philando Castile case. Typically, several police departments roll down Hennepin Avenue as the first contingent in the parade to make sure the…

University of Minnesota to Raise Tuition this Fall

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The University of Minnesota will raise tuition at its Twin Cities campus this fall. The Pioneer Press reports that the university’s board voted Tuesday to approve university President Eric Kaler’s recommended budget, which will raise tuition by 2-percent for Minnesota residents and 12.5-percent for nonresidents at the Twin Cities campus. Kaler says the 2-percent rate…

Health Professionals Discuss Rural Care Options

More Than 600 Groups Attended Rural Health Conference

DULUTH, Minn. – Quality health care can be tough to find for many rural Minnesotans.  So the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care and the Minnesota Rural Health Association joined forces with the Duluth–based National Rural Health Resource Center to find solutions. “We’re working in approaches to provide resources for rural health communities and providers,” said Sally Buck, CEO,…

Minnesota Boating Safety Law Delayed

Sophia's Law Will Require Carbon Monoxide Detectors on Certain Boats

DULUTH, Minn. – A new boating safety law was expected to be in effect right now in Minnesota, but there’s been a hold up. Sophia’s Law was passed last year by the Minnesota legislature. The law is named after a seven-year-old girl who died in 2015 from carbon monoxide poisoning while napping on her family’s boat on Lake Minnetonka, near the Twin…

Hacker Angered by Officer’s Acquittal Claims Attack on State

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A hacker upset about last week’s acquittal of a Minnesota police officer who shot and killed a black motorist claims to have stolen hundreds of email addresses from a state database. Minnesota’s Information Technology Services department confirmed a cyberattack Tuesday, but officials said they didn’t know what inspired the attack and they were still investigating. The…

Students Get Hands-On Look at Firefighting

20 Kids are Attending LSC's Fire Camp

DULUTH, Minn. – Local high school students are spending part of their summer learning what it takes to be a firefighter. Twenty kids are spending the week at Lake Superior College’s Fire Camp leaning from actual Duluth firefighters. Organizers hope the camp encourages kids to get into firefighting. “This is a great opportunity to get some hands-on experience and see…

IN HIS OWN WORDS: Yanez Describes Castile Shooting in BCA Interview

Ted Haller - Fox 9

(KMSP) – Officer Jeronimo Yanez testified to the jury that he “was able to see” Philando Castile’s gun. However, in Yanez’s one-hour interview with the BCA, recorded the day after the shooting, Yanez is less explicit. Yanez told the investigator he “thought it was a firearm,” and used words like “it” and “something.” The jury never heard the audio of…

Minnesota Leaders Approve Deal for Pellet Plant, Ore Project

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota leaders have approved a lease agreement with a company that indents to complete construction on a pellet plant and another facility to produce high-grade iron ore. Minnesota Public Radio reports the governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and state auditor approved the agreement Monday with Chippewa Capital Partners. The deal gives the company and…

Philando Castile Shooting Dashcam Video

ST. PAUL, Minn.  – The case file for Officer Jeronimo Yanez in the shooting death of Philando Castile has been released by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, including dashcam video during the traffic stop on July 6, 2016 in Falcon Heights. Dashcam video has only been shown in court. FULL VIDEO: WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE AND GRAPHIC CONTENT Yanez…

Squad Video of Castile Shooting Expected to be Made Public

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Authorities are planning to release evidence from their investigation into the Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Philando Castile, including squad-car camera video that shows last July’s deadly encounter. The evidence form the trial of officer Jeronimo Yanez is expected to be released Tuesday. While the video shows the shooting of Castile, it does not show…

Delta Adds Facial Recognition Kiosks at Twin Cities Airport

The technology is a $600,000 investment for the airport

Photo: Delta MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Delta Airlines says it is the first U.S. airline to use facial recognition technology to speed the process of checking baggage. Delta on Monday debuted four self-serve kiosks for checking bags at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, including one that uses facial recognition technology to match travelers with their passport photos. “This is the next step…

Original Deep Fried Cheese Curds Stand Won’t Return to Minnesota State Fair

Allie Johnson - Fox 9

Photo: Original Deep Fried Cheese Curds ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – The Original Deep Fried Cheese Curds is officially moving on from the Minnesota State Fair. In a letter posted online Tuesday, Tom Mueller, the son of co-owners Dick and Donna Mueller, announced the stand would not be returning to the fair in August. Mueller had hoped to continue running…

