News

CHUM’s Executive Director Is Retiring At The End Of The Year

Lee Stuart has served in the position since 2013.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Executive Director of CHUM in Duluth has announced she will be retiring at the end of the year. Lee Stuart has served in the position for about seven years. Many believe her leadership has proven to be instrumental in bringing awareness to Duluth’s homeless community. Stuart says she has accomplished many of the goals she and…

Coronavirus Concerns Could Potentially Impact Blood Donations

Around the nation people are canceling their appointments to give blood in fear of being exposed to the virus.

DULUTH, Minn. – The number of Coronavirus cases in the U.S. is continuing to rise including two in Minnesota. now there are concerns that the spreading of the virus could potentially create an urgent need for blood donations. Staff at Memorial Blood Centers in Duluth say they have noticed people are canceling their appointments to give blood in fear of…

Duluth School District to Hold Emergency Alert Drill

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth public school district is partnering with the Duluth Police Department to conduct their first-ever district-wide alert drill to test how well they can work under pressure during an emergency. The test will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning. The district will use all of its emergency and communication tools at their disposal for a coordinated…

Fond du Lac Reservation Reeling after Mother and Son were Victims of Homicide

The Fond du Lac Reservation is reeling after a mother and son were the victims of a homicide there over the weekend as a suspect is taken into custody. 

CLOQUET, Minn. – “We’re a really close knit community so if something happens to one of us, we all feel it in a really powerful way and even if you know, we have our little gripes with each other, we support each other, we build each other up, we help each other as a community,” said Cortnee DeFoe, older sister…

$21 Million in Coronavirus Money Passed by Minnesota Senate

ST. PAUL, Minn.-The Minnesota Senate voted 64-0 to approve $21 million to reinforce the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. The House is poised to follow suit quickly so that the bill reaches Gov. Tim Walz’s desk this week. The Democratic governor says he’s pleased at how lawmakers are working in a “totally nonpartisan manner.” He spoke to reporters shortly…

Skier and Snowmobiler Found Dead in Cook County Over Weekend

COOK COUNTY, Minn.-Two people died in separate skiing and snowmobiling events over the weekend in Cook County. On Sunday morning Cook County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatch received a report of a snowmobile accident on the North Shore State Trail in the area south of the Temperance River Road in Schroeder. Initial observations of the victim included noticing that the helmet…

Midday Update 3-9-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, March 9, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Chief Meteorologist Anthony Peoples for a local look at news and weather making headlines Monday, March 9, 2020. Categories: Community, Coronavirus, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, health, Local News, midday update

Police: Boy Injured After being Thrown From Balcony in St. Paul

The Boy is Being Treated for Numerous Broken Bones

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Police say an 11-year-old boy is hospitalized after being thrown from a balcony in St. Paul Minnesota Monday morning. St. Paul Police Department spokesperson Steve Linders said officers were called to an apartment building at 787 Hampden Avenue around 8:40 a.m. When they arrived, they found an 11-year-old boy lying on the ground. The…

Thousands Prepare to Get Off Ship Hit by Virus in California

More Than 2,400 Passengers Will be Quarantined for 14 Days

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Federal and state officials in California are preparing to receive thousands of people from a cruise ship that has been idling off the coast of San Francisco with at least 21 people aboard infected with the coronavirus. Fox 9 reported Sunday that 42 Minnesotans are among the passengers on the Grand Princess Cruise ship. Personnel covered…

Armed Man Fatally Shot by Deputy in Cass County, Second Man Found Dead in Home

BACKUS, Minn. – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy shot and killed an armed adult male while responding to reports of an intruder at a residence in Backus Sunday evening. According to the sheriff’s office, they received initial reports of an intruder at a residence and a shot fired around 1:38 p.m. Sunday. When deputies arrived on the…

Ready, Set, Run Like a Leprechaun This Saturday in Hermantown

Grandma's Marathon is Hosting the Annual Saint Fennessy 4k Saturday, March 14, 2020

