News

At least 5 killed after Mexican Navy plane on medical mission crashes in Texas

Officials say a small Mexican Navy plane transporting a young medical patient along with seven others has crashed near Galveston. The Monday afternoon crash killed at least five people and has set off a search in the waters off the Texas coast. Mexico’s Navy said in a statement to The Associated Press that four of the people aboard were Navy officers and four were civilians. It was not immediately clear which ones were confirmed to be killed. Two of the people aboard were members from the Michou and Mau Foundation. The nonprofit provides aid to Mexican children with suffered severe burns.

US strikes another alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific

The U.S. military says it has conducted another strike against a boat it said was smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one person. In a social media post Monday night, U.S. Southern Command said, “Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” A video appears to show a number of strikes landing near and on the boat before it catches fire. Southern Command provided no evidence that the vessel was engaged in drug smuggling. At least 105 people have been killed in 29 known strikes since early September.

Powerball numbers drawn for $1.6B jackpot, but the odds still aren’t in your favor

The Powerball jackpot now stands at an estimated $1.6 billion and is one of the largest lottery prizes in U.S. history. On Monday the lottery group drew the numbers for the 5th-largest jackpot ever. The record U.S. jackpot is $2.04 billion from back in 2022. The odds of winning Monday’s jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. One math professor says those odds are equivalent to selecting one marked dollar bill from a stack 19 miles high. Players are still hoping to win big. One person says he is buying a $2 ticket to take his wife on a trip. A middle schooler says he wants an Xbox and a Lamborghini.

Staff safety concerns forced temporary closure of two Duluth library branches

DULUTH, Minn. — FOX 21 has learned safety concerns by Duluth public library staff forced the closure of the downtown and West Duluth branches Friday and Saturday. On Monday, the city placed a Duluth police officer at the downtown branch out of an “abundance of caution,” according to a city spokesperson. The concerns focused around a man who was outside…

Colorado faces $24M federal funding cut over illegal commercial driver’s licenses

The head of the U.S. Department of Transportation is calling out Colorado for its slow response to what he describes as major violations of federal commercial driver’s license regulations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened Monday to pull $24 million in federal funding for the western state if it does not revoke truck and bus licenses that were issued improperly. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said this is a case of “crossed-wires” and that the state is working quickly to revoke these licenses. The federal government has been identifying states where commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants have remained valid long after they should have. In other cases, states didn’t check the immigration status of drivers before issuing a license.

Minnesota Monsters CEO/GM Steve Walters Steps Downs From His Position With the Team

Walters' last day with the team is on January 2, 2026.

DULUTH, Minn.- General manager and CEO of the Minnesota Monsters, Steve Walters, has announced on social media that he has decided to step down from his position with the team. Walters made this announcement on Monday and confirmed this information with Fox21. Walters helped lead the Monsters to back-to-back ArenaMania Championships. He also helped the team transition to the AF1…

Residents at Ecumen Lakeshore meet and greet with Santa Claus

DULUTH, Minn.– Santa made a special early visit in Duluth today to cap off a month full of holiday celebrations. The residents at Ecumen Lakeshore were clearly on the nice list, because Santa came prepared with treats and a chance to meet and greet. But before that, the month has been filled with laughter, sing-alongs, and musical performances. Staff said…

Office of Inspector General Coordinating Council established to combat fraud

DULUTH, Minn.– The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is putting more resources toward preventing fraud across state, instead of being reactive. In September, the Office of Inspector General Council was formed by an Executive order from Governor Tim Walz. The announcement comes during a time the federal government is sounding the alarm on fraud they believe is roughly $9 billion…

Reward offered for information on pelican shooting

WISCONSIN.  — A cash reward is being offered for information related to Pelicans being shot in Wisconsin, including one in Ashland that survived lead poisoning from being shot. ‘Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy’ is offering $2,500 in this case. SEE PREVIOUS:Resident pelican rescued in Ashland SEE PREVIOUS: Rescued Pelican in Ashland was shot, rehabilitator says That…

White House rebuffs Catholic bishops’ appeal for a Christmas pause in immigration enforcement

Florida’s Catholic bishops have appealed to President Donald Trump to pause immigration enforcement during the Christmas holidays. Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, along with other bishops, expressed concern about the impact on families and communities. They argue that many immigrants caught in enforcement actions are not criminals but are simply working. The White House, however, indicated in its response that it will continue its usual operations. Wenski is known for advocating humane treatment of migrants and highlights their contributions to the economy. He also participates in initiatives to support the spiritual needs of detainees in immigration centers.

