News

Split Rock Lighthouse Opening July 15

Visitors are asked to pre-purchase tickets for a certain time slot so the site can control how many people are there at one time.

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – Split Rock Lighthouse is less than a week away from opening back up to the public. The experience will be different than usual to keep everyone safe. Visitors are asked to pre-purchase tickets for a certain time slot so the site can control how many people are there at one time. There will also be a…

Superior Businesses Dial Back Reopening Amid Rise in Cases

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Over the last couple weeks, cases of COVID-19 have been increasing in the Twin Ports. With a new total of 48 cases in Douglas County, Superior businesses are doing what they can to keep their customers and employees safe. So far at least nine businesses in Superior have voluntarily closed temporarily after the establishments came into contact with…

William A. Irvin Museum Reopening Friday

DULUTH, Minn.– For the first time since 2017, the S.S. William A. Irvin will be letting visitors back on the ship. The museum will open their doors back to the public starting this Friday. Guests will be required to wear masks and gloves as they tour the 83-year old ship. Guides will lead smaller tour groups while maintaining social distancing….

Minnesota Nurses Association Shoots Down St. Luke’s Proposed Delay to Wage Increase

Nurses wanted St. Luke's to honor MNA contract should the hospital be sold

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) tells us they recently shot down a proposal from St. Luke’s that would have postponed scheduled pay increases for nurses. This comes less than a year after nurses voted to strike during the last round of negotiations with the hospital before the current contract was agreed upon. Healthcare providers across the country…

Hills Youth And Family Services Is In Need Of Masks

The group is hoping for a donation of 100 masks.

DULUTH, Minn. – Hills Youth and Family Services in Duluth is looking for the community’s help. The organization is still in need of masks to give to the children they serve. Hills Youth is hoping to receive a donation of at least 100 of the protective wear. Each one will go to protect children and their families visiting the Neighborhood…

Sen. Simonson Previews Upcoming Special Legislative Session

Bonding bill among proposals state lawmakers could vote on

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota lawmakers will return for another special legislative session starting on Monday, June 13. Sen. Erik Simonson (DFL-Duluth) tells us one likely focus of the session will be on a state bonding bill. The proposed bill includes millions of dollars in funding for Duluth seawall reconstruction, renovations at the Duluth Depot, and many other projects across the…

Itasca County Healthcare Providers Encourage Wearing Face Masks in Public

Itasca County has 68 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths

ITASCA COUNTY, Minn. – Healthcare providers are encouraging everybody to wear face masks in public to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. According to Dr. Dan Soular, a primary care physician at Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital in Grand Rapids, masks allow air to flow through them and stop viruses from passing out of a person’s mouth and nose…

Northland School Districts Still Preparing For The Fall

"We are running a lot of different scenarios, but it's really based upon what the state actually tells us what we can do. We don't actually get to decide," said Wayne Whitwam, superintendent of Hermantown Schools.

NORTHLAND, Minn. – The uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis is causing school districts across the nation, including in Minnesota, to create appropriate plans for the upcoming school year. School districts in Minnesota have been given three options from the state for possible strategies to implement in the fall, but all come with their own challenges. Both Duluth and Hermantown school…

Drive Thru Job Fair Provides Northlanders Access To Career Opportunities

The event will take place at both WITC-Ashland and Northcentral Technical College in Phillips, from noon to 4 p.m.

WISCONSIN- The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board is taking a new approach to help provide more access to available jobs. Next week, the organization will be hosting a statewide drive-thru job fair. The idea was borrowed from similar events, which have taken place in Lincoln, Nebraska. Job seekers can remain safely in their cars during the career fair. Attendees will…

Bayfield Co. Alerts Area to COVID-19 Exposure From a Bar/Restaurant Customer

BAYFIELD CO., Wis. — The Bayfield County Health Department says a individual who recently visited the Port Wing area is now hospitalized in another part of the state with COVID-19, and may have exposed people within the county to the virus. The health department said the person who tested positive for the virus visited the Port Bar & Restaurant in…

Church Raises Money for Trip to Liberia

One local church is raising funds to pay for a mission trip to West Africa.

DULUTH, Minn. – One local church is raising funds to pay for a mission trip to West Africa. The Duluth Gospel Tabernacle on West Superior Street is selling a variety of items during a rummage sale for their trip to Liberia. The items are donations from the church, friends, and word of mouth. Because of COVID-19, this is the first…

UMD Provides Virtual Tour for Alumni

One local college is providing an online means for alumni to connect back with the campus.

DULUTH, Minn. – One local college is providing an online means for alumni to connect back with the campus. UMD is providing a virtual tour of the Bagley Nature Center, specifically targeting alumni. The tour is pre-recorded. Associate Director Tim Bates will be narrating the tour and will highlight the history of Bagley and what is going on right now….

