News

Donna Howard Community Connect, One Stop Shop Service For Those In Need

DULUTH, Minn. — On Thursday a community event in Duluth was held as a one stop shop service for those in need. The Damiano Center hosted the Donna Howard Community Connect gathering over 20 local organizations. Groups such as Chum, Safe Haven, the Salvation Army and the Affordable Housing Coalition all offered their services. Free haircuts, flu shots, warrant resolutions,…

Police Surround Home In Search Of Maine Mass Shooting Suspect

18 Dead in Maine, and Suspect Still Loose

AP   BY DAVID SHARP, ROBERT BUMSTED, HOLLY RAMER AND MICHAEL BALSAMO Updated 7:47 PM CDT, October 26, 2023 LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Heavily armed police surrounded a home Thursday as they searched for a U.S. Army reservist who authorities say killed 18 people and wounded 13 in a mass shooting at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine. “You need to come outside now…

A Classic Country Jamboree Happening Nov. 1st At The West Theatre

DULUTH, Minn. — Traditional country music is making its way to the West Theatre in Duluth next week. Northland Legends is presenting A Classic Country Jamboree happening on November 1st. 5 Northland artists will be performing as well as the Allstar Band bringing tributes of well-known country artists such as Johnny Cash. The show is styled like the Grand Ole…

A Suspect In The Fatal Shooting Of 18 In Maine Is Still At Large, Residents Are Sheltering In Place

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Authorities searched forests, waterways and small towns Thursday for a U.S. Army reservist who they say killed 18 people and wounded 13 in a mass shooting at a bowling alley and a bar that sent panicked patrons scrambling under tables and behind bowling pins and gripped the entire state of Maine in fear. Schools, doctor’s offices and grocery stores closed…

Attorney General’s Office Holds Roundtable On Proposed Duluth Hospital Mergers

DULUTH, Minn.–Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s Office held a community roundtable Wednesday evening at UMD about two separate hospital mergers in Duluth. Earlier this month Ellison announced it’s his responsibility to consider whether a healthcare transaction is in the public interest and seek court intervention if he finds that it is not.  Essentia Health plans to merge with Marshfield Clinic…

Local Artists Collab For Haunted Fashion Experience

A sneak peak behind the scenes of a gruesomely glamorous fashion show.

SUPERIOR, Wis.–“We wanted to gather artists of all kinds and all facets and bring them together. And we thought bringing them all together would make for a really special, unique experience,” said Cherry Koch, a local artist. A show of hauntings and scares awaits those who attend the Main Club in Superior this Friday night.  June was Koch’s last fashion…

“Bridging” Health in Duluth

Goal is to bring everyone together for healthiest community possible.

If it takes a village to raise a child, then there are those who feel the same about what it takes for a community’s health care. That is what brought over one hundred and thirty people together in Duluth Wednesday. It was titled “Bridging Health Care,” and the goal is just that: bringing like-minded people and organizations together to make…

Biden Condemns Retaliatory Attacks By Israeli Settlers Against Palestinians In The West Bank

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday spoke out against retaliatory attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. He also said he was redoubling his commitment to working on a two-state solution to end the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict. Biden said the attacks by “extremist settlers”…

Republican Mike Johnson Has Secured Enough Votes To Become House Speaker As Ballot Draws To A Close

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Mike Johnson easily secured enough votes to be elected House speaker on Wednesday, as Republicans were eagerly elevating the little-known conservative leader to the seat of U.S. power and ending for now the political chaos in their majority. With voting still underway, Johnson, of Louisiana, was picking up support from most all Republicans anxious to put the past…

Duluth Lions Club Celebrates 75 Years of Service

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Lions Club is celebrating their 75th anniversary with a day of service. The non-profit organization supports sight and hearing-impaired programs, diabetes awareness, and youth projects. And Tuesday groups of Lions were helping with different projects they have around the community. That included collecting used eyeglasses to recycle them for those who do not have access…

Free Highway Construction Training Starts In January

DULUTH, Minn. — A local hiring agency is helping people start their careers in construction. SOAR Career Solutions is teaming up with MnDOT to offer a free 16-week training program. Training starts January 9th and goes till May 3rd and includes learning math and safety skills, blueprint reading, and more through online classes and hands-on experiences. The training is open…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Chamber 153rd Annual Meeting & Dinner Celebration

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing to host its 153rd Annual Meeting & Dinner Celebration on November 2. Vice President of Strategy & Policy Dan Fanning joined FOX21 on the morning newscast Wednesday to talk about the annual event and its purpose. This year’s event will be a celebration of membership, leadership and community progress….