Mercedes-Benz agrees to pay $149.6 million to settle multistate emissions allegations

Mercedes-Benz USA and parent company Daimler AG have agreed to pay $149.6 million to settle allegations the automaker secretly installed devices in hundreds of thousands of vehicles to pass emission tests. A coalition of 50 attorneys general announced the deal on Monday. According to the attorneys general, the automaker between 2008 and 2016 equipped more than 211,000 vehicles with devices that controlled emissions during tests but reduced those controls during normal operations. The devices enabled vehicles to exceed legal emission limits for nitrogen oxides, a pollutant that can cause respiratory illnesses and contributes to smog.

Steelers WR DK Metcalf suspended 2 games following altercation with fan in Detroit

The NFL has suspended Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf for two games following an altercation with a fan during the team’s victory over Detroit. Metcalf will miss Sunday’s game in Cleveland and the regular-season finale against Baltimore. CBS-TV cameras captured the confrontation between Metcalf and a fan during the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 29-24 win over Detroit. The fan leaned over the railing and exchanged words with Metcalf before Metcalf ended the confrontation by swinging his right arm in the vicinity of the fan’s face. It’s unclear how much contact Metcalf’s arm made with the fan.

Judge chides Ghislaine Maxwell for mentioning victim names in papers seeking to overturn conviction

A judge has scolded Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell for including confidential victim names in court papers seeking to set aside her 2021 sex trafficking conviction and free her from a 20-year prison sentence. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer said Monday that exhibits included with Maxwell’s habeas petition — which she filed on her own, without a lawyer — will be kept under seal and out of public view “until they have been reviewed and appropriately redacted to protect the identities of victims.” Meanwhile, the Senate’s top Democrat on Monday urged colleagues to take legal action over the Justice Department’s incremental and heavily redacted release of its files on Epstein and Maxwell.

Nominations open for the Good Neighbor Awards

DULUTH, Minn. — The City of Duluth wants to know about your neighbor that goes above and beyond to make our community great! Online nominations are now open for Duluth’s 2nd annual Good Neighbor Awards. From picking up litter, to lending a hand, this award recognizes neighbors that show they care. Nominations must be submitted by midnight on December 31….

Michigan interim coach Biff Poggi wants to keep the job beyond bowl game and ‘fix this program’

Biff Poggi tapped on a lectern as he closed a news conference and made his case to be Michigan’s football coach beyond its bowl game. The interim coach told reporters on Monday that he wants to fix the program. Clearly, college football’s winningest program is broken. The 18th-ranked Wolverines were shaken nearly two weeks ago when Sherrone Moore was fired as coach. Michigan said Moore had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and two days later, he was charged with three crimes. Poggi is preparing the team to play No. 14 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says progress in US-led peace talks is ‘quite solid’

U.S. proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meet many of Kyiv’s demands, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Monday, he said that while the drafts look solid, neither side is likely to get everything it wants. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff held productive talks with Ukrainian and European representatives. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have struck deep inside Russia, targeting an oil terminal, pipeline, and military assets. These attacks aim to disrupt Russia’s war effort. Russia continues targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, trying to deprive civilians of heat and water during winter.

Federal judge to decide whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia should return to immigration custody

A federal judge must decide whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia should return to immigration custody after being free for just over a week. The judge ordered his release on Dec. 11 after finding that officials had no viable plan to deport him, and he cannot be held indefinitely. Back in 2019, an immigration judge barred his deportation to his home country of El Salvador. His mistaken deportation there in March has become a lightning rod in the immigration debate. Officials now say they will deport him to a third country. On Monday, they will try to convince the judge that he should be taken back into custody pending that eventual deportation.

Trump holds an event with Rubio and Hegseth during vacation as tensions with Venezuela mount

President Donald Trump is gathering with top national security officials. Monday’s meeting comes as the U.S. Coast Guard is stepping up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of an escalating pressure campaign on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and others are scheduled to join Trump, who is vacationing at his Mar-a-Lago resort, for what the White House calls a “major announcement.” A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Trump plans to discuss a shipbuilding initiative.

Hibbing Police Dept. raises over $4,000 for local cancer patients

Angel Fund Members Kari Kilen and Nicole Freeman, Commander Tim Stauty, Chief Steve Estey, Pink Patch Project Organizer Officer Brittany Dillinger and Angel Fund Executive Director Kelly Grinsteinner. HIBBING, Minn. — The Hibbing Police Department (HPD) raised $4,160 for local cancer patients through its Pink Patch Project. The Pink Patch project ran throughout the month of October and raised money…

Nicki Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Arizona event

Rapper Nicki Minaj has made a surprise appearance at a gathering of conservatives in Arizona. Speaking on stage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention, the artist praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, calling them “role models” for young men. The rap star was interviewed by Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who has since taken over as leader of Turning Point. Kirk asked Minaj about her newly found support for Trump, whom she had condemned in the past. Minaj’s appearance Sunday at the flagship event for the powerful conservative youth organization may shore up her status as a MAGA acolyte.

