News

Trump Criminal Probes Will Proceed — Even As He’s Candidate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s early announcement of his third White House bid won’t shield the former president from the criminal investigations already confronting him as an ordinary citizen, leaving him legally and politically exposed as he seeks the 2024 Republican nomination. The Justice Department is pushing ahead with its probes. And with the midterm elections now mostly complete and the 2024 presidential campaign…

US Retail Sales Rose 1.3% Last Month, A Sign Of Resilience

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans stepped up their spending at retailers, restaurants, and auto dealers last month, a sign of consumer resilience as the holiday shopping season begins amid painfully high inflation and rising interest rates. The government said Wednesday that retail sales rose 1.3% in October from September, up from a flat reading in September from August. The increase was led by car…

Thanksgiving Dinner Will Cost More This Year, As Minnesota Farmers Pay More To Produce Turkeys

(Fox 9) CANNON FALLS, Minn. – The countdown is on until Turkey Day, and families hosting Thanksgiving can expect to pay more for their dinner this year. Turkey prices are actually lower now than last week and that could continue if retailers offer deals leading up to Thanksgiving. But compared to previous years, this will be a pricey Thanksgiving. Inflation will be…

Same-Sex Marriage Faces Senate Test With GOP Votes Uncertain

WASHINGTON (AP) — Staring down the prospect of divided government in the next Congress, Senate Democrats are moving forward with legislation this week to protect same sex and interracial marriages. It’s a vote that’s “as personal as it gets,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. Schumer is holding a test vote on the bill Wednesday, betting that at least 10 Republicans will…

NASA’s Mightiest Moon Rocket Lifts Off 50 Years After Apollo

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s new moon rocket blasted off on its debut flight with three test dummies aboard Wednesday, bringing the U.S. a big step closer to putting astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago. If all goes well during the three-week, make-or-break shakedown flight,…

Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College’s First Female President Dies

CLOQUET, Minn. – The first female president of the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College has died. Stephanie Hammitt, 60, died peacefully in her home Monday, according to her obituary. Hammitt was named president in 2019 but was part of the college for more than 30 years. Her previous roles included chief financial officer and vice president of finance…

Indigenous Business Event Draws Protest From Water Protectors Group

DULUTH, Minn. — About a dozen protesters were near Pier B on Tuesday evening, rallying against the Minnesota Tribal Contractors Council that was holding its yearly fall networking dinner inside the hotel. The event brought together indigenous and non-indigenous business leaders to connect and talk about the trades industry. The conflict on Tuesday was over the protesters wanting indigenous workers…

Trump Seeks White House Again Amid GOP Losses, Legal Probes

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Former President Donald Trump is running for president again. Trump made his plans official Tuesday night after teasing the potential of a comeback since before he even left the White House in 2021. He had hoped to piggyback off expected Republican gains in last week’s midterm elections and stave off potential challengers. Instead, Trump is…

Longtime Superior City Councilor Resigns Following Investigation

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Longtime Superior City Councilor Warren Bender has resigned from his 3rd District council seat, citing medical issues. Bender sent his resignation letter to Mayor Jim Paine’s office late Monday. The resignation became effective at 8 a.m. Tuesday, and it comes after a police investigation involving Bender’s communication with a woman through Facebook messenger. In his resignation letter,…

Pilot Fiber Project in Lincoln Park Neighborhood

DULUTH, Minn.–The city of Duluth held an event promoting investments in broadband infrastructure in Lincoln Park. It’s the first phase of what the city is calling the “Duluth Fiber Lincoln Park Pilot Project” that will cost $5.5 million. The city says the plan is to connect about 1900 people and businesses in the craft district with this specific high-speed internet…

Local Ski Resorts Getting Ready For Upcoming Season

DULUTH, Minn. — Skateboarders may not be fans of snow, but snowboarders and skiers certainly are. Two popular area hills have been in full swing for weeks, trying to get ready for the coming season. Spirit Mountain was actually working on some ground areas in August. Now its snow and crunch time. Ann Glumac, Interim Executive Director said, “In order…

Midtowne Skatepark Equipment Transported To Keene Creek Park

DULUTH, Minn. — Now that the demolition of the overpasses near Midtowne Park has begun, skateboarders can still access those ramps and rails over at Keene Creek Park. The Minnesota Department of Transportation dismantled the Lincoln Park skate spot to be able to take down a bridge as part of the Twin Ports Interchange Project. The equipment from the former…

Life Sentence Sought For Teen In Michigan School Shooting

DETROIT (AP) — Prosecutors said they’ll seek a life sentence with no chance for parole for a 16-year-old boy who killed four fellow students at a Michigan school and pleaded guilty to murder and terrorism. They disclosed their plans in a court filing Monday, three weeks after Ethan Crumbley, 16, withdrew a possible insanity defense and acknowledged the shooting at Oxford High School in…

