News

Doctors Say Flu Shot is Extremely Vital in a COVID-19 World

Doctors with MedExpress Recommend Patients Receive Both the COVID-19 Vaccine, and a Flu Shot this Season

DULUTH, Minn. – Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re also approaching one of the most critical seasons for the health of Americans – flu season. Although COVID-19 safety measures, such as wearing a mask, staying home, social distancing, and handwashing contributed to a decline in 2020-2021 flu incidence, flu viruses are constantly changing and it’s not unusual for new flu viruses…

Agreement on Short-term Debt Ceiling Fix, Averting Crisis

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says an agreement has been reached with Republicans to extend the government’s borrowing authority into December. That temporarily averts a debt crisis. Schumer made the announcement as he opened the Senate on Thursday. He said he hoped the Senate could vote later in the day. Republican leader Mitch McConnell…

Morning Update 10-7-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, October 7, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, October 7, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

Healthcare Workers Terminated for Refusing COVID Vaccine

DULUTH, Minn. — Local hospitals are now losing some of their employees over their vaccine requirements. It’s a small percentage for Essentia Health and St. Luke’s, but both will have to work through some resignations and terminations. Both Essentia and St. Luke’s announced in early August, that they would be requiring the vaccine for all of their employees by October…

Giant Pumpkin Arrives at Lake Superior Zoo

DULUTH, Minn.- Boo at the Zoo is making its return to the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth with an extra-large addition. The pumpkin made its arrival just in time for Boo at the Zoo’s kick-off on October 16th. The Halloween event welcomes people of all ages for trick or treating, food trucks, a pumpkin patch, and more. “Having the giant…

College of St. Scholastica Holds 22nd Annual Community Day

DULUTH, Minn.- College of St. Scholastica students are participating in the school’s 22nd annual Community Day, where students volunteer to help the community. “The mission of the college is to provide opportunities for our students to transform the world,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs. Students were sent all over the Northland to work on various projects. Cleaning up the…

Home Decorating Contest Part of Superior Spooktacular Event

Judging will take place October 21st through the 24th with the winners announced on the 25th. 

SUPERIOR, Wisc. —  Spooky things are going on in Superior all throughout the month. Several homes and businesses throughout the city have signed up for the free event called “haunt your house.” It’s all part of the annual superior spooktacular held every October geared towards getting people more involved in community activities. “We really want people to enter this just…

Vehicle Microchip Shortage Continues in Northland

The trade-in value has gone up for many cars helping absorb some of the rising costs of new vehicles. 

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Car dealerships are still feeling the effects of the pandemic as a shortage of microchips continues. A semi-conductor is a computer chip in the vehicle that helps run its run all the electronics a car has, such as the radio. The shortage throughout 2020 has caused a ripple effect meaning fewer vehicles have been built throughout the…

Los Angeles OKs One of Strictest Us Vaccination Mandates

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Los Angeles leaders have voted to enact one of the nation’s strictest vaccine mandates. The sweeping measure requires the shots for everyone entering bars, restaurants, nail salons, gyms, and even a Lakers game. The City Council on Wednesday voted 11-2 in favor of the ordinance. Supporters say it’s a way of preventing more COVID-19 surges. Critics…

Minnesota Court Denies Chauvin’s Request for Public Defender

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday denied former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin’s request to have a public defender represent him as he appeals his murder conviction and sentence in the death of George Floyd. The state’s high court said Chauvin has not established that he is entitled to a public defender. The justices made that decision…

Student Taken Into Custody Hours After Texas School Shooting

(Arlington Police Department via AP) ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Police in Texas have arrested a student suspected of opening fire during a fight at his Dallas-area high school, leaving four people injured. Police say 18-year-old Timothy George Simpkins fled from Timberview High School in Arlington and drove away in a 2018 silver Dodge Charger after the Wednesday morning shooting. Simpkins…

Semitruck Hauling Leinenkugel’s Beer Crashes on I-94 in Wisconsin

HIXTON, Wis. (FOX 9) – Officials are clearing the scene after a semitruck hauling Leinenkugel’s beer crashed Wednesday morning near Hixton, Wisconsin. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, at about 9:15 a.m., authorities responded to a rollover crash involving a semitruck on I-94 in Jackson County. The right lane was closed for a period of time as officials cleared the…

Parents File Lawsuit Against Rock Ridge School District Over Mask Mandate

VIRGINIA, Minn. – Following last week’s announcement that Rock Ridge schools would be implementing a mask mandate for all students, staff, and visitors a group of parents has responded by filing a lawsuit against the district on Monday. The group of nearly 300 parents is asking in the lawsuit to cease implementation of the district’s “COVID-19 Mitigation Plan” and to…

Midday Update 10-6-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, October 6, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

Target Submits Application for Expansion, Remodel Project in Duluth

  DULUTH, Minn. – The Target Corporation has submitted a development application for an expansion and remodel project for the Duluth Target location. According to the application submitted to the Planning Commission, the Target store will undergo a complete store remodel and an exterior upgrade and expansion of 16,448 square feet on the north side of the building. “The new…

