News

Rep. Stauber Meets With Northland Law Enforcement Officials Over Fentanyl Crisis

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Fentanyl has become an increasing problem in the Northland with 26 overdose deaths just alone this year. Wednesday, Congressman Pete Stauber met with St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Rasmay, Lake County Chief Deputy Timothy Louma, Hermantown Chief of Police Jim Crace, and other law enforcement officials to discuss the problems, roadblocks, and possible solutions. As of August…

Superior School District Asks for Community’s Input on Elementary Boundaries

SUPERIOR, Wis –In the 2024 -25 School year, there will be one less elementary school in Superior. That decision was made last April by the School Board.  Now, the district is asking for community input about what are the most important things to be considered when drawing new elementary boundaries. The district, along with Cooperative Strategies, has created a survey…

Emergency Crews Respond To Propane Leak At Cenovus Energy

SUPERIOR, Wis.– A propane leak at Cenovus Energy refinery caused the facility to be evacuated for a short time Wednesday morning. The Superior Fire Department was called to the refinery just before 8 a.m. to assist Cenovus’ on-site emergency response team as they used tactics to control the propane flow. Superior Fire Chief Camron Vollbrecht said, “The Cenovus emergency response…

Giuliani Turns Himself In On Georgia 2020 Election Charges After Bond Is Set At $150,000

ATLANTA (AP) — Rudy Giuliani surrendered to authorities in Georgia on Wednesday on charges alleging he acted as former President Donald Trump’s chief co-conspirator in a plot to subvert the 2020 election. The former New York City mayor, celebrated as “America’s mayor” for his leadership after 9/11, is charged with Trump and 17 other people under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and…

Officials Say A Jet Crash In Russia Kills 10, Wagner Chief Prigozhin Was On Passenger List

MOSCOW (AP) — A private jet crashed in Russia on Wednesday, killing all 10 people aboard, emergency officials said. Mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list, but it wasn’t immediately clear if he was on board. Prigozhin’s fate has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he mounted a short-lived mutiny against Russia’s military leadership in late…

New Captains Welcomed At Duluth Salvation Army

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Salvation Army is welcoming 2 new captains. Anthony and Elysia Nordan are now part of the non-profit organization. The Salvation Army moves officers around every 4 to 5 years to be able to share their experiences with other locations they’ve worked at. The Nordan’s were recently captains in Fergus Falls. They both have many years…

Employees Temporarily Evacuated From Cenovus Superior Refinery Due To Propane Leak

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Employees were temporarily evacuated from the Cenovus Superior Refinery after a propane leak happened Wednesday morning. The Superior Fire Department says at 7:53 a.m. crews initially showed up to a report of a fire but found an ongoing propane release. Emergency personnel used water fog steams to stop the release by 9:25 a.m. The fire department says…

Meet Minnesota’s New Supreme Court Chief Justice, Associate Justice

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The Minnesota Supreme Court will have a new chief justice, Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday. Justice Natalie Hudson will serve as chief justice starting in October. The move will follow the retirement of current Chief Justice Lorie Gildea. “Justice Hudson is one of our state’s most experienced jurists. She has a strong reputation as a leader and consensus…

Summer Schools Wraps Up in Gary-New Duluth Rec Center

GARY-NEW DULUTH, Minn.– Summer schools are nearing their end, and the Gary-New Duluth Rec Center held their family day for their last session of their summer camp. Kids had fun exploring the 16-acre Stowe Elementary School forest for a scavenger hunt, enjoyed some root-beer floats, and learned some new biking skills from the Duluth Parks and Recreation staff. Over the…

Unionized UPS Workers Approve Contract Leaders Agreed To In Late July

(AP) — The union representing 340,000 UPS workers said Tuesday that its members voted to approve the tentative contract agreement reached last month, putting a final seal on contentious labor negotiations that threatened to disrupt package deliveries for millions of businesses and households nationwide. The Teamsters said in a statement that 86% of the votes casts were in favor of ratifying…

New Sewing Store Coming To Miller Hill Mall

DULUTH, Minn. — A new sewing store is coming to the Miller Hill Mall this fall. The Miller Hill Mall announced Tuesday the store called Sew With Me will be offering many types of fabric, sewing machines, education, and machine service. It will be located next to Maurices and across from Five Below which is also opening in the fall….

