News

55th Annual Duluth Sport Show Back At DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — The 55th Duluth Sport Show is back at the DECC and people are excited to take a shot at some of their favorite or new outdoor activities. The show unfortunately had to take some time off due to the pandemic, so after two years of silence, duck calls, trout ponds, and crowds filled the DECC once again….

Bong Center Announces New Executive

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Richard I. Bong Veteran’s center is happy to announce that they have a brand new Executive Director. John Gidley has been involved with the center for years, as part of the education branch of the center. He says he is so excited to take on this new role and wants to continue the legacy of Richard…

Truckers Hold Their Ground Despite Threats of Crackdown

(Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP) OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) – Hundreds of truckers clogging the streets of Canada’s capital city in a protest against COVID-19 restrictions aren’t budging and bracing for what could be a possible police crackdown. The nearly three-week faceoff in Ottawa seems to be escalating as busloads of officers arrived Thursday near Parliament Hill. The city’s interim…

CDC: NYC Anime Convention Did Not Spread Omicron Widely

NEW YORK (AP) – Health officials say an anime convention in New York City last year was not a superspreader event. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that widespread masking, vaccinations, and good airflow at the Javits Center prevented the highly contagious omicron variant from spreading widely. Investigators found 119 infections from about 53,000 people who…

Biden: Infrastructure Plan Gives $1B for Great Lakes Cleanup

LORAIN, Ohio (AP) – President Joe Biden says the bipartisan infrastructure law will pump $1 billion into a Great Lakes restoration program. Biden went to Lorain, Ohio, on Thursday to highlight the measure’s benefits for the lakes and the regional economy. Much of that extra money will help finish the cleanup of harbors and rivers polluted with industrial wastes in…

‘Storyliving’: Disney To Develop US Residential Communities, Starting in California

(courtesy: Disney) RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – The Walt Disney Company announced plans this week to develop residential communities across the U.S., including the first in California’s Coachella Valley, that will be geared toward fans and “infused with the company’s special brand of magic.” The first development, called “Cotino, a Storyliving by Disney community,” will be built in Rancho Mirage, Calif….

Midday Update 2-17-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, February 17, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Rusty Mehlberg for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, February 17, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update, News, Rusty Mehlberg, weather

Wild World of Animals to Appear at Duluth Sports Show

The Duluth Sports Show Runs February 17 - 20

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Sports show is back at the DECC on February 17 – 20. This year’s show features everything you need to enjoy the great outdoors, and of course, LIVE entertainment. The Wild World of Animals show is one of the premier grounds act in the entertainment industry. Its unique blend of animal diversity and environmental messages…

Biden: Infrastructure Plan Gives $1 Billion for Great Lakes Cleanup

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – President Joe Biden’s administration says the bipartisan infrastructure law will pump $1 billion into a Great Lakes restoration program. Biden travels to Lorain, Ohio, today to highlight the measure’s benefits for the lakes. Much of that extra money will help finish the cleanup of harbors and rivers polluted with industrial wastes in the last century. Thirty-one…

Morning Update 2-17-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, February 17, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Rusty Mehlberg for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, February 17, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update, News, Rusty Mehlberg, weather

Duluth’s Esmond Building Demolition Begins To Make Way For Affordable Housing, Retail

DULUTH, Minn. – The condemned Esmond Building in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood began to be demolished Wednesday to make way for a new affordable-housing development with retail space, too. In 2014, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority created a three-step plan for the site on West Superior Street that started with maintaining the building to keep current residents satisfied. Then Center…

Duluth Polar Plunge Set for Saturday

DULUTH, Minn. – The 21st annual Duluth Polar Plunge is set to take place Saturday, February 19, at Park Point Recreation Area. Over 500 people are expected to take the plunge into Superior Bay starting at 2 p.m. “Everybody that has raised $75 for Special Olympics is going to have that opportunity to run out, jump into the lake, and come…

Senator Smith Introduces Bill to Increase Rural Broadband Access

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Senator Tina Smith is continuing her push to make high speed internet access available to everyone. She joined three other Senators in introducing a bipartisan bill this month that would focus Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program funds to communities in greatest need to establish broadband services. “The federal government is investing billions of dollars in expanding broadband,”…

Prosecutors Reduce Requested Sentence for Ex-cop Kim Potter

(Minnesota Department of Corrections via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota prosecutors have apparently backed away from their pursuit of a longer-than-usual sentence for the suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she confused her handgun for her Taser when she killed Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black motorist. Kim Potter is scheduled to be sentenced Friday following her December conviction of first-degree…

Midday Update 2-16-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, February 16, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

Local Veterinarian Launches New Service, ‘Ask Vet Christine’

Dr. Christine Wickenheiser is Looking to Help Animal Owners as a Shortage of Workers Hits the Veterinarian Field

DULUTH, Minn. – The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many to adopt animals, but the amount of veterinary staff in the Northland has remained the same. Dr. Christine Wickenheiser has developed a solution to combat the shortage of vets. She recently launched a new service called, ‘Ask Vet Christine.’ Vet Christine has developed an online platform intended to give ongoing professional…

Police Ticketing, Warning Truckers To Leave Canada’s Capital

(Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP) OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) – Police in Canada’s capital are telling protesting truckers who’ve paralyzed the city for more than two weeks that it’s time to leave. Ottawa police began handing out notices and threatening arrests Wednesday near the Parliament building. Authorities are warning truck drivers that they could lose their licenses if they don’t…

Report: Vikings Finalizing Deal With Rams’ OC Kevin O’Connell To Be Next Head Coach

MINNEAPOLIS (Fox 9) – The Super Bowl is over, the 2021 NFL season is done, and it appears that the Minnesota Vikings have their next head coach in place. The Vikings have not made anything official as of Tuesday morning, but according to an ESPN report, the team plans to introduce Kevin O’Connell as the next head coach on Thursday….

