News

Swiftwater Adventures Closes Due To Flood Levels Causing Dangerous Conditions, Now Reopen

CARLTON, Minn. — A whitewater rafting business on the St. Louis River was forced to close for a few days due to high flooding levels causing dangerous conditions. Swiftwater Adventures owner and operator says last week’s rain caught up to them on Sunday. Water levels passed the company’s safe thresholds for rafting. The water was close to 25,000 cubic feet…

Grandma’s Marathon 2024 Recap

DULUTH, Minn. — The 48th annual Grandma’s Marathon is over and it’s one for the record books. It had the most combined runners ever. More than 17,500 total in the marathon, the half, and the 5K. The weekend went well although earlier in the week there was a good deal of concern about the forecast. There was quite a bit…

Coffee Conversation: One Roof Community Housing talks Homeownership

DULUTH, Minn. — June is National Homeownership Month, and with increased home prices and higher interest rates the U.S. housing market can be intimidating. Enter One Roof Community Housing. One Roof Senior Director of Community Land Trust Jim Philbin and Housing Services Manager Niki Kolodge joined FOX 21 on the morning newscast Tuesday with information about homeownership locally. The two…

Single Vehicle Crash Causes Damage To Duluth Railroad Tracks, Minor Injuries Occurred

DULUTH, Minn. — A single vehicle crash happened Monday morning causing damage to some railroad tracks in Duluth. The driver walking away with minor injuries. It happened at 8:50 a.m. around East Superior Street and North 45th Avenue East. The Duluth Police Department says the vehicle was traveling eastbound at extreme speeds when it left the roadway and struck a…

Duluth’s Costco Evacuated Due To Refrigerant Leak, Back Open To The Public

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s Costco was evacuated after smoke was reported coming from the store on Monday afternoon. Authorities say when the Duluth Fire Department arrived, they found a refrigerant leak due to some work on the refrigeration system by workers. Officials say the fire department vented the building and will continue to monitor the situation. The store is now back…

Midwest Flooding Collapses A Rail Bridge, Forces Evacuations And Kills At Least 1

(AP) — A railroad bridge collapsed during flooding in the Midwestern U.S. that has forced water rescues, led to evacuations, caused at least one death and brought additional misery during a vast and stubborn heat wave. The bridge connecting North Sioux City, South Dakota, with Sioux City, Iowa, collapsed into the Big Sioux River late Sunday, an emergency manager said….

Coffee Conversation: Local Band to Release New Music Video Filmed at Duluth Armory

DULUTH, Minn. — Local band Indecent Proposal will release a music video for their new song “Albright” on Tuesday, June 25, filmed in the Historic Duluth Armory on London Road. The band joined FOX 21 on the morning newscast Monday to talk about the production. The crew also played a sneak peak of original song “Glow” that has yet to…

Rain Won’t Stop Midsummer Celebrations for the Northland’s Finnish Americans

Sampo Beach Lodge was full of Finnish traditions and festivities for the whole family this afternoon

SAGINAW, Minn. — Finnish Americans and friends gathered at Sampo Beach in Saginaw, Minnesota on Saturday to celebrate Juhannas, also known as Midsummer. A typical Midsummer celebration would involve lots of outdoor games and time spent in the lake. This year, on-and-off rain showers kept the festivities inside. The weather couldn’t stop the fun, with a bake sale, live music,…

Sanclemente, Gomez Take Home Grandma’s Marathon Wheelchair Titles.

Weather forces several to cancel

DULUTH, Minn.- Before this year’s Grandma’s Marathon runners crossed the finish line, competitors in the wheelchair division earned their place in the spotlight. Luis Francisco Sanclemente of Colombia won the men’s wheelchair division, finishing with a personal best time of 1:22:07. It was 2:05 away from the course record, set by Aaron Pike in 2022. Sanclemente finished just 17 seconds…

Barno Wins 6th Grandma’s Marathon, Mazuronak Sets Women’s Record

Kenya's Barno Grandma's only six-time men's champion

DULUTH, Minn- A repeat champion and a newcomer-turned-record holder are this year’s winners in the 48th annual Grandma’s Marathon. Elisha Barno of Kenya has successfully defended his title in the men’s race, finishing at 2:10:54. This marks his 6th Grandma’s Marathon victory, which is more than anyone else in the race’s 48 years. His finishing time ranks third fastest among…

