News

Boys and Girls Club Gets Shuttle from Sheraton

DULUTH, Minn.-The Duluth Boys and Girls Club got a big boost today as the Sheraton donated a shuttle to them. The van will come wheelchair accessible so everyone can enjoy it. Sheraton saw the Boys and Girls Club as an organization that will help the future of the city, which could also help the Sheraton in the long run. “They’re…

Emily’s Restaurant Reopening Along Scenic Highway

The popular Knife River restaurant is expected to open up in mid-July under new ownership

KNIFE RIVER, Minn. – Nearly two years ago the popular Lighthouse at Emily’s in Knife River closed up its doors, but later this summer the restaurant along the North Shore will be opening back up under new management. Earlier this year, a group of investors decided to bring Emily’s back to the community and brought on a young, motivated couple…

Duluth Mulch Approved for Duluth Playgrounds

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth School Board recently approved getting wood mulch to replace its current rubber mulch at a cost of $1 million. Originally when it went out for bids, it looked like it would could the district about $1.2 million, so they decided to rebid it. The mulch is supposed to be placed in all the district’s playground…

New Clinic Coming to Ashland

ASHLAND, Wis. – Earlier this week, St. Luke’s celebrated the start of construction on its new Chequamegon Clinic in Ashland. The 22,000 square-foot facility on the shores of Lake Superior along the northside of Highway 2 . The current clinic there, has been serving patients since 1975. The clinic is expected to open in March of 2018. Categories: Health, News,…

2 Charged In Cloquet Dog’s Attack, Death

UPDATE 6-22-17: The owners of the three dogs that killed another person’s dog, pleaded guilty to criminal charges against them. As part of a plea agreement, the owners have agreed to euthanize their dogs, according to Cloquet Police. No further information was made available. CLOQUET, Minn. – Charges are now filed against the owners of three dogs accused of escaping…

Judges Affirm ‘Making a Murderer’ Confession was Coerced

CHICAGO (AP) — The confession of a Wisconsin inmate featured in the Netflix series “Making a Murderer” was improperly obtained and he should be released from prison, a three-judge federal appeals panel ruled Thursday. Brendan Dassey was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 in photographer Teresa Halbach’s death on Halloween two years earlier. Dassey told detectives he helped his…

Downtown Duluth Traffic Signal Painting Project Set to Begin Monday

Temporary lane shifts and closures are expected

DULUTH, Minn. – An upcoming painting project to refresh 10 traffic signal systems in the downtown Duluth area over the summer is expected to begin on Monday, June 26, according to the City of Duluth. Each intersection will take approximately two weeks to complete, weather permitting. Lane shifts and closures will be required for painting. Motorists are asked to proceed…

WATCH: Road Rage Incident Triggers Crash in Santa Clarita

Katie Tschopp - Fox 11

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (FOX 11) – An apparent road rage incident was caught on camera in Santa Clarita in a video that’s gone viral. The video was posted to Facebook showing a crash that appears to be caused by road rage on the 14 Freeway. The Facebook post reads, “Driving on the 14 Fwy just before the Eternal Valley Cemetery,…

US Officials Lift Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Protections

HELENA, Mont. (AP) – U.S. government officials say grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park region are no longer threatened, and they will lift protections that have bene in place for more than 40 years. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Thursday that the recovery of Yellowstone’s grizzlies is one of the nation’s great conservation success stories. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife…

Car Crashes into Sweeper and Plow Truck on Mitchell Bridge in Hibbing

HIBBING, Minn.-A 2002 Saturn hit a Minnesota Department of Transportation Plow Truck and Elgin Street Sweeper who were conducting work zone operations on the Mitchell Bridge in Hibbing. At about 9:30 a.m. the driver of the car, identified as Ronald Hill, 43, of Keewatin first hit the plow and then continued on Elgin Street, hitting the sweeper in the southbound…

