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Minnesota State Senator David Tomassoni passed away after battle with ALS

CHISHOLM, Minn. – A longtime member of the Minnesota Legislature who represented the Iron Range for nearly 30 years has died. The Facebook page of State Senator David Tomassoni says he passed away Thursday night, August 11, 2022.  He was 69. The Chisholm native, who played professional hockey in Italy and was part of the country’s hockey team at the 1984…

Brother, Sister, Childhood Friend Of ‘Born Too Late’ Perform Live

DULUTH, Minn. — Band members from Born Too Late, made up of a brother, sister and their childhood friend, stopped by the morning show Friday to talk about their success and unique style of music. Check out the interview in the video above, and see the videos below for two live performances. Song 1: Song 2: Categories: Coffee Conversation, Entertainment,…

Local Author, Illustrator Publish Children’s Book ‘New Moon’s Family’

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth author Erika Adams and illustrator Eric Soderstrom stopped by the morning show Friday to discuss a children’s book they’ve partnered on called New Moon’s Family. To purchase the book on Amazon, click here. To contact Erika, check out her website at elatales.com or e-mail her at elatales@gmail.com.   Categories: Coffee Conversation, Education, Minnesota, News, News –…

Coffee Conversation: Two Harbors Art Festival Aug. 12-14

Duluth artist Cheyenne Vavrina was in studio Friday morning to show of her fantastic wooden art work while previewing this weekend’s Two Harbors Art Festival.  Click the video to see her work, and click here to learn more about the festival happening Aug. 12-14. Categories: Business, Coffee Conversation, Community, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News

Federal Government Funding $25 Million Of Duluth’s West Superior Street Reconstruction Project

DULUTH, Minn. — The Department of Transportation will cover almost $25 million of a future project in Duluth to reconstruct two miles of West Superior Street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. It’s one of six infrastructure projects in Minnesota receiving funding from the RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) program. All of the underground pipes that handle water,…

Governor Walz And Governor Evers Ask DOT For Nearly $900 Million To Fund Blatnik Bridge Rebuild

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN– The governors of Minnesota and Wisconsin are asking the federal government for $889.5 million to support the Blatnik Bridge project. The money would come from the bipartisan infrastructure law that was created last fall. The Blatnik Bridge is 61-years-old and sees roughly 33,000 cars and trucks driving on it every day going between Duluth and Superior. Officials say its…

Bayfront Blues Festival Set to Return for 33rd Year

DULUTH, Minn. – The Bayfront Blues Festival returns to Duluth Friday for its 33rd year. The festival at Bayfront is one of the top 25 blues festivals in the nation and features national, Midwest, and local acts. Such acts include Ruthie Foster, Mike Zito, and Canned Heat. The festival is also bringing back the After Party where the public is…

Sensory-Friendly Day with Thomas the Tank Engine

DULUTH, Minn. — Thomas the Tank Engine is known by kids worldwide, including those on the spectrum. Today, the North Shore Railroad held a sensory-friendly event, for kids to spend time with Thomas in a quieter setting. Five years ago, Duluth became the first in the country to hold a sensory-friendly day with Thomas. Featuring less noise, smaller crowds, and…

Eighth Annual Operation K-9

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Operation K-9 returned to the Northland for it’s eighth year, presenting the public with a show of talent from police dogs across the area. Taking part were K-9’s and their handlers from five local law-enforcement agencies: St. Louis County, Douglas County, Duluth Police, Superior Police, and Hermantown. “It’s a great time, this is something the dogs love…

Monday Hearing Set For 2 Ex-Cops In George Floyd’s Killing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge scheduled a hearing for Monday on the “status of plea negotiations” for the two remaining officers awaiting trial on state charges in the killing of George Floyd, with the hearing coming after the judge’s window for accepting any deal appears to have closed. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill said in previous orders that he would not accept…

Justice Dept. Seeks To Unseal Search Warrant Of Trump Home

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has asked a court to unseal the warrant the FBI received before searching the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday, acknowledging the extraordinary public interest in the case. The request was striking because such documents traditionally remain sealed during a pending investigation. But the Justice Department appeared to…