Duluth Huskies Partner with The Duluth Experience for “Pre-game Pourtage”

DULUTH, Minn. – This summer the Duluth Huskies are partnering with The Duluth Experience for a new kind of pre-game experience. For every Wednesday home game, they’ll host the Pre-game Pourtage. This tour begins at 3:30 p.m. with a history tour of Wade Stadium. That is followed by transportation to Bent Paddle at 4:00 p.m. with the opportunity to try…

New Foods Announced for the Great Minnesota Get-Together

MN State Fair announces foods joining the already expansive menu

Bowl O’ Dough – scoops of straight-up raw cookie dough that is safe to eat. (Photo: Minnesota State Fair) ST. PAUL, Minn – The Minnesota State Fair has announced 31 brand new foods that will be offered this year. From small plates to savory entrees and sweet treats there’s something new for everyone to try. Some new options include a…

Attorney: Castile Family will File Civil Suit in Federal Court

FOX 9 - KMSP

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – The family of Philando Castile will file a civil lawsuit in federal court against former St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez after he was acquitted of all charges last Friday, the family’s attorney confirmed. Castile was fatally shot by Yanez during a traffic stop in Falcon heights on July 6, 2016. The shooting garnered national…

Volunteers Clean-Up After Grandma’s Marathon

About Half of the Marathon Set-Up Taken Down Sunday

DULUTH, Minn. – That’s a wrap on one of the busiest weekends of the year in Duluth. Grandma’s Marathon brought thousands of runners and fans to the city. Hundreds of volunteers are cleaning up the marathon course and the finish line area in Canal Park. According to volunteer coordinators, about half of the marathon set-up was taken down on Sunday….

Fans Cheer Grandma’s Marathon Runners to the Finish Line

Thousands of Spectators Come Every Year to Root for Their Favorite Marathoners

DULUTH, Minn. – As runners raced through Grandma’s Marathon, a sideline chorus cheered them to the finish line. “We expect Eric to come in soon and then we’ll be cheering for Jill. Yay Jill!” cheered Rhende Hagemeister, who made signs to cheer on runners. The fans gave words, and other sounds, of encouragement. “We just wanted to push people,” said Bianca,…

Duluth Celebrates Another Grandma’s Marathon

Kenyans Have Big Day, Winning Three of Four Major Championships

DULUTH, Minn. – Thousands of runners packed the city for the 41st annual Grandma’s Marathon. The marathon started a around 7:45 Saturday morning as more than 8,000 made the trek from Two Harbors to Canal Park. Grandma’s Marathon is the 11th largest marathon in the United States, and serves as a Boston Marathon qualifier. Fox 21 had a few familiar…

VERDICT: Officer Jeronimo Yanez Found Not Guilty in Shooting of Philando Castile

FOX 9 - KMSP

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – A jury found St. Anthony, Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez not guilty on all counts Friday in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile last July. Yanez was charged with manslaughter for the July 6, 2016 shooting of Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. The shooting garnered national attention when Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, streamed…

Judge Denies Request to Reread Yanez Testimony, Jury Continues Deliberations

FOX 9 - KMSP

Drawing by Cedric HohnstadtST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – The jury resumed deliberating at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning in the trial of St. Anthony, Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez. Deliberations have now been going on for more than 24 hours. Yanez is on trial for the shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights on July 6, 2016. The officer-involved shooting garnering national…

Man Convicted in 1999 Poirier Killing Now in Medium Security

Photo Courtesy Department of Corrections MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The man convicted in the 1999 killing of convenience store clerk Katie Poirier is now in a medium-security prison in Faribault. Donald Blom was shifted in February from a maximum-security prison in Oak Park Heights. Department of Corrections spokeswoman Sarah Fitzgerald said the agency doesn’t comment on why specific inmates are transferred…

Minnesota Resort Receives $150K from State

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Only one of the dozens of businesses impacted by fishing restrictions on an eastern Minnesota lake is getting financial help from the state thanks to language tucked into an economic development law. The Star Tribune reports the law’s language is so specific that only Hunter’s Winfield Resort on Mille Lacs Lake will receive $150,000 in…