Texas High School on Lockdown Amid Reports of Shooting

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — A Dallas-area school district said Wednesday that law enforcement was responding to reports of an “active shooter situation” at a high school. The Mansfield Independent School District said in a news release that Timberview High School was on lockdown Wednesday morning. The school is in Arlington, which is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. An…

Pet Oxygen Mask Helps Save the Life of 3-Year-Old Ozzy the Pug

The Duluth Fire Department First Started Receiving Pet Oxygen Masks in 2014

DULUTH, Minn. – Pets in distress. It often happens when a fire breaks out, or during traffic emergencies. Now thanks to a partnership between the Duluth Fire Department and Duluth Veterinary Hospital, local first responders are better equipped to handle our four-legged friends. “I treat them like my kids,” said Coralie Anderson, owner of 3-year-old Ozzy the Pug. It’s a…

Morning Update 10-6-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, October 6, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

West Duluth Standoff Suspect Facing 21 Charges in Day-Long Crime Spree in Duluth, Superior

The 21 charges he faces include third-degree burglary, first-degree aggravated robbery, fleeing police, and reckless discharge of a firearm.

DULUTH/SUPERIOR- A wild day Friday in the Northland, as police charged Cody Lee Walker-Nelson, 30 with 21 counts in a day-long crime spree leading to a six-hour standoff. According to court documents, the 30-year-old started the string of crimes Friday morning, allegedly burglarizing a house on the 3800 Block of Karky Road in Superior, and stealing 12 firearms. Later that…

American Red Cross Spreads Fire Safety Awareness

DULUTH, Minn.- It’s Fire Prevention Week, and the American Red Cross is reminding Northlanders about resources they offer to help stop house fires. The Red Cross gives out free smoke detectors and home installations to anybody who needs them in Northern Minnesota. Since 2015, thousands of smoke alarms have been installed in our area by the Red Cross. “We’ve installed…

College Of St. Scholastica Students Take Elementary Kids through World of STEM

Students from the College of St. Scholastica set up tables with different experiments like making ice cream with liquid nitrogen and little sculptures out of instant foam.

DULUTH, Minn.- Students at Myers-Wilkins Elementary School in Duluth got to try out some cool science experiments with the help of some college kids. Dozens of general chemistry students from the College of St. Scholastica set up tables with different experiments like making ice cream with liquid nitrogen and little sculptures out of instant foam. Organizers say it helps young…

Kaleidoscope of Fall Foliage Shows Off at Lutsen Mountains

From Red to Orange, Yellow and Gold, the Colors Continue to Change Along Highway 61

LUTSEN, Minn. – By now, many of the maple leaves have fallen at Lutsen Mountains, making way for the thick birch and aspen forests to glow for a few more weeks. “We spend all summer working on winter projects,” said Jim Vick, director of operations at Lutsen Mountains. Before flakes fly, fall foliage captures a crowd of seismic proportions. “Some…

Glensheen Mansion Pumpkin Hunt is Back

DULUTH, Minn.- The Glensheen Mansion is preparing for the spooky season with a new theme for its daily scavenger hunt. Aside from the historical site’s weekly events, as of October 1, they are officially set up for the daily Great Glensheen Pumpkin Hunt, running through October 31. People can grab a map for the pumpkin hunt when buying their tickets,…

CHUM Receives Large Donation

DULUTH, Minn.- Last week, the CHUM Food Bank was asking for the public’s help in completing its goal to provide 300 Thanksgiving meals, and although they still need donations, they just received a large donation that will make those holiday food boxes a reality. CHUM received a check donation of $18,000, allowing the food bank to buy all of the…

LSC Holds Flu Shot Clinic

Roughly 80-100 students had registered to receive the shot helping to minimize the hospital intake because of the virus.

DULUTH, Minn. — Lake Superior College held their second annual flu shot clinic Tuesday morning. The organization Lead MN is partnered with Hennepin Healthcare to get students the flu vaccine at the college. Roughly 80-100 students had registered to receive the shot helping to minimize the hospital intake because of the virus. “And also help students who are going into…

DECC Expands Covid-19 Test Site Location

As Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the Northland public health officials are seeing a similar trend.

