News

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…

Midday Update 2-15-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

Morning Update 2-15-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

Knowing Your Neighbors: Soundtronics Aims to Brings Better Sound to All Types of Rides

Owner Dustin Mishler enjoys helping people find their sound, tires, and lighting, whatever they want to trick out their rides.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Every car ride is better with some sound, and a new store in Superior is helping drivers bring some beats to anything that rolls. “It’s more of a want than a need I guess more so stuff that people enjoy more so than a necessity definitely,” said Dustin Mishler. Mishler came back to his Superior roots to set…

Advocates, City Officials Gather Virtually for 7th Annual Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women March

The march was once again virtual this year, organized over zoom by the Native Lives Matter Coalition with speakers, honor songs, and performances from across the northland.

DULUTH, Minn.- Advocates honored the lives lost and raised awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People, with the Twin Ports 7th Annual March. The march was once again virtual this year, organized over zoom by the Native Lives Matter Coalition with speakers, honor songs, and performances from across the northland. Representatives from the Mayor’s Offices of…

Derek Medved Says Farewell, Council to Begin Reviewing 27 Applications Received

At his last council meeting tonight, Medved thanked his fellow councilors and the public for what he called the honor of a lifetime.

DULUTH, Minn.- The City of Duluth closed applications for City Councilor Derek Medved’s Councilor-At-Large seat at 4:30 today and will now start reviewing the almost 30 candidates who applied. So far, 27 candidates have filed for the open seat, including community leaders like Pez Davila, and former City Councilor Noah Hobbs. At his last council meeting tonight, Medved thanked his…

Duluth Public Schools to Develop ‘Action Plan’ Following Recent On-Ice Violence

Both athletic directors, along with others in the district, will develop sportsmanship expectations with a list of specific consequences linked to unsportsmanlike conduct.

DULUTH, Minn. – In a joint statement, Duluth Denfeld athletic director Tom Pearson and Duluth East athletic director Shawn Roed will be working with their coaches to develop an action plan to address sportsmanship within their athletic programs following FOX 21’s story on the incident of a Greyhounds hockey player that led to a Hunters player being diagnosed with a…

Locally Laid Egg Company ‘Scrambling’ For More Egg Cartons

Since the pandemic all paper products -- not just toilet paper -- have been at a premium, including cartons.

WRENSHALL, Minn.- A Northland egg farm has found itself in a bit of a scramble, in desperate need of egg cartons due to the supply chain crisis. Locally Laid Egg Company out of Wrenshall goes through hundreds of cartons a week. But now they’re running out, and not sure how they’re going to fill their orders this week. Since the…

UMD Engineering Students Offering Chocolates Made in an On-Campus Lab this Valentine’s Day

The students were able to model the chocolate-making process starting with cocoa beans they harvested themselves.

DULUTH, MN – Several chemical engineering students at UMD have created a chocolate lab to put some of the concepts they have learned to practical use. The students were able to model the chocolate-making process starting with cocoa beans they harvested themselves. The lab itself comes as a surprise to many who venture through the halls of the engineering building….

Aerial Lift Bridge to Undergo Routine Maintenance this Week

Maintenance is expected to wrap up on Friday.

DULUTH, MN – Construction crews started work on Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge Monday morning which is done every year while the shipping season is closed. Several maintenance tasks are put off until winter that can’t be done while ships are coming and going. With the bridge not going up every 30 minutes, crews are able to perform their routine maintenance…

City Of Duluth Looking To Hire Blight Mitigation Specialist to Address Vacant Buildings

Recently, the Esmond Building which formerly housed the Seaway Hotel caught fire for the second time in two months, suspected to be caused by squatters inside.