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Runners are gearing up for the 7th annual Saint Fennessy 4k Fun Run happening Saturday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m. There will be changes to the race this year that organizers say will significantly enhance the experience for participants. The race begins at Hermantown High School and travels along Arrowhead Road, but this year the new course…

Dow Drops 1,500 Points as Oil Price Plunge Shocks Markets

NEW YORK (AP) – The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 1,500 points, or 6%, following similar drops in Europe after a fight among major crude-producing countries jolted investors already on edge about the widening fallout from the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Indexes in London and Frankfurt dropped more than 8%. The benchmark for Italy, where the industrial and financial…

Spring Eat Downtown Week Serves Up Delicious Deals

15 Restaurants Are Offering $10 Lunch Specials and $25 Dinner Specials

DULUTH, Minn. – March 9 – 14 is a special week for Northlanders looking to try out local restaurants in downtown Duluth. Spring Eat Downtown Week offers the opportunity to enjoy special multi–course meals from fifteen local restaurants. Lunch specials are all $10, and dinner specials are $25. Event organizers say it’s a special chance to taste some new menu…

Morning Update 3-9-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, March 9, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Chief Meteorologist Anthony Peoples for a local look at news and weather making headlines Monday, March 9, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, Headlines, Local News, morning update, weather

Suspect in Cloquet Double Homicide Found, Arrested in ‘Wooded Area’

33-year-old Sheldon Thompson was arrested in Perch Lake Township in Carlton County.

CLOQUET, Minn.- Authorities have arrested 33-year-old Sheldon Thompson of Cloquet, in connection to the deaths of a mother and her young son on the Fond Du Lac Reservation in Cloquet. At 8:43 pm Sunday, Thompson was arrested in a wooded area off Mission Road in Perch Lake Township in Carlton County on the Reservation, police said. He was taken into…

Aerial Lift Bridge Set to Be Repaired, Upgraded

Crews will repair the sidewalk and upgrade the lights.

DULUTH, Minn.- A heads up to drivers who use the Lift Bridge. Repairs begin on Monday, which include an upgrade. Crews will be repairing the bridge’s sidewalk on each side. Pedestrians won’t be able to use the bridge at times, and traffic will be down to one lane during the day. As for the upgrades, the city is installing new…

Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation Reopens after Five Months Closed

Center officially opens March 21st.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation in Duluth is opening later this month, and on Sunday they invited the public to an open house to see the facilities before animals start arriving. Wildwoods was closed for 5 months to renew its permit with the Minnesota DNR. Once open, it will continue to house and rehabilitate certain animals at their facility,…

Hermantown Welcomes Home Class A Runner-Up Hawks

The players took pictures with fans and signed autographs and spoke about how proud they are of what they accomplished.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – The Hermantown boys hockey team accomplished one of their goals of making it back to the state tournament, and while the Hawks came up just short of winning the Class A Championship, there was still plenty of reasons to celebrate in Hermantown. The Hawks returned home to fans and community members cheering at a celebration at the…

VFW, Behavioral Health Clinic Destroyed by Fire in Grand Rapids

Crews were not able to get into Lakeview Behavioral Health that caught fire upon arriving at the scene, but they were able to enter the VFW and save important items.

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — A Saturday night fire has destroyed two buildings and damaged a third in downtown Grand Rapids on NW 3rd street. The Grand Rapids VFW and the Lakeview Behavioral Health were left in ruins from the blaze. No one was hurt in the fire except for one firefighter who was treated and released. The fire department arrived…

Mother, Child Found Dead In Cloquet; Suspect Considered ‘Armed and Dangerous’

Officers found the victims dead after a welfare check at a home on the 1600 block of Locke Lane

Suspect: Sheldon James Thompson Cloquet, Minn. — Police say a Cloquet man is on the run and believed to be armed and dangerous after officers discovered the deaths of a mother and her child Saturday afternoon. The bodies of the 27-year-old woman and her 18-month-old son were found in a home on the 1600 block of Locke Lane in the…

Free Solar Energy Workshop Held in West Duluth

Families learned about renewable energy at the Family Freedom Center.