DULUTH, Minn. — As Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the Northland public health officials are seeing a similar trend. “We are about where we were at the beginning of November last year before we had the vaccine and we were going into our peak,” St. Louis County Public Health Division Director, Amy Westbrook says. That’s why Minnesota Governor Tim…

Walz Calls for Vaccine and Testing Requirements for Teachers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz is calling on lawmakers to approve a series of new measures to respond to the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccine and testing requirements for teachers and school staff, and for long-term care workers. The Democratic governor detailed his proposal in a letter to lawmakers that he released after meeting privately with…

Mohamed Noor To Be Resentenced Oct. 21

(Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot a woman who called 911 to report a possible rape behind her home is being resentenced this month after the Minnesota Supreme Court threw out his murder conviction. Mohamed Noor was initially convicted of murder and manslaughter in the 2017 death of Justine…

Judge Refuses To Toss Weapons Charge Against Rittenhouse

(Antioch Police Department via AP) MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A judge has declined to dismiss a weapons charge against an Illinois man accused of shooting three people during a protest against police brutality in Wisconsin last year. Prosecutors charged Kyle Rittenhouse with homicide and other crimes, including being a minor in possession of a firearm, after he killed two men…

Midday Update 10-5-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

Duluth Man Facing 21 Charges Following Friday Standoff With Police

DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth man involved in a 6-hour standoff with police Friday evening after allegedly attempting to rob a bank at gunpoint in Superior, in addition to multiple other crimes, is now facing 21 criminal charges. According to the criminal complaint, Cody Lee Walker-Nelson, 30, began his hours-long crime spree around 7:45 a.m. Friday morning when he’s accused…

Optimism on the Iron Range as New Event & Convention Center Opens

The New Iron Trail Motors Event & Convention Center is a Project 20 Years in the Making

VIRGINIA, Minn. – A massive project 20 years in the making is now a reality, and standing tall in the City of Virginia. Now the City of Virginia Parks and Rec Department is proud to bring people inside the new Iron Trail Motors Event and Convention Center. “This is a game-changing facility for the entire Iron Range,” said Brian Silber,…

Morning Update 10-5-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

J&J Seeks US Clearance for COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses

WASHINGTON (AP) – Johnson & Johnson has asked U.S. regulators to allow booster shots of its COVID-19 vaccine as the U.S. government moves toward shoring up protection in more vaccinated Americans. J&J said Tuesday it filed data with the Food and Drug Administration on giving a booster dose between two to six months after vaccination. The U.S. government last month…

Northland Health Experts Warn of ‘Severe’ Flu Season to Come, On Top of Pandemic

The shadow looming over all this, according to experts, is the stress healthcare systems nationwide are already under.

DULUTH, Minn.- According to Northland health experts, the outlook for this year’s flu season is not good, as they prepare for a one-two punch of the flu and the ongoing COVID-19 surge. “A lot of people are back out doing their normal activities, we’re not in quarantine so those factors will play a role in what could be a severe…

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center Sees Smaller Crowds this Summer after Reopening

Officials there say they saw roughly 20,000 visitors in September and 18,000 in August.

DULUTH, Minn- The Maritime Museum Visitor Center in Canal Park is fresh off a summer where visitors were allowed inside again to get a hands-on look at the region’s shipping history. The museum re-opened in July after being closed since the beginning of the pandemic. Officials there say they saw roughly 20,000 visitors in September and 18,000 in August. Smaller…

All City of Duluth Employee Unions Reject Mayor’s 2022 Healthcare Proposal

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 learned Monday that all six employee unions with the city of Duluth have rejected the administration’s new healthcare proposal for 2022. This comes after a rally outside City Hall late last week where union members said they have a strong health fund and want to keep it that way. The proposed changes to employee health…

Duluth Fire Department Participates in Fire Prevention Week

DULUTH, Minn.- It is fire prevention week, and for the Duluth Fire Department, their work runs all month long in spreading awareness to the public. Throughout October, Duluth Firefighters are visiting 2nd-grade classes at about 15 different schools in Duluth. The first responders are teaching kids about fire safety and how to prevent a fire from happening. “We’ve kind of…

Minnesota Power Cold Weather Rule is Now Active

DULUTH, Minn.- The extended Cold Weather Rule dates are now permanently in place for the colder seasons. Minnesota winters are cold for an extended period, leading people to use their heating systems longer. As of October 1, Minnesota Power is here to help customers who have difficulty paying their energy bills. The energy company will set customers up on a…

UMD Anti-Sexual Assault Protest

DULUTH, Minn.- University of Minnesota Duluth students, staff, and faculty gathered today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Kirby Student Center, recognizing Consent Week with a stand-in protest. The Stand-In Against Sexual Assault involved people lining up in the student center, holding signs in a protest against sexual violence. Today’s protest is one of the many events lined…

B&B Market Under New Ownership

Longtime owners John and Kim Lind are passing the torch to a new husband-and-wife duo.

CLOQUET, Minn. — The popular B&B market in Cloquet is now under new ownership for the first time in more than 30 years. Longtime owners John and Kim Lind are passing the torch to a new husband-and-wife duo. Which includes a B&B Market employee of seven years 24-year-old Jacob Richardson. He’s a Cloquet native who says the new gig is…

Wrenshall Near Completion of Multi-Millon Dollar Project

Due to air quality concerns, the school was able to fund the projects through the state of Minnesota.

WRENSHALL, Minn. — “It was really awesome to see the stands packed with our students on one side, parents on the other cheering on our volleyball team,” Wrenshall Principal, Michelle Blanchard says. Last Thursday, the Wrens played their first volleyball game on the brand new gym floor. “Our students are thrilled. They just can’t believe this is their school. They…