News

Duluth Pack Remodel is Finished

Has More Modern Look

DULUTH, Minn.-The remodel at Duluth Pack is over. After a seven-week process, the downstairs of the store has a new look with more of a cabin-theme. It’s all part of their goal of making the store look more modern. “A lot of people were attached to the feel of the old store, so we wanted to keep that same outdoorsy-woodsy…

Mayo Clinic Faces Questions After CEO Comments on Insurance

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Mayo Clinic is facing some questions from the state of Minnesota after its CEO told employees that if patient conditions are equal, its hospitals should prioritize the privately insured patients over those under government-subsidized programs like Medicaid. John Noseworthy’s comments came late last year in a videotaped speech to staff but surfaced only this week, after a…

Lt. Gov. Smith Won’t Run for Governor in 2018

Opens Field up to Numerous Candidates

Courtesy of Minnesota Governor’s OfficeST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Democratic Lt. Gov. Tina Smith says she will not run for governor in 2018. Smith has long been viewed as a top contender for in the gubernatorial given her visible perch as Gov. Mark Dayton’s second-in-command. Outside Republican political groups frequently singled out Smith while laying the groundwork for the 2018…

MPCA Chief Sounds Alarm About Trump Cuts to EPA Grants

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A Minnesota official who heads a group that represents state environmental agencies nationwide says the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency grant programs would cripple their ability to protect air, land, and water. The Environmental Council of the States says Categorical Grants to states would take a 44.5-percent hit. Those grants support…

NCAA Tournament Could Generate $6M for Milwaukee

(ESPN) MILWAUKEE, Wis. (AP) – The sold out NCAA men’s basketball tournament could mean millions in revenue for Milwaukee. According to Visit Milwaukee, the economic impact of the last time the city hosted the games in 2014 was $4.6 million. Visit Milwaukee spokesman Kristin Settle tells Wisconsin Public Radio that the fact that four of the eight schools playing in…

Dayton Devotes Budget Surplus to Preschool, Savings

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton wants to put much of a growing budget surplus toward expanding a new preschool program. Governor Mark Dayton released his retooled budget proposal Friday that capitalizes on a surplus that’s grown since previous estimates of $1.4 billion. State budget officials now project the Legislature has a $1.65 billion budget to work…

Updegrove Announces At-Large City Council Run

DULUTH, Minn. – Rich Updegrove, a high school social studies teacher, announced his candidacy Thursday evening for Duluth City Councilor, At-Large. Updegrove is a co-facilitator of Our Revolution – Duluth, a grassroots political organization that arose out of Bernie Sanders’ campaign. He was recently elected to leader positions on several legislature committees. He is also active in the Duluth Federation…

Pay Increase for Minnesota Legislators in Limbo

Last Week Independent Council Approved $14,000 Increase for Lawmakers

ST. PAUL, Minn.- The chairman of the independent council that approved $14,000 raises for Minnesota lawmakers says lawyers will have to decide whether Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt can block the pay increase. Minnesota voters created the Legislative Salary Council through a November constitutional amendment that removed lawmakers’ ability to set their own pay. That council on Friday affirmed its…

Duluthians Say ‘No More’ to Mother Nature

Shorts Against Winter Happens Annually the Friday Before the First Day of Spring

DULUTH, Minn. – A hardy group of Duluthians were sending a strong message to Mother Nature Friday morning. The 5th Annual Shorts Against Winter event is a chance for Northlanders to wear shorts to work before the official start of spring on Monday, March 20. Shorts Against Winter started by Swim Creative Advertising Firm employee Kevin Cain, and has since…

Minnesota Officials Aim to End Chronic Homelessness by 2018

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Thousands of people in the Twin Cities have been homeless for years, despite a coordinated effort by city, state, and nonprofit leaders that has cut chronic homelessness nearly in half since 2010. The Pioneer Press reports the number of chronic and “unsheltered” homeless people in Minnesota has dropped 48-percent in recent years, falling from over…

Trump Administration Fights Syrian’s Travel Ban Lawsuit

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Justice Department attorneys say a judge shouldn’t block President Donald Trump’s travel ban in the case of a Syrian family trying to relocate to Wisconsin. A Syrian man who settled in Wisconsin filed a lawsuit last month saying his family remains in Aleppo and the ban could jeopardize their visa chances. U.S. District Judge William Conley…

