News

Bellisio’s Recognized for Superb Wine Selection for Last 25 Years

DULUTH, Minn. — Since opening 25-years ago, Bellisio’s Italian Restaurant has been selected “Best of Award of Excellence” for their superb dining experience by Wine Spectator. Every year Wine Spectator carefully selects the best of the best when it comes to a fine wine and dining experience. This year, 25 restaurants in Minnesota were up for the prestigious title and…

CASDA Hosts 12th Annual Socks for Survivors Golf Scramble

SUPERIOR, Wis. — CASDA held their 12th annual Socks for Survivors Golf Scramble Thursday. The tournament was held at Nemadji Golf course in Superior. This is one of their two main fundraising events each year. In addition to the tournament, they had live music, a raffle, door prizes, and a Sock Contest. The sock contest had several prizes for different…

Community Celebration for 34th Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary

SUPERIOR, Wis. — An event in Superior showed how our community helps individuals with disabilities. There were lots to celebrate Tuesday afternoon with the 34th Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary. Guests had the opportunity to become more informed about the disability community. It was an environment for learning, connecting, and growing. There were booths that brought awareness to topics ranging…

One Dead After Early Morning Fire in Duluth Apartment

DULUTH, Minn. — One person is dead after an early morning fire that happened in Duluth. The Duluth Fire Department says the call came in just before 2:30 a.m. Thursday on the 600 block of 47th Avenue East. Fire crews located an active fire inside a unit on the first floor of a three-story, seven-unit apartment complex. Authorities say the…

Biden Delivers Solemn Call To Defend Democracy As He Lays Out Reasons For Quitting Race

Courtesy: AP WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country’s democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Biden…

Ovarian Cancer Survivors Go On a Shopping Spree at Maurices

DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance partnered with Duluth-based Maurices to bring ovarian cancer survivors on a shopping spree. Maurices brought local ovarian cancer survivors on a special shopping trip at its downtown headquarters, giving the women and their families a chance to forget the mental and physical stressors of the disease. The event allowed survivors to grab…

FinnFest Kicks Off Festivities With Floorball

DULUTH, Minn.– FinnFest began by introducing an exciting sport to their lineup of activities. Duluth is gearing up for a weekend filled with making connections, learning and teaching about the Nordic culture, and lots of Floorball. For the first time, the popular Finnish sport is being highlighted for this year’s FinnFest. Floorball is similar to hockey, and it features five…

Essentia Health Introduces New Surgical Robots

DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health held an event for the community to meet their new surgical robots. Four different robots were on display. Each of them provides a minimally invasive surgery that reduces both the time under anesthesia and recovery time. Surgeons were on hand to ask questions. People could touch and play with the robots to learn how they…

Coffee Conversation: Hoyt Lakes Water Carnival Returns July 25-28

HOYT LAKES. Minn. — The 69th annual Hoyt Lakes Water Carnival will take place Thursday, July 25, through Sunday, July 28. Organizers Nikki Swanson and Cherie Grams, Queen Allie Lamppa, and Splash the new mascot joined Fox 21 on the morning newscast Wednesday ahead of the event. The 4-day festival will include softball, volleyball and bean bag tournaments, 5K race,…

Int’l Falls: Widespread Vandalism at Forest Hill Cemetery

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. — Vandalism at Forest Hill Cemetery has left widespread damage to several gravesites across the burial ground. Over 30 headstones were tipped over and multiple statues and other items damaged or destroyed. The vandalism happened sometime between Sunday, July 14th, and Tuesday, July 16th. Authorities are investigating and working to identify the person or people responsible. A…

Remembering Duluth’s Portia Johnson; Civil Rights Advocate, Educator, Mother

DULUTH, Minn. — Longtime Duluth activist Portia Johnson died over the weekend at the age of 88. Tuesday afternoon, family members, friends, and community members gathered for a special ribbon cutting extending Portia Johnson Drive down the hill from the Duluth Public School District’s administrative offices. “She listened to the people of Duluth, their feedback and gave voice to their…

DECC Arena Struggles To Stay Cool During Recent Harbor Monsters Games

DECC calls recent arena heat level "simply unacceptable"

DULUTH, Minn. — It’s been a hot, steamy and humid summer the past few weekends, which has been nice for beachgoers, but not so nice for the Harbor Monsters and their fans after the air in the DECC arena rose to uncomfortable levels. The DECC told FOX 21 on Tuesday that the level of heat during the past two weekend…

Duluth Park & Recreational Staff Recognized for Engaging Youth Bike Program

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth youth bike program was recently recognized for their efforts of getting kids outdoors and enjoying the local parks and trails system. Duluth Parks and Recreation was awarded the Award of Excellence by the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association. The parks and recreation staff started a youth and community bike program last year and have already…

FinnFest Back at the DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — A 5-day event showcasing the Finnish culture starts Wednesday in Duluth. FinnFest is all about bringing people together and celebrating the Nordic heritage. The event features cultural food such as salmon soup and Finnish pancakes. As well as music, language seminars, and foreign affairs topics. One highlight is an up-and-coming sport in Finland called Floorball. “So, floorball…