Biden Asks For More Than $37 Billion In Ukraine Aid

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is asking Congress to provide more than $37 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine, a massive infusion of cash that could help support the nation as Russian forces suffer battlefield losses in their nine-month-old invasion. The administration’s funding request, which comes as lawmakers begin their post-election session, also seeks $9.25 billion in COVID-19 funding to…

GOP On Cusp Of Retaking House Control With Slim Majority

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans were on the cusp of retaking control of the House late Monday, just one victory shy of the 218 seats the party needs to secure a majority, narrowing the path for Democrats to keep the chamber and raising the prospect of a divided government in Washington. Democrats have already won control of the Senate, securing 50 seats…

Walmart Offers To Pay $3.1 Billion To Settle Opioid Lawsuits

(AP) — Walmart proposed a $3.1 billion legal settlement on Tuesday over the toll of powerful prescription opioids sold at its pharmacies, becoming the latest major drug industry player to promise major support to state, local and tribal governments still grappling with a crisis in overdose deaths. The retail giant’s announcement follows similar proposals on Nov. 2 from the two…

US Wholesale Inflation Eases To 8%, 4th Straight Slowdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prices at the wholesale level rose 8% in October from a year ago, the fourth straight decline and the latest sign that inflation pressures in the United States are easing from painfully high levels. The annual figure is down from 8.4% in September. On a monthly basis, the government said Tuesday that its producer price index, which measures costs…

Coffee Conversation: West Duluth Business Club Seeks More Advancement

DULUTH, Minn — The West Duluth Business Club is a private non-profit club, consisting of business/commercial interests, community organizations, and area citizens who have an interest in focusing on the western area of Duluth, MN. The group holds monthly speaker meetings and is currently setting up a vision for the Western Business district which includes a strategic plan for advancement…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Winter Village to Return to DECC in December

DULUTH, Minn. —  The 2022 Duluth Winter Village will be back at the DECC this December. It’s an outdoor village with festive greens, local shops, hot drinks, and fire pits — overlooking Lake Superior and the Lift Bridge. On Tuesday, Lucie Amundsen with the DECC previewed the event on FOX21’s morning show. The Winter Village is taking place December 3…

Trump Prepares To Launch 3rd Campaign For The White House

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is preparing to launch his third campaign for the White House on Tuesday, looking to move on from disappointing midterm defeats and defy history amid signs that his grip on the Republican Party is waning. Trump had hoped to use the GOP’s expected gains in last week’s elections as a springboard to vault himself to his party’s nomination by locking in…

KYN: Duluth Curling Club

DULUTH, Minn.–With the winter sports season approaching, not all the action, or ice, is outside. We caught up with the Duluth Curling Club last week to see what it takes to turn the ice into a curler’s dream. The Duluth Curling Club has been a staple in the community for decades. It’s been housed at the DECC since 1976 and…

History In A Pint Series Back Again At The Depot

The History in a Pint "Treasures from the David Wisted Post 28" is a free event.

DULUTH, Minn. — The History in a Pint series is back once again, and this time will be at the Depot. This series is presented by Veterans Memorial Hall, a program of the St. Louis County Historical Society. Where local veterans share their stories and experiences while having a pint or two. Tuesday, members of the David Wisted American Legion…

Duluth’s Snow Removal Volunteer Program Not Returning This Year

DULUTH, Minn. — The city of Duluth’s snow removal assistance volunteer program isn’t happening this year. It ran for three years, and helped up to 25 older adults and people with disabilities every winter. Duluth residents could sign up to shovel their front doors and sidewalks as a free service to those in need. The city says the grant money…

40 States Settle Google Location-Tracking Charges For $392M

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Search giant Google has agreed to a $391.5 million settlement with 40 states to resolve an investigation into how the company tracked users’ locations, state attorneys general announced Monday. The states’ investigation was sparked by a 2018 Associated Press story, which found that Google continued to track people’s location data even after they opted out of such…

Man Gets Jail Time And Probation For Killing Woman In Drunken Driving Crash

VIRGINIA, Minn. — A Virginia man who pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide after causing a crash that left a woman dead in the Embarrass Township was sentenced on Monday. Prosecutors say 40-year-old Michael Kenneth Miller had been out celebrating his birthday on August 12th, drinking at bars. He then got behind-the-wheel of his pickup truck and crossed over the…

Suspect Caught In Fatal Shooting Of 3 U.Va. Football Players

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Police on Monday captured a University of Virginia student suspected of fatally shooting three members of the school’s football team as they returned to campus from a field trip. The violence that also wounded two students erupted near a parking garage and sent the campus into a lockdown that lasted overnight while police searched for the…

Biden: Still Not Enough Votes To Codify Abortion Rights

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AP) — President Joe Biden said Monday that Democrats still lack the power to codify abortion rights into law despite his party’s stronger-than-expected performance in the midterm elections. “I don’t think there’s enough votes,” he said at a press conference during the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia. Biden’s blunt comments reflected how Democrats’ euphoria over their strength…

