News

Psychology Conference a Chance for Students to Present Research

15th Annual Twin Ports Undergraduate Psychology Conference Held at CSS

DULUTH, Minn. – A psychology conference at the College of St. Scholastica gave students a chance to share their research from the past year. UMD, UWS, and CSS students attended the 15th annual conference that included keynote presentations by psychology professionals and a poster session where students could discuss their work with each other. “I think it’s just great to…

Concerned Residents Focus on Ending Poverty in Two Harbors

A group in the community started the program Beacons of Hope with a goal of tackling some key issues they believe haveled to increased poverty

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – There’s a growing poverty concern in the small tourist city of Two Harbors and the community is not sitting back on the issue. Residents are taking a proactive approach at putting an end to poverty within the city. A group in the community started the program Beacons of Hope with a goal of tackling some key…

Mayor Larson Recognizes Local Volunteers

Event was Part of Day for Recognition for National Service

DULUTH, Minn. – Mayor Emily Larson honored local volunteers Tuesday as part of the Day for Recognition for National Service. All of the represented groups were associated with the Corporation for National Service.  In Duluth, that means organizations like AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. The Mayor also visited a couple service sites to see volunteers in action and came away with…

Duluth Women’s Health Center Offers Free STD Testing

DULUTH, Minn. — Certain sexually transmitted infections are on the rise; so the Women’s Health Center in Duluth offered free testing all day today. “Free STI Testing Day” is an effort from the Minnesota Department of Health to curb the rates of certain diseases. A urine sample will test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and a blood sample will test for…

Seniors Learn Healthy Tips at Fair

Fair Provided Residents with Easy Access to Health Information

DULUTH, Minn. – Local health providers and students from the College of St. Scholastica teamed up to help seniors stay healthy. The Benedictine Living Community held its 2nd annual Senior Health Fair Tuesday.  In addition to exhibits from local businesses, CSS Exercise Physiology students were on hand for health checks creating a one–stop shop for residents’ health needs. “It’s hard…

Researchers Learn About Cross Laminated Timber

New Technique Allows Buildings to be Constructed Using Wood

DULUTH, Minn – Officials at the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resource Research Institute got a look at new construction techniques using wood. The seminar, put on by WoodWorks, examined how using Cross Laminated Timber helps both forest management and reducing carbon footprints. With CLT, buildings as many as eight stories high can be built using only wood.  Even wood once…

Minnesota Company, MyPillow ‘Forced to Lay Off’ 140 Workers

FOX 9 - KMSP

(KMSP) – MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell says his company was “forced to lay off” 140 workers in Chaska, Minnesota. The MyPillow inventor and company founder didn’t say why the layoffs were needed, but said he doesn’t take decisions like this lightly, and the layoffs were “very unexpected.” Lindell added the company is working on new commercials and hopes to begin…

Ashland School District Awarded Fab Lab Grant

WEDC grants awarded during "Fab Lab Day" in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Governor Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced Tuesday, 21 school districts that have been awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to establish and expand local fabrication laboratory (fab lab) facilities. A fab lab is a high-technology workshop equipped with computer controlled manufacturing components such as 3D printers, laser engravers, computer numerical control routers, and…

Superior Water, Light and Power Begins Installation of Advanced Meters

Project will enhance customer service and experience

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior Water, Light, and Power’s (SWL&P) plan to replace analog meters with advanced digital meters moves forward this month. Installation of these meters began around mid-April in the Billings Park area of Superior. The work is part of a five-year plan to deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure, which is a reliable and proven technology that is being used…

Trump Slaps Tariff on Canadian Softwood Lumber

Escalates Trade Dispute Between the Two Countries

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Trump administration has moved to impose a 20 percent tariff on softwood lumber entering the United States from Canada, escalating an intensifying trade dispute between the two countries. The president announced the decision during a gathering with conservative media outlets at the White House Monday evening. Trump’s initial comments were relayed by four people who were…

Frito Lay Issues Recall Due to Salmonella Risks

Frito Lay announced a voluntary recall of select Jalapeno Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips and Jalapeno Flavored Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips due to the potential presence of Salmonella in the seasoning. This action is a direct result of a seasoning blend which includes jalapeno power that could contain Salmonella. There have been no confirmed illnesses related to this…