Stuff the Bus Offers a Busload of Support for Students

DULUTH, Minn. — Students are getting a busload of support from local businesses and the public through the annual Stuff the Bus project. The goal is to gather school supplies to ease the financial burden on families. Each year, they’re able to hand out hundreds of backpacks filled with supplies to students in need throughout the Northland. This year, one…

4-H Hosts First Ever Puppet Camp at the Duluth Depot

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Depot is hosting some puppet-masters in the making this week. 4-H Duluth, in collaboration with the Depot is holding its first ever puppet camp. It’s a week-long program that aims to teach 3rd through 6th graders the art of the puppet. From choosing the story to designing the characters, these students are in control of…

Secret Service Director Resigns after Assassination Attempt Against Donald Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — The director of the Secret Service said Tuesday she’s resigning following the assassination attempt against ex-President Donald Trump that unleashed intensifying outcry about how the agency tasked with protecting current and former presidents could fail in its core mission. Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022, had been facing growing calls to resign and…

What You Need to Know About Minnesota’s New Child Passenger Safety Laws

DULUTH, Minn. — Starting August 1, there’s new ways for children to be safe while riding in vehicles. The new “5 Step Test” aims for child safety. Children must (1) sit flat against the back of the seat (2) without falling asleep consistently, (3) keeping knees at a 90-degree angle (4) with the seat belt resting across the hips and…

Grant Funded Shopping Spree for Boys and Girls Club of the Northland

DULUTH, Minn.– School will be in full swing soon enough. And one local organization received a grant for that special time of year. The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northland paired up with Kohl’s to help them with school supplies this fall. Since 2019, Kohl’s has partnered up with the organization, supporting the youth across the nation. The Duluth…

17th Annual Reggae and World Music Festival Takes Place in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park was full of dancing, culture, and connecting on Saturday. It was all part of the 17th Annual Reggae and World Music Festival. More than a half-dozen artists shared their music with the crowd. Food trucks were there, too, offering Jamaican dishes and other food from different cultures. For some, reggae fest is about…

Chisholm Armory Hosts Open House For Community

CHISHOLM, Minn. — There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of the Army National Guard. On Saturday, Military members at the Chisholm Armory had the opportunity to show the community what they all do. People could check out the armory’s fleet of vehicles. Guests also had the chance to climb inside and look around. There was a lot…

Coffee Conversation: Father/Son Duo Visit Uganda for a Music Cultural Exchange

SUPERIOR, Wisconsin/UGANDA, East Africa. — Father-son duo travel to Uganda for four weeks of cultural exchange through music and dance experiences. University of Wisconsin-Superior Student Seth Gudmunsen and his father Shawn Gudmunsen, who is the architect of the project and a teacher himself, joined Fox 21 on the morning newscast Monday to share more about the Pamoja Project. More information…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Community Service Centers Speak On Proposed Ordinance Plan

DULUTH, Minn. — Community service centers weigh-in on the recently proposed ordinance amendments to curb non-violent crimes in the City of Duluth. Damiano Center Executive Director Seth Currier and Union Gospel Mission Executive Director Katie Hagglund joined Fox 21 on the morning newscast Monday to talk more about the proposed ordinances. Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert and the Chiefs of Police…

Pedestrian Dead, Another Injured After Being Struck By Vehicle Near Coleraine

COLERAINE, Minn. – One person is dead and another is critically injured after being struck by a vehicle early Monday morning. The incident happened around 1:15 a.m. on Highway 169 near Coleraine in Itasca County. According to the report, a Chevy Monte Carlo was heading southbound when it struck two pedestrians walking in the southbound lane. Dakota Kimberly Jones, 14,…

Police: Victim Of Duluth Stabbing ‘Uncooperative’

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police are investigating a stabbing that they say involves an uncooperative victim. The stabbing happened Friday night in the area of the 100 block of East 4th Street. Officers made contact with the victim who received minor injuries. The victim refused medical attention and refused to cooperative with investigators, according to a news release. Police believe…

President Joe Biden Drops Out Of 2024 Race

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election. The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which…

Update: Coast Guard Clears ‘Vista Star’ For Operation After Striking Breakwater

Five-foot waves were reported during the incident, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.