Registration Now Open for Hartley Summer Camps

Since Wednesday, More than 600 Children Are Already Signed Up for Camps

DULUTH, Minn. – Registration for Hartley Nature Center Summer Camps is underway. Staff at Hartley tells FOX 21 over 600 kids have registered in just two days. Although a fresh coat of snow blanketed the Northland on Friday, Brett Amundson, Director of Operations at Hartley Nature Center says kids love to spend their summer days at Hartley. Amundson says Hartley…

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Focuses on Culture

DULUTH, Minn. – Folks around the country have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for about a week, and the holiday is finally here. Duluth’s Grand St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is happening this evening at Clyde Iron Works. The family-friendly event, featuring McInnis’ Kitchen, brings top Irish music and colorful cultural tradition to the Northland. There will also be an indoor…

JCPenny Closing 19 Stores Between Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan

Retailer JCPenny has announced that 138 stores nationwide will begin closing in mid April. In addition to the closure of retail locations, the company will be closing one of its supply chain facilities in Florida, and relocating another to California. Stores closing in Minnesota include Baxter, Fairmont, Faribault, Hibbing, Hutchinson, Red Wing, Thief River Falls, and Winona. Wisconsin locations include…

Duluth YMCA Adds Lumberjack Tradition to Aquatic Activities

Active Adventures: Log Rolling

DULUTH, Minn. – A lumberjack sport is now offered at the Duluth YMCA. For this week’s Active Adventures, FOX 21’s William Seay tried out Log Rolling. Log rolling is available for people of all ages. According to aquatic instructors, not only does the sport preserve the rich history of lumberjack sports in North America, but it’s fun and good for…

Minnesota tops voter participation list in 2016 election

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota leads the nation once again in voter turnout for a presidential election. It’s the second consecutive presidential election that the state had the most voters going to the polls, and the eighth time in the past nine presidential elections. Nonprofit VOTE and the US Election Project compiled the numbers. About 75 percent of eligible voters in…

‘Great Harvest’ To Expand To Downtown Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – The popular Great Harvest Bread Company in Duluth is expanding to the downtown area. Owner Lee Davidson tells FOX 21 the second location will be in the Medical Arts Building on West Superior Street – across from Starbucks. The new space is the former location of How Sweet It Is bakery. Great Harvest plans to feature mostly…

‘Visit Duluth’ Moving To Holiday Center

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s convention and visitor’s bureau, known as Visit Duluth, is preparing to move to a new downtown location. That location is in the former Brownie Furniture building in the Holiday Center on West Superior Street. Anna Tanski, Visit Duluth’s CEO, tells FOX 21 the new 5K square-foot facility will have a better skywalk connection with great visibility…

Duluth Armory Building Redevelopment Shoots For ‘Rooftop Dining’

Plans also include turning the space into a mixed-use commercial building, along with some additional multifamily housing

DULUTH, Minn. – In 2001, the Duluth Armory was condemned by the city after sitting vacant for more than 20 years. Now, a new developer out of the Twin Cities is working to bring new life back to the historic site. Over the last two years, the Boisclair Corporation has been working through a due diligence phase, after signing a…

Russ Campaign Kickoff

Barbara Russ Hits The Campaign Trail

Duluth, Minn Current City Council member Barbara Russ is getting an early start on the campaign trail. Tonight she hosted her campaign kickoff at the Holiday Inn in downtown Duluth. She wanted to let those who came know how she felt about her first 3 and a half years on the council and what she wants to work on if…

Art Of Local Food

Good Food And Art All In One Place

It was all about good food, local artist, and great company tonight at Clyde Iron Works. It was the 6th annual Art of Local Food fundraiser to benefit the Duluth Community Garden Program and the Arrowhead Professional Chefs Association. It was 40 years ago that a few gardeners saw the need for fresh locally grown food and now 220 families…

Washburn County Humane Society Suffers Devastating Fire

Courtesy: WCAHS SPOONER, Wis. – The Washburn County Area Human Society suffered a devastating fire early Thursday morning. Crews were called to the scene around 1:30 a.m. Animals that survived have been sent to Northwoods Humane Society in Hayward. It has been reported that three cats perished in the fire. No other information is available at this time. A GoFundMe page…

