News

School Board Approved Levy, After Public Voted to Raise It

School Board Meeting Held in Old Central High School

DULUTH, Minn.-The Duluth Public School Board approved a 2019 levy which was voted on by the public in the November elections. The public voted on raising an existing 2013 levy by about $8,000,000 due to updated pupil counts, facilities maintenance project approvals, and a change in unemployment adjustment, among other reasons. The board met tonight, hearing a presentation titled Truth…

Cloquet Cops Spread Christmas Cheer with Stuff the Squad

Cloquet Police Department Holds Stuff the Squad Toy Drive and Shop with a Cop

CLOQUET, Minn.- The Cloquet Police Department spread some Holiday Cheer with their annual “Stuff the Squad” Toy Drive. Officers parked outside the Walmart, and L&M stores with their squad cars, ready to be stuffed with toys to be distributed by the Salvation Army. Last year, the department loaded up three squad cars: a Dodge Charger, Ford Explorer, and a pickup…

Trump Administration’s Bump Stock Ban Doesn’t Effect Superior Gun Store

Superior Shooters Supply Never Sold Bump Stocks

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Trump Administration has officially banned bump stocks in the U.S. It’s an equipment which allows semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like automatic firearms. Meanwhile, the owner of Superior Shooters Supply in Superior tells us this ban really doesn’t affect her business. She’s never sold bump stocks, and said they are barely effective, hurt accuracy, and are limited…

Free Rides On New Year’s Eve in Duluth

DTA Free Ride Campaign

  DULUTH, Minn.- New Year’s Eve is becoming one of the safest holidays in Minnesota. According to officials awareness of drunk driving has helped aid in the process. Now the city of Duluth is partnering with the Duluth Transit Authority and other organizations for their free ride campaign during the holiday. Beginning at 5 pm on New Year’s Eve the…

St. Louis County Board Approves $394.7 Million Budget for 2019

The Board Approved the Budget Tuesday

DULUTH, Minn. – On Tuesday the St. Louis County board approved a $394.7 million budget for 2019. The overall budget, while slightly less than in 2018, makes increased investments in human services, particularly in the areas of out-of-home placements, substance abuse and mental health. The Board says they set a goal to keep any increase in the property tax levy…

C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Issues Second Statement Regarding Union Strike

This is the Second Statement Bretting Manufacturing has Issued in two Days

ASHLAND, Wis. – Representatives from C. G. Bretting issued a second statement on Monday night regarding the ongoing union strike. The full statement can be viewed here: Members of Local 621 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) say they are striking for better wages, pension and health benefits. Categories: News, News – Latest News

Super One Matching Red Kettle Donations Through Christmas Eve

They Will Match up to $50,000

DULUTH, Minn. – Miner’s Inc, the parent company of Super One Foods grocery stores, is carrying on their tradition of matching up to $50,000 of Salvation Army Red Kettle donations at 13 area Superior One Foods locations. Miner’s Inc says they will match every cent collected by bell ringers through Christmas Eve. This year’s goal is $300,000. ” We appreciate…

Gov.-Elect Tim Walz Names First Five Commissioners

The Announcements Were Made Tuesday

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Gov.-elect Tim Walz has named a former speaker of the Minnesota House as his transportation commissioner and is keeping the budget commissioner of outgoing Gov. Mark Dayton. Walz on Tuesday appointed former House speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher to lead the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The governor-elect also announced that Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron…

Trump Foundation Reaches Deal to Dissolve Amid Lawsuit

A Judge Must Still Sign off on the Agreement

NEW YORK – President Donald Trump’s charitable foundation has reached a deal to dissolve amid a legal battle with New York’s attorney general. Attorney General Barbara Underwood and the foundation filed a joint stipulation with the court Tuesday laying out a process for shutting down the charity and distributing its remaining assets to other nonprofit groups. New York filed a…

UW Hospital now has 14 Cases of Legionnaires’ and 3 Deaths

One Patient Remains Hospitalized

MADISON, Wis. – A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak linked to UW Hospital’s water system has infected 14 people with the pneumonia-like bacteria, and three have died. Hospital spokeswoman Lisa Brunette tells the Wisconsin State Journal that the patients who died had other serious, life-limiting health conditions. One patient remains hospitalized. A hospital official has said the cases appear to be linked…

Duluth City Council Approves More Funding for Lakewalk Repair

More money will be needed to pay for engineering services related to the damage done to the Lakewalk damage during the October 2017 and April 2018 storms.

