News

BWCAW Wildfire Grows To 1,500-Plus Acres

Photo is from Monday when the fire started SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, Minn. – A wildfire continued to burn Tuesday night in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Forestry officials believe a lighting strike ignited the fire Monday evening. The fire has grown from 10 acres Monday to more than 1,500 acres and was located about 16 miles north of Tower….

City of Superior Drops Mask Mandate

SUPERIOR, Wis. —  The Superior City Council voted Tuesday night to immediately lift the city’s mask mandate. Councilor Craig Sutherland said it was a unanimous decision by councilors. This comes as the state of Wisconsin hasn’t had a mask mandate for more than a month, and after the CDC announced last week that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing masks…

Duluth Huskies Pitch Plans for Hosting Fans, Players Ahead of May 31 Season Opener

Changes Are Coming to Wade Stadium to Ensure Safety of the Fans, Players

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Huskies are revealing more about what the future of the summer season will look like amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite safety guidelines in place, officials with the team are simply thrilled to be bringing a grand-slam of a good time back to Wade Stadium after the 2020 season was canceled. “Everybody is like on…

It is Once Again Mosquito Season in the Northland

DULUTH, Minn-With the snow being gone and temperatures on the rise, all the standing water that is left behind means it is once again mosquito season. Mosquitoes typically will come out around the second weekend in May, but with the wet April that we had, they came out a few weeks early this year.  Despite how dry it has been…

Allergies Bring Obstacle for Northland Summer Season

As the summer goes on, ragweed and outdoor molds will become a factor.

DULUTH, Minn. —  Allergy season is upon us and as Northlanders make their way outside there are some things you should be aware of. Experts say, May is usually a tough month for allergies as there is an overlap between tree and grass pollen. As the summer goes on, ragweed and outdoor molds will become a factor. Doctors recommend starting…

Excitement Builds as Lakewalk Project Nears Completetion

DULUTH, Minn-While the Lakewalk remains closed in Canal Park, it is noticeable through the chain link fence that the project is getting close to being completed. In the meantime, tourists and locals continue to be relegated to a gravel path adjacent to the Lakewalk to enjoy the scenery, but excitement is building for when the Lakewalk finally reopens. I am…

Electric Fetus to Permanently Close Duluth Location

(courtesy: Facebook/ElectricFetusDuluth) DULUTH, Minn. – Electric Fetus says they will be closing their Duluth location permanently after 33 years in business. The business says they made the difficult decision after having been closed since the beginning of the pandemic last March. “It’s been incredible to be a part of the very special Duluth community and music scene, and we have…

Duluth Man on Parole for Murder, Now Charged in Kidnapping, Rape

DULUTH, Minn. – A 62-year-old Duluth man currently out on parole for first-degree murder has been charged for the kidnapping and rape of a woman over the weekend in St. Louis County. Reports state that Dennis John Hannuksela has been charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of kidnapping. According to the criminal complaint, the…

Evers Announces $100 Million to Expand Broadband

(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday that the state will be using $100 million in federal coronavirus stimulus funding to award grants for expanding broadband internet access in Wisconsin. The federal funding is in addition to nearly $200 million in broadband expansion proposals Evers made in his state budget, which…

Midday Update 5-18-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Have a great day! Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

Douglas County: Fully Vaccinated People Can Resume Indoor, Outdoor Activities Without Masks

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. – Douglas County Public Health Officials announced Tuesday morning that fully vaccinated individuals may resume indoor and outdoor activities without wearing a mask or social distancing. Exceptions to the new guidance include any places where masks are required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations including local businesses and workplaces. According to a…

10 Acre Wildfire Started by Lightning Strike in BWCA

  UPDATE:  Forestry officials say the fire has grown to more than 1,600 acres as of Tuesday evening.  The fire is about 16 miles north of Tower, Minn., and moving northward. SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, Minn. – The U.S. Forest Service says a wildfire started by a lightning strike has been detected on the LaCroix Ranger District of the Superior National…

Morning Update 5-18-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Have a great day! Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

One Injured in Cass County Motorcycle Crash

CASS COUNTY, Minn. – A 47-year-old Hill City man was injured Sunday afternoon in a Cass County motorcycle crash. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office says they received a report of a motorcycle crash on County Road #155 in Crooked Lake Township just before 1:00 p.m. When responders arrived on the scene they found a 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle…

WITC To Become Northwood Technical College

The college will also have a mascot named Blaze the Bear.