Pop culture in 2025: A ring for Taylor, an ill-timed KissCam … and whatever ‘6-7’ means

In a year of pop culture moments, some things were old and some things were very new. What does the term “6-7” mean? Dictionary.com designated it the word of 2025 but even they couldn’t define it. People were talking about “KPop Demon Hunters,” and especially singing its songs. They were talking about the Coldplay KissCam, and how adorable the capybara was. But then there were two names that have dominated our pop culture for years now. Taylor Swift kept making records with her album sales, and got engaged. And Beyoncé finally won her overdue Grammy for album of the year.

Trump administration pauses 5 offshore wind projects on the East Coast

The Trump administration is pausing leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the East Coast due to unspecified national security risks identified by the Pentagon. The pause is effective immediately and will give the Interior Department, which oversees offshore wind, time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to assess the possible ways to mitigate any security risks posed by the projects, the administration said.

’60 Minutes’ holds off on airing critical piece on Trump deportation policy

Hours before airtime on Sunday, CBS News’ “60 Minutes” held a planned story on President Donald Trump’s deportation policy at the order of the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss. Weiss, the founder of the Free Press website, had sought to get Trump administration perspective included in the story. The move is sure to increase scrutiny on CBS and “60 Minutes,” which Trump sued last fall over an interview with Kamala Harris and has recently complained about stories critical of him. Weiss said in a statement that holding stories that aren’t ready, because they lack context or are missing critical voices, happen every day in newsrooms.

Addiction-stricken community struggles to keep a syringe program going after Trump’s order

Decades of research show syringe programs are extremely effective at preventing infectious disease among intravenous drug users and referring them to treatment. But a July executed order from President Donald Trump’ says federal substance abuse grants can’t pay for supplies it says “only facilitate illegal drug use,” such as cookers and tourniquets. Needles already couldn’t be purchased with federal money. In some places, the order is galvanizing support for syringe exchanges. In others, like Indiana, it’s fueling opposition that threatens their existence. But health workers in one Indiana community are doing what they can to keep their program going.

Most US adults aren’t making year-end charitable contributions, new AP-NORC poll finds

A new AP-NORC poll finds that most Americans aren’t making end-of-year charitable giving plans, despite the many fundraising appeals made by nonprofits that rely on donation surges in the calendar’s final month to reach next year’s budget targets. The survey found that about half of U.S. adults say they’ve already made their charitable contributions for 2025. Just 18% indicated they’ve donated and will donate again before the year is over. Only 6% reported they haven’t given yet but will do so by year-end. Everyday donors faced competing priorities this year, but weaker income gains and steep price inflation meant that lower-income households had less money to redistribute.

Bondi Beach shooting suspect conducted firearms training with his father, Australian police say

A man accused of killing 15 people at Sydney’s Bondi Beach allegedly conducted firearms training with his father. A police statement of facts was made public on Monday after Naveed Akram’s video court appearance from a Sydney hospital. Officers wounded Akram at the scene and killed his father, Sajid Akram. The police statement alleges Naveed Akram and his father threw four improvised explosive devices at a crowd during a Jewish event on Dec. 14, but they failed to explode. Police described the devices as three aluminum pipe bombs and a tennis ball bomb containing an explosive, black powder and steel ball bearings. Akram has been charged with 59 offenses including 15 counts of murder.

Starlink in the crosshairs: How Russia could attack Elon Musk’s conquering of space

NATO-nation intelligence services believe Russia is developing a weapon to target Starlink satellites. Intelligence findings seen by The Associated Press say the weapon could release pellets to disable multiple satellites. Analysts have doubts, saying such a weapon could create chaos in space and risk other vital orbiting systems. But a Canadian space commander has told the AP that such a weapon is “not implausible.” Starlink’s services are used by Ukraine. Russia views the constellation as a threat. The intelligence findings say the destructive pellets could be small enough to evade detection. Analysts say Russia might want to have such a weapon only as a deterrent or it may be no more than a research project for now.

Trump announces he’s appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as US special envoy to Greenland

President Donald Trump has ​announced ​he ⁠is appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as the U.S. ‌special envoy to Greenland, the vast, semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that Trump has said the U.S. needs to take over. Trump in a social media post on Sunday announcing the appointment said, “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security.” Trump has repeatedly called for U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, and would not rule out military force to take control of the mineral-rich, strategically located Arctic island. Landry in a post on X called the appointment an honor and said it won’t be affecting his position as governor.

