News

DTA Driver Charged In Death Of Pedestrian At Miller Hill Mall

Charge: Criminal Vehicular Homicide - Operate Motor Vehicle in Grossly Negligent Manner

DULUTH, Minn. – The DTA bus driver who hit and killed a man at the Miller Hill Mall in Sept. 10 is now charged with criminal vehicular homicide. According to the criminal complaint, Crystal Veronica Ball, 36, of Duluth was “grossly negligent” and “distracted” when she ran over David Weston, 64, just before 10 a.m. while going 6 mph during…

Superior Fire Department’s Toys for Tots Program Underway

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior Fire Department’s Toys for Tots campaign is in full swing. People can drop off new, unwrapped toys at their headquarters and over a dozen business locations through December 13th.  A complete list, as well as online wish lists for toys can be found here. “We will service whoever gets signed up,” says firefighter John Lundberg, a…

Lincoln Park Flats Now Leasing Apartment Units

DULUTH, Minn. — A new Duluth apartment complex called Lincoln Park Flats is scheduled to open this summer. “People have been excited about it. It’s not too often that we do have brand new housing coming into areas that are coming into areas that are so developed and in such as need,” P&R Companies Operations Manager, Megan Holsclaw says. With…

Wisconsin COVID Patients Packing Hospitals, No Omicron Yet

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Patients with COVID-19, most of them unvaccinated, are packing Wisconsin hospitals at levels not seen for a year, a worrying development even before the new omicron variant has been detected in the state. Amid concerns about the new and little-understood omicron variant, Wisconsin health officials on Thursday urged people to get vaccinated and take other steps…

New Record Raised During Guest Server Event

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A new record amount was raised when some of Superior and Douglas County’s top public safety officials were guest servers at The Kitchen Thursday. Police Chief Nicholas Alexander, Fire Chief Scott Gordon, Sheriff Thomas Dalbec, and District Attorney Mark Fruehauf spent the lunch rush taking orders, handing out prime rib meals, and refilling drinks as part of…

Duluth School District Proposes to Extend Upcoming Winter Break

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth School District says they are proposing to extend the upcoming Winter Break by two days to help with student and staff COVID safety as well as address staffing shortages. “With general staffing shortages, many unfilled positions, and a shortage of temporary help, every position in the district has been impacted. We need to ensure that…

Midday Update 12-2-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, December 2, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, December 2, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

Ski, Snowboard, Then Enjoy a Little Mexican Flare from Riverside Bar & Grill

Cooking Connection: Chicken Street Tacos from Riverside Bar & Grill

DULUTH, Minn. – This week’s Cooking Connection takes Meteorologist Ken Slama to Spirit Mountain, home of the Riverside Bar and Grill. Their family-friendly menu offers a variety of food to help reenergize you before returning to the slopes this winter season. This week we tried their take on street tacos, which are chicken with a hint of curry along with…

Morning Update 12-2-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, December 2, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, December 2, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

Omicron Variant Case Confirmed in Minnesota

UPDATE: NEW YORK (AP) — Just a day after the U.S. announced its first case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus had been detected in California, health officials announced Thursday it was found in a man who attended an anime convention in New York City in late November. The man tested positive after returning home to Minnesota, health officials…

9 of 14 Picked for Jury for Trial in Daunte Wright’s Death

(Court TV via AP, Pool) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Prosecutors and attorneys for the suburban Minneapolis police officer charged in Daunte Wright’s shooting death have seated nine of the 14 jurors needed for her trial, including a woman who said she owns a stun gun. Kim Potter, who is white, is charged with manslaughter in the April 11 shooting of Wright,…

Bluebird Foundation Celebrates Youth in Arts, Local Holiday Album Release

6 regional high school-aged students were awarded $5,000 in grants and scholarships for excelling in dance, music, theater, and new this year, the culinary arts.

DULUTH, Minn.- Local high schoolers in the performing arts were celebrated while rocking out to the newest local holiday hits at the Greysolon Ballroom in Downtown Duluth. At their Fall Scholarship Ceremony, the Bluebird Foundation premiered their annual “Christmas by the Lake” album, featuring music from 14 local performers. 6 regional high school-aged students were awarded $5,000 in grants and…

First Lutheran Church Holds Swedish Meatball Dinner

It was all about the Lutefisk’s side dishes of meatballs and lefse Wednesday night, held outside the church.

DULUTH, Minn.- It’s been more than a year since lutefisk has made its way to the gullets of the northland for the annual Lutefisk dinner, so First Lutheran Church honored it this year with the next best thing – Swedish meatballs and Lefse. It was all about the Lutefisk’s side dishes of meatballs and lefse Wednesday night, held outside the…

1 Injured In School Bus Crash In Grand Lake Township

Courtesy: St. Louis County Rescue Squad GRAND LAKE TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating a school bus accident near Hermantown. The accident happened around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Highway 53 and Caribou Lake Road in Grand Lake Township. The incident report said the 62-year-old man driving the school bus failed to yield while crossing…

Superior’s Christkindlemarkt Back this Weekend

DULUTH, Minn. — A holiday market will be taking place this weekend in Superior. The Thirsty Pagan will be hosting the 10th annual Christkindlmarkt. It is the first time they will be hosting the event. Attendees can expect several local vendors and events with german flare such as mulled wine and the Minnesota Krampus organization. Founders say, with the heavy…

Small Businesses Encouraging Shopping Local for the Holidays

According to stores in West Duluth, more people are shopping local and going more sustainable by thrifting and repurposing gifts.