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, also known as WITC, will soon be called the Northwood Technical College, and Northwood Tech for short. The college took name and mascot submissions from the public last fall, with the board approving it all this past spring. Hundreds of students and staff members voted on their favorites. The new name, logo,…

Lake Superior Zoo Now Accepting Summer Preschool Scholarship Applications

The zoo preschool opened last year and currently has ten families registered.

DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Zoo’s nature-based preschool is now accepting needs-based scholarship applications for their summer programs. The grant, courtesy of the Northland Foundation, gives families a chance for kids to learn about conservation, animals and further develop those skills as they move into kindergarten. Classes are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting June 21 and ending Aug. 27. The…

New Train Car Coming to Duluth Train Depot

DULUTH, Minn-A new train car will be arriving at the Duluth train depot in a couple of weeks. A full length dome car is coming to the North Shore Scenic Railroad that will provide 60 seats with a 360 degree panoramic view, compared to the 24 seats that their current dome car has with the glass bubble.  It is one…

People Taking Advantage of Nice Duluth Day

Enger tower is also a popular spot for the Twin ports express food truck.

DULUTH, Minn. — The weather eclipsed seventy degrees today meaning a lot more people were able to experience all the Northland has to offer. Enger tower was packed this afternoon with people experiencing the views, the zen garden and of course the tallest point in Duluth. Whether it’s your first time there or you’re a Duluth parks veteran, there’s something…

Artists, Makers Awarded Funds to Help Drive Traffic to Cloquet’s West End District

Funding is Going to Help Four Communities in the Northland Including Cloquet, Two Harbors, Cook, and Mahnomem

CLOQUET, Minn. – A partnership between two organizations and four Northland communities is looking to beautify rural areas in the Northland that are often forgotten about. Leadership in the City of Cloquet is eager to get the project going with the hope of bringing revitalization to the city’s West End District. “We have a lot of space and we have…

Ronald McDonald House Northland Receives Pop Tab, Food Donations

Since they opened, the charity has been accepting pop cap donations which all goes towards helping families in need. 

DULUTH, Minn. — The Ronald McDonald House Northland is continuing to see donations pouring in. Since its opening back in mid-February, the northand chapter has been able to host 21 families while staying at the max occupancy due to Covid-19. While partnering with Essentia Health, the Ronald McDonald House provides a place to stay for families traveling as they get…

Local Advocacy Group Calls for Police Reform Inside DPD

DULUTH, Minn.– Police accountability was the subject of a gathering Monday with the Duluth Community Safety Initiative. The group says racial disparities in areas like use of force need to change. They’re calling for a racial bias audit of the Duluth Police Department, the launch of a community led oversight commission, and a budget freeze for the department until part…

‘Armed and Dangerous’ Suspect Wanted in Two Cloquet Shootings

One man was hospitalized after being shot in the leg.

CLOQUET, Minn. – The Cloquet Police Department says it’s searching for a suspect believed to be involved in two separate shootings in Cloquet early Monday morning. According to police, officers responded to a report of shots fired at a home at 227 Scotty Drive just after midnight. Officers responded to the residence and confirmed the shooting. No one was reported…

Supreme Court to Take up Major Abortion Rights Challenge

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to consider a major rollback of abortion rights, saying it will take up Mississippi’s bid to enforce a 15-week ban on the procedure. The court’s order Monday sets up a showdown over abortion, probably in the fall, with a more conservative court ready to consider dramatically altering nearly 50 years of rulings…

UPDATE: Officer Charged in Daunte Wright Death to Stand Trial Dec. 6

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A December trial date has been set for a former suburban Minneapolis police officer charged with second-degree manslaughter in Daunte Wright’s death. Former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter is scheduled to stand trial on Dec. 6, barring any future scheduling conflicts. The date was set during a Monday pretrial hearing, during which Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu…

Wisconsin DOJ Official Alleges Racial, Gender Harassment

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A top administrator at the Wisconsin Department of Justice alleges that Attorney General Josh Kaul’s administration is paying her less and treating her poorly because she’s a Black woman. Division of Law Enforcement Services Administrator Tina Virgil filed a complaint last month with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that she’s the second-lowest paid administrator…

Biden Boosting World Vaccine Sharing Commitment to 80M Doses

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will share an additional 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines with the world in the coming six weeks. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says the doses would come from existing U.S. production of Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine stocks. It isn’t yet clear which countries will receive them. President Joe Biden will…