DULUTH, Minn.- Families learned more about renewable energy at a free Solar Workshop at the Family Freedom Center The workshop featured informational booths with training and job opportunities in renewable energy. There were also interactive solar-based games for kids. According to organizers, renewable energy is the right way to go in the Northland. “The interesting thing about renewable energy and…

2nd Annual Carlton County Food Fair Attracts Hundreds

The fair had 30 vendors including food preservers, bakers, and farmers.

CLOQUET, Minn. – Hundreds of people learned about local food at the Carlton County Food Fair at Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College. The fair had 30 vendors including food preservers, bakers, and farmers. Those at the fair were able to learn how local food is made and preserved through the winter months. There were even things like wild…

Spirit Mountain Busy During Warm Weather

Some skiers say it is easier to try new tricks in the weather because when they fall the snow is soft to land on.

DULUTH, Minn. – With the 50-degree temperatures on Saturday people were hitting the slopes taking advantage of the weather. Spirit Mountain was busy with hundreds of people enjoying the warm temperatures, most were skiing and snowboarding in just sweatshirts and pullovers. There were lots of people using the terrain parks enjoying the jumps. Some skiers say it is easier to…

Wild State Cider Hosts Adult Spelling Bee

DULUTH, Minn.– Tonight, people got a chance to do something many haven’t done since high school. At the adult spelling bee at Wild State Cider contestants wrote out words on paper. The top 20 spellers got to advance to the next round. Later rounds had people standing up and spelling the words out loud. The top speller got a generous…

Rookie Basketball Association Celebrates 32nd Season

This season, 511 kids, 98 volunteer coaches, and 52 teams made up the association in its biggest year yet.

DULUTH, Minn. – Young basketball players and their families gathered at Denfeld High School to celebrate the 32nd season of the Salvation Army’s Rookie Basketball Association. This season, 511 kids, 98 volunteer coaches, and 52 teams made up the association in its biggest year yet. Last year, the Duluth Amateur Youth Basketball Association merged with the Rookie Basketball Association. They…

Coronavirus Impacting Local Fishing Gear Inventories

Marine General usually receives four truckloads of kayaks a year and this year they will only be getting two.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Coronavirus is having far-reaching effects on businesses including the local fishing industry. Marine General in Duluth’s owner, Russ Francisco, tells Fox 21 that because of disruptions in the supply chains in Channa caused by COVID-19 the store will see fewer shipments of their usual summer products. Marine General usually receives four truckloads of kayaks a year…

Couponing Class Shows How to Shop Smart

DULUTH, Minn,– Everybody wants to try and save on their grocery bill. A class in Duluth gives them an opportunity to do just that. Kenwood Lutheran Church put on the annual class in honor of national food share month. Those attending learned tips and tricks on saving money at the grocery store and being able to make their dollar go…

New Hotel Could Come to East Hillside

Hotel would serve students, hospital workers, construction workers.

DULUTH, Minn.- A new short-term stay hotel could be coming to Duluth’s East Hillside Neighborhood. Developer Nick Christensen wants to convert the old commercial building at 808 Second Street into a 6-unit hotel for students, hospital employees, and construction workers to stay in, while they find a place to live nearby. “People will come form out of area to do…

Cougars Come to Lake Superior Zoo

Brothers and Sister Cougar Duo Raised by Zookeepers Get New Habitat

DULUTH, Minn.- The Lake Superior Zoo will open their first ever cougar exhibit Saturday. Two cougars, a brother named Tacoma and sister named Olympia who were orphaned last year and raised by Zookeepers will occupy the new habitat, right next to the upcoming Bear Country Exhibit. “These guys actually haven’t seen a whole lot of people come through, they’ve been…

Coronavirus Information Phone Line and Webpage Offered by St. Louis County

Public Health Nurses will be on hand to answer questions.

