News

Coffee Conversation: Douglas County Jail Job Fair June 6

Members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office stopped by the FOX 21 morning show Thursday to talk to Dan Hanger about an upcoming “Jail Job Fair” happening Monday, June 6 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Government Center’s main atrium. Stacey Minter, lieutenant of jail operations, says jailers can start at an hourly wage between $21.34 and $23.07….

Coffee Conversation: Steve-O Talks XXX-Rated ‘Bucket List Tour’ At DECC, Sobriety, Life’s Lessons

Part 1: The Bucket List Tour: What to expect! DULUTH, Minn. – Steve-O is well known for his wild and crazy ride on MTV’s reality comedy series known as “Jackass” in the early 2000s followed by “Jackass” movies. See Dan’s chat with Steve-O in Part 1 above and Part 2 below. But since then, Steve-O has become much more with…

Police: Tulsa Suspect Targeted Surgeon He Blamed For Pain

(AP) — A man who blamed his surgeon for ongoing pain after a recent back surgery bought an AR-style rifle hours before opening fire at a Tulsa medical office, killing the surgeon and three other people before fatally shooting himself, police said Thursday. Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin says the gunman had recently undergone back surgery and had called a…

House Panel Taking Up Gun Bill In Wake Of Mass Shootings

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is beginning to put its stamp on gun legislation in response to mass shootings in Texas and New York by 18-year-old assailants who used semi-automatic rifles to kill 31 people, including 19 children. The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing Thursday to advance legislation that would raise the age limit for purchasing certain semi-automatic…

Northwestern’s Trent Meyer Headed Back to State Tournament

Meyer's run at a state championship begins next Monday and Tuesday at Black Wolf Run Golf Course in Kohlar, Wisconsin. 

SOLON SPRINGS, Wis.- This week Northwestern’s Trent Meyer qualified for the WIAA State Tournament as an individual. Last season, as a junior Meyer was one stroke away from winning a state championship, now he knows exactly what it will take to finish on top this time around. Meyer says, “I think putting is the big thing. Earlier in the season,…

Production Crew Begins Filming New Movie In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Production began this week on a new movie called “Merry Kisscam,” where scenes are filming all over Duluth. Producer Mandy June Turpin originally became intrigued with Duluth while visiting the Catalyst Story Institute’s Content Festival four years ago. She met many community members and visited different local places, and she says that she knew they would be…

Lake Superior Zoo Hosts A Member Appreciation Night

DULUTH, Minn.– It’s member appreciation day at Lake Superior Zoo, and to celebrate they hosted a MAD Safari Night filled with a wide variety of enrichment activities and events. Members were able to stay at the zoo after hours to enjoy free live music, an aerial performance, train rides, and even watch lions eat zebra meat. The experience of being…

3 Killed In Shooting At Tulsa Medical Building; Shooter Dead

TULSA, Oklahoma (AP) — Three people were killed Wednesday in a shooting at a Tulsa medical building on a hospital campus, a police captain said. Capt. Richard Meulenberg confirmed the number of dead. Meulenberg said the shooter also was dead. It was unclear how the shooter died or what prompted the deadly assault. “Officers are currently going through every room…

Free BBQ And Produce For The Community

DULUTH, Minn.– One Duluth resident loves grilling out so much, that he’s sharing what he makes with anyone who’s hungry. A husband and wife has been giving out free barbecue and produce for the community for around 60 years on the block of 12th avenue East on 3rd street They say that doing this is something they simply enjoy. “People…

St. Louis County Encourages Residents To Apply For HomeHelpMN Assistance

The deadline to apply is June 17 at 5:00p.m.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — Residents of St. Louis County are being encouraged to apply for HomeHelpMN assistance if they need help with past due mortgage payments or other housing expenses due to the pandemic. If you would like to apply you need to own and live in a home in Minnesota and meet certain income requirements. St. Louis County…

Jury Finds Cloquet Man Guilty Of Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend, Her Son

CLOQUET, Minn. – A Cloquet man has been found guilty on all eight counts for murdering his pregnant girlfriend and her 20-month-old son. Sheldon Thompson, 35, will get a mandatory sentence of life without release for the first-degree premediated murder conviction, according to the Carlton County Attorney’s Office. It was in 2020 when Thompson killed Jackie Defoe, 27, her unborn…