“Raising the Par” for Positive Energy Outdoors

Fundraiser Golf Scramble at Enger Park Golf Course

DULUTH, Minn. – With Spring well underway it’s the perfect time to hit the links. Next week you can head to the golf course and support a local non-profit while enjoying a round of golf. “Raising the Par” is a fundraiser for Positive Energy Outdoors. The non-profit provides camps and programs for children who otherwise may not be able to enjoy…

Differing Opinions on School District Debt

School Board Member Wants Bonds Rebudgeted

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Public School District will pay $45 million out of its general fund over the next 15 years. The district took on the debt in the form of bonds which went to a variety of projects including construction of the new Duluth East and renovations at Denfeld High School. The city currently pays roughly $23 million a…

New Bridge Designed to Ease Marathon Traffic

Scaffold Bridge will Allow Spectators to Cross the Finish Line Area

DULUTH, Minn. – Canal Park is taking shape ahead of this year’s Grandma’s Marathon. One of the new features in Canal Park is a scaffold bridge just past the finish line. Organizers say adding the bridge will ease foot traffic around Canal Park while keeping spectators and runners safe. “It’s for people so they don’t have to walk all the…

State Patrol Unveils Airplane Used to Track Aggressive Drivers

Tim Blotz - FOX 9

(KMSP) – The Minnesota State Patrol has a brand new way of tracking and stopping aggressive drivers. And in this case, you’ll never see them coming. To demonstrate the capabilities of the new surveillance airplane, State Patrol Captain Jim Englin gave Fox 9’s Tim Blotz a ride. “In the end, it’s going to save more lives than what any of us…

Yanez Jury Enters Day 4 of Deliberations

FOX 9 - KMSP

Drawing by Cedric HohnstadtST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – The jurors resumed deliberations at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the trial of St. Anthony, Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez after appearing to be an impasse Wednesday afternoon. Yanez is on trial for the shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights on July 6, 2016. The officer-involved shooting garnering national attention when Castile’s girlfriend,…

MnDOT to Post Human Trafficking Messages at Rest Areas

Minnesota has the third highest number of human trafficking cases in the nation, according to the FBI

  ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced it will be installing posters at 41 rest areas across the state to educate the public about human trafficking. The posters include guidelines on how to recognize signs of human trafficking and potential victims, and a toll-free hotline to report any suspicious activity. Human trafficking often involves travel,…

Annual Lincoln Park Walleye Open to Take Place This Weekend

$20,000 in Prizes up for Grabs

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota lakes have been filled with fishermen lately as the weather continues to improve, and this weekend the St. Louis River will be packed with hundreds participating in the 17th Annual Lincoln Park Walleye Open. It starts up at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 17 anywhere on the St. Louis River. Each angler may weigh–in one walleye…

Fall-off-the-bone Ribs with Texas Roadhouse

Cooking Connection: Texas Roadhouse

DULUTH, Minn. – The weather is warming up and summer celebrations are beginning to take place. Barbecue ribs are a staple at many gatherings. For this week’s Cooking Connection we make some smoked, fall-off-the-bone ribs with Texas Roadhouse. Season pork ribs on both sides, rub it in Add liquid smoke and water to bottom of pan with drainer grate in place Transfer…

Citizen Groups Oppose Minnesota Power Rate Hikes

Increase Could Cost Customers $225 per Year

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Power wants to raise your electric bill.  But citizen watchdog groups won’t let those hikes pass without a fight. Representatives from the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota, the Minnesota Citizens Federation NE and Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light voiced their concerns with the proposed hikes Wednesday. These increases average out to about $225 a year per…

Flower Baskets Add Color to Downtown

Downtown Duluth is Getting Spruced Up for Summer

DULUTH, Minn. – If you were downtown Wednesday, you may have noticed an extra splash of color. Members of the city’s Clean and Safe Team hung flower baskets on light poles throughout downtown. The Greater Downtown Council has done this for about 15 years and officials say the baskets help make downtown more hospitable just in time for Grandma’s Marathon….

