News

Two Harbors Fall Art Fair Returns for 7th Year

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — The Two Harbors fall art fair returns this weekend for its 7th year and it’s packed with talented artists. Over 30 artists are showing off and selling their fine art. From jewelry, paintings, pottery and a whole lot more. One artist will even be hosting an interactive activity Sunday where people can create their own art….

Local Advocacy Center Raises Awareness About Child Abuse Through Art

DULUTH, Minn. — A local organization is raising awareness about child abuse in the region through the beauty of art. First Witness Child Advocacy Center was developed 30 years ago in Duluth with the mission of strengthening our community’s response to child abuse. Throughout the years they’ve added new programs to assist families, along with prevention programs in the schools….

Auto Workers Are Expanding Their Strike To 38 Locations In 20 States, Targeting Stellantis And GM

(AP) — The United Auto Workers union expanded its strike against major carmakers Friday, walking out of 38 General Motors and Stellantis parts-distribution centers in 20 states. Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, UAW President Shawn Fain said during an online presentation to union members….

Hermantown Fire Department Adding Two Full Time Paid Firefighter Positions For The First Time

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — For the first time in history, the Hermantown Fire Department will be staffed with two full time paid firefighters. The fire fighters will also serve in leadership roles as Fire Chief and Fire Inspector. According to Mayor Wayne Boucher, the new structure begins January 1 and will cost the City less than $300,000. He explained how the…

POLICE: Shots Fired in Superior, No Threat To Public

UPDATE (September 22, 9:10 a.m.) — The Superior Police Department says they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public. At 6 a.m. Friday the Emergency Response Team completed their tasks and cleared the area. Authorities say there will be a police presence in the area Friday as the incident is investigated. Superior Police ask anyone with…

Northland Grandmothers For Peace Honors Founder Who Passed Away

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Thursday is International Peace Day, and one local organization is honoring a peace activist and community volunteer for her decades of work. Jan Provost founded Northland Grandmothers for Peace in 1983 and was the president up until her passing in 2020. The mission of the organization is to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons. Grandmothers for Peace…

‘Chester Park Playground Celebration’ Set For Late Barry Family

Barry family DULUTH, Minn. — It’s been about a year and a half since the Barry family was killed in their Duluth home by a relative. And now, the community is close to celebrating improvements at Chester Park in the name of the Barry’s daughters – Shiway and Sadie. The community helped raise $22,000 to install a new spinner element,…

Duluth Developer To Transform Downtown Building Into Workforce Housing

DULUTH, Minn. – New workforce housing is coming to a prominent location in downtown Duluth.  But it won’t be in the form of a new building. Duluth-based Titanium Partners will soon be transforming the historic Ordean Building across from Maurices on West Superior Street into 35 new apartments, according to Brian Forcier, owner of Titanium Partners. The units will be…

New Task Force Will Evaluate Indoor Youth Athletitcs Venues In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — A new Task Force is coming to the City of Duluth to evaluate the cities indoor youth athletics facilities. The Indoor Athletics Venues Task Force will create a set of recommendations to improve older infrastructure, make better use of those venues, and replace existing indoor facilities. Todd Fedora, the chair of the new task force says one…

Minnesota’s First Office Of Cannabis Management Director Is Named

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota’s first Office of Cannabis Management director has been appointed. Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced Erin DuPree has been appointed the state’s first director of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Starting Oct. 2, DuPree will start building the new state agency and will have a leadership role in establishing and regulating the adult-use…

Rupert Murdoch, The Creator Of Fox News, Is Stepping Down As Head Of News Corp. And Fox Corp.