DULUTH, Minn.- As the holiday shopping season gets in full swing, small businesses in the area are seeing more customers shop local for their Christmas gifts this year. It’s the busiest time of the year for retail businesses, kicking off with Black Friday and Small Business Saturday last week. “I really believe that people come here to just fine really…

Superior Unveils Plow Tracking Website

SUPERIOR, Wis. – With the Twin Ports waiting to see its first major snowstorm of the season, Superior is ready to show people which streets have been recently plowed and treated. Thanks to a partnership with Verizon Connect, GPS tracking devices have been added to their four sanders to show their current location and direction they are traveling.  It can be…

Area School Districts Facing Staffing Shortages

DULUTH, Minn. — As we approach the end of the 2021 school year area districts like Duluth and Hermantown are concerned about their substitute teacher staffing moving forward. Not only subs but bus drivers, paraprofessionals, custodians people behind the scenes who lift the educations system for the students. It all affects the district’s ability to keep students learning in person,…

Chester Bowl Preparing to Open for Winter Season

DULUTH, Minn. — Chester Bowl will start making snow soon. The ski hill hopes to start making snow this Friday with the goal of opening up by December 18th or earlier depending on the temperature. Chester bowl has also upgraded its upper lift house at the top of the hill and added a new electrical system. Staff are excited to…

Friends of Superior Public Library To Hold Christmas Book Sale

SUPERIOR, Wis – The Friends of the Superior Public Library are holding their annual Merry Little Christmas Book Sale this Friday and Saturday. Craig Scherf, a member of the group’s Executive Committee, says this is one of the main fundraisers during the year.  “This, unlike our fall sale, is items that we have selected throughout the course of the year that are…

Michigan Teen Charged in Oxford High School Shooting

(Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP) OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan teenager has been charged with murder, terrorism, and other charges for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured others at Michigan’s Oxford High School. Charges against 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley were announced Wednesday, a few hours after authorities reported the death of a fourth teen from…

Scandinavian Christmas Village Returns to Knife River Dec. 4, 5

KNIFE RIVER, Minn. – You’ll be in for a great time on Dec. 4 and 5 in the community of Knife River located along Scenic Highway 61. The Knife River Recreational Council is hosting its annual Julebyen festival. It’s modeled after a centuries-old Scandinavian and German tradition celebrated with ethnic foods, crafts, holiday decorations, and music. Funds raised from the…

Us Official: 1st Case of Omicron Variant Identified in US

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) — A person in California became the first in the U.S. to have an identified case of the omicron variant of COVID-19, a U.S. official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. It comes as scientists continue to study the risks posed by the new strain of the virus. The Biden administration moved late last month…

Fourth Student Dies From Michigan High School Shooting

(Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP) OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) – Authorities say a 17-year-old boy has become the fourth student to die from a school shooting in Michigan. The Oakland County sheriff’s office identified the teen Wednesday as Justin Shilling. The shooting occurred Tuesday at Oxford High School in Oakland County. The suspect remains in custody. Seven other people…

Midday Update 12-1-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

Minnesota DOT Brings Back Popular “Name a Snowplow” Contest

(courtesy: Minnesota Department of Transportation) ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation is bringing back its popular “Name a Snowplow” contest. After last year’s success, the MnDOT is inviting the public to help name another eight snowplows – one snowplow for each MnDOT district. MnDOT encourages the public to get creative and submit their most witty, unique, or…

Skyline Parkway Seasonal Closure to Begin Today

DULUTH, Minn. – Portions of Skyline Parkway and Seven Bridges Road will close to motorized traffic beginning today Wednesday, December 1. This is a planned, annual closure for the winter season. These roads will open to motorized traffic again next spring. The portions of roads closing for the winter include: Skyline Parkway from 0.4 miles east of Glenwood Street to…

Abortion Rights at Stake in Divided Supreme Court Arguments

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) WASHINGTON (AP) – Abortion rights are on the line at the Supreme Court in historic arguments over the landmark ruling nearly 50 years ago that declared a nationwide right to end a pregnancy. The justices on Wednesday are weighing whether to uphold a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks and overrule the 1973 Roe v….

