News

Midday Update 4-20-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, April 20, 2020

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

Minnesota Latest COVID-19 Numbers, April 20

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health released updated COVID-19 numbers Monday morning reporting 2,470 confirmed cases in the state. That is 114 new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday. Minnesota is also reporting 143 total deaths in the state due to new coronavirus. To date, 1,202 in the state no longer require isolation. The MDH website reports that…

Morning Update 4-20-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, April 20, 2020

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

16 Killed in Shooting Rampage, Deadliest in Canadian History

(Tim Krochak/The Canadian Press via AP) TORONTO (AP) — A gunman disguised as a police officer shot people in their homes and set fires in a rampage across the Canadian province of Nova Scotia that killed 16 people, the deadliest such attack in the country’s history. Officials said Sunday the suspected shooter was also dead. A police officer was among…

Local Dancer Gives Others Virtual Platform to Shine

Worldwide Dance Challenge is uniting dancers across the world to connect, collaborate and compete.

DULUTH, Minn.- As more people stay at home across the world due to the Coronavirus, artists like dancers become stifled at home. Professional dancer Jesse Paul Smith noticed this, and started the Worldwide Dance Challenge. “I really believe this is the next phase of dance competitions,” he said. The Superior native saw how quarantine was effecting dancers, who had put…

OMC Smokehouse, Corktown to Open; Merge into ‘OMC Express and Deli’

New business style hopes to bring back 20-25% of the 200 laid off employees.

DULUTH, Minn.- People missing the smoked meat and sandwiches in Lincoln Park are in luck. OMC Express and Deli will open Wednesday, as the result of merging OMC Smokehouse and Corktown Deli and Brews. Both businesses have been closed through the pandemic. According to owner Tom Hanson, the operation should put 20-25% of the 200 employees laid off back to…

Ely’s Summer Tourism Outlook Uncertain Due to COVID-19

Thousands of Americans travel to Ely each year during the summertime and COVID-19 has prompted Governor Tim Walz to discourage travel to prevent the spread of the virus leaving businesses to wonder what's next.

ELY, Minn. – Businesses all over the Northland are feeling the wide-reaching effects from the global pandemic. Ely’s summer tourism season is in serious jeopardy and business owners say they are worried about the future. “The bills still keep coming whether or not we have a season or not,” said Marty Chinander, the owner of Stony Ridge Resort in Ely….

Two New COVID-19 Cases, Ninth Death Reported in St. Louis County

Total number of cases in the county is now 48.

MINNESOTA- Two new Coronavirus cases, and one death were reported in St. Louis County Sunday, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The county now has 48 positive cases and nine deaths total. Statewide 13 new deaths were reported Sunday, bringing the total number to 134, according to MDH. Minnesota now has 2,356 positive cases, with 1,160 individuals released from…

Pandemic Forces Wedding Planners to Adjust as Couples Wait to Tie the Knot

Both planners and couples are navigating new territory of rescheduling the big day.

DULUTH, Minn.- On a warm, sunny April day, many scenic outdoor spots in the Northland are normally packed with a bride, groom, and large crowd, gathered to witness the marriage. But just like other events, weddings now have to be drastically changed due to COVID-19. “This is definitely not something you imagine, you know?” said bride-to-be, Meghan Hagedon. “You plan…

Social Distancing Measures Possibly Driving Down Flu Cases

According to a Minnesota Department of Health epidemiologist, the state is still predicting this year to be a moderately severe flu season, but not as severe as 2017-2018.

DULUTH, Minn. – As COVID-19 cases climb in Minnesota less of a spotlight has been put on the influenza season this year. According to a Minnesota Department of Health epidemiologist, the state is still predicting this year to be a moderately severe flu season, but not as severe as 2017-2018. Influenza, like COVID-19, is a respiratory illness. The Department of…

Duluth Grill to Open on Takeout Basis Staring Next Week

The restaurant will have things like cinnamon rolls and family-style pans of some of their best-sellers.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Grill announced its grand re-opening is happening on April 22nd for takeout orders. After being closed for a month, the restaurant is opening back up with a limited menu. The restaurant will have things like cinnamon rolls and family-style pans of some of their best-sellers. Owner Tom Hanson says they are also bringing back 15 to…

New COVID-19 Death Reported in St. Louis County, New Positive Case in Early 20s

As of Saturday there are 46 confirmed cases in the County.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn.- One new individual has died from COVID-19 in St. Louis County, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, bringing the total number of deaths to eight. The deceased is a woman in her early 80s, and was living in a long-term care facility. Another case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the county Saturday, to be a…

Gov. Walz Calls on Minnesotans to Donate Homemade Masks

State health officials report 143 new COVID-19 cases and 10 new coronavirus deaths statewide

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz is calling on Minnesota residents to make homemade masks for those most at risk of the coronavirus. Walz said Saturday that people should drop off the masks at their local fire departments next Saturday so that they can be delivered to senior living facilities and other group homes for employees and residents to wear….

Sedan Crashes 25 Feet into Ecumen Lakeshore Residences

Duluth Fire Department reports the driver of the car suffered multiple injuries and was transported to the hospital, one resident of Ecumen Lakeshore was transported and released uninjured.