Stamping Out Hunger in the Northland

Tips for Annual Food Donation Campaign

DULUTH, Minn. – In May letter carriers will be delivering more than the mail. They’ll also be picking up and delivering food donations. The Annual Letter Carriers Food Drive is taking place Saturday, May 13. Those interested in donating should place their donation goods next to their mailbox by 9 a.m. that day for pick up. Scott Van Daele, Director of Distributive…

Minnesota Couple Accused of Sexually Assaulting Teenage Girl

Michael and Heather Germain Photo: Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office GOODHUE, Minn. (AP) – A southeastern Minnesota couple is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and trying to recruit her for a swinger’s lifestyle. Michael Lowell Germain, 43 and 49-year-old Heather Laverne Germain of Goodhue appeared in court Monday on charges including criminal sexual conduct and interfering with the privacy…

Historic Duluth Estate to Host Annual Gala

2017 Glensheen Gala Focuses on French Culture

DULUTH, Minn. – Soon, Glensheen Mansion will be opening the doors to guests for an evening full of class and celebration. The Annual Glensheen Gala is Saturday, May 13 from 7-10 p.m. This year, the event follows a French theme with appropriate food and drink selections. Glensheen will be opening rarely-seen spaces as well as some not available to the…

ATV Accident Northwest of Bemidji

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies responded to a call of an Off-Highway Vehicle accident in the 17000 block of Nelson Dam Rd in Buzzle Township, approximately 15 miles northwest of Bemidji. Deputies and Bemidji Ambulance arrived on scene to investigate the crash, which revealed that a 64-year-old female rolled a 1995 Honda Fourtax ATV….

Bent Paddle Brewing Company is Paddling it Foward

Meet this week's Knowing Your Neighbors

DULUTH, Minn. – In this week’s Knowing Your Neighbor, photojournalist Graham Hakala, takes us to Bent Paddle, where they’re on a mission to do more than serve up a refreshing brew. For more information on Bent Paddle’s Paddle It Forward initiative and how they continually work to minimize their carbon footprint, visit their website www.bentpaddlebrewing.com Categories: Business, Features, Knowing Your Neighbor,…

Trump, Walker Discuss Wisconsin Dairy Dispute

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Governor Scott Walker says he spoke with President Donald Trump about the nearly 40 Wisconsin dairy farmers desperately seeking help after being dropped by their milk buyer following a Canadian policy change. Walker told Trump on Twitter Tuesday that it was “great” to speak to him that morning and thanked him for supporting Wisconsin dairy farmers….

UMD Hosts Shark Tank Competition

Students present their business ideas to local leaders

DULUTH, Minn. – UMD students got the chance to show off their business skills in a Shark Tank style competition on Monday. Six presenters showed off their business ideas to their peers, as well as local business leaders. Each presenter would give their business pitch, and took questions from the panel and the audience. The competition was modeled after the…

Free Lead Testing for Young Children

The Lead Testing Will Be Held Again on Tuesday

DULUTH, Minn.- From toys and jewelry to soil and dust, lead can be found everywhere. But it’s not a normal part of the human body, and too much lead exposure can cause serious health problems, especially in children. That’s why the American Lung Association and Sustainable Resources Center joined forces to provide kids 6 years and younger, pregnant people, and…

Gypsy Moth Spraying Coming Back to Wisconsin

Douglas County Will be One of Many Counties Getting Sprayed for Gypsy Moths

MADISON, Wis.-An annual rite of spring in western and central Wisconsin counties is about to return. Starting next week, the distinctive sound of loud, low-flying airplanes spraying an insecticide to combat the invasive gypsy moth caterpillar will return. The spraying is scheduled for 20 counties weather permitting. The gypsy moth are non-native pests that defoliate trees, causing stress and possible…

Wisconsin at High Risk of Wildfires After Dry Weather

Burning Permits Halted in Multiple Counties

GREEN BAY, Wis.-The Department of Natural Resources has deemed most of Wisconsin at a “high” or “very high” risk of wildfires following several days of sunny weather with no rain. According to reports, the department has also halted burning permits in multiple counties with the concern that dry grass and high winds provide the perfect equation for a wildfire to…

House Republicans Pass Abortion Bills

Governor has Vetoed Similar Bills Before

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota House has passed legislation that would increase restrictions on abortions in Minnesota. The bills, passed on the strength of Republican votes, require abortion providers to obtain permits from the state’s health department and would ban the use of state funds for abortions. The Senate is planning to take up the permitting bill next…

Two Juveniles Confess to Playground Fire

Juveniles Will Attend Class to Avoid Future Fire Starting Behavior

DULUTH, Minn.-Two juveniles have confessed to starting the fire and vandalizing the playground at Bay View Elementary School in the early hours of April 15. Both juveniles have agreed to attend the Duluth Fire Department FIRST (fire intervention referral safety team) class. Those classes provide educational intervention to ward off future fire-starting behavior for young people prone to that. Reports…

911 Restored in Douglas County

Was Restored at About 5:30 a.m.