Jury Indicts Buffalo Shooting Suspect On Terrorism Charge

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A grand jury on Wednesday charged the white 18-year-old accused of fatally shooting 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket with domestic terrorism motivated by hate and 10 counts of first-degree murder. Payton Gendron, who has been in custody since the May 14 shooting, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Erie County Court. The 25-count indictment also…

Minnesota Students Walk Out To Demand Gun Changes

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hundreds of students walked out of class Tuesday and gathered in downtown Minneapolis to demand state legislators adopt tougher gun laws in the wake of last week’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The Star Tribune reported the students walked out around 12:30 p.m. and gathered in Gold Medal Park. They demanded officials create a statewide…

Water Main Break On North 59th Avenue West

DULUTH, Minn. — The City of Duluth operations crew is responding to a water main break on 3401 East 1st Street. Water that has been turned off is located along East 1st Street between 34th Avenue East and 36th Avenue East. The amount of time it will take to repair the break is unknown. Crews are working to repair the…

Councilor Renee Van Nett Hospitalized With Terminal Illness; Leaders Share Her Impact on Duluth

Friends of Van Nett have started a GoFundMe to help her daughters and raise money for her expenses.

DULUTH, Minn.- People in Duluth and across the State of Minnesota are sending their thoughts, prayers, and support to Renee Van Nett and her family after it was announced she is in the hospital for a terminal illness. Now some of those community members are looking back at the impact she has made in her time as a public servant….

St. Luke’s Offering COVID Boosters for Kids Ages 5-11

St. Luke's is also continuing to offer the first and second shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.

DULUTH, Minn. – For kids ages five through 11 who have gotten their initial COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are now available at St. Luke’s. St. Luke’s is also currently offering the full vaccine series for kids who have not yet received their first or second shots. This is all part of St. Luke’s Pediatric Associates, highlighting the importance of kids…

Builders and Backers Launching To Help Accelerate Duluth Entrepreneurs’ Ideas

DULUTH, Minn.- A new online program will be starting in Duluth to give aspiring entrepreneurs a place to share and build their ideas, and the deadline for an application is this week. In partnership with the city, Duluth Area Chamber Of Commerce, and Heartland Forward, Builders and Backers will launch their new Idea Accelerator program this summer. “We don’t want…

Deer River Clean Up Efforts

DEER RIVER, Minn.– It’s taking many Deer River agencies to get the city back on its feet. The Deer River Police Department, Fire Department, Utilities Office, and more, are working together at cleanup efforts. And the sheer devastation in the area, is causing neighboring towns to step up to help as well. “Itasca country sheriffs office search and rescue, they…

Red Cross Flooding Response

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. – The flooding continues to get worse in Northeastern Minnesota, and THE Red Cross organization has been hard at work aiding those affected in the area. Red Cross was called into action on May 13th and has six of their members helping the community by providing hydration and snacks for sandbaggers as well as disaster health services….

Deer River Storm Damage

DEER RIVER, Minn.– Behind me includes one of the neighborhoods in deer river that was devastated by Mondays storm. as sad as it is to see, the community believes the silver lining is the massive support coming from their friends and neighbors. “They just show up. stop and say can we help, and I’m like, absolutely. Deer river is a…

Local Travel Agency Guides Cruise Ship Guests Through Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — A local company called Jaybee Travel teamed up with Viking Cruises to provide passengers with local experiences on Duluth land. On May 30, 2022, the Viking Oasis became the first cruise ship to sail into the city since 2013. Cutting through heavy fog and rainy conditions, the cruise landed and guests departed to shore  where the Duluth…

Grandma’s Marathon Organizer Reacts to Races Selling Out for the First Time in Seven Years

DULUTH, Minn. — The 1977 tradition of Grandma’s Marathon will resume in full-capacity June of 2022. With all three races selling-out for the first time since 2016, the marathon organization, community members, and runners are excited to get back for this years event. In an interview with Zach Schneider, a member of Grandma’s Board of Directors, he stated that, “People…

Superior Middle Schooler in Custody After Threatening Students

According to officials the one who made the treat admitted he did so to scare the student he was showing the list to. 