Group Unveils $1M Plan to Address Super Bowl Sex Trafficking

Super Bowl LII will take place in Minneapolis in 2018

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Community leaders have come up with a plan to fight sex trafficking during the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. The Star Tribune reports the 40-member group unveiled a plan Tuesday that includes billboard campaigns and statewide law enforcement stings. The effort is estimated to cost around $1 million. The group is made up of representatives from counties, nonprofits,…

Jury Deadlocked in Castile Trial

FOX 9 - KMSP

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9 KMSP) – The jury reconvened Wednesday morning for the third day of deliberations in the trial of St. Anthony, Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez. Yanez is on trial for the shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights on July 6, 2016. The officer-involved shooting garnering national attention when Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, streamed the aftermath of the fatal…

Fate of Thousands of Recalled Volkswagens Undecided

At the Brainerd Industrial Center, a former paper mill, thousands of recalled Volkswagen diesel vehicles are being stored. Steve Fines for MPR News BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) – The fate of thousands of recalled Volkswagens that are being stored in central Minnesota is undetermined. Minnesota Public Radio reports the vehicles are being stored in Brainerd as part of a massive recall…

Deliberations Continue in Trial of Officer Jeronimo Yanez

Drawing by Cedric Hohnstadt ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – A verdict has not yet been reached in the trial of St. Anthony, Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez. Deliberations began Monday afternoon, but jurors went home at 4:30 without a verdict. They resumed deliberations on Tuesday morning. Upon request, both the dashcam video and Diamond Reynolds’ Facebook Live broadcast were replayed for the jury….

Business Booming at Beaver Bay Sports

For Nearly Four Decades, Beaver Bay Sports Shop Has Offered Locals and Tourists Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

BEAVER BAY, Minn. – Summer is officially here which means business is starting to boom along Lake Superior’s North Shore. Many businesses rely on a summer rush while others have found opportunities to evolve, catering to customers year round. In this week’s Knowing Your Neighbors, FOX 21’s Brett Scott stopped by one shop doing just that. “Everybody’s getting their boats…

Walnut Grove, Minn. Police Chief Arrested in Prostitution Sting

FOX 9 - KMSP

Michael Zeug WALNUT GROVE, Minn. (KMSP) – A small town Minnesota police chief was busted in a multi-agency covert operation targeting the demand for underage sex trafficking. The sting took place last Friday, June 9 in Redwood Falls. Michael Robert Zeug, 45, is charged with felony prostitution, attempting to hire a minor under 18. According to the criminal complaint, Zeug…

Jury Begins Deliberations in Trial of Officer Jeronimo Yanez

Drawing by Cedric Hohnstadt ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Monday in the trial of St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez. Yanez is on trial for manslaughter for the July 6, 2016 shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. The shooting garnered national attention when Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, streamed the…

Fire Destroys Shed in Lakewood Twp.

No People or Animals Were in Shed at the Time

LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP, Minn. – A fire destroyed a barn in Lakewood Township Saturday afternoon. Crews responded to the blaze in the 5100 block of Lester River Rd. around 4:30 p.m. and found a half moon shaped shed on fire. There were no people or livestock inside the shed and there were no injuries reported, but the shed was destroyed. Officials…

Authorities Recover Body in Lake Near Brainerd

Body Found in Nokay Lake

BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) Authorities have recovered the body of a man whose abandoned boat was found floating on a lake near Brainerd. The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 54-year-old Raymond Achman, of Brainerd, was recovered in Nokay Lake Saturday morning. Authorities began searching for him Friday morning after receiving a report that Achman had not shown…

National Get Outdoors Day Tomorrow

DULUTH, Minn.-National Get Outdoors Day wants all Minnesotan’s to enjoy a state park tomorrow. The DNR will waive the fee for a vehicle permit and offer freed admission to all 75 state parks and recreation areas. The DNR will also offer many events during the day to celebrate the outdoors. For more, visit this website. Categories: Minnesota, News, News –…

Minnesota Adventurers Release Book about 2,200-mile Journey

"Adventure North" by Sean Bloomfield

DULUTH, Minn. – Nine years ago two Minnesotans tackled a courageous journey, and now, they’ve written a book about it. In May of 2008, Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte were in the beginning stages of a 2,200-mile canoe trip from Chaska to Hudson Bay in Canada. In honor of the successful trip’s anniversary, a book about the adventure titled “Adventure…