SUPERIOR, Wis.-The 911 service in Douglas County is back to being fully operational. Fox 21 was told it was restored at about 5:30 a.m. today. There’s no word yet on what caused the outage. Categories: News, News – Latest News Tags: news duluth 911

Council Approves Spirit Mountain Budget Amid Financial Woes

Two Years With Tough Weather Has Resort On Edge

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve Spirit Mountain’s new budget for the upcoming season. This, as the attraction on the hill is coming off a nearly 10 percent revenue drop and 6.5 percent increase in expenses, according to councilor Joel Sipress.  And when those numbers are balanced out, Spirit Mountain saw a profit of…

New Spirit Pole Raised at UW-Superior to Honor Anishinaabe Culture

A ceremony was held on campus to honor the indigenous people who once lived on the land the campus sits on

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – A ceremony was held at UW-Superior to honor the indigenous people who lived on the land the campus sits on. Each spring, a new spirit pole is decorated with an eagle feather and colored ribbons, then raised as a symbol of connecting past generations to the present. Today, members of the Lake Superior Chippewa band led a…

Minnesota Couple Collaborates to Create Visual Memoir of Holocaust Survival

Sandra Brick has been working the last 9 years to craft the pieces of art based on her husband Fred Amram's story

DULUTH, Minn. – After narrowly escaping Nazi German with his Jewish family more than 70 years ago, Fred Amram is sharing his story of survival and he’s doing it with the help of his wife. Over the past nine years, Amram’s wife Sandra Brick has been collaborating with her husband, creating pieces of art to help visually tell his story….

Superior Mayor Asks City Councilor to Resign After Domestic Violence Incident

Graham Garfield is Facing Criminal Charges for the Incident

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Superior Mayor Jim Paine publicly demanded Councilor Graham Garfield to resign from his position on the Superior City council. Garfield is facing criminal charges after an alleged domestic violence incident on Friday. According to court documents Garfield allegedly bit his fiancée on the top of the head, and pointed a gun at her. As the Mayor, Paine doesn’t…

Man Extradited to Douglas County for Connection to New Years Homicide in Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. – On January 9, 2017, an arrest warrant for Jamar Maurice Smith was issued in Douglas County, according to Douglas County District Attorney, Mark Fruehauf. Smith is being charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and misdemeanor bail jumping in connection with an incident that occurred on New Years Day in Superior, Wisconsin outside the…

Traffic Detours and Closures Expected During Bridge Inspections

Delays Should be Expected

DULUTH, Minn.-The Minnesota Department of Transportation will close traffic lanes and detour traffic during bridge inspections this week in many parts of the Northland. The inspections are to keep bridges in good working order. Motorists are reminded to slow down in work zones. Among the areas where there will be issues include: April 24: The ramp from northbound Interstate 535…

Missing Level 3 Sex Offender from Minnesota Found in California

Michael Costa MINNESOTA – Level III Predatory Offender, Michael James Costa was taken into custody in California over the weekend after he was no longer compliant with the conditions of his release, mid-April. Costa had been on a fugitive status after absconding from his supervised release in Rochester, Minnesota. He was arrested near Van Nuys, California after information led investigators…

Council Looks to Pass Mini-Master Trail Plan

Looking to Approve it Tonight

DULUTH, Minn.-The Duluth City Council is looking at approving the mini-master trail plan for the community. The goal of the plan is to figure out what trail system best fits the needs of Duluth. The Duluth Traverse is bike-optimized to produce world class mountain biking experiences. Categories: News, News – Latest News Tags: duluth news biking

911 Out in Parts of Douglas County and Superior

Call 715-394-4432 if You Can't Reach 911

SUPERIOR, Wis.-911 service is currently out in parts of Superior and Douglas County. It’s affecting both landlines and cell phones in the area. If you can’t reach 911, call the number on your screen at 715-394-4432. If that doesn’t work, you will need to go to your local fire department to report an emergency. Categories: News, News – Latest News Tags:…