State Department Renews Ban On Use Of US Passports For Travel To North Korea

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is extending for another year a ban on the use of U.S. passports for travel to North Korea, the State Department said Tuesday. The ban was imposed in 2017 and has been renewed every year since. The latest extension comes as tensions with North Korea are rising over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs…

Makinen Woman In Jail For Allegedly Starting House Fire

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — One woman is in jail after allegedly starting a house on fire in the Makinen area. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says authorities responded to a disturbance call early Tuesday morning. When officers arrived, they found a woman standing in a field by the house. After initial investigation a woodpile under a lean-to was…

FDA Approves RSV Vaccine For Moms-To-Be To Guard Their Newborns

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Monday approved the first RSV vaccine for pregnant women so their babies will be born with protection against the scary respiratory infection. RSV is notorious for filling hospitals with wheezing babies every fall and winter. The Food and Drug Administration cleared Pfizer’s maternal vaccination to guard against a severe case of RSV when babies are…

Local Woman Practices Alternative Forms of Medicine

DULUTH, Minn. — Most healthcare systems utilize western (conventional) medicine with pharmaceutical drugs, radiation and surgery treatments. However, holistic medicine, which takes a more natural, whole-body approach is gaining recent momentum, according to the National Institutes of Health. A local Holistic Practitioner, who is also a retired Occupational Therapist, explained how the contrasting forms of medicine can co-exist successfully. “I…

First Day of Class For Lake Superior College Students

DULUTH, Minn. — Monday was the first day of school for students at Lake Superior College. Students were back filling the hallways and classrooms at the community and technical college. Around 2,500 students are enrolled for the fall semester which is up 3% from last year. One first year student says she’s looking forward to studying psychology. “I plan on…

Sen. Tina Smith Visits Native Wise Farm Ahead in Her Efforts to Create a “Native Farm Bill”

SAWYER, Minn. — Sen. Tina Smith visited a local farm during her efforts to create a “Native Farm Bill.” Native Wise Farm in Sawyer produces a variety of crops, from wild rice, hemp, vegetables, and much more. The farm is also home to 12 plains bison. Sen. Smith talked to the owners about their operation to gather information for the…

Duluth Mayor Larson Proposes 2024 Budget With 2% Levy Increase

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Emily Larson is calling her 2024 city budget proposal a “good news story” as she presented it to the Duluth City Council Monday evening. “This budget is a good news story for workers, residents, taxpayers, and community,” says Mayor Larson.  “It reflects the priorities we’ve been hearing from the community, honors the hard work of…

Duluth Council Tables Change to Smoking Ordinance Fine

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth City Council will wait a few more weeks to finalized how much to fine people who are caught violating the city’s smoking ordinance, which now includes cannabis. Councilors could have reduce the first violation to $25, the second violation to $50, and the third and additional violations to $75 Monday evening. Currently, the fine is…

New Mixed-Income Rental Cottages Now Open For Leasing In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — New cottage-style homes are now open for leasing in West Duluth. The Fairmount Cottage Village is 18 units of mixed-income rental housing. The new development consists of inward facing homes surrounding a shared green space with sidewalks and trails. Funding for the cottages totaled over 5 million dollars. Duluth HRA’s executive director says they hope to put…

Rice Lake Road Closure Extended

Work taking longer than expected

DULUTH, Minn. — Drivers using Duluth’s Rice Lake Road will have their detour headaches extended another week. Through-traffic on Rice Lake Road is closed between Central Entrance and Arrowhead Road. A culvert on Chester Creek is being replaced, and St. Louis County says working around existing utilities has taken longer than expected. The road will now remain closed to through-traffic…

Trump Says He Will Surrender Thursday On Georgia Charges Tied To Efforts To Overturn 2020 Election

(AP) — Former President Donald Trump says he will surrender to authorities in Georgia on Thursday to face charges in the case accusing him of illegally scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss. “Can you believe it? I’ll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be ARRESTED,” Trump wrote on his social media network Monday night, hours after court papers said his…

More Duluth Road Construction and Detours

Gary New Duluth and Riverside projects add to driver challeges

DULUTH, Minn. — It’s not exactly breaking news, “Surprise!” but there are more area construction projects to keep your eye on. This time it is the streets in the neighborhoods of Gary New Duluth and Riverside. The Minnesota DOT is working on culverts along Highway 23. Monday work began at the U.S. Steel Creek culvert running under Highway 23. Because…

Car Crash Kills Gustavus Hockey Player, Injures 3 Teammates

(FOX 9) – A two-vehicle collision in western Minnesota left three members of the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team injured and another teammate dead Sunday afternoon. The crash occurred around 12:40 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway in Grace Township, approximately 50 miles from the South Dakota border, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The four Gustavus hockey…

Funding and Planning Aimed at Rural Health Care

Recruiting and training are two of the goals and challenges

Health care in smaller, rural communities faces some special challenges. A federal grant has providers hoping it can help in some ways. A project for finding and developing health care employees was the subject of a meeting at St. Luke’s Monday. Wilderness Health is a collaborative group of independent, rural health care providers serving patients in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest…

