DULUTH, Minn. — A spruce budworm outbreak is damaging trees across Northern Minnesota, raising concerns over increased wildfire risks as a dry spring approaches. In a live interview on Fox 21 Morning News, Sean Klongerbo of Red Beard Cutting & Clearing urged homeowners to clear dead trees and create defensible spaces to prevent a repeat of the 2021 Greenwood Fire….
DULUTH, Minn. — The Hibbing-Chisholm High School boys’ hockey team is heading to the Minnesota state tournament. The milestone is not only a victory for the team, but also a celebration for the entire community — all while honoring the memory and legacy of Hibbing’s own #7, Adam Johnson. These players are sharp, dialed in, and ready to face the…
NEW RICHMOND, Wisc. – Police say a 70-year-old man murdered his wife, before then disposing of her body in a rural area. On Sunday, Mar. 2, New Richmond Police responded to the residence of 70-year-old Gordon Charles Laakso and his wife, 68-year-old Mary Laakso. According to a press release, “The 911 caller indicated that Mary’s husband…made statements that led them…
HIBBING, Minn. – Law enforcement say they found “unused children’s underwear” and “a bouncy house,” when searching the home of a Hibbing man charged with sharing explicit videos of minors on a messaging app. On Friday, 45-year-old Joshua John Eckstrom of Hibbing was charged with nine felony counts for disseminating CSAM over the messaging app ‘Kik.’ The investigation into Eckstrom…
DULUTH, Minn. — Chum is kicking off their annual March Drive. They are hoping to get as much food, money, and other donations as possible this month to support their food shelf. The goal is to raise $80,000 and 40,000 pounds of food. Every donation will go towards meeting the growing need for food assistance in the community. “I think…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Wisconsin State Park System is celebrating 125 years of state parks. State Parks are holding special programs to mark the occasion such as candlelight hikes and other activities to be announced. The first state park, Interstate State Park, down by St. Croix Falls, was first dedicated in 1900. Since then, the state park system has…
DULUTH, Minn.– Minnesota Power is striving to achieve 90% renewable energy by 2035. And to make this happen, they’re unveiling the next chapter of their “EnergyForward” plan. Minnesota Power is currently outlining its 2025 “Integrated Resource Plan” or “IRP” The plan looks 15 years into the future, and it focuses on providing reliable energy while reducing carbon emissions. If approved,…
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police have received several reports in the last two weeks of sharp objects puncturing the tires of Duluth drivers. There have been four reports in total. Two have come from the 1200 block of E 10th St., one from the 40th Ave. E/Superior St. area, and the last from the London Road/Luverne St. area. Duluth police…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — The late-February thaw has left ice unstable on many lakes and rivers in the Northland. Especially with the winter weather this season fluctuating, the quality of ice can weaken and be hard to predict how much weight it can support. Ice that is over 4 inches thick is strong enough to support one person on foot. However,…
TWO HARBORS, Minn. — The Lake County Historical Society was gearing for an 100th year anniversary, but recent events has shifted their focus to emergency repairs. Busted frozen pipes, flooding, and two failed boilers has costed over $100,000 in damages. This happened between two different sites, the 3M Museum and the historic Two Harbor’s Lighthouse. At the end of December…
Grand Lake Township — A detached garage was completely destroyed in a fire on March 3, 2025, in Grand Lake Township, likely caused by a diesel heater. At approximately 8:30 PM, deputies were called to the 5900 block of Old Miller Trunk Hwy for a report of a detached garage fire. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the…
SAWYER COUNTY, Wisc. – As some victims attempt to rebuild, they grapple with the fear of an arsonist still at large. Nearly 100 days since the last fire, the small communities and towns in the southeastern Sawyer County have been left scarred. The six structure fires occurred over a nine-day period in late November and impacted homes, businesses, and even…
DULUTH, Minn.– The importance of prioritizing childcare centers and providers is being highlighted across the country today including in Duluth. Childcare providers, teachers and parents gathered at ‘Young Minds Learning Center’ to highlight the importance of properly funded childcare. A press conference, march, a rally, and multiple center closures happened in Duluth to drive the point home. The advocates are…
HIBBING, Minn. — The Hibbing Police Department is training a new K9. K9 handler Officer Sydney Haugan will be attending a three-month certification training with a one-year-old German Sheppard. Together the new K9 team will be training in criminal apprehension and firearms/ammunition detection. The police department will be having a naming contest for their new K9. They’re asking for any…
GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — After a 14 month delay due to weather and trail conditions, the 40th John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is underway. 18 teams of dogs and mushers are competing along this year’s 264 mile route as fast as they can. Weather conditions have made running the 40th a challenge. It was scheduled to take place last year,…
DULUTH, Minn. — Before the elite dogs took to the trails for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, the little pups got in on the fun as well. The annual Beargrease Cutest Puppy Contest returned to Fitger’s Saturday, bringing together dog lovers of all ages. Spectators voted for any of the 30 young pups who competed in this years…