March Madness Could Lead to Trouble

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month

DULUTH, Minn. – Maybe it’s a coincidence with the NCAA Basketball tournament going on, but March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Every year, millions of dollars are wagered on the tournament, both in sportsbooks, and on those bracket sheets you likely filled out for your office pool According to a counselor at Duluth’s Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, brackets…

Students Learn How to Protect St. Louis River

15th Annual River Watch Congress Drew About 200 Kids

CLOQUET, Minn. – Kids from area schools got hands–on lessons on how to protect the St. Louis River Thursday. St. Louis River–River Watch is a program that gets kids involved with studying the environment up close and personal, by actually getting in the river. While students didn’t get in the water as part of Thursday’s 15th annual River Watch Congress…

St. Urho’s Day is Today

Finland to Celebrate this Weekend

FINLAND, Minn.-One sign of spring, is that St. Urho’s day. The day, which is officially today, celebrates the Finnish saint, Urho. This weekend, festivities kick into high gear Friday in Finland, Minnesota with a variety of festivities, including a parade. For a full schedule of events, visit their Facebook page here. Categories: Entertainment, News, News – Latest News

Coast Guard Breaks Ice to Make Way for Ships

Coast Guard Clears Way Before Shipping Season Begins

DULUTH, Minn.- The Alder cruised through Lake Superior, cracking and breaking the ice that formed on the water’s surface. “The Alder is a 225 foot buoy tender, it is ice capable, so it’s not actually designated as an ice breaker, we just have the ability to break ice,” explained Lt. Christian Von Stralendorff of the U.S. Coast Guard. Shipping season…

Preparations Underway for St. Patrick’s Day

Dubh Linn Irish Brew Pub Believes Record Numbers May Turn Out

DULUTH, Minn.- Many local pubs are gearing up for a big day of business, including Dubh Linn Irish Brew Pub. It was recently voted the second best event in Minnesota to attend on St. Patrick’s day. Dubh Linn representatives say they are expecting record crowds. “Most years you get two things: people come out on the day, or people come…

Walker Opposes Trump Over Great Lakes Funding

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Governor Scott Walker tells The Associated Press he opposes President Donald Trump’s proposal to remove federal funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Walker talked to AP on Thursday after Trump released his budget calling for elimination of the funding that has sent $2.2 billion to the eight-state region since 2009, Walker says “it makes sense…

In Minnesota GOP’s Opening Bid, Senate Eyes Income Tax Cut

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Senate Republicans are proposing to cut the state’s lowest income tax rate as part of a $900 million tax cut bill. It’s Republicans’ opening bid in the brewing fight over tax cuts with Democratic Governor Mark Dayton. Tax talk will loom large as the Republican-controlled Legislature and governor start assembling a new two-year budget with…

Several Arrested in Stand Off Southeast of Bemidji

TEN LAKES TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The Beltrami County Sheriff’s office reports that on Thursday, March 16 around 3:40 a.m., 911 dispatch received information from a female caller that she needed help. As attempts were made to gather information, the call was disconnected. Beltrami County Deputies and Leech Lake Tribal officers were dispatched to the scene, in the 100 block of…

Officials Confirm 1st Capture of Silver Carp on St. Croix

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota officials have confirmed the first capture of an invasive silver carp on the St. Croix River. The Department of Natural Resources says a commercial angler caught it near Prescott, Wisconsin, as part of a monitoring project, just upstream where the St. Croix meets the Mississippi River. DNR invasive fish coordinator Nick Frohnauer says it’s…

Former Teacher Sentenced in Child Porn and Gun Case

Will Get Five Years in Prison

DULUTH, Minn.-A former Duluth teacher was sentenced today to five years in jail for possessing child pornography, while also being a felon with a firearm. According to County Attorney Mark Rubin, Daniel Kludt was arrested last year after police conducted a search of his home. In 1998 he was also convicted of sexual contact with a minor – a 13-year-old boy….

