News

Midday Update 1-28-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Friday, January 28, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, January 28, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

Rent Help in Minnesota: Applications Close Friday Night

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. (FOX 9) – The mission of Golden Valley-based nonprofit PRISM is to provide social services and connections that empower people. One of the ways that mission is manifested is through their housing program. They’ve been helping people apply for Rent Help MN, the state’s COVID-19 rental assistance program, for more than a year. Each week, they receive…

Morning Update 1-28-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Friday, January 28, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, January 28, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

City Officials Asking Lakeside, Woodland Residents to Reduce Thermostats Immediately

DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth is asking residents and businesses in the Lakeside and Woodland neighborhoods to reduce their thermostats to 62 degrees starting immediately. Making this change will help the City reduce the overall load on the system and avoid the possibility of a neighborhood-by-neighborhood shutdown of gas. Residents and businesses are asked to make this change…

Developing: Fire in Downtown Duluth Leads to Road Closures

As of 6 a.m., Crews Remain On Scene Battling Flames and Smoke

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 126 East 4th Street around 2 a.m. Friday. Initially, crews were laying lines to the basement of the building and setting up for aerial operations, however, just a short time later, the fire had spread to the second floor of the building, and crews were pulled from inside….

Duluth Plow Drivers: Garbage Cans Left On Streets Won’t Survive

DULUTH, Minn. – If you’ve got your garbage cans all over the street right now, the city of Duluth’s snow plow drivers are hoping you’ll get those cans out of the way so they don’t blast through them when the next snow falls. The city says it’s actually illegal to place your garbage cans and recycle bins in the right…

Duluth Fire Dept. To Drivers: Stop Running Over Hoses At Fire Scenes

  DULUTH, Minn. – A house fire in Duluth is forcing firefighters to issue another plea to drivers to stop running over their hoses when fighting fires. It happened again Thursday morning during am electrical fire on the 700 block of West 4th Street in Duluth. Everybody got out safely. Nobody was injured. But fire officials say several vehicles ran…

Local Law Enforcement Officers Awarded For ‘Hat Trick’ Of 3 DUI Arrests in Each’s Single Shift

The Duluth Police Department had 278 DUI arrests in 2021, up from 2020, but down overall from 314 in 2018.

DULUTH, Minn.- Many have heard about hat tricks in the game of hockey when a player scores 3 goals in one game. But 3 local law enforcement officials scored a hat trick of their own while also protecting their communities. Duluth Police Officer Todd Simmons, St. Louis County Deputy Sheriff Matt Sobczak, and Minnesota State Patrol Officer Jacob Christopherson were…

City Of Duluth Monitoring ‘Large Gas Main Break’ Affecting City Hall

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth was working on a large gas main break Thursday evening after a contractor in the Lincoln Park neighborhood “drove through a piling,” according to Kate Van Daele, the city’s public information officer. The break happened around noon Thursday. “The City of Duluth took immediate steps to shut off gas in the area, impacting…

Duluth Fire Department Hires Highest Number of Recruits in Decades

Normally recruits would spend two weeks training at Lake Superior College. this group will do that in spring if COVID-19 positivity rates go down.

DULUTH, Minn.- After a mass exodus of 12 retiring firefighters at the end of 2021, the Duluth Fire Department is finishing bringing on its largest new recruit class in decades. 12 new recruits finished onboarding this week. Normally after being hired they would spend two weeks training at Lake Superior College. this group will do that in spring if COVID-19…

U of M Proposing New Academic Health Center Building in Duluth Medical District

The University is asking the state legislature for $12 million to start designing the standalone building close to both Essentia and St. Luke's Hospitals.

DULUTH, Minn.- A new University of Minnesota academic health center could be a part of the skyline of Duluth’s medical district, with legislative approval being the green light for design work to start this summer. “Duluth has always provided really great healthcare and the challenges that exist now to keep people in their community to be served really that’s one…

Beating the Winter Blues with a Trip to Bayfield County

Bayfield County and the Surrounding Areas Offer a Plethora of Activities for All Ages in the Winter

BAYFIELD, Wis. – If you don’t embrace it, winter in the upper Midwest can be a dreadful time of year. The folks in Bayfield County have an extreme passion for the season and look to share it with others. “It’s pretty much a Hallmark movie,” said Kati Anderson, marketing director for Bayfield Chamber & Visitor Bureau. “We’ve very inclusive. Everybody’s…