Course Records Shattered in Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon

Ramakangoana, Frisbie earn fastest times

DULUTH, Minn.- Both of the fastest times for the men’s and women’s races in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon’s history were broken on Saturday. For the men, Tebello Ramakangoana of Lesotho finished in 1:00:17, breaking Meb Keflezighi’s 2013 record of 1:01:22 by over a minute. Tsegay Weldlibanos earned second place with a time of 1:02:04. In the women’s race, Annie…

Three Longtime Grandma’s Volunteers Inducted Into Hall of Fame

DULUTH, Minn. — Longtime Grandma’s Marathon volunteers were officially inducted into the Grandma’s Hall of Fame. Greg Helgeson, Paul Iverson, and Bob Larkin were all inducted for their longtime contributions to the race and community. Iverson has been volunteering since 1979 and made it to all but two marathons. Helgeson has been involved with more than 20. Larkin has been…

Essentia Health Fitness Expo Launches Grandma’s Marathon Weekend

DULUTH, Minn. — As the Grandma’s crowd gets settled in before tomorrow’s race, runners gathered at the DECC for the Essentia Health Fitness Expo. Starting last night, runners had the chance to grab their race packets with all necessary information for the big day. Every year the expo displays the latest in athletic wear and gear from over 100 vendors….

Local Musicians Participate in Make Music Day

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Sounds of music filled the streets in Superior, Friday, for Make Music Day. Make Music Day is a worldwide celebration, where local musicians showcase their talent during outdoor festivals. For the third year, the City of Superior partook in the musical celebration hosting around 30 performers over 16 venues. All styles, ages and experience levels of musicians…

Jury: Sanussi Bangoura Guilty in Fatal Drive-By Shooting

DULUTH, Minn. — A 22-year-old Duluth man has been found guilty for his involvement in the death of a man and injuring another last august. The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office says a jury has found 22-year-old Sanussi Bangoura guilty of three felonies including aiding and abetting second degree murder and drive-by shooting. Bangoura and his co-defendent 25-year-old Brandon Williams-Gillard shot…

Grandma’s Spaghetti Dinner Readies to Feed Thousands

DULUTH, Minn. — Grandma’s Marathon puts on a spaghetti dinner each year dating back to when the rate got its start in 1976. In the DECC’s industrial kitchens, the magic happens as food preparations are underway to feed over 5,000 runners, friends and guests at the much anticipated spaghetti dinner at Grandma’s Marathon. This year’s head chef is Jerry Carpenter,…

Ashland County Sheriff Received $228 Thousand to Aid the Fight Against Opioids

ASHLAND, Wis. — It kills more Wisconsinites a year than car crashes. Opioids, a powerful prescribed painkiller, has overwhelmed communities across the country. In 2023, Wisconsin saw just over 1,300 opioid-related deaths. To combat rising opioid death rates, the state of Wisconsin has announced grants being awarded to law enforcement agencies state-wide.  “As Attorney General, my top priority is public…

Michipicoten Returns to the Duluth/Superior Harbor

DULUTH, Minn. — On Thursday, June 20, the 689-foot Michipicoten safely arrived back to the Twin Ports after spending nearly two weeks in Thunder Bay, Ontario for temporary repair. The vessel suffered a crack to its hull on June 8, taking on significant water near Isle Royale on Lake Superior. Thursday night, the ship was escorted 180 miles by the…

Cook Community Leans On Each Other As Swollen River Takes Over Downtown

Gov. Walz will visit Cook and Biwabik on Thursday to survey the flood damage.

COOK, Minn. – The small, close-knit city of Cook is dealing with a big problem.  The swollen Littlefork River has sent feet of water into the low-lying downtown. Homes and businesses are surrounded by water.  Some basements have feet of water, according to locals. There was a slight sign of relief Thursday because forecasters believe the river has hit its…

UPDATE: Two Juveniles Arrested in Robbery and Assault of 75-year-old Man

DULUTH, Minn. — Two male juveniles, a 14-year-old and 16-year-old, were arrested Wednesday, June 19 in the assault and robbery of a 75-year-old man in the DECC parking ramp. UPDATE (6/20): The juveniles are facing pending charges of Aid and Abet 1st Aggravated Robbery and 3rd Degree Riot charges. They were detained at about 10:30 pm on Wednesday, June 19…

