News

Fox Along the North Shore: Geological History of the Waterfalls

DULUTH, Minn — Along the North Shore of Lake Superior, there are numerous waterfalls, each with their own beauty and awe. Despite their unique appearance, they share a common history in how they were formed starting over a billion years ago. “So, we had about 1.1 billion years ago there was a major event. It’s now known as the mid-continent…

WHO Downgrades COVID Pandemic, Says It’s No Longer Emergency

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, marking a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic that triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies worldwide and killed at least 7 million people worldwide. WHO first declared COVID-19 to be an emergency more than three years ago. The U.N. health agency’s officials…

Lake Superior College Hosts Robot Wars

DULUTH, Minn. — Students were battling it out Thursday at Lake Superior College. It’s called Robot Wars! LSC students in the Machine Tool, Welding, and Engineering CAD program are teaming up with Wrenshall High School students to compete with their robots. They have been designing and building the robots since January. Students like this part of the program because it’s…

64th Annual Lions Club Pancake Day

DULUTH, Minn. — All day the batter was flowing and the flap jacks were flipping at the DECC for The Duluth Lions Club’s 64th Annual Pancake day. Lines of people poured into Pioneer Hall to get the all-you-can-eat breakfast treat. Delicious pancakes filled thousands of plates throughout the long day that ran from 6:00 A.M. Thursday morning to 7:30 P.M….

New Movie Filming in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Lights, Camera, Action!! A new holiday movie is being filmed in Duluth coming from the same producer of “Merry Kiss Cam” which was shot and based in Duluth. “Rescuing Christmas” starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Sam Page is currently filming in popular locations around the city, including OMC Smokehouse, Dovetail Café and Marketplace, the Depot, and many…

Evers Promises To Veto GOP Local Aid Increase Plan

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers promised Thursday to veto a wide-ranging Republican plan to bolster aid to local governments, saying the measure moving rapidly through the GOP-controlled Legislature doesn’t give enough unrestricted money to communities struggling to pay for police, fire and other services. Republican authors of the bill said at a hearing Thursday they remained open to making…

Grand Opening Of New Carlton County Airport Hanger

CLOQUET, Minn. — The Carlton County Airport in Cloquet had the grand opening for their new Fixed-Base Operator Hanger. This new Hanger will act as a training facility for major airports as well as smaller ones. They also have hopes to eventually start using the hangar for charter flights as well. The production of this new building was made with…

Multiple Structure Fires In Aurora, No Injuries Reported

AURORA, Minn. — Multiple structure fires broke out Wednesday night in Aurora, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Just after 7 p.m. a garage and vehicles were reported to be on fire on the 5400 block of Highway 10, south of Aurora. Multiple agencies responded and reported that no one was injured. Another fire was then reported just…

Pancake Day At The DECC Thursday

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Lions Club is all set up and ready to go for Thursday’s 64th annual Pancake Day at the DECC. Organizers are hoping the popular fundraiser can attract 10,000 hungry kids and adults. It kicked off at 6 a.m. Thursday and will go through 7:30 p.m. Volunteers will be pouring batter and flipping flapjacks on the…

Docks In Place, Charter Boats Arrive In Duluth’s Minnesota Slip

DULUTH, Minn. – Capt. Riley Leslie of Happy Hooker Charters, one of Duluth’s premiere charter fishing companies, is back in the water for the season in the Minnesota Slip. Crews got the docks loaded down into the slip Wednesday morning. Some of the spots are rented for personal boats, but most are for charter businesses. Happy Hooker has been serving…

UPDATE: **FOUND** Cloquet Police Issue Missing Person Alert For 12-Year-Old Boy

**UPDATE** 5:48 AM, Thurs. May 4 — The Cloquet Police Department has confirmed Friedman has been found safe and is back home with family. CLOQUET, Minn. — The Cloquet Police Department is seeking the public’s help locating 12-year-old Leon Roy Friedman. Friedman was last seen leaving the Cloquet Middle School Wednesday. “While he is not believed to be in immediate…