Local Leaders Push for Statewide Mask Mandate

Two days ago, St. Louis County hit its largest single-day increase of COVID-19 cases and now, one county commissioner is requesting the governor's help in protecting Northlanders by pushing for a statewide mask mandate.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY – Two days ago, St. Louis County hit its largest single-day increase of COVID-19 cases, and now, one county commissioner is requesting the governor’s help in protecting Northlanders by pushing for a statewide mask mandate. Cities and counties in both Minnesota and Wisconsin are now setting their own rules about requiring their citizens to wear masks when…

Face Masks Made Mandatory on All UW Campuses This Fall

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Face masks will be mandatory inside all University of Wisconsin campus buildings statewide under a policy adopted unanimously by the Board of Regents. Interim UW President Tommy Thompson said at Thursday’s meeting there was no way to open safely amid the coronavirus pandemic without the mandate. Thompson strongly advocated for the mandatory mask policy at his…

13 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Linked to Ashland Hockey Tournament

ASHLAND COUNTY, Wis. – Ashland County officials say a recent hockey tournament event hosted in Ashland has resulted in thirteen confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the tri-state area. In a recent community letter, officials say more tests are pending, and confirmed cases have been present in both children and adults. Health officials say multiple businesses in the area have temporarily…

Judge Issues Gag Order in Cases Against 4 Former Minneapolis Police Officers

(Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Hennepin County judge presiding over the cases against the four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the killing of George Floyd has issued a gag order after at least two of the attorneys talked to the media Wednesday. The order comes weeks after Judge Peter Cahill warned the attorneys and those connected to…

Midday Update 7-9-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, July 9, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, July 9, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update, William Seay

Multiple Vehicles Catch Fire in Lincoln Park Blaze

DULUTH, Minn.-A fire that happened just after 11 a.m. caused a massive plume of smoke to be seen for miles around the Northland. According to authorities the fire department responded to a report of camper on fire near an alley on 17th Avenue West between West Superior and West First streets. The fire then spread to three small buses, two…

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Thursday, July 9

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 40,163 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Thursday morning and 5 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,490 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 705,440 tests have been completed to date. There are 35,193 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 4,305 patients have required hospitalization…

DPAA: Remains of Superior Soldier From Korean War Identified, to be Buried

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced on Thursday that the remains of Army Cpl. Francis J. Rochon, 21, of Superior who was reported missing in action during the Korean Way, has now been identified and accounted for. In late 1950, Rochon was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He…

Decadent Layer Chocolate Cake Offers Sweet Tooth Satisfaction

Cooking Connection: Sweet Exchange Triple Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling, Chocolate Ganache

DULUTH, Minn. – If you’ve been craving sweets more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone! In this week’s Cooking Connection, Lisa Quarles, pastry chef and owner of Sweet Exchange, teaches FOX 21’s Brett Scott how to make and decorate the company’s triple chocolate cake with raspberry filling, and of course, chocolate ganache to top it off. Sweet…

Supreme Court Rules Manhattan DA Can Obtain Trump Taxes

(AP PHOTO) UPDATE: WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court has issued a mixed verdict on demands for President Donald Trump’s financial records. The decisions will keep his tax returns, banking, and other documents out of the public eye for the time being. The court kept a hold on President Donald Trump’s financial records that Congress has been seeking for more…

Morning Update 7-9-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, July 9, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, July 9, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update, William Seay

Split Rock Lighthouse to Reopen Next Week

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – Split Rock Lighthouse announced Wednesday that they plan to reopen next week. According to the Split Rock website, beginning July 15 all tours of the grounds will be self-guided with staff members available to share information and answer questions. Due to social distancing concerns, the interior of the lighthouse and the Keeper’s House will remain temporarily…

Tornado in Western Minnesota Leaves One Dead, Several Structures Flattened

The Tornado Struck at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Near Dalton, Minnesota

DALTON, Minn. (AP) – Authorities say a powerful tornado damaged farms and left one person dead in western Minnesota as severe storms moved across parts of the Midwest. The National Weather Service says the tornado struck at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday near Dalton. Three farmsteads were hit, and one of those farmhouses was flattened. Otter Tail County says two people were…

As COVID-19 Cases Rise in Douglas County, Superior Mayor Moves Toward Mask Mandate

SUPERIOR, Wis. — There is growing concern over the rise in COVID-19 cases in Douglas County, and Superior Mayor Jim Paine is speaking out about it and making plans on how to help stop the spread of the virus. “We are in a crisis in Douglas County. This is very much an emergency and this virus is spreading through our…

Dance Competition to be First Event at DECC Since Start of Pandemic

While DECC is excited to open back up, the dance community is excited that they might be getting platforms to perform again.

DULUTH, Minn.- For the first time since March, the DECC in Duluth will play host to an event once again this weekend. The event is called the Ovation Dance Challenge, and capacity will be limited at the state guidelines of 250 people, with only family of the dancers allowed inside, and a livestream provided for anyone else who wants to…

Shipping Decline Forces Layoffs For Nearly 100 Workers

Compared to last year the total amount of cargo entering the Duluth -Superior port has dropped by about 30%.

DULUTH, Minn. – Nearly 100 northland shipping workers are out of a job. A big drop in business is forcing Pennsylvania-based Key Lakes, which has a facility in Duluth, to layoff dozens of its employees. Representatives from the company say the pandemic has caused unforeseeable business circumstances and a strong economic decline in the shipping industry. That’s causing the company…

Endion Station Inn Seeing Steady Business

Since it opened the inn has encountered both a pandemic, and now construction resuming on the Lakewalk.