Littlefork River Flooding Downtown Cook

COOK, Minn. — The downtown area of Cook is flooding from a rising creek, and it’s only going to get worse, according to forecasters. Forecasters are predicting the swollen Littlefork River will continue to rise sending more water into Cook, raising the water by a half foot to even a foot. FOX 21 will have more on this story tonight…

Biwabik and Giant’s Ridge Area Feel Storm’s Wrath

Police watch area and lawmaker says damages in "tens of millions" of dollars

Some areas of the Northland had stalled cars, washed out roads and flooded basements. It other places, the earth literally opened up. That was the case along a portion of the Mesabi Bike Trail near Biwabik, with a gaping cave-in between Giants Ridge and Highway 135. Tuesday night emergency crews were called into the rainy darkness to deal with a…

Flood Aftermath in the Iron Range

The Iron Range was hit with heavy rainfall Tuesday, resulting in many basements and roadways being flooded.

HIBBING, Minn. — One day after a large storm brought severe rainfall to the Iron Range, parts of Hibbing are left with multiple roadways still flooded over. There were also many reports of basements flooded in Hibbing and surrounding areas. “The little bit in the basement just kind of got it wet, we had to move and basically clean it…

Latest on Road Closures and Rainfall Totals Following Severe Weather

NORTHLAND – Severe storms brought plenty of disasters in northern Minnesota Tuesday night. The National Weather Service reports 1.5 to more than 7 inches of rain have fallen within just a few hours. Tornadic wind speeds brought reports of a waterspout spotted outside of Tofte at 5:19 p.m., a confirmed tornado outside of Cotton, and funnel clouds spotted over Moose…

FOX 21 Local News At 9: Tuesday’s Severe Weather Coverage

NORTHLAND — Video from viewers from around the Northland shows manholes unable to hold all the rain water in Bovey. The streets were comparable to small riverways. A similar story comes out of McKinley, as the heavy rainfall sends water down the streets and around homes. Video from viewers in Hibbing shows parking lots flooded. With vehicle owners moving cars…

Grandma’s Marathon Officials Monitoring Weather Threats

DULUTH, Minn. — With Grandmas Marathon taking place this weekend, organizers are keeping a close eye on potential weather threats. Race staff have been working with the National Weather Service to monitor rain events and patterns for the race weekend are showing rain with potential thunderstorms. Organizers say the race is currently as planned but they will continue to watch…

Coffee Conversation: What Runners Should Know Ahead of Grandma’s Marathon

DULUTH, Minn. — The final sprint is on to Grandma’s Marathon. Here’s what runners should know before race day. Essentia Health Athletic Trainer Christina Nistler, who has also ran 10 marathons, joined FOX 21 on the morning newscast Tuesday to talk about how runners can stay healthy before and after a big race like Grandma’s Marathon. Nistler also talked about…

Lake Superior Zoo Kicks Off Pollinator Week

DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Zoo is celebrating a special week. A week celebrating an important part of nature. Pollinators are responsible for keeping the ecosystem alive and thriving. The Lake Superior Zoo kicked off the week with pollinator day, where they highlighted the keystone species. “Coming to the zoo, you can learn about pollinators and learn about native and…

Neighbor’s “Quick Action” Saves Three and a House from Overnight Fire

DULUTH, Minn. — A neighbor is being credited for their “quick response” in saving three people and a house from fire early Tuesday morning. According to the Duluth Fire Department, fire broke out at a house on West 6th street at about 12:12 Tuesday morning. Upon arrival, crews discovered the front steps and porch engulfed in flames. Officers made sure…

Minnesota Rural Health Conference Going on in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn — Health professionals from across the state are at the DECC for the Minnesota Rural Health Conference. The workforce shortage is one of the main topics during the two-day conference. The issue is not limited to doctors and nurses, but the whole spectrum of providers.This includes administrative workers who can help manage and keep costs in check. Alyssa…

Carrying the Torch for Special Olympics

DULUTH, MINN — The Special Olympics Minnesota Annual Torch Run across the state went through Duluth today. The Minnesota Special Olympic Games began last weekend and this weekend will be at Stillwater High School. In addition to officers from The Duluth Police Department, officers from UMD, Hermantown, and the 148th Fighter Wing Security were taking part in the torch run…