DULUTH, Minn. — “Hello from Alaska, and thanks for supporting us, everybody from northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and we’re carrying you all with us on this adventure this year,” Iditarod Musher Emily Ford said. Duluth’s own Emily Ford is set to embark on her rookie run of the longest sled dog race in the world. The Iditarod, a 1000-mile race…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament Section Finals aren’t the only major events happening this week. The DECC is also buzzing with excitement as it hosts 108 teams for the kickoff of the FIRST Robotics season. Fox 21 Photojournalist Adam Jagunich captured all the action. Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
DULUTH, Minn. — In this week’s Northland Newsmakers, Fox 21’s Lucretia Free met with High School teacher Alison Wood. Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, Northland Newsmakers
DULUTH, Minn.– As the world continues evolving, so do the methods teachers use in the classrooms. For 12 years now The Lake Superior Summit on Teaching of Writing and English as Second Language has been gathering teachers from 6 different institutions for this collaborative event. The topics covered included teaching and learning with disabilities, communication, and workshops. Every year they…
DULUTH, Minn.– Regional psychologists spent the day networking and collaborating to broaden their resources. The event was held in response to what mental health professionals are calling a “pressing need for improved mental health services” Twin cities based Mental Health Systems partnered with H.P. Psychological Associates from Hermantown to gain insight to services like telehealth. The “Dialectical Behavior Therapy” training…
DULUTH, Minn. – Charges say a man entered a stranger’s home on Park Point with a hammer and pliers. Around 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Duluth Police responded to a residence on Minnesota Ave on Park Point for reports of an intruder with a weapon. When officers arrived, they were able to identify the suspect as 42-year-old Brian Adam Burba of…
DULUTH, Minn. — A 42-year-old Duluth man has been arrested following a burglary on Park Point. On Wed., Feb. 26, Duluth police responded to a report of a burglary on Park Point. The incident happened around 6:15 p.m. The homeowner told police that an unknown male had entered his home and was taking several items. Officers arrived at the scene…
CLOQUET, Minn.– The 25,000 square foot building was once used to house workers who rebuilt the city of Cloquet after the tragic fire of 1918. But present day, after it was condemned in 2022, renovating the hotel is a challenge other groups passed on. With its age, Hotel Solem is bringing a list of hurdles developer C&C Holdings is beginning…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – There are only two contested races in this year’s Superior City Council elections. FOX 21 interviewed District 2 incumbent Jenny Van Sickle, and her challenger Sarah Anderson last week; but this week the focus shifted to the other contested race in District 6. Tylor Elm has held District 6 since 2017 and now faces contention from first-time…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — A top law enforcement official confirmed with FOX 21 Thursday evening that a body was located in the water along the St. Louis River after the UTV they were in fell through the ice. The body was located within the vehicle 14 feet below the surface in Kimballs Bay near Billings Park, according to the official. The…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Superior Police Department has a tool to help combat drug overdoses. For about a year now, the SPD has been carrying overdose prevention kits. These kits contain fentanyl test strips, a dose of Narcan with directions on how to use it and various community resources as well as treatment referral options. They hand these kits…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin – Superior held its annual Spring Career Fair today. Attendees had the opportunity to explore careers, network with potential employers, and get professional headshots. They also welcome students from all of the local colleges as well as alumni and community members. Seventy-five employers were there including many regional health care providers and law…
DULUTH, Minn.–Â Starting March 1st, the Duluth Salvation Army donations will be proportionally matched by the Minnesota Food Share Program. They’re looking to collect the usual shelf stable items. The Duluth Salvation Army is the only location in the state that has a medical food shelf for special diets. During the drive, they’re hoping to get foods that are gluten free,…
DULUTH, Minn. — $56 million is still needed to replace the country’s third-oldest air traffic control tower at the Duluth International Airport. So far, the Duluth Airport Authority has been awarded $16 million from the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport is now requesting $14 million from the state of Minnesota. Airport officials say the state dollars will help leverage additional…
DULUTH, Minn. — Crews have started to improve an area of West Skyline Parkway at Bardon Peak Overlook. The project spans Skyline Parkway from the Magney-Snively Natural Area trailhead parking lot. It will focus on replacing over 30 culverts, doing some restoration work on the retaining wall, installing a historical marker at the overlook, and removing graffiti from the area. “There’s…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Coming up in March, Earth Rider Brewery will be unveiling a new brew that looks to support local domestic violence shelters in the Twin Ports. It’s being called the ‘One in Four’ beer. The new brew is a collaboration between Earther Rider Brewery, Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center, and CASDA. According to the National Domestic Violence…
AURORA, Minn. – Police say a woman’s condition is still unknown after having her finger bitten off in a midday assault, this past Monday. According to charging documents, East Range Police were called to the Iron Gate Apartments in Aurora around 12:30 p.m. on Monday for reports of an assault. Officers said that when they arrived, they found 29-year-old Madusu…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — In the land of 10,000 lakes a good fishing lure is the most important thing for any angler. But for one Grand Rapids man, it’s not about the catch… it’s about the looks of his hand-crafted lures and decoys. “I think it was two years ago. I counted them, and there’s over 600 and I though…