Morning Update 2-16-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, February 16, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

UW System to End Mask Mandate by Spring Break

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – University of Wisconsin System officials say they plan to end their campus mask mandates by spring break. UW System President Tommy Thompson announced Wednesday that widespread vaccinations and waning case numbers on system campuses and across the state justify the move. Thompson says vaccines and tests will still be available on campus and students and employees…

Grant Money Aimed to School Bus Stop-arm Violators

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Schools and bus companies across Minnesota have been given $3.5 million in grant money to outfit school buses with stop-arm cameras. The Minnesota Legislature has awarded grants to 32 schools and bus companies to purchase and install the cameras, as well as buy supporting software programs. According to the state Department of Transportation, Minnesota was…

Duluth Man Arrested After 3 Armed Robberies In Two Days

Police are investigating if the suspect in Tuesday's two armed robberies also committed Monday's armed robbery.

DULUTH, Minn. –  Duluth police arrested a 25-year-old Duluth man Tuesday after two armed robberies near each other – one at Walgreens on East Superior Street and the other at the nearby Jimmy John’s in the Plaza Shopping Center. The arrest also comes just one day after an armed robbery at the CVS on East Superior Street. Duluth police believe…

Lake Superior College Hosts Spring Student Success Day to Support Students

DULUTH, MN – Lake Superior College held their spring Student Success Day today, which is held every semester to help the students succeed not just academically, but also personally. Businesses and organizations from the community come to the event to provide LSC students with information about services and opportunities that would be of interest to them. “We have a lot…

Evers Calls On Legislature To Approve $150 Taxpayer Refund

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers used his election year State of the State address on Tuesday to call on the Republican-controlled Legislature to approve his plan to send $150 to every taxpayer in Wisconsin, saying inaction by lawmakers now while people are suffering is “baloney.” Republicans reiterated after the speech that the plan is dead on arrival and the special session Evers…

Duluth Fire Officials to Anglers: Be Prepared, Think Twice Before Fishing on Lake Superior Ice

If the ice is at least 4 inches thick, and the wind isn't coming out of the West-Northwest, proceed with caution and the right gear.

DULUTH, Minn.- As winter continues Lake Superior is getting more frozen. But emergency officials and experts encourage people to think twice before venturing out on that ice. “That ice is always shifting in there too so you definitely have to watch what’s going on,” said Marques Hoglund, who works at Marine General. And the ice was on the move off…

8th Congressional District Now Includes All Native Reservations North Of Twin Cities

The 8th District shifted further west, now it including all of Minnesota's Native American reservations north of the Twin Cities.

DULUTH, Minn.-. Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District now encompasses more of the Northern part of the state after the map was re-drawn. The 8th District shifted further west, now it including all of Minnesota’s Native American reservations north of the Twin Cities. They’re now included with Iron Range mining and Duluth’s urban economies, among others, according to Dr. Cynthia Rugeley, Associate…

Plans for U-Haul at West Duluth Kmart Site Rejected

DULUTH, Minn. – The future of the former Kmart in West Duluth remains up in the air. The Duluth Planning Commission unanimously voted down plans in early February that would have transformed it into a U-Haul mini-storage site, citing it did not meet the retail development standards for Spirit Valley. “Generally in this type of neighborhood location it would be atypical…

Landline Continues Growth During Pandemic

DULUTH, Minn. – The addition of Sun Country to Duluth International Airport in late 2021 has helped one business offering services to people looking to get to and from the Twin Cities. Landline says they have been partners with the airline just a few months after they started in 2019.  Despite the pandemic, they continued to offer rides and have been…

Minnesota Agency Stops Work on Mine Near Boundary Waters

MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota regulators have told the company behind the stalled copper-nickel mine project near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that it’s stopping work on the state’s environmental review. The Department of Natural Resources says it will “redirect staff resources to other high priority projects.” The agency has concerns about the location for the large amount of semi-dry processing…

Minnesota Courts Release New Political District Maps

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A Minnesota panel of five judges released newly drawn congressional and legislative district maps on Tuesday. Minnesota’s 2nd District in Congress, represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, got smaller and less rural due to increases in suburban population growth over the last decade in the northern part of the district. Despite the shifts in…

Minnesota State Fair’s Kickoff to Summer Returns

(FOX 9) – The Five-day State Fair preview is coming back in 2022. The Kickoff to Summer will be hosted at the Minnesota Fairgrounds from May 26-30 featuring State Fair food, beer, music, and the Giant Slide! This year’s event will require a reservation and attendance will be limited to 15,000. To buy a ticket guests will need to enter…

Duluth Sport Show Returns to the DECC this Weekend

DULUTH, MN – The annual Duluth Sport Show returns to Duluth this weekend down at the DECC.  This year the show organizers are bringing in new vendors and products along with a lot of new features that will require some planning ahead to experience them all. While the Sport Show includes plenty of family activities such face painting, a trout…

Officer in George Floyd’s Killing Testifies About Training

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A former Minneapolis police officer on trial for allegedly violating George Floyd’s civil rights has testified about academy training that included handcuffing drills in which knees were used to restrain people. Tou Thao said Tuesday that using knees was not unusual during training. He’s charged along with J.  Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, who also…