DULUTH, Minn.- Amid Coronavirus concerns spreading across the country, St. Louis County opened up an information phone line and a website for people to call or visit to get their Coronavirus concerns addressed. Public Health nurses will be at the ready Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm, to answer questions people may have about COVID-19, the disease caused by the new Coronavirus….

It’s National Oreo Day!

Two women compete in the Minute to Win It Oreo challenge.

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s National Oreo Day! In honor of the special occasion, we put two lucky ladies to the test to find out who loves the delicious treat the most. With one minute on the clock, both were tasked with getting America’s favorite cookie from their forehead and into their month. But the catch is, they could only use…

West Duluth Neighborhood Road Is Being Used As An Illegal Trash Dump Site

"This has been going on for a long time. This is nothing new," said Duluth City Councilor Derek Medved.

The few pieces of trash that currently sit on 108th Avenue in West Duluth is nothing compared to what is usually dumped. Now that the city is looking to taking action, residents are hoping the change will come. “This has been going on for a long time. This is nothing new,” said Duluth City Councilor Derek Medved. “I’ve lived here…

Midday Update 3-6-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Friday, March 6, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Brittney Merlot for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, March 6, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, brittney merlot, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update

SilverSneakers: Active Older Adults Slide into Exercise at the Superior YMCA

ACTIVE ADVENTURES: Superior Family YMCA Hosts 65+ Workout Classes

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — In this weeks Active Adventures Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot heads to a YMCA class with the SilverSneakers! This a group of 65+ year olds working out together to keep their bodies healthy. They focus on stretching, warm ups, exercises, a yoga cool down and more! Increasing flexibility and helping with balance to prevent falls, the class builds…

St. Louis County Launches COVID-19 Webpage, Information Phone Line

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County announced on Friday that it has launched an information phone line and web page to help people access up-to-date information about COVID-19. “We want people to be informed so they can make educated decisions about how best to prepare and protect themselves and those around them,” said Amy Westbrook, St. Louis County Public Health…

Portion of Shamrock Shake Sales to Benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities

From March 6 - 17, 25 Cents From Each Shamrock Shake Sale will Benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities in Upper Midwest

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s a type of March madness with a minty twist all for a good cause. The shamrock shakes are back at local McDonald’s restaurants, and now you can help those in need by simply purchasing one. From March 6 – 17, more than 230 participating restaurants in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and Ironwood, Michigan will donate 25 cents…

Morning Update 3-6-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Friday, March 6, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Brittney Merlot for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, March 6, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, brittney merlot, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update

Hundreds of Kids Attend Dr. Seuss Celebration at UWS

Kids and their families were even given a free Dr. Seuss book to help foster a love of reading.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Beloved author Dr. Seuss’s birthday falls in March and Thursday, UWS students and Twin Ports families celebrated the author with fun games geared towards getting the community involved at the Jim Dan Hill Library. Some activities included an obstacle course, a cat in the hat, and ring toss, all Dr. Seuss themed. Kids and their families were…

Fire Destroys Multiple Garage Units

A fire ripped through two garage units at the Highland Village Apartments just off Central Entrance.

DULUTH, Minn. – Just after 8 last night, a fire ripped through two garage units at the Highland Village Apartments just off Central Entrance. At this hour, authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, which caused 90 thousand dollars in damages. There were no injuries reporting in all of this, as the apartments are detached from the garage. Categories:…

Maple School District Sees Success With Sensory Grant

MAPLE, Wisc. – “No matter what happens during the day, we will love them no matter what,” Elementary School Counselor, Kara Hietala says. It’s a process newly integrated into the maple school district. “Getting really at the root of what is going on really in their own lives and helping them be able to problem solve and get through that,”…

Juried Art Exhibit Held at UWS

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Students at UWS today got a chance to put their art on display for everyone to see. The annual Juried Art Exhibit at the Kruk Gallery showcased over 30 pieces of artwork from 30 different students. Students of every major were able to submit their art. UWS alumni Natalie Rude, who is a currently an artist in Duluth…