Duluth-Based Maurices Makes Cuts To Staffing Amid Economic Downturn

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth-based Maurices recently laid off two dozen employees. The 24 employees were let go April 18 within corporate offices and field positions. Company officials told FOX 21 the reduction in staffing was needed to deal with the current economic downturn and challenging market conditions. The employees received severance packages. The women’s apparel retailer has been operating for…

Man Accused Of Attacking MSOP Counselor Charged With Attempted Murder

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – Attempted murder and assault charges have been filed against a man accused of attacking a staff member Monday at the Moose Lake Sex Offender Program. Nicolas Ladell Aron-Jones, 29, has been committed at MSOP as a “sexually dangerous person” since 2015, according to the criminal complaint. Court documents say a 53-year-old male security counselor entered a…

1 Dead, 4 Hurt In Shooting Inside Atlanta Medical Building

ATLANTA (AP) — One person was fatally shot and at least four others injured Wednesday in a shooting at a medical building in Midtown Atlanta, police said. Atlanta police said there had been no additional shots fired since the initial shooting unfolded inside a Northside Medical building on West Peachtree Street in a commercial area with many office towers and…

Northland Community Reflects Canadian Singer-Songwriter Gordon Lightfoot

DULUTH, Minn. — We pay our respects Tuesday to Canadian Singer and Songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot, who passed away Monday. Lightfoot had recently just canceled his 2023 concert schedule due to health issues a month before his passing. He was best known for his song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” which is the haunting story of the Lake Superior shipping…

12th Annual Iron Range Science And Engineering Festival In Chisholm

CHISHOLM, Minn. — Over the next few days 1,200 students will be at the Iron Range Science and Engineering Festival. It’s all happening at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. Students are able to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math related activities and experiments. This is in hopes to inspire them to look into a STEM related career. The…

Connecting Principles: SmartLab Coming Soon to Chisholm Public Schools

CHISHOLM, Minn. — In this week’s Connecting Principle’s segment, we checked in with Chisholm Public Schools as they gear up to add a new SmartLab class to school grounds. Principal Mark Morrison and English Teacher Brady Boehm joined FOX21 via zoom on the morning newscast to talk about the project plan and its purpose. While it’s not ready just yet,…

Coffee Conversation: New Wine Ministries Presents “The Sound Of Music”

CLOQUET, Minn. — Zion Lutheran’s New Wine Ministries group presents a classical rendition of “The Sound Of Music.” The performance is held to raise funds for the groups annual tour, this year to Washington D.C., in June. Group members Ben Meysembourg and Rebecca Nyberg joined FOX21 on the morning newscast Wednesday to talk about the upcoming showcase. Meysembourg gave a…

Minnesota House Approves Paid Family Leave Bill

(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – House lawmakers have approved a state-run paid family and medical leave program in Minnesota. The bill was passed Tuesday night on a 68 to 64 vote. When Gen Zers think about moving to a different state, access to paid family medical leave is one of their top considerations, according to Minnesota House Democrats….

988: The Mental Health And Substance Abuse Hotline

DULUTH, Minn. — A local group in Duluth is launching a campaign to educate people on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. “Everyone knows what 911 is, but 988 is the 911 for a mental health crisis or substance abuse crisis,” explained Jerry Thoreson, a member of the 2023 Leadership Duluth class and organizer of the campaign. If you or…

Congressional Hearing on Minerals on Iron Range

Republican lawmakers advocate for permitting reform

The mineral deposits in Northeastern Minnesota brought congressional lawmakers to the area Tuesday. Representative Pete Stauber brought members of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources to Mountain Iron for a hearing. Stauber said it was a chance for members to hear directly from the community. Congressman Rob Wittman of the state of Virginia said the entire country had an…

Gary New Duluth Thanks Community for Skateboard Park Effort

Excitement builds for push to complete the project

GARY NEW DULUTH, Minn.–The Gary New Duluth community could not wait to celebrate the coming of spring Monday. Part of the celebration included a great meal as a way to acknowledge everyone who has worked so hard to make a skateboard park a reality. “It is so important to get everybody together for something like this. So many of the…