US Wholesale Inflation Fell In July For 1st Time In 2 Years

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prices at the wholesale level fell from June to July, the first month-to-month drop in more than two years and a sign that some of the U.S. economy’s inflationary pressures cooled last month. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that the producer price index — which measures inflation before it reaches consumers — declined 0.5% in July. It…

15,000 MNA Nurses To Hold Strike Vote Monday In Duluth, Twin Cities

DULUTH, Minn. — 15,000 nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association are planning to hold a strike vote on Monday, according to a press release. Nurses in the Twin Ports and Twin Cities are coming together for the first time to fight for fair contracts to hold healthcare executives accountable to put patients before profits. “Corporate healthcare policies in our hospitals…

YWCA Duluth’s GirlPower! Program To End, Exec. Dir. Talks What’s Next

DULUTH, Minn. — The YWCA Duluth’s GirlPower! program is coming to an end after more than two decades of uplifting and guiding countless young girls. Some of the girls who have been through the program stopped by FOX 21’s morning show Thursday to talk about its impact on them. The YWCA is hosting a GirlPower! Farewell Party Aug. 21 at…

Man Finds Lost Dog After Boat Crash: “The Right Place at the Right Time”

TWIN PORTS, Minn. — The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a water emergency on Lake Superior on Tuesday night. “At approximately 11 p.m. we were paged out to a water emergency in the Superior entry. A boat ran into some rocks, was taking on water, and sinking,” Carter Nelson, Sergeant with the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, said….

Haunted Ship to add New Props and More Fear

DULUTH, Minn. — In less than two months, the William A Irvin Ship Museum will transform into a tank of terror. The haunted ship has taken place in Duluth for the last 30 years, drawing in thousands annually. Right now, crews are hard at work, building new props for this years event. Hop onboard, walk the plank, and run through…

Streetscape Plan for Hammond Avenue in Superior

SUPERIOR, WI. — Reconstruction of Hammond Avenue in Superior has been decades in the making. On Wednesday, Mayor Jim Paine introduced a streetscape plan to the public, including bringing back boulevard trees. The community has been weighing in on the re-design of Hammond. Mayor Paine says that many want to bring back historical elements, such as the boulevard trees, which…

Lower Prices Offer Americans Slight Reprieve From Inflation

WASHINGTON (AP) — Falling prices for gas, airline tickets and clothes helped give Americans a slight break from the pain of high inflation last month, though overall price increases slowed only modestly from the four-decade high that was reached in June. Consumer prices jumped 8.5% in July compared with a year earlier, the government said Wednesday, down from a 9.1% year-over-year increase…

Biden Signs ‘Burn Pits’ Help For Vets, A Personal Win, Too

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden, whose elder son Beau died of cancer years after deploying to Iraq, signed legislation on Wednesday expanding federal health care services for millions of veterans who served at military bases where toxic smoke billowed from huge “burn pits.” “We owe you,” Biden said. “You’re the backbone. You’re the steel. You’re the sinew. You’re the…

Trump Says He Took The Fifth In NY Civil Investigation

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination as he testified under oath Wednesday in the New York attorney general’s long-running civil investigation into his business dealings, the former president said in a statement. Trump arrived at Attorney General Letitia James’ Manhattan offices in a motorcade shortly before 9 a.m., before announcing more than an hour later that he…

Omar Ekes Out House Primary Win Over Centrist In Minnesota

WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the progressive Squad, eked out a closer-than-expected Democratic primary victory Tuesday against a centrist challenger who questioned the incumbent’s support for the “defund the police” movement. The evening went far smoother for another progressive, Becca Balint, who won the Democratic House primary in Vermont — positioning her to become the first woman representing…

August 9 Primary Election Results

Below is the results of the key races in Tuesday’s Primary Election U.S. Representative District 8 – Two Advance Republican: Pete Stauber (incumbent) – 91% Harry Welty – 8% Stauber took the overwhelming win and will be seen at the November election. DFL: Jen Shultz – 86% John Munter – 14% Shultz took the big win and will face off…

Michels Wins Wisconsin GOP Governor Primary, Will Face Evers

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Tim Michels, a wealthy businessman endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for Wisconsin governor on Tuesday and will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a contest that could reshape elections in the marquee battleground. Michels defeated former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence and had backing from…

Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson Recalled In Election

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — On Tuesday night, voters in Two Harbors voted to recall Mayor Chris Swanson after months of allegations of misconduct. The question on the ballot asked, “Shall Mayor Christopher Swanson be recalled?” 86.46% of voters said “yes,” which added up to 1,149 people. 13.54% of voters said “no,” which adds up to 180 people. Swanson has been…

Walz, Jensen Win Primaries To Set Up Minnesota Governor Race

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Republican challenger Scott Jensen scored easy victories in their primaries Tuesday, setting the stage for their fall matchup in Minnesota’s marquee race for governor. Walz is seeking his second term under the same “One Minnesota” slogan he used four years ago, but in an ever more polarized environment where Jensen and the…

Democrat Barnes Set To Challenge GOP Wisconsin Sen. Johnson

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes won the Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday and will face two-term Republican Sen. Ron Johnson in what is expected to be one of the country’s most competitive races as the parties battle for control of the U.S. Senate. Barnes’ top rivals dropped out of the race late last month and backed the former…

Duluth Airport to add Third United Flight Service

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth International Airport will be adding a third United airline flight come September 6th. Air services nationwide have felt the impacts of pilot and crew shortages. United airline at DLH has been operating twice a day, down from pre-pandemic rates of three to four flights. In good news, the airport says locals have been flying and the…

Memorial Blood Centers Announce Blood Emergency

DULUTH, Minn. — Yesterday, Memorial Blood Centers announced another blood emergency. An already alarmingly low blood supply has become even more scarce across the Northland. Memorial Blood Centers reported its current supply of blood as enough for two days, which they said is well below the ideal level of five to seven. The shortage has been consistent for many weeks….

Sandbox Summer Camp Comes Back to Duluth

DULUTH, Minn.– Islands of Brilliance, a non-profit organization based in Milwaukee, came back to Duluth this week. Hosting the ‘Sandbox’ summer camp for children on the autism spectrum. “Islands of Brilliance is a learning experience for the autistic community. We combine area of interest, and creativity, and then bring in technology and see our students just thrive,” Islands of Brilliance…

US Will Stretch Monkeypox Vaccine Supply With Smaller Doses

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials on Tuesday authorized a plan to stretch the nation’s limited supply of monkeypox vaccine by giving people just one-fifth the usual dose, citing research suggesting that the reduced amount is about as effective. The so-called dose-sparing approach also calls for administering the Jynneos vaccine with an injection just under the skin rather than into…

US Inflation Will Likely Stay High Even As Gas Prices Fall

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans may finally be catching a break from relentlessly surging prices — if just a slight one — even as inflation is expected to remain painfully high for months. Thanks largely to falling gas prices, the government’s inflation report for July, to be released Wednesday morning, is expected to show that prices jumped 8.7% from a year earlier…

Biden Signs $280B CHIPS Act In Bid To Boost US Over China

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a $280 billion bipartisan bill to boost domestic high-tech manufacturing, part of his administration’s push to boost U.S. competitiveness over China. Flanked by scores of lawmakers, union officials, local politicians and business leaders, Biden feted the legislation, a core part of his economic agenda that will incentivize investments in the American…

Coffee Conversation: Local Singer Rafe Carlson Performs Live

DULUTH, Minn. — Local country/rock singer Rafe Carlson stopped by the studio to talk about what he’s up to and perform live. Carlson is a Hermantown native who met his producer in Nashville, Tennessee in May of 2021, and has since made dozens of trips down, writing with world-class Nashville songwriters, playing shows in the downtown area, and spending time in…

Duluth Police: Man Randomly Shot In Neck By Apparent BB Gun After Fireworks Show July 8

DULUTH, Minn. – After a tip to FOX 21’s Dan Hanger, we’ve learned a Duluth man was randomly struck by an apparent BB gun while leaving the fireworks show at Bayfront Park last month. Police Information Officer Mattie Hjelseth confirmed Tuesday that officers responded to the 300 block of West 4th Street around 11:30 p.m. July 8 in the Central…