NEW YORK (AP) — Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old Australian media magnate whose creation of Fox News made him a force in American politics, is stepping down as leader of both Fox’s parent company and his News Corp. media holdings. Fox said Thursday that Murdoch would become chairman emeritus of both companies, effective at board meetings in November. His son, Lachlan, will…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Playhouse Kicks Off New Season with ‘Young Frankenstein’

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Playhouse is launching its 2023 – 2024 season with the musical comedy Young Frankenstein, running September 15 to October 1 at the historic NorShor Theatre. Duluth Playhouse Executive Director Wes Drummond joined FOX21 on the morning newscast Thursday to talk about the spooky, funny show and the rest of the season. Young Frankenstein is filled with…

Cloquet Police to Get Body Cams and Updated Tasers

  CLOQUET, Minn. –The Cloquet City Council approved the purchase of body-worn cameras and new Tasers for its Police Department. The 24 cameras cost slightly more than 159 thousand dollars, while the 24 Tasers were slightly more than 101 Thousand Dollars. These prices include service through December 2028. Because the two items were bundled together, Cloquet was able to receive a…

GO Pack GO Bill Re-introduced

  Courtesy: Green Bay Packers WASHINGTON D.C. — Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin wants Television viewers in all of Wisconsin to be able to watch Green Bay Packers games. She has re-introduced the GO Pack GO legislation that would require cable and satellite providers to air the Packers game, no matter what the local station is running. If this passes, it…

Biden Administration Announces $600M To Produce COVID Tests And Will Reopen Website To Order Them

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household — aiming to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that has typically come during colder months. The Department of Health and Human Services says…

Coffee Conversation: Local Authors to Participate in Discussions at Twin Ports Libraries

DULUTH, Minn. — The Twin Ports Perceptions project will host panel discussions with six local authors at Superior Public Library on September 26 and Duluth Public Library on October 10. Superior Public Library Programming and Partnerships Manager Leslie Mehle and Featured Author Jayson Iwen joined FOX21 on the morning newscast Wednesday, September 20 to talk about the upcoming events and their…

FDA Says It Needs More Research Before Deciding To Approve Nasal Spray To Treat Dangerous Allergies

(AP) — Federal regulators declined to approve a nasal spray to treat severe allergic reactions late Tuesday, calling for more research on what would have been the first alternative to injections using devices such as an EpiPen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration told ARS Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, that the company needs to conduct another study on repeat…

Superior Fire Department Hosts Emotional Resiliency Training

SUPERIOR, Wis. — 55 fire fighters from different departments in Minnesota and Wisconsin are gathering this week for a special training. The Superior Fire Department is hosting an emotional resiliency training. It’s for members to learn how to cope better with the things they may experience or see on the job. The battalion chief at the Superior Fire Department says…

Advocates Honored For Efforts Surrounding Homelessness In Minnesota

DULUTH, Minn. — The annual conference focusing on the issue of homelessness and housing continued Tuesday at the DECC with an awards ceremony. Each year the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless recognizes efforts made by groups or individuals for their commitment to end homelessness across the state. Awards were presented to 6 recipients. The American Indian Community Housing Organization, or…

Downtown Duluth Study: 2,500 New Housing Units Possible Within 5 Years

DULUTH, Minn. – A downtown Duluth housing study shows the potential for as many as 2,500 new housing units within the next five years. It’s a welcomed projection for a downtown that’s seen undesirable vacancy rates since the pandemic, like other cities have experienced across the country. The outside firm, Zimmerman-Volk Associates, presented its findings publicly Tuesday, which shows downtown…

Duluth Playhouse Now Owns The Historic NorShor Theatre

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Playhouse — one of the nation’s oldest non-profit theatres — has officially been handed the key to the historic NorShor Theatre as the new owners of the state-of-the-art facility. Sherman Associates, the developer that took on the $29.5 million overhaul of the theatre in 2017, officially closed its chapter on the project Tuesday with a…

Volunteers Needed: ‘Bentleyville Tour Of Lights’ Setup Begins Saturday

DULUTH, Minn. — Believe it or not, it’s time to talk Christmas and Bentleyville Tour of Lights! On Tuesday, some of the storage trucks and equipment – even some decorations — were already in the parking lot at Bayfront Festival Park. The first day of volunteering starts this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.  That schedule will continue every…