SWL&P Employees Pitch In For Harbor House

Volunteers Took Part in United Way Day of Caring

SUPERIOR, Wis. – About 20 volunteers from Superior Water, Light and Power worked in the sunshine Wednesday to make the Harbor House Crisis Shelter a little homier. “The whole idea is to make it hospitable, more like a home,” said Rev. Barbara Certa-Werner, Executive Director of Harbor House, which is Douglas Co.’s only crisis shelter for homeless single women and…

Senate GOP Releases Bill to Cut Medicaid, Alter ‘Obamacare’

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Republicans released their long-awaited bill Thursday to dismantle much of Barack Obama’s health care law, proposing to cut Medicaid for low-income Americans and erase tax boosts that Obama imposed on high-earners and medical companies to finances his expansion of coverage. The bill would provide less-generous tax credits to help people buy insurance and let states get…

Trump Says He Didn’t Tape His Conversations with Comey

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he “did not make” and doesn’t have any recordings of his private conversations with James Comey — his fired FBI director. Trump also tweets that he has “no idea” whether other “tapes” or recordings exist. Trump has disputed Comey’s assertion that Trump asked Comey for a pledge of loyalty during…

Wisconsin Police Department Gets Therapy Dog for the Force and Community

(WLUK/Alexa Santos) APPLETON, Wis. (WLUK) – A new addition to the Appleton Police Department will have a very important job to do. Patrolling the halls of the Appleton Police Department is Blue, the newest rookie officer in town. His main duty? Lifting the spirits of everyone in the department. Chief Todd Thomas got Blue, a 12-week-old golden doodle, to be…

Outdoor Writers Association of America Hosts Conference in Duluth

Outdoor Writers to Meet in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – The Northland has endless terrain for outdoor lovers to enjoy and this weekend some writers will be taking advantage of that as well.   The 90th Annual Outdoor Writers Association of America Conference is June 24-26 in Duluth. This is the third time the conference has been held in Duluth. No other city has hosted the conference more…

Assembly Passes Ban on Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Republican-controlled state Assembly has passed a bill designed to prohibit people with pre-existing health conditions from being excluded from health insurance coverage. Republicans brought the issue up after midnight on Thursday. It was not scheduled for debate and there was no notice that the Assembly planned to take up the issue. It passed on a…

Beatrice Ojakangas Displays Many Uses of Rhubarb Juice

Cooking Connection: CHUM Rhubarb Festival

DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend rhubarb will be filling Duluth for an annual festival. CHUM’s Rhubarb Festival is Saturday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m There will be everything rhubarb from pies and jams to sausage and juice. There will also be games, crafts, music, auctions and stage shows. This is all taking place at 11th Ave. E….

High School Students Take On Survivor Camp At LSC

DULUTH, Minn. – Summer camp is on right now at Lake Superior College.  It’s all about helping young people become wilderness survivors. Area high school students are learning how to build shelter out of a tarp, put up a six-person tent and even start a fire out in the woods. “None of them have their phones out here. And they…

Kids Celebrate Community with Random Acts of Kindness

The Superior Public Library hosted the event as part of its "Build A Better World" summer reading program

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Kids in Superior celebrated the community today by creating random acts of kindness. It’s all part of the public library’s goal of teaching children to build a better world. Children had the chance to make stress balls, which will be given to Harbor House. They also put together police officer appreciation bags filled with candy and even…

Praying For The Men And Women In Blue

Ashland's Our Lady Of The Lake Catholic Church Hosts Blue Mass

Ashland, Wis. So far this year in the United States 47 police officers have been killed in the line of duty. That’s up 34 percent from this time last year. It’s a scary rise in statistics that some Northlanders are hoping to pray away. Tonight was the 9th annual emergency services blue mass to bless current departments and especially the…

Seniors Celebrate National Selfie Day

Primrose Retirement Community Opened a Selfie Gallery for Staff and Residents

DULUTH, Minn. – At Primrose Retirement Community in Duluth, a special selfie gallery opened today to show the residents and staff some of the best selfies they had appeared in. It gave the residents a chance to look back on all the fun times and visitors they’ve enjoyed this year. “It’s kind of gotten them out of their shells,” says…