DULUTH, Minn.-More money will be needed to pay for engineering services related to the damage done to the Lakewalk damage during the October 2017 and April 2018 storms. Last night, the Duluth City Council unanimously approved more funding for the contractor the city is working with in the amount of $225,000, bringing the total cost of engineering services to about…

Minnesota Climber Preps for Solo Mt. Hunter Climb; First Winter Ascent of Mt. Luciana

Dupre Will Make his Second Attempt in January

DULUTH, Minn. – Grand Marais native, Lonnie Dupre, is preparing to tackle a solo ascent of Mount Hunter in January 2019. Mount Hunter is hailed as the steepest and most technical of the three peaks in Denali National Park and this will be Dupre’s second attempt at a solo ascent of the mountain. Dupre will also take on his second…

Coffee Conversation: Staying Heart Healthy this Winter

Dr. Leif Christianson, St. Luke's Cardiologist, Offers Tips to Stay Heart Healthy this Winter Season

DULUTH, Minn. – For this week’s Midwest Roaster’s Coffee Conversation, St. Luke’s Cardiologist, Dr. Leif Christianson, stopped by FOX 21 Local News to chat about ways to stay heart healthy this winter. The Northland is suffering a lack of snowfall so far this year, but that doesn’t mean we won’t make up for it as the season goes on. Christianson wants to…

Trump Administration Moves to ban Bump Stocks

It Will Take Effect in Late March

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is moving to officially ban bump stocks, which allow semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like automatic firearms. A senior Justice Department official says bump stocks will be banned under the federal law that prohibits machine guns. It will take effect in late March. After that, it will be illegal to possess bump stocks. The…

Regents Unanimously Approve Joan Gabel as U of M President

Gabel Will be the First U of M Female President

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents announced Tuesday that Joan Gabel will be the next University of Minnesota President. Gabel will be the first female president of the University of Minnesota. “President-Designate Gabel stood out from a highly competitive pool of candidates that advanced through a thorough and thoughtful search process. Her qualifications, combined with her…

Kenwood Rezoning Plan Fails at Council Meeting

The Duluth City Council failed to pass a vote for a proposed rezoning of a portion of the Kenwood neighborhood.

DULUTH, Minn.-The Duluth City Council failed to pass a vote for a proposed commercial rezoning of a portion of the Kenwood neighborhood. Councilors rejected it unanimously. Here’s the map which shows the proposed rezone area. The area is one that councilors tell us, is a full of single family affordable housing. The initial plan could have made room for apartments…

Duluth International Airport to Open Club DLH Business Suite

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth International Airport announced on Tuesday the opening of the Club DLH Business Suite on January 7. The Duluth International Airport, along with presenting partner St. Luke’s, says, “The Club DLH Business Suite is an exclusive private area at the west end of the secure terminal, designed with the working traveler in mind.” Annual passes are…

Gov.-Elect Tim Walz Will Name his First Five Commissioners

Walz's Team Received Over 500 Applications

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Gov-elect Tim Walz will announce the first five state agency heads who will serve in his administration. Walz and Lt. Gov.-elect Peggy Flanagan have called a news conference for 1 p.m. Tuesday to name his first five out of what will eventually be 23 commissioners for his new administration. Walz’s transition team received over 500…

Northland Uncovered: Bentleyville Grows Over 15 Years

Take a look at the history of Bentleyville.

DULUTH, Minn.- The story of Bentleyville Tour of Lights started long before it became a holiday attraction. In 2001, Nathan Bentley and his family were inspired to hang lights on their home in Esko after seeing their neighbors do the same. “The next year I thought I should put up a few more lights and then after the front yard…

School Choir Director Admits to Sexually Assaulting Students

Prosecutors Will Dismiss 14 Other Charges

LA CROSSE, Wis. – A man who served as a choir director for the La Crosse School District has admitted to sexually assaulting students. Thirty-four-year-old Dustin Bagstad on Monday pleaded guilty to five counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child in a plea deal under which prosecutors will dismiss 14 other charges. The criminal complaint says Bagstad committed sex…

Man With 16 Drunken Driving Convictions Gets Prison Time

His Convictions Date Back to 1989

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) – A Wisconsin man with 16 drunken driving convictions in three states is headed to prison. Sixty-three-year-old Bradley Armstrong, of Eau Claire, was sentenced Friday to four years in state prison to be followed by three years of extended supervision. Judge John Manydeeds told Armstrong that he was a dangerous person and that the number of…

Firefighters: Globe Elevator Fire Causes $2.5 Million in Damages

The Historic Structure Continues to Burn Monday Night

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Fire crews continue working to put out a massive fire at the site of the former Globe grain elevator in Superior that ignited Monday. The blaze destroyed salvage wood and construction equipment, the damage estimate is currently at $2.5 million. The fire department said no one has been hurt at the site, which is located at North…

Council Passes TIF Agreement for High Rise Apartments in Downtown Duluth

2 Councilors Vote Against, One Absent

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth City Council passed a TIF increment financing package for developers, who plan to build a luxury apartment complex downtown. $6.2 million of the $70.4 million cost will come through public financing. A packed city hall Monday night illustrates the urgency presented by this issue. The developers for the high rise presented their plans for the construction. The…

Annual Blue Santa Shop With A Cop

The Duluth Police Department partnered with Salvation Army to give back to the community.