Duluth Police Dept. sees significant spike in applications to join force

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa is celebrating a significant increase in applications to become Duluth police officers. The winter application process recently closed with 41 applicants, which Ceynowa said is unheard of. He said the department usually gets around 10 to 12 applicants. And on top of that, there is an increase in interest from lateral officers…

Minnesota Power terminates partnership with proposed NTEC in Superior

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Power has officially terminated its partnership with the proposed natural gas power plant in Superior known as NTEC. Minnesota Power said “permitting and litigation delays” around the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) project are factors in the decision. This means, Minnesota Power customers will not receive energy from the plant — if it becomes a reality,…

Duluth police: Woman stabbed father in the back

DULUTH, Minn.  – Duluth police say a woman is accused of stabbing her own father in the back. The incident unfolded around 8 p.m. Friday. A location was not given by the police department’s public information officer. Officials believe the 27-year-old suspect was experiencing a mental health crisis. Police located the woman a short time after the stabbing and made…

Players compete for final roster spots during World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series

DULUTH, Minn. — Hockey fans from across the world gathered at the Amsoil Arena this weekend to watch the U.S. take on Germany in the World Juniors pre-Tournament Series. The 3-game series provides players with the opportunity to compete for final roster spots on their respective World Juniors team, with the final rosters expected to be announced on Dec. 24….

Goff and Campbell refuse to blame officials after Lions’ rally is negated by late flags

Jared Goff and Dan Campbell have refused to blame the officials after the Detroit Lions were penalized two times in the final 22 seconds of a 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers — with each flag negating a go-ahead touchdown. Campbell says the calls were “frustrating” but the Lions shouldn’t have let it come to that. Goff says officials have a hard job and he doesn’t want to make excuses. The loss eliminated the Lions from contention for the NFC North title and left their playoff hopes dangling by a thread.

Steelers outlast Lions 29-24 in wild finish when penalty on St. Brown negates Goff’s winning TD

The Pittsburgh Steelers have pushed the Detroit Lions to the brink of elimination from the playoffs thanks to a wild finish. Pittsburgh held on for a 29-24 win when Jared Goff’s touchdown on the final play was negated by an offensive pass-interference penalty on Amon-Ra St. Brown. Goff threw a fourth-down pass to St. Brown just short of the goal line. The receiver pushed off cornerback Jalen Ramsey to get free, and before the Steelers could bring St. Brown to the ground, he threw the quarterback a lateral to set up an apparent score. Officials huddled for some time on the field before announcing the decision.

Steelers receiver DK Metcalf swipes at Lions fan leaning over railing in front row

Steelers receiver DK Metcalf swiped at a fan leaning over the railing in the front row at Ford Field during the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions. Metcalf and the fan, wearing a black-and-blue shirt and a blue wig, were speaking to each other before the two-time Pro Bowler threw a right hand toward the man’s face. Metcalf did not appear to make much, if any contact. Although there wasn’t a penalty flag thrown on the field, the league will review the incident and Metcalf could face discipline.

X-rays negative for Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy after injuring his right hand

X-rays were negative on J.J. McCarthy’s injured right hand, coach Kevin O’Connell said after the Minnesota Vikings quarterback left game at the New York Giants and did not return. O’Connell said McCarthy injured the hand at some point in the first half before running for a touchdown. It’s unclear if McCarthy will be able to play in either of the final two games of the season. While the Vikings are eliminated from playoff contention, they’d like McCarthy to get some more valuable experience in his first year playing in the NFL.

Doctor’s orders? ‘Belly laugh at least two to five days a week’

They say laughter is the best medicine. Michael Miller, a cardiologist and medical professor at the University of Pennsylvania, says they’re right. Laughter is an obvious stress reliever. But Miller says it’s even good for your heart. Madan Kataria — a physician in Mumbai and the founder of laughter yoga — agrees. Laughter yoga involves breathing exercises, light stretches, and silly movements and sounds that force you to laugh. Kataria suggests bringing laughter into your daily life, even at things that might not seem funny. Recently, he demonstrated what he calls “credit-card-bill laughter.” He held out his hand as if looking at a statement, and burst into a roiling, infectious laughter.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ launches with $88M domestically, $345M worldwide

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” opened with $345 million in worldwide sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, notching the second-best global debut of the year and potentially putting James Cameron on course to set yet more blockbuster records. Sixteen years into the “Avatar” saga, Pandora is still abundant in box-office riches. “Fire and Ash,” the third film in Cameron’s science-fiction franchise, launched with $88 million domestically and $257 million internationally. The only film to open bigger in 2025 was “Zootopia 2.” But there was a tad less fanfare to this “Avatar” film. Sales were notably less than 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.”

