News

Gov. Evers Announces $100 Million in Funding for Healthcare Services

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced $100 million in state funding will go to emergency medical services, community based services, and long-term care providers across the state. The money will come out of the $2 billion in federal funding Wisconsin got from the federal CARES Act. The program will happen in two parts. The first will support immediate…

CSS Moves Graduate Teaching Program Completely Online

More than 100 students typically enroll in the graduate teaching program every year.

DULUTH, Minn. – The College of St. Scholastica is moving its teaching graduate program online permanently beginning in the fall. The program is for people who already hold degrees in other areas of education and are looking to become a teacher. Graduate students will participate in weekly virutal sessions. The program was in the process of moving completely online before…

Travel Impacted by Coronavirus

The airline and hospitality industries have suffered major blows as travel has dropped over the past few months.

DULUTH, Minn. – The airline and hospitality industries have suffered major blows as travel has dropped over the past few months. A travel agent in Duluth tells us that if you do get on a plane as this pandemic goes on, you should prepare for a different experience than you’re used to. Most airlines are now requiring fliers to wear…

Gyms Not Reopening Per Governor’s Orders

Governor Walz has not given a set date for when gyms and fitness studios can re-open, which is frustrating for some business owners in the industry.

DULUTH, Minn. – Governor Walz has not given a set date for when gyms and fitness studios can re-open, which is frustrating for some business owners in the industry. CrossFit Duluth in Hermantown is one gym that won’t be able to open up during this time. “Down the road, once we get going, things are going to be great,” said…

St. Louis County Fairs Canceled

More summer plans for families are crumbling as the St. Louis County fairs have been canceled this year.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY – More summer plans for families are crumbling as the St. Louis County fairs have been canceled this year. Representatives from the fairs in Chisholm and Proctor said concerns over COVID-19 led to the cancellations. It would have been the 100th anniversary of the fair in Proctor, and the 136th anniversary in Chisholm. “It’s very disappointing cause…

Salons Reopening To Clients After Governor Gives The OK

Since closing in March, The London Rayne salon owner has had to reschedule more than 50 appointments.

DULUTH, Minn. – Salons in Minnesota have been given the green light to reopen to the public, but they must follow a few safety protocols. The executive order requires hairstylists, barbers, and their clients to wear masks. And all services are by appointment only. But some salons in Duluth are taking a few extra precautions. London Rayne Salon is using…

Minneapolis to require face masks in all public indoor places

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed an emergency regulation Thursday requiring all people in Minneapolis to wear cloth face masks or coverings while indoors starting Tuesday. The Mayor made the announcement at 3 p.m. Thursday along with Minneapolis Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant and Community Planning and Economic Development Director David Frank and Interim City Attorney Erik Nilsson. The face…

Essentia Announces Plans to Layoff 900

DULUTH, Minn.-Essentia Health has announced they are planning to layoff about 900 employees, with more than 50 percent coming from Twin Ports hospitals. Leadership from Essentia say the layoffs are happening due to operational losses from the coronavirus pandemic. “At Essentia, our operational losses due to pandemic-related declines in patient volumes since the beginning of March have totaled nearly $100…

Costco Issues a Request for Bids for Duluth Project Months After Canceling Purchase Agreement

DULUTH, Minn. – According to recent reports, requests for bids on the previously halted Costco project in Duluth have been posted on the Builders Exchange website. The Minnesota Builders Exchange General Manager Don O’Connor says bids for the project are needed by May 28. Construction on the site would begin May 1, 2021, and would be completed by November 1,…

Remember Food Safety as Summer Barbeques Begin

St. Luke's Clinical Dietitian Dr. Brenda Schwerdt Reminds of Food Safety, Healthy Eating During Summer Months

DULUTH, Minn. – As Memorial Day weekend approaches, dietitians at St. Luke’s want to remind everyone to practice food safety precautions. Experts recommend limiting your consumption of meats and mixing in a large number of fruits and vegetables during your backyard barbeques. St. Luke’s Clinical Dietitian Dr. Brenda Schwerdt suggests grilling peaches and pineapple as well as vegetables like peppers,…

Midday Update 5-21-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, May 21, 2020

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

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Thursday, May 21

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 18,200 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Thursday morning and 32 new deaths bringing the death total to 809 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 173,556 tests have been completed to date. There are 12,488 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 2,380 patients have required hospitalization…

Multiple Residents Displaced After Apartment Fire in Eveleth

The Fire Broke Out Around 6:45 Wednesday Evening

EVELETH, Minn. – More than a dozen fire departments on the Iron Range responded to an apartment fire at the Countryside Apartment complex in Eveleth Wednesday evening around 6:45 p.m. According to Friends of the Northland FireWire, all residents were safely evacuated. Officials believe more than 20 people have been displaced from their home as a result of the fire….