DULUTH, Minn. – A Chevy Impala was driving down 40th Avenue East and jumped the curb into a resident’s apartment on Friday evening at around 8:40, according to Duluth Police and Fire Departments. Duluth Fire Department reports the driver of the car suffered multiple injuries and was transported to the hospital, one resident of Ecumen Lakeshore was transported and released…

Many Shooting Ranges to Open After New Gov. Walz Order

Old Vermillion Trails Sporting Clays and Hunting in Duluth will be opening on the Tuesday after Memorial Day for its summer season.

DULUTH, Minn. – Some outdoor shooting ranges are set to open on Saturday after Governor Walz’s order on Friday. However, one Duluth range is waiting until after Memorial Day to get its season started. Old Vermillion Trails Sporting Clays and Hunting in Duluth had to shut down its winter season in March due to COVID-19. The manager, Burt Schweiger, normally…

More than 60 Vehicles Attend St. Luke’s Parking Lot Prayer

Worshipers were from several local churches praying in a socially distanced way while listening to a special program by Life 97.3 outside of St. Luke's hospital.

DULUTH, Minn. – A St. Luke’s parking lot became a place of worship on Friday for more than one hundred people praying for essential workers. It all started when a local 11th-grade girl, Abigail Hansen, got the idea from a Tik Tok video. She then contacted Life 97.3 and along with her church The Vineyard, it blossomed into more than…

Outdoor Activities in Minnesota Set to Open Back Up

DULUTH, Minn.– A select group of businesses across Minnesota can now re-open and they are all eager to start back up again. “We couldn’t be more excited,” said Darrin Bell, General Manager of the Northland Country Club. Governor Walz announced Friday that the state is loosening restrictions on outdoor activities. Businesses like golf courses are now allowed to open back…

Minnesota DNR Issues Burning Restrictions

CLOQUET, Minn. – With the temperatures warming up, there is an elevated risk of fire danger. Typically in the spring, the DNR sees a warming and drying trend. This year, they are encouraging social distancing by implementing burning restrictions earlier than normal. “We’re no longer issuing burning permits for vegetative material. So that limits the amount of wildfires our emergency…

Stimulus Checks Used to Feed the Needy

The Salvation Army received a sweet donation from a couple of employees.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Salvation Army received a sweet donation from a couple of employees. The workers got their stimulus checks and decided to give a portion of that to help feed those who use their lunch program. They purchased 30 boxes of pizza to feed roughly 100 people who lately have been taking a meal home with them from…

Local Businesses Impacted by Alcohol To-Go Bill

The Minnesota Senate and the House have passed a bill authorizing restaurants to sell wine and beer with takeout orders.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – Good news for some Minnesota restaurants: The Minnesota Senate and the House have passed a bill authorizing restaurants to sell wine and beer with takeout orders. Final approval is still pending from the governor, but that seems almost certain to happen. Many Minnesota restaurant owners had been pushing for this change to open up a…

Juvenile Charged With Homicide in Fatal Ashland County Crash

ASHLAND COUNTY, Wis. – The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office says a 16-year-old male has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide in connection to a fatal crash in Ashland County Wednesday night. The Sheriff’s Department says the juvenile and the victim, Mahzhaquad Ford, had an alleged altercation during an attempted drug transaction. Authorities say during the altercation the Ford ‘became entangled…

Latest Wisconsin COVID-19 Numbers

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is reporting 4,045 positive cases of COVID-19 as of Friday afternoon. According to the Wisconsin DHS website coronavirus deaths in the state have reached 205. State health officials say there have been 42,365 negative test results to date and 1,153 hospitalizations. Douglas County is still reporting 7 positive COVID-19 cases and…

President Trump Tweets: “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump has tweeted his support for a protest by conservatives Friday outside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s official residence in St Paul. The protest is being organized under the theme “Liberate Minnesota” by grassroots Trump supporters who oppose Walz’s stay-at-home order. It’s one of several taking part across the country this week as conservatives push back against economic…

Midday Update 4-17-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Friday, April 17, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, April 17, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update, William Seay

Minnesota Latest COVID-19 Numbers, April 17

That is 159 New Cases Since Thursday

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health released updated COVID-19 numbers Friday morning reporting 2,071 confirmed cases in the state. That is 159 new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday. Minnesota is also reporting 111 total deaths in the state due to new coronavirus. To date, 1,066 in the state no longer require isolation. The MDH website reports that…

Walz Lifts Restrictions for Some Outdoor Recreational Activities

The Order Will Allow Golf courses, Driving Ranges, and a Handful of Other Facilities to Open

ST. PAUL, Minn. – On Friday, Gov. Tim Walz issued an Executive Order lifting restrictions on some outdoor recreational activities while his “Stay At Home” order is still in effect. In a Friday press release, Walz said this order means golf courses and driving ranges, along with a handful of other facilities may open or remain open. The new guidelines…

MNHS: Split Rock Lighthouse, Historic Sites Closed Through June 30

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – The Minnesota Historical Society announced the closure of all historic sites and museums to the public through June 30. The temporary closure will affect 26 historical locations including the Split Rock Lighthouse. The MNHS website says the decision was made ‘to protect the health and safety of guests, staff, volunteers, interns, and the community.’ According to…

Toastmaters Competition Continues Virtually

While some gatherings are closed, others are still happening virtually, including speech competitions.