Damiano Center Hosts Community Connect Event for the Homeless

DULUTH, MN – Earlier today, the Damiano Center hosted a Community Connect event to provide services to those who are experiencing homelessness and other economic struggles. Those who came in were able to receive a haircut, shots, legal aid, ID cards, and a warm meal. This event is held twice a year with the other typically held in October. “This…

Beargrease Needs More Volunteers In Multiple Regions To Keep Race Safe 

DULUTH, Minn. — The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is just a few days away, but the event that spans over multiple cities in the Northland is still looking for more volunteers. Beargrease averages about 400 volunteers every year who help out in a multitude of ways, but COVID has been taking some of them out with quarantine. Right now,…

Evers Proposes $150 Checks Under Plan To Spend Surplus

(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers unveiled an election-year plan Thursday that would send $150 refund checks to every Wisconsin resident, bolster funding for K-12 schools and help defray child care costs. But don’t go spending those refund checks just yet. Evers’ plan would have to be approved by the Republican-controlled…

Walz Pitches Public Safety Spending Plan To Reduce Crime

(Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has released the public safety portion of his supplemental budget featuring hundreds of millions of dollars for law enforcement agencies and community groups to reduce crime. Funding for the Democratic governor’s health and public safety plan released Wednesday would come from the state’s $7.7 projected budget surplus and…

Midday Update 1-27-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, January 27, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, January 27, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

The University of Minnesota Proposes New Academic Health Care Center in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota is proposing to build a new academic health care center in Duluth. According to a Thursday news release, the University is asking for $12 million as part of its 2022 legislative request to conduct the design phase of the proposed facility. The University’s Medical and Pharmacy schools offer programs on the UMD campus…

Morning Update 1-27-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, January 27, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, January 27, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Confirms Retirement After 18 Seasons

(courtesy: CNN) PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, 39, confirms he is retiring after 18 seasons, 2 Super Bowl titles. Roethlisberger made the announcement on his Twitter page, saying: “The time has come to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats, and continue to be all I can be to my wife and children. I retire from…

US Economy Grew 5.7% In 2021 in Rebound From 2020 Recession

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. economy grew last year at the fastest pace since Ronald Reagan’s presidency, bouncing back with resilience from 2020′s brief but devastating coronavirus recession. The nation’s gross domestic product – its total output of goods and services – expanded 5.7% in 2021. It was the strongest calendar-year growth since a 7.2% surge in 1984 after a…

No Heat: 100+ Residents Evacuated From Apartment Buildings in Virginia

Courtesy: Northland FireWire VIRGINIA, Minn. – More than 100 residents of two apartment buildings in Virginia were evacuated Wednesday because of a boiler problem that supplies heat, according to the Northland FireWire. The Columbia and Rouchleau buildings evacuated around 150 residents. Arrowhead Transit buses were called in to transport people to the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia for…

Fitger’s Bookstore Fundraiser Provides Books With Diversity For Duluth Schools

DULUTH, Minn. – This past holiday season The Bookstore at Fitger’s held a fundraiser and collected $1,500 for new books that are now being donated to the Duluth Community Schools Collaborative. Book sellers made holiday ornaments out of old unusable books and sold them for funds toward the book donation. The collaborative represents what it calls three of Duluth’s most…

City Crews Clear Away Mounds Of Snow Along Hammond Avenue

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior city crews were out on Hammond Avenue Wednesday clearing away snowbanks on the sides of the road to help free up parking spaces and provide better access to vehicles. Mayor Jim Paine told FOX 21 a new policy this winter has crews still clearing snowbanks on Tower Avenue and Highway 2 first.  But now, after those…

Barker’s Island Preparing Frozen Fun for Lake Superior Ice Festival

The family-oriented event in and around Barker's Island is back for its 6th year, Friday and Saturday.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Frozen fun is almost ready as organizers put the finishing touches together for this year’s Lake Superior Ice Festival in Superior. The family-oriented event in and around Barker’s Island is back for its 6th year, Friday and Saturday. Activities on deck include car races on the ice, snowshoeing for kids, and trivia with $500 dollars worth of prizes….

‘Winter In The West’ Returning To Celebrate Winter, West Duluth Community

The Saturday activities throughout the neighborhood will be free for families to enjoy.