Some Minnesota Churches Plan to Resume Worship, Defying Governor’s Order

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Catholic Conference and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod say they plan to hold services next week despite a ban on in-person worship of more than 10 people. The two denominations sent Gov. Tim Walz separate letters this week to tell him they plan to open their doors to worship Tuesday, May 26. Some politicians and business…

Morning Update 5-21-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Thursday, May 21, 2020

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

South St. Louis County Fair Canceled for 2020

DULUTH, Minn. – The 100th Annual South St. Louis County Fair has been canceled. Event organizers announced the decision to cancel the 2020 county fair on their Facebook page Wednesday. “With safety being the primary requirements to operate a successful fair, social distancing requirements, sterilization, and other safety precautions being recommended and/or enforced by federal and state governments to combat…

Duluth Bar, Restaurant Owners Surprised, Disappointed at Walz’s Outside Seating Restrictions

Different issues arise with just outside seating.

DULUTH, Minn.- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz loosened restrictions on business beginning June 1st. Bars and restaurants can open on that date with outdoor only seating, serving no more than 50 customers at a time and with employees wearing masks. “That extends to how do we find that new normal, restart Minnesota’s economy and I should say grow it from where…

Mayor Larson, Councilors To Take Pay Cuts Amid Budget Crisis

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and city councilors are taking a 10 percent voluntary pay cut through the end of the year. Larson makes roughly $97,000 a year.  Councilors make close to $14,000. While the savings won’t be significant to the overall budget shortfall of a projected $38 million on the high end this year, Council President Gary…

Minnesota’s Catholic, some Lutheran churches to reopen this month in defiance of Walz restrictions

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota’s Catholic church and some Lutheran churches will allow services to resume later this month, choosing to defy Gov. Tim Walz’s latest regulations on public gatherings. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will allow churches to resume Mass on May 26. The Minnesota North and South Districts of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod set…

City Of Cloquet to Give $300,000 to Local Businesses

CLOQUET, Minn.– With state and federal assistance programs already in place, the City of Cloquet is also stepping in to help local businesses during the pandemic. Small businesses in Cloquet can now draw from a pool of $300,000 to help stay afloat. Those places can get up to $20,000 in relief from the fund. Businesses need to be under 30…

Families Enjoy Summer-like Temps at Solon Springs Beach

Many families came from Superior to enjoy 80 degree temperatures at Lucius Woods County Park

SOLON SPRINGS, Wis. – Solon Springs hit 81 degrees Wednesday. Those summer-like conditions brought a lot of families 30 miles south from Superior, where it stayed 20 degrees cooler. “We’re just chasing the warm weather,” said beach-goer Nikole Honness. It looked and felt more like mid-July than mid-May on the beach at Lucius Woods County Park. “It was 57 when…

Douglas County Campgrounds to Open Friday

Campsites at Lucius Woods, Gordon Dam, and Mooney Dam County Parks will open for Memorial Day weekend

SOLON SPRINGS, Wis. – Douglas County public campgrounds are gearing up to open Friday, May 22. Parks and recreation staff tell us they expect a full weekend at the county’s three public campgrounds. Those are located at Lucius Woods County Park in Solon Springs, and at Gordon Dam and Mooney Dam County Parks in Gordon. Staff have been working hard…

Drive-by Retirement Party for Proctor High School Teacher

A retiring teacher was celebrated today at Proctor High School.

PROCTOR, Minn. – A retiring teacher was celebrated today at Proctor High School. Sheila Held joined the staff at Proctor High in 1986 and she’s retiring this year. Students and faculty drove by in cars today to send her off and even though it wasn’t a traditional retirement party, teachers say it was a way to show their appreciation. “We’ve…

A New Documentary Tells The Stories of Lake Superior Surfers

The film is expected to premiere in November.

DULUTH, Minn – A new documentary highlighting surfers in Lake Superior is now being filmed up the North Shore. The documentary titled Freshwater follows surfers hitting the waves in the freezing waters of Lake Superior. The idea of the documentary came about after the director and his family witnessed the enjoyment these brave people got out of surfing on lake…

St. Louis County Partners With Area Fire Stations For A Mask Drive

Masks collected through this drive are being donated for use at living facilities.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. -Face masks are still in high demand as the Coronavirus Pandemic continues across the nation. To help minimize the need, St. Louis County is partnering with area fire departments to collect masks. Masks collected through this drive are being donated for use at living facilities such as long-term care housing and senior homes. When Minnesota Governor Tim Walz…

Spirit Mountain Closed For The Summer; City Implements Task Force To Figure Out Future

To reopen for the upcoming winter season, the city is going to have to fork over $350,000 in assistance.

DULUTH, Minn. – Financial impacts of Covid-19 are continuing to hit hard for Spirit Mountain in Duluth. The popular tourist attraction will now remain closed all the way through the end of summer. Spirit Mountain is in bad financial shape as the Covid-19 Pandemic continues to create money problems. Due to the city’s own financial issues, this time around, supporting…

Cloquet Clinic Turns Ice House Into Coronavirus Testing Station

CLOQUET, Minn.– Area hospitals are working to test as many people for Coronavirus as they can. Healthcare providers in Cloquet are channeling their inner Minnesotan to help. “It seems to go well, people seem to be okay with it,” said Dr. Charles Kendall, Physician and Incident Commander for Community Memorial Hospital and Raiter Clinic in Cloquet. Testing was first done…

DTA Looking to Increase Services

"When we go back to our higher level service we will be at 83 percent or about 48 buses."