DULUTH, Minn.- The annual Blue Santa Shop with a cop event was held at Target in Duluth. Every year the Duluth police department partners up with the Salvation Army to select children and their families that may be in need this giving season. Each child receives a two hundred and fifty dollar target gift card to buy presents for loved ones…

Knowing Your Neighbors: City Girl Coffee

Alafek Coffee Roasters developed a coffee company with a mission to source exclusively from women owned and managed farms and cooperatives.

DULUTH, Minn.- Located on Superior Street in Duluth is Alakef Coffee Roasters. “I grew up in this my parents started this in 1990. When I came back and expressed interest in taking over the business I didn’t want to just run their company… I wanted to create something that was representative of me and also that allowed our company to continue…

Korner Store and Adolph Meat Shop Donate to Valley Youth Center

After being robbed, two local businesses decided to put the reward money towards the Valley Youth Center in West Duluth.

HERMANTOWN, Minn.- Two local businesses were recently targets of burglars by the same thieves. Now those same businesses, The Korner Store and Stokke’s Adolph Store have taken their negative situation and turned it into a positive by donating eight thousand dollars to a charity. A five thousand dollar reward was offered by Korner Store owner Derek Medved to whoever caught the…

UPS Stresses Importance of Shipping Safety This Holiday Season

With the holiday quickly approaching UPS is working hard to satisfy all shipping needs.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The UPS store is bustling with customers looking to ship packages to loved ones in time for the holidays. “It’s getting close to the end of the limit for when our ground shipments can get there by Christmas so the first part of this week is going to be a little bit crazy with folks coming in but we…

Children’s Museum Stays Busy During Winter Break

Now through the end of the year, the Duluth Children's Museum is offering special programming for kids on winter break.

DULUTH, Minn.-Now through the end of the year, the Duluth Children’s Museum is offering special programming for kids on winter break. Every Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the museum will have free events dedicated to the importance of the area’s waters. Those organizing the program said it’s a fun way to get kids to learn more about the…

Fire Breaks out at Globe Grain Elevator in Superior

Fire officials say that when a crew was there earlier today reclaiming wood, something sparked at the scene which may have caused the fire.

UPDATE: Superior Fire Department officials say that four people were removed from the scene at the time of the fire. Fire officials say that when a crew was there earlier today reclaiming wood, something sparked at the scene which may have caused the fire. Superior Mayor Jim Paine says there have been no injuries in the fire and “the only…

Gov.-Elect Walz Prepares to Name his First Commissioners

A News Conference Will be Held on Tuesday

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Gov-elect Tim Walz is preparing to announce his first round of state agency heads who will serve in his administration. Walz and Lt. Gov.-elect Peggy Flanagan have called a news conference for Tuesday to announce the first out of 23 new commissioners. Walz’s transition team received over 500 applications for the leadership positions….

Bentleyville Security Cameras Catch Another Group of Vandals Targeting the Tour of Lights

Less Than two Weeks After $2,500 in Damage by Another Pair of Vandals

DULUTH, Minn. – Less than two weeks after a pair of vandals caused $2,500 in damage at Bentleyville, another group of vandals broke into the wishing well at Bentleyville Tour of Lights on Sunday night. Bentleyville officials posted a video Monday afternoon to their official Facebook page showing three people approaching the wishing well and knocking the well over to…

C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Issues Statement Regarding Ongoing Union Strike

Union Members are Striking for Better Wages, Pensions, and Health Benefits

ASHLAND, Wis. – On Monday afternoon C. G. Bretting Manufacturing issued a written statement regarding the strike of nearly 200 members of Local 621 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The statement reads: “We’re disappointed that the union which represents many of our production employees has chosen to begin a strike that will only hurt its members….