Midday Update 5-17-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, May 17, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Monday, May 17, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, midday update, News, weather

North Shore Scenic Railroad Prepares for Summer Season Full Steam Ahead

Trains will Begin Taking Trips on Friday, May 21, 2021

DULUTH, Minn. – After a year of unknown, the summer season is looking brighter as restrictions ease across Minnesota. The North Shore Scenic Railroad will begin running routes on Friday, May 21. The volunteer team at the North Shore Scenic Railroad has been working around the clock to get up-to-date with certifications, and making sure the tracks are ready to…

Officer Charged in Death of Daunte Wright to Appear in Court

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A former suburban Minneapolis police officer charged with second-degree manslaughter in Daunte Wright’s death is scheduled to appear in court via videoconference. Former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter has an omnibus hearing, also known as a pretrial hearing, Monday afternoon in Hennepin County. The hearing is to go over evidence and determine if there is probable cause…

Morning Update 5-17-21

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, May 17, 2021

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Ken Slama for a local look at news and weather making headlines Monday, May 17, 2021. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Ken Slama, Local News, morning update, News, weather

Minnesota Legislative Leaders Say They Have a Budget Deal

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The two top leaders of the Minnesota Legislature said they reached an agreement with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz early Monday on broad targets for the state’s next two-year budget but that lawmakers will have to reconvene for a special session in mid-June to finish the work. Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and Democratic House…

UPDATE: Escaped NERCC Inmate Located, Arrested

SAGINAW, Minn. – Authorities say an inmate who escaped from the Northeast Regional Corrections Center in Saginaw on Sunday has been located and arrested. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says 48-year-old James Crabtree, of Hibbing, was located around 10:15 p.m. Sunday in Industrial Township. According to reports, an individual called the Sheriff’s Office to report a ‘suspicious person on…

UMD Students Design Rover To Deliver Payloads Where Troops Find Dangerous

The University’s entry into the Air Force Research Lab Challenge could help our nation's troops.

DULUTH, Minn.- What has four wheels, two propellers, two cameras, and can climb walls? The newest rover designed by UMD students to deploy cameras or sensors in places hostile to a human operator.  “When you think, ‘oh I need to get something high up in the air,’ you think a plane or a helicopter or something like that — you…

Halvor Lines Speedway Races Again in Proctor

PROCTOR, Minn.– For the first time in nearly two years, it’s race day once again over at the speedway in Proctor. Now with COVID restrictions on big events loosening up considerably, it’s an encouraging sign for the racetrack after hitting some speedbumps during the pandemic. The sound of revving of engines filled the air in Proctor, where the Halvor Lines…

Husky Refinery Hiring Additional Staff Amid Rebuild

SUPERIOR, Wis.– As the rebuild continues for the Husky Refinery in Superior after an explosion two years ago, they’re looking to hire additional staff. A spokesperson for the Superior refinery says that they are looking for over a dozen operators to help get the facility get back to 100 percent operations. All positions are entry-level and those with Husky say…

Sheriff’s Office: NERCC Inmate ‘Walked Away’ From Saginaw Facility

Jesse Crabtree SAGINAW, Minn. – The search is on for an inmate who escaped from the Northeast Regional Corrections Center in Saginaw Sunday. He’s Jesse James Crabtree, 48, of Hibbing, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Officials say he “walked away” from the facility around 2:30 p.m. It’s believed Crabtree had contacted someone to pick him up prior…

Soon-To-Retire 148th Fighter Wing Member Killed In I-35 Crash Near Hinckley

Master Sgt. David Greiner was on his way to the Duluth base when the accident happened -- just months away from retirement after 20 years of service.

  DULUTH, Minn. – The 148th Fighter Wing announced Sunday that one of their own was killed in a automobile accident near Hinckley, Minn., Friday afternoon while on his way to the Duluth base for monthly drill. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Master Sgt. David T. Greiner, a Roads and Ground Supervisor assigned to…

Minneapolis Suburb OKs Roadmap For Policing Changes

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (AP) – Elected officials in a Minneapolis suburb where a police officer fatally shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in April have approved a proposal to dramatically change the city’s policing practices. The Brooklyn Center City Council voted 4-1 Saturday for a resolution to create new divisions of unarmed civilian employees to handle non-moving traffic violations…