Duluth Mayoral Race: Reinert No On Party Endorsements; Larson Says ‘Show Up’

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth mayoral candidate Roger Reinert, who has been endorsed by the DFL party in previous political elections, is bypassing any political party endorsements for his run for mayor. Reinert made the announcement Monday through a video release. He said the office of mayor should be non-partisan and open to all political views. Reinert said he’s had nearly…

Patio Season Nearing For Famous Dave’s In Hermantown

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — With warmer weather comes patio season and Famous Dave’s in Hermantown has a new one. It’s been about 6 months since the Famous Dave’s in Canal Park moved to Hermantown. The owner Greg Toon says the community has really embraced them. They are still serving the same meals and smoking the meats themselves. Toon says nothing has…

Chewie The Zebra Shark Leaving The Great Lakes Aquarium

DULUTH, Minn. — The Great Lakes Aquarium is saying a bittersweet farewell to Chewie the Zebra Shark, as he has now grown too large for his enclosure. The Aquarium received the Zebra Shark almost 6 years ago from the Minnesota Zoo. He quickly became an aquarium favorite as visitors were able to watch him grow up right in front of…

Coffee Conversation: Bike Duluth Festival 2023

DULUTH, Minn. — The 9th annual Bike Duluth Festival will return to Spirit Mountain this summer (2023) at an earlier date, July 7 – 9. The festival draws in hundreds of mountain bikers of all skill levels for three days of races, non-competitive ride events, bike and equipment demonstrations, and family activities. Bike Duluth Chairperson Jeremy Jeannette joined FOX21 on the…

Ex-Officer Thao Convicted Of Aiding George Floyd’s Killing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A former Minneapolis police officer who held back bystanders while his colleagues restrained a dying George Floyd has been convicted of aiding and abetting manslaughter. Tou Thao, who already had been convicted in federal court of violating Floyd’s civil rights, was last of the four former officers facing judgment in state court in Floyd’s killing. He rejected a plea agreement and, instead of…

Community Action Duluth Month

DULUTH, Minn. — May 1st marks the start of Community Action Month in Minnesota. Community Action is a non-profit organization that supports low-income households. During the month they offer community events such as a Car Care zoom Class, Tree planting, and Gardeb Bed Raising. They are also having their first block party foundation to help those in need. “Our mission…

‘Unprovoked Attack’ At Moose Lake Sex Offender Program Leaves Staff Member Seriously Injured

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – An “unprovoked attack” by a man committed to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program (MSOP) in Moose Lake on Monday left a staff member “seriously injured,” according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The call for help came in around 1:20 p.m. Carlton County sheriff’s deputies, Essentia Health Ambulance and Moose Lake fire personnel responded. The…

US Says 20,000 Russians Killed In Ukraine War Since December

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Monday it now estimates that just since December Russia has suffered 100,000 casualties, including more than 20,000 killed, as Ukraine has rebuffed a heavy assault by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. In what has become a grinding war of attrition, the fiercest battles have been in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia is…

Duluth Playhouse Announces Upcoming Productions

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Playhouse has announced their list of productions for the 2023-2024 season. These shows are for the Main Stage and start mid-September. They vary from new to classic productions. The list is below: Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks September 15-October 1, 2023 The Sound…

Shipping Mix-Up Sends 14 Lbs Of Pharmaceutical Powder To Grand Marais Family

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. (FOX 9) – Matt and Maria Conlan’s 11-year-old daughter was eager to try on some new outfits after ordering clothes online last week. But instead of fast fashion, the family received something much different at their home in Grand Marais. Inside the shipment, not clothes, but a drum containing nearly 14 pounds of white powder in plastic bags. “Somebody…

Legal Aid Service Of Northeastern Minnesota Hosts 5k Fundraiser In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — It was a cold one Sunday morning as people participated in the Law Day 5k fundraiser. The Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota hosted its second 5k fundraiser Sunday morning. Participants raised money through donations and raffle items to help provide funds for the Legal Aid Service. This fundraiser will help them provide legal support to low-income…