Two Iron Range Men Arrested in Trapping Case

Largest DNR Has Scene in Northeast Minnesota

NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA-Two Iron Range men are charged in a large-scale illegal trapping case that natural resources officials say is the biggest they’ve seen in the region. The men are accused of setting hundreds of wire snares across northeastern Minnesota and capturing a wolf, foxes, wolverine and other wildlife. Sixty-eight-year-old Roderick Kottom and 70-year-old Douglas Marana were charged this week in…

Cheerios Working to Bring Back the Bees

The effort is to battle the declining bee populations seen across the country

General Mills brand Cheerios is working to raise awareness for declining bee populations by starting the movement #BringBacktheBees, and removing their iconic mascot, Buzz.  Cheerios partnered up with Veseys Seeds to give away 100 million wildflower seeds for the cause. Those who are interested in joining the movement can sign up on their website and are asked to plant them in…

DNR, St. Louis County Warn of Water Skipping Activities

MINNESOTA – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are issuing a public notice to those planning to participate in any “water skipping” activities. This practice will no longer be allowed and those participating will be cited under Minnesota Statute 84,87 Sub 2, which states: It shall be unlawful for any person…

Hoyt Lakes Man Involved in Virginia Pursuit Charged in Court

Daniel Fredrickson VIRGINIA, Minn. – Virginia Police Chief Nicole Mattson reports that on Tuesday, March 14, around 1:30 a.m., the Virginia Police Department and St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department received information about a 29-year-old white male with an active felony warrant. The man, Daniel Earl Fredrickson of Hoyt Lakes, was reportedly armed with a handgun driving a white passenger car…

Young Actors Prepare for Disney Classic

The Duluth Playhouse Presents "The Lion King Jr!"

DULUTH, Minn. – A Disney classic is coming to Duluth. The Duluth Playhouse is presenting “The Lion King Jr!” and it opens tonight. This is being performed by the Children’s Theater, so all the actors are between the ages of 12-18. Ashlee Hartwig, Duluth Playhouse Marketing Director, visited FOX 21 to chat about the musical. Hartwig tells us these young…

Texas Roadhouse Offering Options for Those Recognizing Lent

Cooking Connection: Norwegian Salmon

DULUTH, Minn. – Many Northlanders are currently recognizing Lent and Texas Roadhouse wants these folks to know the restaurant is not just a steakhouse. Jeff Fort, Managing Partner at Texas Roadhouse, says there are many other options if someone is trying to avoid red meat. The restaurant is offering an entire Dockside Favorites menu. For this week’s Cooking Connection, FOX 21’s William…

Former Bagley’s Building To Be Sold To Texas Investor

Two Remaining Tenants Will Stay Put After Closing Day

  DULUTH, Minn. – The downtown Duluth building that was, up until last year, once home to Bagley & Company Jewelers for 131 years has been sold to an investor in Texas. We’re told the building on the 300-block of West Superior Street will continue to house Apricot lane Boutique and Stout Chiropractic Care. Rick Heimbach, who owned Bagley’s and…

Downtown Parking Meters From 80 Minutes To 2-Hour Limit?

Downtown Businesses Are Being Asked To Weigh In

DULUTH, Minn. – Changes could soon be coming to a parking meter near you – at least in Downtown Duluth. As FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reports, it means the time limit on meters could significantly increase. “When folks got to go out and plug their meter, they often just get in their car and drive away. So let’s not make…

Lake Superior College Job Fair

Manufacturing Employers Ready To Talk Jobs

Duluth, Minn If you need a job in manufacturing hopefully you made it to Lake Superior College’s career night tonight. The demand for manufacturing jobs in the twin ports is high. Manufacturing Representatives were on hand to talk to potential future employees and the many diverse jobs our area offers. “There are tons of jobs available and in so many…

Superior Mayor Forum

Candidates Answer Questions For Citizens

We’re just weeks away from a new mayor in Superior. Two candidates Jim Paine and Brent Fennessey were left standing after February’s Primary. Tonight they met face to face trying to sway votes their way. The conversation between the two candidates included topics such as budget, personnel, services and facility concerns. The Superior Library was full of citizens eager to…

PetSmart Opens in Duluth

New Store Will Have Grand Opening on Saturday from 9 a.m. Until 9 p.m.

DULUTH, Minn. – PetSmart is now open in Duluth at the Village Mall near Hobby Lobby and Savers. Store managers say PetSmart has had its eyes on the Northland for years and they finally decided to open a store when their new location became available. They think Duluth has been an under represented area for pet stores and hope PetSmart…