DULUTH, Minn.– A new condo development is in the works along Duluth’s Woodland neighborhood. The development will include two 30-unit buildings, and they will be located along Woodland Avenue adjacent to Hartley Nature Center. Developer Brian Forcier of Titanium Partners is behind the project, and he’s working alongside the City of Duluth to accomplish this. He told FOX 21 the…
TWO HARBORS, Minn. — A Two Harbors man has been found guilty of sexually abusing his underage female family member. This comes after 45-year-old Michael Brian bailey previously pleaded guilty in 2020 to sexually assaulting a different underage female family member. The newest allegations came to light in 2023, by the victim. She said she was 5 years old when…
VIRGINIA, Minn. — There is finally a place to get your sushi fix in Virginia. It’s called ‘Grace Sushi.’ On the menu, alongside sushi, they also offer dumpling rice bowls. Some of their specialty rolls are inspired by the Northland, with names like “Lake of the Woods” and “The Big Pine.” Since this is the first sushi restaurant in the…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Aspiring authors in Superior had a chance to learn more about writing from local authors today. Superior Middle School held its first Young Writers Conference. Middle school students were given a chance to submit a piece of writing. Fifteen submissions from each grade were chosen to attend. At the conference, students got to hear from a published…
MINN. — Another weather obstacle for the John Beargrease sled dog marathon, as “rapidly deteriorating snow” is forcing a change in this weekend’s starting location. This announcement comes after a lack of snow and icy conditions postponed Beargrease from Jan. until this Saturday, March 2nd. The race was set up to begin at Billy’s Bar in Duluth, but it will…
VIRGINIA, Minn.– Excitement was on today in the city of Virginia for the unveiling of a 100-year-old time capsule. City leaders, the public, and even some school kids came out for the big reveal. The capsule was removed a few years back from the former century-old Northland Office Building. It was recovered when the building was demolished to make way for…
CARLTON COUNTY, Minn. — Carlton County Deputies say they found nearly half a pound of suspected Fentanyl under the hood of a car during a traffic stop on Thursday. The sheriff’s office was informed by other law enforcement officers to be on the lookout for a vehicle driven by 45-year-old Johnny Glendale Williams. According to the charges, Deputies learned there…
VIRGINIA, Minn. — Virginia police are investigating a hit and run that happened around 4:45 Monday evening, Feb. 24. It took place near the intersection of 6th Ave. and 9th St. N. Police received a report that an elderly man had been hit by a truck that then left the scene. A St. Louis County deputy located the suspect vehicle…
MINN. — The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is moving its starting location from Billy’s in Duluth to Two Harbors, MN, due to unseasonably warm temperatures and snow loss. The race will now begin at the first checkpoint in Two Harbors, ensuring a safer trail for participants. Organizers are urging volunteers to step up and help with this last-minute change…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth City Council met on Monday and concluded that the city will conduct an evaluation into “the long-term future of the downtown skywalk system.” In a 9-0 vote, councilors approved a resolution that will direct the city administration to work with the council in evaluating the best future for the downtown skywalk. The skywalk, its businesses,…
HAYWARD, Wis. — Coop’s Pizza, down the road from Main Street is known to be a Hayward staple. The restaurant unsurprisingly specializes in pizza, alongside many other things. “So, pizza is our main thing. But then we have pasta and burgers and subs. A great salad bar. Appetizers, if you name it, we probably got it,” said Lora Hills, the…
DULUTH, Minn.– The opinions of two Duluth city councilors are coming into light, and it involves whether the Pledge of Allegiance should be part of city council meetings. The topic began after a member of the public spoke at a recent council meeting. The gentleman who stayed seated during the Pledge of Allegiance said removing the pledge from the council…
NORTHLAND — A Northland icon of public radio and supporter of local news Paul Damberg has passed away last on Friday, February 21. Damberg spent 34 years of his career working in public radio and nonprofit fundraising. He graduated from Macalester College back in the late 80’s with a degree in sociology, but it was his college job of public…
DULUTH, Minn.– With the temps finally soaring well above zero, people wasted no time getting outside to take it all in. One family was actually visiting Duluth while taking a tour of UMD, and they were taking full advantage of the sunshine. They said the air today is a lot easier to face than wind chill 40 below. “It’s a…
SUPERIOR, Wis. –Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers made a visit to Superior Monday, discussing his plans to lower costs for Wisconsinites and working families. In a roundtable discussion at Thirsty Pagan, Evers highlighted his new efforts to lower every day, out-of-pocket costs, including providing nearly $2 billion in tax relief. Superior officials and other community members met with the governor to…
DULUTH, Minn.– The Women’s Expo is returning to the DECC this weekend. And for the 18th year of this event, they’re bringing in some new exciting additions. The DECC will be filling up with over 150 vendors for the women’s expo happening this Saturday. The booths cover everything related to health, beauty, as well as shopping experiences. In addition, there…