Junior League Of Duluth Brings Christmas Joy With Festival Of Trees Event

DULUTH, Minn. — DECC the halls with booths of goodies… The Junior League of Duluth brought Christmas joy with more than 130 vendors covering 2 main rooms of the DECC. Vendors sold things from photo prints, to elves, to even roasted nuts, giving a part of themselves away with their crafts. For Meghan Schmitz and her family, their booth sold…

Coffee Conversation: UMD Students Share Experiences of Studying Abroad

DULUTH, Minn. — It’s International Education Week and the University of Minnesota Duluth is holding a range of events, one being a study abroad informative panel. On Monday, UMD students Amy Diedrich and Issac Conrad joined FOX21 live in-studio to talk about their time spent abroad. Diedrich participated in the University College Dublin program in Dublin, Ireland. Conrad participated in…

Volunteers Put Finishing Touches On Bentleyville

DULUTH, Minn. — This year’s Bentleyville display has been in the works since the end of September and it’s almost time for Bayfront Festival Park to shine once again. But Bentleyville isn’t possible without volunteers. Many Duluthians and students are helping set up all of the string lights, displays, and photo opportunities. This year, roughly 5-million lights are being strung…

Man Arrested, Accused Of Shooting Gun During Bar Closing Time In Downtown Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Police have arrested a suspect who they say fired a gun during bar closing time in the downtown area early Sunday morning. Officers with the DPD were already in the area of the 100-block of West First Street when they heard someone shooting a gun just after 2 a.m., sending several people running. No injuries were…

‘BRUCE IS BACK!’: Black Woods Replaces Its Mascot; Original Head Still Missing

DULUTH, Minn. – Black Woods Grill and Bar in Duluth has its beloved mascot, Bruce, back in the lobby welcoming guests once again – but it’s not the original, which has been around since Black Woods opened in 1997. The new Bruce is a replacement after the head of the original was stolen from the lobby just before Halloween.  Black…

Native-Owned Farm In Sawyer Celebrates Arrival Of Buffalo

SAWYER, Minn. – A native-owned farm in Sawyer celebrated the arrival of a dozen buffalo to its land on Friday. Native Wise farm sits on 380 acres. Community members gathered with a welcoming song for the buffalo and a meal for all to enjoy. The Nature Conservancy’s preserves in Nebraska helped make the delivery possible to help preserve Native American…

Great Lakes Elementary Holds Veteran’s Day Assembly

SUPERIOR, WI – Great Lakes Elementary School in Superior held an assembly this morning to honor those who have served our country including first responders. The students were encouraged to dress up in red, white, and blue and the fifth graders sang patriotic songs. The principal shared an inspiring video along with making a few of his own remarks to…

Duluth’s Natural Surface Trails Closed During Annual Freeze, Thaw Cycle

DULUTH, Minn. — It’s that time of the year when the nights reach below freezing temperatures, and daytime stays above. Due to this annual freeze-thaw cycle, Duluth’s natural trails are closed until further notice. The mix of below and above freezing temps, can make the soil wet and vulnerable, ultimately damaging trails with continued use. Because of this, the Duluth…

On Ramp To Blatnik Bridge In Duluth Closed This Weekend

If you are coming from Superior, you are good to go.

DULUTH, Minn. — A heads up, access to the Blatnik Bridge from Duluth will be shut down this weekend, starting Friday at 8 p.m. It’s all part of the Twin Ports Interchange Reconstruction project. Crews will be demolishing and removing bridge decks, girders, and piers closest to southbound Garfield Avenue. MnDOT is encouraging drivers to take the Bong Bridge to…

Biden Says Climate Efforts ‘More Urgent Than Ever’ At Summit

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt” (AP) — President Joe Biden, speaking Friday at an annual international summit on climate change, urged world leaders to “double down” on their resolve to fight global warming, saying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reinforces the need to phase out fossil fuels. “We can no longer plead ignorance to the consequences of our actions, or continue to repeat our…

Coffee Conversation: Wisconsin Writers Association Presents Opportunities to Northland Writers

SUPERIOR, WI. — The Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) provides opportunities to northland writers. Founded in 1948, WWA sponsors and hosts year-round workshops and events throughout Wisconsin, offering exclusive resources and discounts to more than 500 members. WWA President Barry Wightman and FOX21’s very own Erika Adams joined us on the morning show to talk about the association. Last month (Sept…

Pelosi Faces Uncertain Future Weeks After Attack On Husband

WASHINGTON (AP) — The morning after the midterm election, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slipped on a sterling silver whistle given to her by her husband, who was attacked last month by an intruder at their San Francisco home. The whistle was similar to those worn by coaches or drill sergeants, and she wore it at her office after a long night of watching…