Summer Solstice Celebrated With Yoga

Special Class Honored the Longest Day of the Year with 108 Sun Salutations

DULUTH, Minn. – To celebrate the summer solstice, one local yoga studio took their mats outside and welcomed the return of the sun to Duluth. Evolve Fitness Studios offered a special session to observe the longest day of the year with 108 sun salutations, or yoga sequences honoring the sun. The class is taught outside to help participants feel at…

Firework Sales Taking Off in Wisconsin Ahead of Fourth of July

KG Fireworks Warehouse in South Range is stocking up for its busiest season

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Firework stands in Wisconsin are now opening for Fourth of July festivities. Over at KG Fireworks Warehouse in South Range, walls are lined with more than 300 different types of fireworks. Crews have been bringing in boxes of inventory for the past few weeks to prepare for the busiest season of the year. Staff here says the…

Summer Programs Begin at Heritage Center

DULUTH, Minn.-Beginning today, kids in Duluth got the chance to build some character all while playing some fun indoor activities. The “Champions Building Champions” kicked off at the Heritage Sports Center and will run every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. through Aug. 24. The program is the brainchild of Men As Peacemakers, who want more young people to serve as…

Special Olympics Torch Passes Through the Northland

Law Enforcement Officers Are Escorting the Flame of Hope to the Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games

DULUTH, Minn. – The Flame of Hope is on its way to the Minnesota Special Olympic Games. As it travels from Thunder Bay, Canada to Apple Valley, Minnesota, the torch made some stops in the Northland. Law enforcement officers from across Minnesota are escorting the torch through the state to raise funds and awareness for the Special Olympics. “Communities have…

Wisconsin Attorney General Visits Superior

Visit was Part of AG's Tour of the State

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel’s 72 county tour of the state stopped in Douglas County Wednesday.  His message to local leaders: we know you exist, and we want to help. The A.G. held a round-table discussion where officials told him about Douglas County’s serious drug problem.  Douglas Co. is Wisconsin’s only county ranked in the top ten…

Fire Burns Railroad Tracks Near Osaugie Trail

Area Affected is Little Used Stretch of BNSF Track

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Fire crews needed about 10 hours to battle an overnight fire by the Osaugie Trail. The fire started around 1:30 Wednesday morning on a little used stretch of track operated by the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad. Superior’s Battalion Chief Steve Edwards, says figuring out how the fire started won’t be easy. “Our fire investigator now will go…

Walker Approves Ending Work Permits for 16-17 Year Olds

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill into law that eliminates requirements that 16 and 17 year olds get parental permission to work. Walker signed the bill Wednesday. Republicans in the Legislature who supported the measure argued it would make it easier for children without parents to work. Democratic opponents countered that doing away with the…

Flu Vaccine Ineffective for People 65 and Older Last Winter

NEW YORK (AP) — The flu vaccine did a poor job protecting older Americans against the illness last winter, even though the vaccine was well-matched to the flu bugs going around. U.S. health officials on Wednesday released new vaccine data showing it did a so-so job overall. The vaccine was about 42 percent effective in preventing illness severe enough to…

Pride to Limit Police Participation in Parade after Castile Verdict

FOX 9 - KMSP

Twin Cities Pride Parade 2016 – Fox 9 MINNEAPOLIS (KSMP) – Twin Cities Pride says it will limit police presence and participation in its annual parade and other festivities this year in response to the verdict in the Philando Castile case. Typically, several police departments roll down Hennepin Avenue as the first contingent in the parade to make sure the…

Milwaukee Jury Finds Officer Not Guilty in Shooting Death of Sylville Smith

Dominique Heaggan-Brown listens to the statement he made to investigators after the shooting is read back to him in court on Friday, June 16, 2017 (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)     MILWAUKEE (AP) – Sylville Smith (Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office via AP) A Milwaukee jury has acquitted a former police officer of first-degree reckless homicide in the shooting of a black…

Assembly GOP Leaders say Budget Still Stalled over Roads

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Budget talks among Republicans who control the state Legislature remain stalled over how to pay for roads. Budget committee co-chair Rep. John Nygren said Wednesday that Senate Republicans want to increase the level of borrowing to pay for roads beyond the nearly half billion dollars that Gov. Scott Walker proposed. Nygren says transportation funding is the…