DULUTH, Minn. – While some gatherings are closed, others are still happening virtually, including speech competitions. Toastmasters is a speech club that has groups throughout the nation and the world. Recently, a speech competition for the region was held virtually, featuring competitors from the Northland and Iron Range. The Technical Director for the competition says its important to have these…

Local Business Raising Funds to Feed the Hungry

One local company is creating merchandise to help out Northland residents.

DULUTH, Minn. – One local company is creating merchandise to help out Northland residents. Locally Laid Egg Company wanted to help with fighting off food insecurity for Northlanders, so they partnered with Duluth Screen Printing to create clothes to sell. Proceeds will be donated to multiple groups such as Duluth Screen Printing, Second Harvest Food Bank and Feeding America. “I’m…

Morning Update 4-17-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Friday, April 14, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, April 17, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update, William Seay

Update: US Steel to Idle Keewatin Taconite During Pandemic Slowdown

U.S. Steel Plans to Indefinitely Idle the Keewatin Taconite Plant

  HIBBING, Minn. (AP) — U.S. Steel plans to indefinitely idle the Keewatin Taconite plant in northern Minnesota because of the drop in demand for iron and steel during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Thursday. Officials said the closure will affect 75 employees “near term,” but a total of 375 employees will be affected over the next month. In a…

Douglas County Humane Society Sees Rise In Adoptions

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – The Douglas County Humane Society has seen a large increase in pet adoptions since the Covid-19 outbreak first began. Right now they are shut down to the public and only taking appointments for adoptions and calls for if someone finds a stray. Staff say, that the public acted fast to help the animals leaving the humane society…

Community Action Offers Virtual Tax Help

DULUTH, Minn.– The federal and state tax deadline has been pushed to July 15. But many people still have a lot of questions when it comes to their taxes this year. Community Action is a place in Duluth that offers tax help to people who need it. Even though they can’t meet in person, community action can still help you…

St. Luke’s and Essentia Health Give Update on Coronavirus

DULUTH, Minn.– Essentia Health and St. Luke’s are talking about the impacts of the Coronavirus in Duluth and what people in the area can prepare for what’s ahead. Both hospitals have been meeting with the governor and Minnesota Department of Health about testing and which healthcare facilities in Minnesota are able to test more people. Testing is now available on…

Duluth NAACP Gives Away Free Masks

DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth NAACP held another mask give-away for people wanting to protect themselves from the Coronavirus. Volunteers were out at Memorial Park in West Duluth to hand out masks to anybody who wanted one. They even gave out free sanitizer and bubbles and coloring books for kids. This comes after the NAACP gave out more than 400 masks…

Eating Better to Boost Immunity, Heart and Lung Health

DULUTH, Minn. — We might be reaching for comfort foods right now, but health experts recommend eating healthy to boost your lung and heart health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. New research published in the Oxford Academic Journals last month found that adding more fresh produce into your diet and reducing red meat, dairy, and sugar intake can dramatically lower…

Ruby’s Pantry Coppertop Distributes Nearly 300 Bundles of Groceries

Ruby's expected well above the usual average of 200 bundles of groceries due to high unemployment rates during the pandemic.

DULUTH, Minn. – Ruby’s Pantry Coppertop distributed nearly 300 shares of food and paper products to community members. Ruby’s expected well above the usual average of 200 bundles of groceries due to high unemployment rates during the pandemic. They did it all from the parking lot instead of how they normally do it in the Coppertop Church basement Cars filled…

Wisconsin Schools, Golf Courses Impacted by Wisconsin’s ‘Safer at Home’ Extension

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. – Families and business across Wisconsin are being impacted by Gov. Tony Evers extending Wisconsin’s Safer at Home Order. Public and private schools will be closed for the rest of the academic year. Dr. Sara Croney, superintendent of the School District of Maple, tells us that’s no surprise to her. She’s happy her district now has a…

First Witness Concerned After Seeing Slight Dip in Child Abuse Being Reported

The National Children's Alliance says 87% of child abuse cases happen within the family.

DULUTH, Minn. – First Witness Child Advocacy Center is doing everything it can to make sure children are safe from abuse during the stay-at-home order. The National Children’s Alliance says 87% of child abuse cases happen within the family. First Witness is doing more services over the phone during the pandemic, but they say they are concerned by a slight…

First Ever Virtual Beer Fest Happening This Weekend

About 20 Minnesota breweries are participating in the event.

DULUTH, Minn. – For all the beer lovers out there, here’s your chance to have an experience of a lifetime right in the comfort of your home. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild is hosting the first-ever virtual beer fest this weekend. About 20 Minnesota breweries, including Bent Paddle, Blacklist Brewing, and Hoops Brewing in Duluth, are participating in the virtual…