DULUTH, Minn. – Earlier this year, the historic Endion Station in Canal Park transitioned into a new boutique hotel. Since it opened the inn has encountered both a pandemic, and now construction resuming on the Lakewalk. Despite these obstacles, Owner Rod Raymond says his business is doing fine and has some words of wisdom for anyone who has to drastically…

Election Judges Needed for Duluth and for St. Louis County

The pandemic has impacted many things during the past few months, including the election process, and with the Minnesota primary only about a month away, Duluth and St. Louis County are both dealing with a shortage of election judges.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY – The pandemic has impacted many things during the past few months, including the election process, and with the Minnesota primary only about a month away, Duluth and St. Louis County are both dealing with a shortage of election judges mainly because of concerns about potential COVID-19 exposure. Being a good listener and attending training. Those are…

Zeitgeist Cafe Gets Ready to Reopen

One local restaurant is opening up for the first time since the pandemic started.

DULUTH, Minn. – One local restaurant is opening up for the first time since the pandemic started. Zeitgeist Arts Cafe on East Superior Street, which is Duluth’s only nonprofit restaurant, will be opening for indoor and outdoor seating along with curbside pickup beginning Friday. All staff is required to wear masks while patrons are also encouraged to wear them. “We’re…

UMD to Host Virtual Career Fair

One local college is turning to online means to have a new kind of career fair.

DULUTH, Minn. – One local college is turning to online to have a new kind of career fair. UMD will be hosting three virtual fairs during this upcoming fall semester. Like the in-person fairs, there are no limits to how many people or employers can attend the virtual fairs. Some employers for these upcoming events include 3M, Cargill, and Northwestern…

William A. Irvin to Resume Onboard Tours for 2020 Season

DULUTH, Minn. – Officials with the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center announced Wednesday afternoon that the William A. Irvin will resume onboard tours on Friday. Station to station tours will continue every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through September. This marks the first time since 2017 that onboard tours have been conducted after the ship was…

CHUM Holds Annual Backpack Drive

Since 2006, CHUM has provided more than 10,000 backpacks to students in need.

DULUTH, Min. – CHUM is once again partnering with Duluth Public Schools for their annual backpack drive. Since 2006, CHUM has provided more than 10,000 backpacks to students in need. This year the goal is to give away about 1,00 bags filled with school supplies, which will go to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The upcoming academic year could…

One Former Officer Charged in George Floyd Death Seeks Case Dismissal

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An attorney for one of four Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd is asking to have his client’s case dismissed, saying there isn’t probable cause to charge him based on all of the evidence in the case and the law. In court filings made public Wednesday, Thomas Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, painted an…

Midday Update 7-8-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update, William Seay

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Wednesday, July 8

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 39,589 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Wednesday morning and 8 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,485 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 692,970 tests have been completed to date. There are 34,902 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 4,272 patients have required hospitalization…

Enjoy the Outdoors This Summer With New Tech Gadgets

Verizon Wireless Showcases the Newest Tech to Help Enhance Your Outdoor Adventures

DULUTH, Minn. – Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many are turning to Mother Nature as a source of entertainment and relaxation. Bug mystery? Plant ID needed to check on rash first aid? Looking for hidden treasure? Your smartphone can help you do all this and more. If you’re finally headed out to enjoy the 12 weeks of summer sun, Verizon can…

Court: Some Employers can Refuse to Offer Free Birth Control

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has upheld Trump administration rules allowing some employers to refuse to provide free contraceptive coverage on religious grounds. The high court on Wednesday said the Trump administration acted properly when it allowed more employers who cite a religious or moral objection to opt-out of covering birth control. The Obama-era health law said most employers…

Sex Offender to be Released in Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Authorities in Superior say a sex offender will be released Friday, July 17, and plans to reside in the vicinity of the 1600 block of North 16th Street in Superior. According to police, Christopher Stevens, 32, pled no contact in Douglas County to five counts of possession of child pornography in 2018. Stevens is described as a…

Morning Update 7-8-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update, William Seay

Duluth Fire Department Extinguishes House Fire

Due to extensive water damage, the homeowners have been displaced

DULUTH, Minn. – Shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday night, the Duluth Fire Department received a call of flames coming through the roof of a home at 430 Nth 16th Ave E. When crews arrived, they met the homeowners outside of the residence. Damage is estimated at $40,000. Due to extensive water damage, the homeowners have been displaced. Following an investigation,…

University of Minnesota to Help International Students Comply With ICE Directive

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The University of Minnesota is reviewing its fall semester plans to make sure that international students aren’t forced to leave the country under new guidance from federal immigration authorities. The guidelines Monday from the U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement say international students must leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools plan to offer classes…

3 Great Lakes Ships Go Idle Amid Pandemic, Dozens of Jobs Lost in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – Nearly 100 shipping workers have been laid off in Duluth as the pandemic forces three Great Lakes ships to go idle for the rest of the season. According to the Star Tribune, the 94 employees out of a job are from Duluth-based Key Lakes. Some shipboard employees could return to work later this year. A company spokesperson…