Superior Mayor Calls 2024 Budget Proposal The Best In Decades

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Superior Mayor Jim Paine is touting his 2024 budget proposal as the largest public investment in the city in decades. Mayor Paine on Tuesday said the city is well positioned to invest in city services and public infrastructure, while decreasing taxes. Paine said the growing local economy, a restructured budget he and his predecessor designed to function…

Moose Lake Correctional Facility Prepares Inmates to Rejoin Society

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. –The Moose Lake Correctional Facility held a Transitions Resource Fair today to help its inmates prepare for life on the outside and the challenges they will face. According to the Facility’s Warden, this program has been ongoing for more than two decades and has proved to be successful. Bringing experts into the prison to talk with inmates…

United Auto Workers Threaten To Expand Targeted Strike If There Is No Substantive Progress By Friday

(AP) — The United Auto Workers union is stepping up pressure on Detroit’s Big Three by threatening to expand its strike unless it sees major progress in contract negotiations by Friday. In a video statement late Monday, UAW President Shawn Fain said workers at more factories will join those who are now in the fifth day of a strike at…

Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College Holds Inauguration Ceremony For New President

CLOQUET, Minn. — An inauguration ceremony was held Monday for the 5th president of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Anita Hanson was named president by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in June. Hanson has been with the college since 1994. She has served as the Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment…

Klobuchar, Stauber Call On FAA To ‘Expedite’ Approvals For New DLH Air Traffic Control Tower

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber have joined forces to help rebuild Duluth’s aging air traffic control tower. The two have sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his team to urge the FAA to expedite any reviews and approvals necessary for the Duluth International Airport to pursue a federal grant to help get a…

Homeless Advocates Convene At DECC As Another Duluth Encampment Is Pushed Out

DULUTH, Minn. — Another growing homeless encampment in Duluth got torn down and moved out Monday. It comes as local and state leaders try to strike a balance between public health and safety, and caring for those facing their worst days without a roof over their heads. The lack of affordable housing in Duluth continues to be highlighted by the…

Shots Fired Investigation Underway In Two Harbors

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — Two Harbors police are investigating a “shots fired” incident near townhomes. Police responded to the Rustic Creek Townhomes around 7 p.m. Sunday for the report of gunshots. Police called in assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office to conduct a search of the immediate and surrounding…

Duluth Police: Bar Fight Between 2 Women Ended In Assault By 2 Men

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department issued an update Monday involving an assault of a woman at the Rustic Bar in West Duluth. Investigators reviewed surveillance video from inside the bar, which they say shows two females getting into a physical fight with each other before two men get involved by assaulting the 39-year-old female victim. The woman went…

Hunter Biden Sues The IRS Over Tax Disclosures After Agent Testimony Before Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden sued the Internal Revenue Service on Monday, claiming that two agents publicly alleging tax-probe interference wrongly shared his personal information, a case that comes amid escalating legal and political struggles as the 2024 election looms. The agents “targeted and sought to embarrass Mr. Biden” with the sharing of confidential tax information in press interviews and testimony before Congress, the…

Planned Parenthood Resumes Offering Abortions In Wisconsin After More Than A Year

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Planned Parenthood resumed offering abortion services in Wisconsin on Monday after halting them for more than a year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Providers across the state stopped offering abortions following the June 2022 decision, fearing enforcement of an 1849 state law that appears to ban the procedure but had previously been nullified…

Officials Say 5 Prisoners Sought By The US In A Swap With Iran Have Flown Out Of Tehran

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Five prisoners sought by the U.S. in a swap with Iran flew out of Tehran on Monday, officials said, part of a deal that saw nearly $6 billion in Iranian assets unfrozen. Despite the deal, tensions are almost certain to remain high between the U.S. and Iran, which are locked in various disputes, including over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran says…

Sheriff: Darkness, Speed, Alcohol Factors In Lake Vermilion Boating Accident

LAKE VERMILION, Minn. — Nighttime darkness, speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in a boating accident on Lake Vermilion over the weekend, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said two people from the Twin Cities were vacationing on Lake Vermilion when their pontoon slammed into Rainbow Island. The female passenger was thrown from the…