6:15 p.m. update:  After the Vista Star struck a breakwater wall in the Wisconsin Entry to the Duluth-Superior harbor late Saturday evening, the Coast Guard inspected the hull of the boat Sunday evening and gave the all clear for operations to resume, according to Vista Fleet Owner Justin Steinbach.  He added the Vista Star cruises will start back up as…

How a faulty CrowdStrike update crashed computers around the world

The Associated Press.,– Airlines, banks, hospitals and other risk-averse organizations around the world chose cybersecurity company CrowdStrike to protect their computer systems from hackers and data breaches. But all it took was one faulty CrowdStrike software update to cause global disruptions Friday that grounded flights, knocked banks and media outlets offline, and disrupted hospitals, retailers and other services. “This is a function…

MN Power Now Estimates 5.5M Gallons of Ash Wastewater Leaked at Boswell Energy Center

COHASSET, Minn. — Minnesota Power now estimates 5.5 million gallons of ash wastewater leaked at the Boswell Energy Center. That’s over five times the initial estimate of 1 million gallons discovered on July 16. The update released on Friday, July 19, confirmed the jump in numbers. The company says, the leak could have an unknown but potentially significant portion of…

10th Annual Bike Duluth Festival Brings Together Cycling Community

The 10th Annual Bike Duluth Festival is this weekend and the fun kicked off at Spirit Mountain Friday evening. The event brings together bikers from around the country, with all different specialties and skill levels. Organizers say this year, 700 riders are signed up over 12 races. Things kicked off on with the Chainless Downhill Race. Like the name implies,…

Kids Discover Fossils at the Minnesota Discovery Center

  CHISHOLM, Minn.– Kids experienced a day full of discoveries while hunting for fossils. “Paleo- Camp” gave kids the opportunity to find fossils that are around 90 million years old. Using a variety of tools, the campers combed through the Hill Annex State Park to make discoveries of their own. They were able to find things like snails, and shark…

Duluth Man Sells Architectural Salvage He Gathers From Churches and Schools

DULUTH, Minn. — One local man has made quite the collection of unique pieces over the years and this weekend he’s hosting a sale. For over 30 years Bob Swanson has been collecting architectural stone. He will go into churches or schools to disassemble the buildings. All to find those cool pieces. At the sale you can find limestone, brownstone,…

A Behind the Scenes Look At Train Track Inspections

DULUTH, Minn.– Being out on the railroad, there is so much to take in. Unexpected landscapes, and behind the scenes projects. The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad gives people the opportunity to experience the outdoors from a new perspective. All thanks to the help of volunteers. Before all of this happens, there are countless safety measures put in place. “The…

Hermantown Fire Department Launches New Program

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — The Hermantown Fire Department has launched its new community connect program. This program is about supply first responders with vital information to better meet the needs of the community when they are called upon. Hermantown residents and businesses can voluntarily input any information that they think will aid responders. Users can outline their health or mobility issues,…

Marble and Glass Art Hunt Brings Excitement to Duluth Public Library

Duluthians visited the library to find treasures, both glass and literary

DULUTH, Minn. — The Annual Marble and Glass Art Hunt was Wednesday morning in Duluth and this year it took on a whole new meaning. Lake Superior Art Glass had a new venue for the hunt this year, the Duluth Public Library’s three branch locations. Hunters of all ages lined up to search for handcrafted marbles, pendants, and little glass…

Widespread Global Tech Outage Disrupts Flights, Banks, and Hospitals

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth International Airport posting on their Facebook page Friday that “system outages” are affecting flights there. They let customers know to check the status of their flights before arriving to the airport and to call their airline directly for assistance. FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A global technology outage caused by a faulty software update grounded flights, knocked banks…

St. Louis River Alliance Clearing Way for Endangered Piping Plovers

Heavy rain washed wood debris ashore, blocking the shorebirds from their potential new home and nesting grounds

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Volunteers and workers from the St. Louis River Alliance teamed up to remove debris from the Piping Plover habitat on Wisconsin Point. The sun was beating down on the sand along Wisconsin Point, but that didn’t deter the crew working to clear the Piping Plover Site. They chopped and burned logs and wooden debris that washed ashore,…

MnDOT Finds Unexpected Amount Of ‘Deteriorated Concrete’ On I-35 Duluth Ramp

DULUTH, Minn. – One of the most traveled I-35 ramps in Duluth will be shut down for weeks because of unexpected concrete damage. MnDOT told FOX 21 crews were planning to fix “some deteriorated concrete” on I-35 ramps in Duluth when they found additional concrete concerns on the Lake Avenue on-ramp for Northbound I-35. So because of that discovery, a…

Docherty Wins Third-Straight Park Point 5-Miler

First-Timer Chelsey Youngberg takes women's race

DULUTH, Minn.- Dan Docherty has secured his third-straight victory of the Park Point 5-Miler, finishing with a time of 24:40 in Thursday night’s race. Docherty has become the second runner to collect four Park Point 5-Miler, with his first win coming back in 2017. 5-time champion Jeremy Polson is the only runner to have won the 5-Miler more than Docherty….

Black Water Lounge To Close In Downtown Duluth

The last day of business will be July 25.

Courtesy: Black Water DULUTH, Minn. — After 15 years of serving hand-crafted martinis in downtown Duluth, Black Water Lounge has made the difficult decision to close. The lounge on the 200 block of East Superior Street is part of the Black Woods Group. Courtesy: Black Water Co-owner Julie Thoreson told FOX 21 it’s a tough decision to close, but the…