Shipping Deadlines for Christmas Delivery Fast Approaching

The Sooner you Mail the Better

DULUTH, Minn. – National delivery services are gearing up for a busy holiday season handling millions of packages, but they warn to ship them early in order to get to their destinations on time. “The sooner you mail the better,” said Karen Mazurkiewicz, U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman. The U.S. Postal Service expects to deliver 12.5 million packages in the Central…

New elk Herd Could be Reintroduced in Northeast Minnesota

Officials say it Could be a Long Process

DULUTH, Minn. – An effort is underway to reintroduce elk to parts of northeast Minnesota, but it could be a long process. Minnesota Public Radio reported that the University of Minnesota has spent three years observing potential habit for elk in three forests in the region. Researchers also say nearly 80 percent of rural landowners and residents in the area…

Chancellor Quits After Husband Banned From Campus

Her Resignation Will be Effectice December 31

MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chancellor Beverly Kopper is resigning after her husband was banned from campus amid sexual harassment allegations. Kopper sent out a campus-wide email Monday announcing her resignation effective Dec. 31. UW System President Ray Cross banned Kopper’s husband, Pete Hill, from campus in June in response to allegations that Hill had sexually harassed several women…

Man Convicted of Sexual Assaults at Wife’s Home day Care

The Husband was Found Guilty on Friday

ROSEVILLE, Minn. – The husband of a Roseville home day care provider has been found guilty of sexually assaulting three girls cared for at the site. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that a Ramsey County District Court jury convicted 44-year-old Edgar Lopez-Monter of both first-degree and second-degree criminal sexual conduct after deliberating for about four hours Friday. Minnesota Department…

Brooks, Dayton Making Concert Announcement in Twin Cities

Brooks Will Hold a Second Show in Minneapolis

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Garth Brooks and Gov. Mark Dayton are making a concert announcement after the governor asked the country superstar to schedule another performance when tickets for his May 4th concert in Minneapolis sold out in less than an hour. The governor’s office says at least 50,000 people were in line, on the phone or online Friday when…

Iron Mug Arranges Gifts for Christmas Giveaway

Mike Letica Hosting Toy Giveaway

DULUTH, Minn.- As the holidays fast approach, many families are forced to sit with the realization that they can’t afford to buy Christmas presents. Well, Mike Letica and his team at Iron Mug Coffehouse is trying to change that again this year. They’re currently sorting through $10,000 worth of toys, to hand out to families in need this Christmas. The…

Marcia Hales’ Holiday Lights Up Till 31st

Hales Says, It Must Come to an End

DULUTH, Minn- As you are out enjoying the warm weather, you might consider stopping for some holiday cheer at Park Point. Marcia Hales’s Holiday Spirit in the Lights display opened on the 14th, and runs through the 31st. Families can take a tour of the different lights and head down to the beach, where even the sand is dressed in…

Home Destroyed by Fire in Clinton Township

Six Different Fire Departments Battled the Blaze

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Minn- Firefighters battled a large house fire in Clinton Township on Baker Road Sunday. Crews from six different Iron Range departments responded to the scene just before 5 p.m. The homeowner noticed smoke and flames and called 911. When firefighters arrived on scene they found the homeowners still inside attempting to remove personal belongings. The homeowners were checked…

NAACP Holds Election, First Meeting

Elections Uncontested

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth branch of the NAACP hosted elections on Sunday. Members voted on a new President, first and second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and up to 24 executive board members. The elections ran uncontested. But leaders say that is no reason to not get out, and vote. “When it’s uncontested, I think it’s still important that folks engage…

Essentia Donates AED Device to Church

The donation came after a member of the congregation collapsed in 2017.

DULUTH, Minn.- Several members of the Park Point community sang in praise both during and after a church service Sunday thanks to a donation made by Essentia Health. Essentia’s cardiovascular program has donated 5 automated external defibrillators, or AED’s, to locations in the Northland this year including the Saint Andrews by the Lake Episcopal Church. The donation comes after a member…

Superior Experiences Low Gas Prices

For the first time in years, gas in Superior drops below $2.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Residents of superior can plan on pocketing a few extra dollars for their Christmas shopping this year with money saved on gas! For the first time in what community members say they have seen in years, gas is below two dollars at some stations, selling for $1.95 at the Holiday station on Tower Avenue. Cars were lined up …

Lester Park Opens for the Ski Season

The Lester-Amity Chalet hosted their second annual social to kick-off the season.

DULUTH, Minn.- Despite the lack of recent snowfall, there was just enough snow left covering the ground to kick off the Winter event season at Lester Park. The chalet hosted their second annual social celebrating the new amenities and programs improving the park. Donations from the cities of Duluth and Superior have provided new solar panels and boot skis for…

Unseasonable Warmth Brings Duluth Outside

High Temps Mean Comfortable Outdoor Fun

DULUTH, Minn.- Despite how the song goes, it’s beginning to look anything but like a White Christmas. Unseasonably warm weather is gripping the Northland, with temperatures reaching nearly 50  degrees today. Quite a few spots around Duluth were bustling with folks living it up in the hot winter sun. If you took a look at the thermometer in your car,…