Duluth Man Injured in Crash With School Bus

DULUTH, Minn. – Authorities say a 68-year-old Duluth man was injured Tuesday in a car accident with a school bus transporting children on Highway 53. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the driver of the bus and children were not injured in the crash. Reports state the man was driving his van south on Highway 53 approaching Caribou Lake Road…

Morning Update 12-1-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

4 Jurors Seated for Kim Potter Trial, Many More Needed

(AP Photo/Jim Mone) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Prosecutors and defense attorneys for the suburban Minneapolis police officer charged in Daunte Wright’s death are to resume jury selection Wednesday after seating four jurors the first day. Kim Potter sat quietly in a pink sweater Tuesday as attorneys and Judge Regina Chu probed potential jurors for what they knew about the case and…

COVID-19 Hospital Surge Further Taxes Health Care Providers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 has surged above 1,500 in Minnesota, causing further strains on those working to care for them. Monday’s 1,532 coronavirus hospitalizations included 343 people in intensive care. Hospitals are trying to reduce non-COVID-19 admissions by delaying some non-emergency surgeries, officials said. The record 1,864 coronavirus hospitalizations on Nov. 29, 2020, combined…

Duluth Indoor Sports Complex Staying Busy During Winter Months

DULUTH, Minn. — The multi-sport facility on rice lake road hosts different sports from soccer, volleyball, tennis and pickleball. “We kind of adapt to the time of year. Our primary thing is tennis. We do that generally from September through May. Late May-early June,” Duluth Sports Complex Assistant Manager, Nikoli Wiens says. With being shut down most of 2020, complex…

Directors of Local Attractions Plunge into Lake Superior to Show Thanks

DULUTH, Minn. — The CEO the Lake Superior Zoo and the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Aquarium both took a dive into Lake Superior today to celebrate surpassing their fundraising goals for the annual Minnesota ‘Give to the Max’ Campaign. The CEO’s say this plunge helps show their appreciation for the donors who opened their wallets back on November…

Vaccine Clinic for 5-11 Year Old’s Coming To Proctor

PROCTOR, Minn. — Proctor public schools is partnering with St. Luke’s to offer additional opportunities for kids in the 5 to 11 age group to get vaccinated. There will be three separate clinics open to anyone wanting to receive a vaccine at the St. Luke’s event center in Proctor to accommodate those receiving the first and second shot. The staff of…

CSS Reveals Major Fundraising Accomplishment with Annual Lighting Ceremony

DULUTH, Minn. — The College of Saint Scholastica held its 26th annual lighting ceremony Tuesday evening which was followed by the president’s holiday reception, where a major fundraising announcement was made. CSS held their annual advent vespers service, and lighting tradition ceremony Tuesday evening. Crowds showed up to listen to President Barbara McDonald speak along with Christmas carols sung by…

MnDOT Crews Transitioning to Winter Construction Mode

DULUTH, Minn. — “We’re standing in what will be a very active construction zone in the summer. All that, we will need to get the bridge structures in place so we can do what we need to do in the summertime,” Twin Ports Interchange Construction Manager, Pete Marthaler says. The construction on the Twin Ports Interchange is now shifting into…

Unemployment Rate in Area Down, Job Openings Up

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s unemployment rate is at the lowest percentage since 1990, but there are still a whole lot of jobs that need to be filled. The unemployment rate is sitting at about 2.8 percent throughout northeastern Minnesota. There are still 13,000 jobs openings in the area. That’s because during the pandemic some workers decided to take the early…

Giving Tuesday Encourages People to Donate

Duluth, Minn. – Following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, people are encourage to donate to their favorite organizations as part of Giving Tuesday. For the Salvation Army in Duluth, donations help them provide their wide array of services such as their food shelf, weekday hot lunches, housing assistance, disaster support units, and items for their retail store. “Sometimes it’s the people…

Authorities: Student Kills 3, Wounds 6 at Michigan School

UPDATE: OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say eight people were wounded in an attack at a Michigan high school in which three students were killed. Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said at a news conference that two of the wounded were undergoing surgery as of 5 p.m. Tuesday and that the six others were in stable condition. He identified…

Attorney: Potter To Testify at Trial in Daunte Wright Death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – An attorney for the suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright says the former officer will testify at her trial. Attorney Paul Engh said Tuesday that Kim Potter will speak directly to jurors about the April 11 traffic stop that ended with Potter killing the 20-year-old Black motorist. Potter has said she meant to…

Christmas by the Lake Fundraising Gala Returns Wednesday, Dec. 1

DULUTH, Minn. – Tis the season for your favorite holiday tunes! The Bluebird Foundation invites the public to their fundraising gala Wednesday, Dec. 1 at Greysolon Ballroom in downtown Duluth. The event serves as the release for this year’s Christmas by the Lake album. Local musicians collaborate to share roughly 14 tracks on the CD. All of the funds raised…

Biden Puts Focus On Infrastructure Amid New Virus Concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden will visit a Minnesota community college Tuesday to highlight how his $1 trillion infrastructure law will create jobs and help train workers. The trip occurs at a crucial pivot point for Biden. He is facing the threat of the new omicron strain of the coronavirus and dealing with high levels of inflation even as…