Patty Wetterling Talks About Her Book and Her Journey

DULUTH, Minn. –It was October 22, 1989, when the world was turned upside down for Patty Wetterling when her son Jacob was kidnapped at gunpoint. It wasn’t until 27 years later that the answer to what had happened to Jacob was learned when Danny Heinrich confessed in open court to abusing, murdering and burying Jacob. On Tuesday evening Patty Wetterling…

Enger Golf Course Closes After Good Season

DULUTH, Minn. –Golfers have just one more day to get out and play this season at the Enger Course in Duluth. The course closes on Wednesday afternoon at Five. Tomorrow will be the end of what has been a very good season according to the Enger Course General Manager Craig Smith. Despite the dry summer, golfers continued to play and…

Duluth Airport Prepares For Fort Myers Return, Control Tower Replacement

DULUTH, Minn. — This has already been a record-breaking year for the Duluth International Airport. In each month of 2023, the number of take-offs and landings exceeded last year’s numbers. The number of flyers has also increased, and that’s one measure an airline looks at in deciding whether to enter or expand in a city.  One reason for the increase…

UMD Hosts Climate Change Conference

DULUTH, Minn. — Climate change was the topic of a conference at UMD on Monday. Everyone from environmental activists to students came together to discuss how the change will affect our area. They also discussed other issues that come from climate change and what the community can do. Jonna Korpi from Duluth is the director of sustainability office at UMD….

Community Effort to Save Energy and Money

Minnesota Power Holds Energy Awareness Expo

Minnesota Power is helping the Duluth community celebrate Energy Awareness Month. They put on their annual Energy Awareness Expo at Salvation Army earlier today. It featured community groups and free energy-saving kits. The event aimed to educate people about energy assistance and provide resources for home efficiency, safe housing, and other affordability programs. As the winter months approach, Minnesota Power…

Women’s Care Center In Duluth Celebrates 10 Years Of Helping Mothers In Need

DULUTH, Minn. — The Women’s Care Center in Duluth is celebrating 10 years of supporting mothers, babies, and families in need. One in five babies in St. Louis County start at the center. The non-profit organization provides free resources which includes pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, counseling, parenting classes, and more. Monday there were brand new coats given out for kids during…

Republicans Pick Tom Emmer As Their Nominee For Speaker As They Try For A Third Time To Fill The House’s Top Position

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three weeks now since the ouster of Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans are meeting privately Tuesday to try nominating a new House speaker to accomplish the seemingly impossible job of uniting a broken, bitter GOP majority and returning to the work of governing in Congress. In early round ballots the senior-most lawmaker, Rep. Tom Emmer, the GOP Whip, jumped out front…

Coffee Conversation: Getting to Know FOX21 Sports Anchor/Reporter Ben Burns

DULUTH, Minn. — Ben Burns joined the FOX21 team in August 2023 as a Weekend Anchor / Sports Reporter. Burns came on the morning newscast Tuesday to talk about how he got his start in Wisconsin, his role in sports broadcasting today, and the latest headlines in Northland athletics. If you have a sports inquiry, email bburns@kqdsfox21.tv. Categories: Coffee Conversation,…

Coffee Conversation: Family Freedom Center/NYS Annual Trunk-Or-Treat Event

DULUTH, Minn. — With Halloween just around the corner, the Family Freedom Center: Neighborhood Youth Services is preparing to host its fourth annual Trunk-Or-Treat event. Operations Director Pez Davila joined FOX21 on the morning newscast to talk about this years event and how its grown. Trunk-Or-Treat is taking place on October 28 from 12-4 pm at the Lake City Parking…

Former Duluth Mayor Don Ness Endorses Larson For Reelection; Larson, Reinert Respond

DULUTH, Minn. — Former two-term Duluth Mayor Don Ness publicly endorsed Emily Larson for a third term Monday. Ness posted on social media saying Duluth is lucky to have “two good candidates” to choose from Nov. 7.   He called Larson’s opponent, Roger Reinert, a friend but said Larson has a better understanding of the city’s operational realities and knows how…

Longtime Duluth Prosecutor Jon Holets Named St. Louis County Deputy Attorney

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki has named her first-ever Deputy County Attorney to help manage all operations of her office in four locations. Veteran prosecutor Jon Holets has prosecuted high-profile cases for the county, like former Last Place on Earth owner Jim Carlson. Holets will now oversee personnel actions, coordination with law enforcement, the courts, and…

Canadian Labor Strike Halts Duluth-Superior Port, Seaway Operations

DULUTH, Minn. — A historic halt in seaway operations has sent a ripple effect throughout the system, including the Duluth-Superior Port. “Definitely a cascading series of effects throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system. It’s a system that it prides itself on reliability. And right now that reliability is being impaired by this unfortunate issue,” said Jayson Hron, communications…

Local Solar Panel Installer Expands Service Footprint with Merger

TWO HARBORS, Minn, — Local solar panel installation company Wolf Track Energy announced Monday that they have merged with Real Solar out of Backus Minnesota. Each of these companies have been around less than 10 years with Two Harbors-based Wolf Track Energy starting in 2018. The merge comes as solar power continues to increase in popularity as a renewable energy…

World’s Oldest Dog Ever Dies In Portugal, Aged 31 (Or About 217 In Dog Years)

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A 31-year-old dog in Portugal that had been ranked as the world’s oldest dog ever has died, his owner said Monday. The guard dog, called Bobi, died over the weekend in a veterinary hospital, Leonel Costa told The Associated Press. Bobi lived on a farm in the village of Conqueiros in Portugal with Costa and four cats. He…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Public Schools Future Forward Referendum Vote