Flint Airport Officer Stabbed in the Neck

FLINT, Mich. (AP) – Authorities say a police officer injured at the airport in Flint, Michigan, was stabbed in the neck and his condition is improving. Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said the officer stabbed Wednesday morning is Lt. Jeff Neville with the Bishop International Airport Police. Shaw says Neville’s condition also has been upgraded from critical to stable…

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Exits Health Care Exchange

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is pulling out of the federal health care exchange in Wisconsin. Anthem blames a volatile market for its exit from the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Anthem spokesman Jeff Blunt says making pricing plans is increasingly difficult because of a shrinking and deteriorating individual market. The Associated Press says Anthem also cites…

University of Minnesota to Raise Tuition this Fall

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The University of Minnesota will raise tuition at its Twin Cities campus this fall. The Pioneer Press reports that the university’s board voted Tuesday to approve university President Eric Kaler’s recommended budget, which will raise tuition by 2-percent for Minnesota residents and 12.5-percent for nonresidents at the Twin Cities campus. Kaler says the 2-percent rate…

Contented Critters Continues Despite Loss of Founder

After Nearly Four Decades, Founder Faye Walters Passed Away in April; Friends Rally to Continue Legacy

MAKINEN, Minn. – In this week’s Animal Answers we took a trip to the Iron Range to a place looking to cater to Contented Critters. After a devastating loss just months ago, one woman’s life is now helping to create an ongoing legacy. Animal shelters are common commodities in cities across the Northland. Along Highway 16 in Makinen, Minnesota, you’ll…

Health Professionals Discuss Rural Care Options

More Than 600 Groups Attended Rural Health Conference

DULUTH, Minn. – Quality health care can be tough to find for many rural Minnesotans.  So the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care and the Minnesota Rural Health Association joined forces with the Duluth–based National Rural Health Resource Center to find solutions. “We’re working in approaches to provide resources for rural health communities and providers,” said Sally Buck, CEO,…

It’s ‘Yappy Hour’ At The Boat Club

Enjoy Food Or Drinks With Your Four Legged Friend

Happy hour with your best friend might be a great way to end your Tuesday. Now there’s an option to do that, even if your best friend has four legs. “Yappy Hour” at the Boat Club in the Fitger’s courtyard is a partnership with A Place For Fido, which is a pet boutique. They even have a special doggie menu with…

Moving Parts Within The School District

Some Parents Aren't Happy; Duluth School Board Believes It's The Right Move

Duluth, Minn. Tonight’s school board meeting in Duluth highlighted multiple topics drawing a big crowd. One of those topics included the move of a successful principal from one school to another sparking concern for West Duluth parents and staff. It’s a move that happens sometimes often in school districts around the country. Districts making moves with highly respected personnel. For…

Superior Business Will Temporarily Close During Belknap Construction

Once Again Used & New will close up for about two weeks because of the road closure

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Construction along a portion of Belknap Street in Superior is about to be shut off later this week, leaving some local businesses with some difficult decisions. Store owners have known for years this road construction project would affect them this summer and for some, they’re now facing the reality of what it will mean for their future…

Safety Updates Coming to Barker’s Island Marina

Electrical Feed Upgrades and New Life Rings Will Be Added to the Docks

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Safety improvements are in the works at the popular Barker’s Island Marina. The Superior City Council voted to approve electrical feed upgrades to the docks and new life rings within the marina. “This is on the water. Safety is one of our biggest concerns down there and, again, this is one of several projects that we’ve done…

Minnesota Boating Safety Law Delayed

Sophia's Law Will Require Carbon Monoxide Detectors on Certain Boats

DULUTH, Minn. – A new boating safety law was expected to be in effect right now in Minnesota, but there’s been a hold up. Sophia’s Law was passed last year by the Minnesota legislature. The law is named after a seven-year-old girl who died in 2015 from carbon monoxide poisoning while napping on her family’s boat on Lake Minnetonka, near the Twin…