Fraser Found of No Wrongdoing in Case Where Employee Died

Fraser was Fined $7,500

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Fraser Shipyards has been fined $7,500 by the Occupational Safety Health Administration, while be found of no wrongdoing in connection with a February incident, where an employee was burned when he was working on a vessel undergoing repairs. The victim, Joseph Burch, died earlier this month. “We want to enhance the safety of all Fraser team members…

Device that Looked Like Military Mortar in Ashland Causes Scare

Turned Out to be Harmless Training Round

ASHLAND, Wis.– Authorities say a device found in the debris of a garage fire in Ashland that looked like a military mortar round turned out to be a harmless training round. Firefighters in the northwestern Wisconsin city discovered the device Friday and weren’t sure whether it was a live round or not. As a precaution, homes within a two–block radius…

Wisconsin Dairy Farms Face Closure Due to Canadian Policies

MOSINEE, Wis. (AP) – A cheese factory in central Wisconsin is offering a lifeline to a handful of dairy farms threatened by Canada’s milk pricing policies that may force other farms to close. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Mullins Cheese Vice President Bill Mullins signed contracts to buy milk from eight family-owned operations. A local milk processor, Greenwood-based Grassland…

Dayton Looks to Move Preservation Agency Under His Administration

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Governor Mark Dayton wants his administration to oversee the state’s preservation agency instead of the Minnesota Historical Society. Dayton says the agency would be more efficient and accountable if it’s moved to the executive branch. The governor support for a bill that would accomplish the move comes months after the Historical Society took a stand…

Researchers Find Unique U.S. Declaration of Independence Copy in England

The team studied the document for two years before sharing their findings

LONDON (AP) — A unique copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence has been discovered in an unexpected place – England. The copy, similar to the one viewed by millions each year at the National Archives in Washington has been locked away in a local records office in southeast England forgotten by historians. Its significance wasn’t understood until recently, when…

Bills to Fight Homelessness in Wisconsin Up for Vote

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Proposals designed to fight homelessness in Wisconsin are up for a vote before the Legislature’s budget committee. The Joint Finance Committee was scheduled to vote on approving the measures Monday. The bills have won praise from housing advocates who have applauded Republican lawmakers for addressing the problem of homelessness for the first time in years. One…

First Battalion Aviation Unit Deploys to the Middle East

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Dozens of Wisconsin National Guard members from the First Battalion’s 147th Aviation unit are being sent to the Middle East until January. Hundreds of friends and family members attended a special send-off ceremony at Madison College over the weekend to show support for 85 soldiers. The Associated Press reports that Major General Don Dunbar told the…

Michigan Street Utilities Upgrade Scheduled

Work to begin May 1

DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth Public Works and Utilities is partnering with Minnesota Power to conduct utility work along Michigan Street, set to begin on Monday, May 1. The project will include replacing electrical ducts, gas infrastructure, and water mains on a section of West Michigan Street in downtown Duluth between 1st and 3rd Avenues. During the week…

Oliver Bridge Construction Begins Today

Will Last Until the Fall

DULUTH, Minn.-The Oliver Railroad Bridge rehabilitation project began today. This is the second year Canadian National Railroad has worked on the bridge, with the goal of making it stronger. The work will cause daytime closure of the roadway below the rail bridge from 8 a-m to 5 p-m on weekdays. The daily closures are expected to last into the fall….

Roses Rising in the Rose Garden

The Roses Have Been Buried All Winter

DULUTH, Minn.- Volunteers and park maintenance worked Saturday to uncover the flowers at the Leif Erickson Park rose garden. The roses were buried in the ground using the Minnesota Rose tip method for many months, to protect them from the harsh conditions of a Northland winter. Now that Spring is here, the flowers are ready to come out and bloom….

UMD’s Department of Art and Design Opens for the Public Today

Students displayed creative work

DULUTH, Minn. – UMD’s Department of Art and Design had their doors open for the public today. Students displayed creative work and demoed various art processes such as stone lithography printmaking, screen printing, ceramics wheel throwing, welding, stop motion animation, and digital art techniques including interactive activities. “It’s really nice to see such a concentrated amount of their work put…

Miller Hill Mall Expands Support for Breast Cancer Research through Bowling Tournament

Bowling for a Cure

DULUTH, Minn. – The Miller Hill Mall is a long-time supporter of the Susan G. Komen organization. This year, the mall is stepping up their support for the organization through a new event. That event is the Miller Hill Bowling for a Cure Tournament. It’s being held at Skyline Lanes on Thursday, April 27 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Skyline Lanes is…