DULUTH, Minn. — On Monday, Duluth Public Schools Superintendent John Magas joined FOX21 on the morning newscast ahead of the Future Forward 709 Referendum vote on 11/7. The referendum vote is in regards to a $7.9 million plan to protect and progress mental and academic support for students, the ability to offer a diverse range of class options and access…

Coffee Conversation: Northern Spotlight Theatre Presents “Zombies from the Beyond”

DULUTH, Minn. — The Northern Spotlight Theatre presents musical comedy “Zombies from the Beyond” at the Denfeld High School Lecture Hall, October 26-28. Music Director Steve Solkela, Director Miranda Stachowtcz and Performer Keely Waechter joined FOX21 live on the morning newscast ahead of the showcase. Zombies from the Beyond is a tribute to the cheap, 1950s sci-fi movies with tongue-in-cheek…

Harbor Drive Temporarily Closes For DECC Seawall-Waterfront Reconstruction

DULUTH, Minn. — Harbor Drive behind the DECC is temporarily closing for the next 12 months. It’s all part of the seawall-waterfront reconstruction project. Crews will work through the winter to build the new seawall. When all is said and done in early 2025, the public space between the wall and the DECC will be transformed into a new plaza…

Patty Wetterling Releases Book About Son Jacob’s Kidnapping, Death; Book Event At Fitger’s Tuesday

(FOX 21/FOX 9) – It’s been more than three decades since 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was kidnapped at gunpoint while riding his bike home from a Minnesota convenience store. And now, Jacob’s mother, Patty, is putting pen to paper to honor her son’s life. Patty will make a stop at Fitger’s Tuesday, Oct. 24, as part of her book release, “Dear…

DLH: Direct Flights To Phoenix Not Returning, But Nonstop To Fort Myers Will

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth International Airport has announced direct flights from Duluth to Phoenix are not returning this winter. But Sun Country service is returning with direct service to Fort Myers, Florida. The non-stop flights will start back up Feb. 2 and end April 24. Sun Country service to Fort Myers will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays….

Authorities: Alcohol, Cannabis Involved In Fatal Collision Near Wuori Township

WUORI TOWNSHIP, Minn. –  A fatal two-vehicle collision in Wuori Township involved alcohol and cannabis, according to preliminary charges on the St. Louis County Jail’s roster. The driver under arrest is a 38-year-old Virginia man. FOX 21 does not normally name suspects until they are formally charged. The crash happened around 8 p.m. Saturday on northbound Highway 169. The Minnesota…

Subaru Love-A-Pet Helps Animals Find Homes

DULUTH, Minn. — One day dedicated to cats, one day dedicated to dogs. The annual Subaru Love-a-Pet adoption event introduced people to their new family members. “We always love this event because it’s so successful and we see a lot of animals that have been long term find homes in Duluth,” said Isabel Glover, Babinski Foundation Marketing Coordinator. Multiple animal…

UMD Students Enjoy Day at the Farm

DULUTH, Minn. — UMD students got outside Saturday to plant 1000 bulbs of garlic on the school farm. The UMD Land Lab is just north of campus and has 10 acres of farmland. The farm helps educate students about food and agriculture, while giving them hands on experience. Produce such as carrots, cabbage and broccoli are grown at the Land…

Public Invited to Assist in Rose Tipping

DULUTH, Minn. — One of Duluth’s most popular destinations is preparing for the cold months ahead. Roses in the Rose Garden in Leif Erikson Park need to go through a process called rose tipping, which protects the flowers during winter conditions. The public is invited to assist in rose tipping Monday, October 23,  from noon to 3 P.M. No experience…

The Great Pumpkin Train Returns to Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Nothing says fall quite like a pumpkin patch, and for some people in Duluth Friday, they had quite the ride to the field of picking. The Great Pumpkin Train is back in Duluth for this weekend only. The fall tradition, put on by the North Shore Scenic Railroad, features a 90-minute ride from the depot to and…

Essentia Health Donates Medical Equipment to University of Minnesota Medical School

DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health is helping further the education of medical students. The hospital is donating medical equipment to UMD’s Medical School for students to use in simulation labs. All the equipment was used at the old St. Mary’s and will give the students access to the latest technology helping them further their education. “It is up to date,…

Women in Black Hold Silent Vigil

DULUTH, Minn. — A silent vigil at the Minnesota Power Plaza this afternoon was held by the group ‘Women in Black’ in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. Dozens of people, the vast majority dressed in black, were there in support of a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.  Additionally, they demand that humanitarian aid be allowed into Gaze to save…

Better Bus Blueprint at Two Months

DULUTH, Minn. –It’s been nearly two months since the Duluth Transit Authority made major changes to its system. It added two new “GO” routes and consolidated many of its local stops. On October 29 the DTA will announce updates to its system. But, it’s not been Easy Street. Detours and keeping track of where the detours are have been a…

Judge Fines Donald Trump $5,000 After Post Maligning Court Staffer Is Found On Campaign Website

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump was fined $5,000 on Friday after a disparaging social media post about a key court staffer in his New York civil fraud case lingered on his campaign website for weeks after the judge ordered it deleted. Judge Arthur Engoron avoided holding Trump in contempt, for now, but reserved the right to do…