DULUTH, Minn.- The West Duluth neighborhood is also celebrating the season as their Winter in the West event returns this Saturday for the 3rd year in a row. The outdoor family fun includes cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking at Memorial Park on Grand Avenue. Parks and Recreation crews with the City of Duluth were at the park Friday…

Superior Police Train To Avoid ‘Causing Harm Or Making Costly Mistakes’

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior Police Department is going through a national training program to develop a deeper culture of intervention to avoid harmful situations or making costly mistakes. The Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement, also known as The ABLE Project, was developed by the Georgetown University Law Center. Superior police join a select group of 200 law enforcement agencies…

Duluth Fire: Lake Superior Ice ‘a gamble’ Especially if Unprepared

Smaller inland lakes are much safer, but firefighters do have tips for anyone hoping to attempt ice fishing on the big lake.

DULUTH, Minn.- More ice is forming off the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, but the Fire Department warns not to get too excited, as the big unpredictable lake can change with the slightest shift in winds. “Lake Superior is definitely more of a gamble so to speak than an inland lake or a smaller lake because of those currents,…

Minnesota Housing Announces Friday Deadline For ‘RentHelpMN’ Assistance

The assistance is for anyone with late rent payments because of COVID-19 related income issues.

DULUTH, Minn.- Two more days remain for renters to apply for state assistance — and prevent being evicted — as Minnesota Housing has announced the deadline for RentHelpMN is Friday at 9 p.m. The assistance is for anyone with late rent payments because of COVID-19 related income issues. It can cover rent for several months and even a month ahead….

Walz Calls for Recreational Marijuana Legalization in Minnesota

(FOX 9) – Governor Tim Walz is calling on lawmakers to pass legislation to legalize marijuana use in Minnesota, as he proposes funds from his budget plan to launch a state authority to oversee a recreational marijuana program. Speaking Wednesday, Governor Walz says his budget would set aside $25 million to create the new “Cannabis Management Office”. The office would…

Fed Plans To Raise Rates as Soon as March To Cool Inflation

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that it plans to begin raising its benchmark interest rate as soon as March, a key step in reversing its pandemic-era low-rate policies that have fueled hiring and growth but also escalated inflation. The Fed’s actions are sure to make a wide range of borrowing — from mortgages and credit cards to…

Twin Metals Mineral Leases Near BWCA Canceled by Dept. Of Interior

DULUTH, Minn. (FOX 9) – The mineral leases for Twin Metals Minnesota in northeast Minnesota have been canceled, the Department of the Interior announced Wednesday. The Department says the leases held by Twin Metals were “improperly renewed” in 2019. “The Department of the Interior takes seriously our obligations to steward public lands and waters on behalf of all Americans. We…

21 People Charged in Multi-State Drug Trafficking Investigation

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Police say 21 people have been charged following a multi-state drug trafficking investigation that uncovered the transportation of fentanyl and heroin from Chicago to Duluth. Authorities say the criminal activity was uncovered by members of the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force who started conducting their investigation in June 2021. “I am very proud…

Midday Update 1-26-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

Morning Update 1-26-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

Great Outdoors: Strap on Snowshoes, Hike through History at Minnesota Discovery Center

The 3-mile trail is event specific, with snowshoes available to rent for $5.

CHISHOLM, Minn.- For those looking to beat the winter by embracing it outside, they can strap on their snowshoes and hit the trails at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. “Northern Minnesota I mean we got to live through this snow we might as well enjoy it,” said Mara Brownlee, Sales & Events Specialist. Staff hope to get more people…

Cathedral School 5th Graders Collecting Donations for Kentucky Tornado Relief

SUPERIOR, WI – After last month’s tornados that ripped through Kentucky, fifth grade students at Cathedral School in Superior wanted to know how they could help out those who were affected.  With the help of their teacher, they were able to get a contact in Gilbertsville, Kentucky and start assembling items such as clothes and hygiene products. After the items…

Reading with Mr. Rhino: Nearly Five Years of Weekly Storytelling

Jeff Reinemann, AKA, Mr. Rhino, Reports to Read with Students at Lakewood Elementary Tuesdays & Thursdays

DULUTH, Minn. – We’re just days away from the official kick-off of “I Love to Read Month,” but that’s not stopping elementary students at Duluth’s Lakewood School from getting a jump start on their lessons. A frequent special guest is keeping the love of learning going all year long. “Setting that foundation and skills for reading early on is a…