Top Trump administration official defends partial release of Epstein files as Democrats cry foul

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is defending the Justice Department’s decision to release just a fraction of the Jeffrey Epstein files by the congressionally mandated deadline. Blanche is pledging that the Trump administration will eventually meet its obligation required by law. But he tells NBC’s “Meet the Press” that his department was obligated to act with caution as it goes about releasing thousands of documents that can include sensitive information. Friday’s partial release of the Epstein files has led to a new crush of criticism from Democrats. They accuse the Trump administration of trying to hide information. Blanche calls the pushback disingenuous.

Muddy eruption at Yellowstone’s Black Diamond Pool captured on video

A muddy eruption at Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park has been captured on camera. The video was recorded by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory webcam Saturday morning. U.S. Geological Survey volcano experts shared it on social media. They said the same pool was also the site of a hydrothermal explosion in July 2024 that damaged a boardwalk and sent rocks and mud flying. Since then eruptions reaching up to 40 feet have occurred sporadically. New monitoring equipment installed this summer helps detect these events. Recent eruptions have mostly been audible and not visible because they happened either at night or when the camera was obscured by ice.

Netflix and Paramount are fighting over Warner Bros. Discovery. Here’s the regulatory outlook

Warner Bros. Discovery is caught in a battle between Netflix and Paramount and chances are, it will be a long, bumpy regulatory road ahead. Netflix wants to buy Warner’s studio and streaming business for $72 billion, while Paramount has made a hostile $77.9 billion bid for a full takeover. Either deal could vastly reshape the media landscape, affecting movies and streaming platforms. The U.S. Justice Department and potentially other regulators worldwide will likely review the merger. But politics could also play a role under President Donald Trump. Critics argue either merger might harm consumers by controlling prices or limiting content.

These influencers are teaching Christianity online — and young people are listening

Christian influencers are reaching hundreds of thousands of young people online. They share podcasts and videos with biblical advice on tough questions that aren’t always answered in Sunday sermons. Followers relate to millennial and Generation Z influencers more than the buttoned-up pastors of their parents’ generation. And these influencers open up about past and present mistakes. Some have theological training and some don’t. Some experts worry that they aren’t equipped to teach such large audiences and threaten to replace church with podcasts, but many faithful are hopeful that this new group of Christian influencers will galvanize young people who are looking for meaning.

Trump’s return brought stiff headwinds for clean energy. So why are advocates optimistic in 2026?

Dozens of energy developers, experts and politicians say there were some highs amid a lot of lows in a roller coaster year for clean energy as President Donald Trump worked to boost polluting fuels while stymying wind and solar. Surveyed by The Associated Press, many described 2025 as a turbulent and challenging one for clean energy, though there was progress as projects connected to the electric grid. They said clean energy will have to further ramp up in 2026 and beyond to meet a skyrocketing demand for electricity to power data centers and to lower the cost of Americans’ utility bills. Solar builder and operator Jorge Vargas says it has been a very tough year for clean energy.

Turning Point showcases the discord that Republicans like Vance will need to navigate in the future

Turning Point USA has endorsed Vice President JD Vance as the Republican nominee for the next presidential election. Erika Kirk leads the conservative youth organization and she drew cheers when she announced the endorsement at the group’s convention in Phoenix. But the event also highlighted the challenges for Vance and other potential successors to President Donald Trump. The “Make America Great Again movement” is fracturing as Republicans consider a future without Trump, and there’s no clear path to holding his coalition together as different factions jockey for influence. Trump hasn’t officially chosen a successor.

Trump is leaning on son-in-law Jared Kushner for difficult diplomacy

President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has been drawn back into the foreign policy fold like he was during Trump’s first term. It reflects a sense among Trump’s inner circle that Kushner complements special envoy Steve Witkoff’s negotiating style and can bridge seemingly intractable differences to close a deal. That’s according to current and former administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Kushner worked on negotiating the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations in Trump’s first term.

Sofia Goggia gets overdue World Cup win in super-G and Lindsey Vonn is third

Sofia Goggia finally got the win her skiing this season deserved in a World Cup super-G on Sunday and Lindsey Vonn was third for the second straight day at French resort Val d’Isere. The two former Olympic downhill champions were split on a high-class podium by runner-up Alice Robinson who is already a two-time winner this season on the World Cup circuit. Goggia finished 0.15 seconds ahead of Robinson. The 41-year-old Vonn then hit a high speed touching 115 kph (71 mph) but the ideal racing line was elusive and she finished 0.36 behind Goggia.