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth has seen more than one abandoned building catch fire this winter. Now the city is proposing a new job to reduce how long these buildings sit around as potential hazards. The Blight Mitigation Specialist would work with the Duluth Fire Department, Office of Life Safety, and Duluth Planning and Economic Development. The City plans to hire someone…

Local Flower Shops Busy with Last Minute Valentine’s Day Shoppers

For "Artistic Florals by Leslie" on Tower Avenue, this is the busiest day of the season, with plenty coming in for last-minute flowers.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Even though Valentine’s Day is today some flower shops are still busy helping people get the perfect bouquet for their “boos.” For “Artistic Florals by Leslie” on Tower Avenue, this is the busiest day of the season, with plenty coming in for last-minute flowers. Owner Leslie Hietana said she’s seen supply chain issues impact some of the containers…

27 Candidates Apply for At-Large City Council Vacancy

DULUTH, Minn. – Dozens of applicants have filed for the At-Large City Council vacancy which closes later today. So far, 26 candidates have filed for the open seat. Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. Friday to be considered. Derek Medved, who currently holds the seat, announced last month that he would be stepping down to focus on his growing…

Official: Trudeau To Use Emergency Powers to Quell Protests

(Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) – A government official in Canada says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will invoke emergency powers to quell the protests by demonstrators who have paralyzed Ottawa and blocked border crossings in anger over the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. For the past two weeks, hundreds and sometimes thousands of protesters in trucks and other…

SUV Hits Corner of Lazy Bear Restaurant, No Injuries

(courtesy: Carlton County Sheriff’s Office) BARNUM, Minn. – Authorities say there were no reported injuries Sunday morning after an SUV experienced mechanical issues striking a parked vehicle and the building of the Lazy Bear Restaurant in Barnum. According to the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office, dispatch received a call around 10:46 a.m. on Sunday reporting that a vehicle had struck the…

Midday Update 2-14-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, February 14, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Monday, February 14, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

One Dead in Cass County Mobile Home Fire

CASS COUNTY, Minn. – One person is dead following a Sunday morning fire in Cass County. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, fire crews responded to reports of a mobile home fire around 12:23 a.m. Sunday on US Hwy 2 in rural Bena. When crews arrived at the scene they found a mobile home fully engulfed in flames. After…

Morning Update 2-14-22

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, February 14, 2022

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Monday, February 14, 2022. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

Data: Many COVID-19 Patients in December Were Vaccinated

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials say more than half of state residents who tested positive for COVID-19 in December were vaccinated. The Minnesota Department of Heath breakthrough case data does not indicate if people had received booster shots. Roughly a third of those who were hospitalized for COVID-19 or died during that month also were vaccinated. Health officials…

Man Dies After His Snowmobile Collides With Ambulance While Trying To Cross Road

ST. LOUIS CO., Minn. — A man died on Saturday afternoon after he collided with an ambulance while driving his snowmobile. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, 61-year-old Jeffrey Joe of Thief River Falls was riding on the Arrowhead snowmobile trail when he tried to cross the road to continue onto the Ash River Trail in the area…

Hot and Cold Valentine’s Day Weekend: Couples Take Glass-Blowing Classes, Snowshoe through Glensheen

Glass-Blowing Classes and Snowshoe with Your Sweetie continue on Monday.

DULUTH, Minn.- Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday this year, which might only make room for a dinner date night. But some local lovebirds and sweethearts from out of town stretched the holiday over the weekend maximizing together time getting hot and cold with activities throughout Duluth. Things heated up –literally — at Lake Superior Art Glass’s Hot Shop. They…

Police Arrest Protesters Who Remained At US-Canada Bridge

(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) — Police moved in to clear and arrest the remaining protesters near the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing Sunday, ending a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions that has hurt the economy of both nations even as they held back from a crackdown on a larger protest in the capital, Ottawa. The protest in Ottawa…

Restaurant Association Pres. Pleased Duluth 30-Day-Mask Mandate Ends

DULUTH, Minn. — Mayor Emily Larson imposed the 30-day mask mandate after a tense council meeting about the subject, in January. Now some in the restaurant industry welcome its end, while others say their employees will keep their masks on for some time. Mayor Larson imposed the mandate to take some of the pressure off of overwhelmed healthcare systems, with…

Couples Celebrate Love, Learn about Animals at Lake Superior Zoo’s ‘Best Date Ever’

Adults could sign up for 11 different tours going behind the scenes.