DULUTH, Minn. – “We made significant changes to our operations and the way we do business,” Duluth Transit Authority General Manager, Phil Pumphrey says. Since March, the Duluth Transit Authority has reduced services to just 24 buses running at only 43 percent of what is normal. “When we go back to our higher level service we will be at 83…

Gov. Walz Announces Phases for Slowly Reopening Restaurants, Bars, Salons

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Wednesday the next phases in his Stay Safe MN plan, which includes allowing limited restaurant dining and operation of bars beginning June 1. According to Gov. Walz, starting June 1 restaurants and bars can operate only outdoors with no more than 50 patrons at a time, maintaining social distancing, and…

LIVE: Gov. Walz Provides Updates on Minnesota’s Response to COVID-19

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota bars and restaurants will learn Wednesday afternoon when they might be able to reopen for sit-down service under restrictions meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Many eating establishments across Minnesota have been trying to stay alive with takeout and delivery service since Gov. Tim Walz ordered them to close in mid-March, putting tens of…

67th Annual Heart of the North Spooner Rodeo Postponed

SPOONER, Wis. – The 67th Annual Heart of the North Spooner Rodeo is postponed until July 2021. Spooner Rodeo officials made the announcement on their Facebook page Wednesday that the rodeo will now take place on July 8-10, 2021. “This decision was not taken lightly as it has a huge impact on our community, businesses, rodeo personnel, contestants, fans, and…

$25 Million in Wisconsin COVID-19 Rent Assistance Made Available

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin residents who lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic can get help paying their rent under a new $25 million program Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday. Funding for the rental assistance program comes from the federal coronavirus relief bill. Money available under the program can be used to help pay for rent and security deposits….

Spirit Mountain Will Not Reopen Until Fall

DULUTH, Minn. – Spirit Mountain announced Wednesday that they will be postponing their reopening until fall due to their current financial situation. Spirit Mountain officials say the only way to open back up this winter is if the cash-strapped city of Duluth hands over $350,000 before winter revenue at the Mountain starts rolling in again. This information comes from a…

Midday Update 5-20-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, May 20, 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, May 20

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 17,670 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Wednesday morning and 29 new deaths bringing the death total to 777 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 167,338 tests have been completed to date. There are 12,227 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 2,308 patients have required hospitalization…

2020 All Pints North Festival Canceled

The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Board of Directors Released the Details Wednesday Morning

DULUTH, Minn. – Wednesday morning the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild (MNCBG) Board of Directors announced the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 All Pints North Festival scheduled for August 1, 2020, at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. The decision comes amid many other summer cancellations due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “The health and safety of craft beer fans, brewery…

Experience Shearing Day at Frosty Ridge Alpaca Farm

Frosty Ridge Alpacas Will Soon Be Open to the Public for Free Farm Tours

DULUTH, Minn. – Can you imagine shearing more than 50 alpaca all in a matter of six hours? It happened Tuesday morning at Frosty Ridge Alpaca Farm located along Maple Grove Road in Duluth. “Believe it or not we sell more socks in the winter than the summer,” said Loni Blumerich, owner of Frosty Ridge Alpaca Farm. The process only…

Morning Update 5-20-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update, William Seay

Duluth Airshow Canceled Due to COVID-19 Concerns

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Airshow scheduled for July 2020 has been canceled. The announcement was made Wednesday morning citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the cancelation. Duluth Airshow President Ryan Kern said, “The Duluth Airshow routinely draws upwards of 50,000 spectators over the weekend from across the Midwest.  The Airshow places a high priority on the safety…

Eveleth Bar Owner: ‘June 1st is Really the End of the Wire’

Owners of bars, restaurants, and other businesses met in Eveleth to discuss opening strategies, and share frustrations with the state's handling of things.

EVELETH, Minn.- Businesses across Minnesota are anxiously awaiting the Governor’s announcement Wednesday authorizing them to open June 1st, including up on the range in the small town of Eveleth that has a population of 3,596. “Walz opening up on the first at a capacity of 25%? That’s. Not. Enough,” said one business owner. Bar and restaurant owners in Eveleth said…

Spirit Mountain Could Stay Closed Through Summer; More Cash Needed To Reopen In Winter

DULUTH, Minn. – The financially strapped Spirit Mountain could very well remain closed through the summer because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  And Spirit Mountain officials say the only way to open back up this winter is if the cash-strapped city of Duluth hands over $350,000 before winter revenue at the Mountain starts rolling in again. This information…

Minnesota Campgrounds Frustrated Not Being Open for Memorial Day Weekend

Campgrounds in Minnesota were hoping to open for Memorial Day weekend, but they will not be able to open until at least June 1 under the new "Stay Safe" mandate.

DULUTH, Minn. – In the new “Stay Safe” mandate from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, private and public campgrounds in the state will remain closed to recreational campers until at least June 1. For now, only remote camping or long-term camping is allowed. With Memorial Day weekend just a few days away, many campground workers are frustrated that they are still…