SUPERIOR, Wis.- A Superior Middle School student is in Police Custody Tuesday after school staff reported a list of other students the 12-year-old said he intended to harm. According to a spokesperson with the Superior Police Department, a Speak Up Speak Out tip was reported to SMS staff in the morning, indicating the student threatened others at the school. The…

2 New Lawsuits Allege Excessive Force, Discrimination By Derek Chauvin

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Two new lawsuits were filed Tuesday against the City of Minneapolis for alleged cases of police brutality committed by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin before he murdered George Floyd. The lawsuits, filed on behalf of Minneapolis residents John Pope and Zoya Code, allege police misconduct, use of excessive force, and racial discrimination from incidents that occurred in 2017 in…

Severe Storms, Tornadoes Rip Through Western Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Thousands of people in Minnesota and South Dakota are without electrical power as the region recovered from storms and tornadoes that left damaged buildings, trees and roadways. The National Weather Service says in a preliminary report there were four tornadoes on Monday in western Minnesota, along with wind gusts and large hail. More than 37,000 people were…

Duluth City Councilor Renee Van Nett Battling Terminal Illness

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth city councilor Renee Van Nett is battling a terminal illness. A GoFundMe has launched to help cover the costs, with a goal of raising $30,000. The fundraising page reads, “Renee Van Nett is currently in the hospital in Duluth, battling a terminal illness. Renee’s courage and bravery have inspired many, and it’s time to have her…

Viking Octantis Cruise Cuts through Fog to Deliver Visitors New to Duluth

7-9 ships will stop in Duluth monthly.

DULUTH, Minn.- Despite the fog making it a little hard to see early Monday morning, passengers on the first cruise ship to sail into Duluth since 2013 made landfall, ready for their daylong excursions throughout the city. The horn of the Viking Octantis was more of a signal of its arrival than anything else, as it moved through Monday’s murky…

Duluth Businesses Excited for Added Steady Cruise Ship Tourism

The Lake Superior Railroad Museum and North Shore Scenic Railroad is the tour attracting the most passengers each month.

DULUTH, Minn.- Passengers who arrived off the Viking Ostantis Cruise for the first time Monday wasted no time hitting up Duluth’s local businesses and attractions. The Lake Superior Railroad Museum and North Shore Scenic Railroad is the tour attracting the most passengers each month — about 185 according to Executive Director Ken Buehler. He said it also helps that railroad…

30 Years Honoring the Fallen at Northland Vietnam Veterans Memorial  

It started with one name in 1992, and grew to 136 fallen soldiers from across the Northland.

DULUTH, Minn.- This year marked a very special Memorial Day for the Northland Vietnam Veteran’s Association (NVVA). On Memorial Day 30 years ago, they dedicated the memorial along the lakewalk. It started with one name in 1992 and grew to include those of 136 fallen soldiers from across the Northland. This year Mark and Tony Rubin performed songs including the…

Grandma’s Marathon Reaches First Sellout Since 2016

This years event will take place June 16-18 beginning in Two Harbors and ending in Canal Park. 

DULUTH, Minn.- In just three weeks Grandma’s Marathon weekend will be underway, and for the first time since 2016 the race is completely sold out. Organizers say there are 20 thousand participants set to run in all three races. This will be the first time since the start of the pandemic the festivities will return to full capacity. This years…

Grandma’s Marathon Weekend Sells Out For First Time Since 2016

DULUTH, Minn. — Grandma’s Marathon organizers said on Monday that all three of its June races have sold out for the first time since 2016. In total, there are more than 20,000 people signed up to participate. The sell-out is a healthy sign that the demand for the races never went away, after Grandma’s Marathon was cancelled because of the…

Proctor Memorial Day

PROCTOR, Minn. – Proctor held its annual Memorial Day observance and program Monday to honor those who have given their lives for country. Sherman Gonyea and James Verville, were two flyers who grew up in Proctor and died when their F-101 plane crashed 50 years ago. 58 other Procter area service members who gave their lives were also honored today…

Duluth’s Memorial Day Parade

DULUTH, Minn.– After the veterans and other organizers behind Duluth’s Memorial Day Parade, and City Council settled a cost dispute earlier this year that almost cancelled the event, the long-running tradition that honors fallen service members returned on Monday. A tradition that dates back to 1871, came back to the streets today. A day to bring the community together to…

Gary New Duluth Community Honor Memorial Day

DULUTH, Minn.– In honor of the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the Gary New Duluth community came together to remember fallen soldiers. At the Veterans Memorial, a ceremony was held for Memorial Day to recognize veterans from the northland. Mayor Emily Larson attended, and she says the holiday is about taking the time to slow down, and…