DULUTH, Minn.- Love was in the air this weekend even at Lake Superior Zoo and dozens of couples felt it at the zoo’s best date ever event. Adults could sign up for 11 different tours going behind the scenes of their Bear County exhibit and their Animal Care Center and glimpsing into unique animal experiences like checking out the nocturnal…

Second Saturday Marketplace Showcases Local Female Artists, Crafters

Roughly a dozen vendors were there at the Spirit of the Lake Community School in Duluth and some change at each marketplace.

DULUTH, Minn.- Local female-owned businesses shined as the Nice Girls of the North’s Monthly Marketplace returned. The Second Saturday Marketplace showcases the work of local female artists and crafters. Roughly a dozen vendors were there at the Spirit of the Lake Community School in Duluth and some change at each marketplace. Organizers say while shopping small local businesses is always…

Duluth School District Concludes Investigation Into On-Ice Violence During East-Denfeld Hockey Game

Attacked player Cooper McClure's father Jason says the district has yet to reach out to his son or his family about the incident.

DULUTH, Minn. – Thursday night, FOX 21 revealed shocking footage from late in Wednesday night’s game between the Duluth East and Duluth Denfeld boys hockey teams. It shows Greyhounds defenseman Grady Downs attacking Hunters forward Cooper McClure with repeated blows to the head. Duluth superintendent John Magas sat down exclusively with FOX 21 and he says he was notified of…

Duluth Pack Supports Head of Lakes Fair United Way’s ‘Experience Auction’

A daily experience with be released for bid from 6 a-m – 11 p-m daily.

DULUTH, Minn.- Two local organizations are once again partnering up to give back to the community this year. Duluth Pack is once again supporting Head of the Lakes Fair United Way’s 100-Day Experience Auction. The auction runs for 100 days through May 11th. A daily experience with be released for bid from 6 a-m – 11 p-m daily. Duluth Pack…

‘If the Dress Fits’ Back with Prom Dress Giveaway

They only ask they pay $10 for an appointment, as they have a new “dress garage” location in Carlton they need some help heating.

CARLTON, Minn.- Finding a prom dress can be stressful for many families, not to mention costly. But one local mother-daughter duo is back helping with that. Amy Arntson and her daughter founded “If the Dress Fits” 7 years ago, providing free prom dresses to hundreds of teens across the northland. After taking a break due to the pandemic, they’re back…

Fans Flock to Local Liquor Stores for Super Bowl Sunday Beverages

People have been buying up beers and even higher end spirits, management said.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Super Bowl Sunday is just two days away and local liquor stores are seeing fans come to stock up for their watch parties. Over at Keyport Liquor and Lounge on Belknap Street in Superior, they say even though there’s less excitement than if the Packers or Vikings were playing, people have still been buying up beers and even…

Hoops International Bonspiel Kick-Off

DULUTH, Minn.- As Olympic curlers take the ice in Beijing, local athletes compete in their own Bonspiel here this weekend. Hoops Brewing’s annual Hoops international Bonspiel kicked off Friday at the Duluth Curling Club as curlers hit the ice in a battle to take home the $4,400 dollar cash prize. After Team Shuster took gold in the 2018 Olympics, the…

Bent Paddle hosts ‘Freshwater’ Pre-Party

DULUTH, Minn.- A new documentary focused on Lake Superior and its waters is set to premier next week, but the crew celebrated the film at pre-party on Friday. 515 Productions held a pre-party at Bent Paddle ahead of next week’s premier of Freshwater. Surfers, scientists, and Duluth business owners gathered around to catch a glimpse of the film for the…