Gov. Walz, Gov. Evers Seek Federal Funds for Blatnik Bridge Project

TWIN PORTS — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced on Monday that their departments of transportation will seek over $1 billion in federal funding to rebuild the Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior. A statement from Walz said in part, “the Blatnik Bridge connects the Twin Ports communities and economies of Duluth and Superior – it…

Art In Bayfront Park Wraps Up

DULUTH, Minn. — This weekend Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth was filled with over 100 artists all with their own unique pieces. Art in Bayfront Park is a free event open to the public. The festival included homemade jewelry, painting, photography, glass, and a whole lot more. One artist who moved to Duluth from the Twin Cities creates his own…

International Duluth Marshall Students Welcomed with Rafting Trip

CARLTON, Minn. — Each year Duluth Marshall welcomes around 40 students from countries around the world to complete their school year in Duluth. This year the students were greeted with a whitewater rafting trip along with their local classmates. “It’s going to be my first-time experience, so it’s going to be kind of tough for me. I’m scared but honestly,…

Trump Says He Will Skip GOP Presidential Primary Debates

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that he will be skipping Wednesday’s first Republican presidential primary debate — and others as well. “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had,” Trump wrote on his social media site. “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!” His spokesman did not immediately clarify whether he…

Tropical Storm Hilary Carries Deluge To California After Making Landfall Along Mexico’s Baja Coast

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Deadly floodwaters inundated streets across Mexico’s arid Baja California on Sunday as Tropical Storm Hilary moved ashore carrying torrential rain into Southern California, and concerns mounted that flash floods could damage places as far north as Idaho that rarely get such heavy rain. Forecasters said Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84…

Missing Pilot & Aircraft in Cook County

UPDATE (10 p.m. 8/20/2023): Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen tells FOX 21 their search and rescue team will continue looking for the pilot and aircraft Monday morning. “The aircraft was an ultralight,” says Sheriff Eliasen, “which means it was basically an engine with a seat and other controls, this type of flying machine utilizes a parachute to keep it airborne….

18-Year-Old Woman Dies After Being Struck by Pickup at Underage Alcohol Party

SAND LAKE, WISC. –Early Saturday morning Sawyer County Deputies responded to a report of a person being struck by a vehicle. The incident took place at Snowmobile Trail number 31 north of Sissabagama Rd in the town of Sand Lake, Wisconsin. A news release from the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office reported that when Deputies arrived they found an 18-year-old woman…

Fundraiser for Family of Tammy Churness

HERMANTOWN, MINN. — There was a benefit fundraiser for Tammy Churness on Saturday, who was told in 2021 that she had breast cancer. The cancer spread throughout her body and early Friday morning she passed away. The fundraiser went on as scheduled and all the money raised will go to the family. Tig’s Smokin Pig BBQ set up its Food…

Another Good Year for the 2nd Annual ‘Far West Kidz Fest’ In Gary-New Duluth

GARY-NEW DULUTH, Minn. — Hot temps didn’t stop the party in Gary- New Duluth for the ‘Far West Kidz’ Fest Saturday. Ahead of the upcoming school year the 2nd annual kid’s fest and car show had something for everyone. Inflatables and cheers filled the lawn of the rec center in Gary-New Duluth. There were also games, face-painting and even a…

Hoghead Festival Wraps up in Proctor

PROCTOR, Minn. — It was all aboard in Proctor this week! The annual Hoghead Festival returned for its 48th year. The tradition is decades long and continues to bring the community together. The annual festival celebrates the history of the railroad industry in Proctor. The week was full of festivities, one of the big events being the car show. The…

Gondik Law Speedway Hosts 5th Annual Suicide Awareness and Prevention Night

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Gondik Law Speedway in Superior is doing their part to raise awareness for an important cause. Friday was the 5th annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Night at the speedway. Door panels of race cars were raffled off, as well as nearly 20 bikes for kids. Donations were also accepted, the money going toward foundations that focus on…

Canal Bark Welcomes Dogs “Back-to-School” too!

DULUTH, Minn. — When you typically think of back-to-school, you might think of kids, teachers, and college-aged students. However, the UMD Bulldog’s aren’t the only “canines” in Duluth gearing up for this academic school year. Dogs are back to play, run, and most importantly, eat some good treats at Canal Bark’s day camp — while their humans head back to…

Bus Drivers Needed Now

BARNUM, MINN. — In just over a week Barnum Schools, like most schools in Minnesota will start the day after Labor Day. Last year Barnum had eight routes and eight drivers, bringing students to and from school. This year they have just 5 drivers. That’s a real problem and the Transportation Supervisor for both Barnum and Willow River schools is…

Shipping Industry Applauds Stauber

Minnesota's 8th district congressman touted for his support for navigation on the Great Lakes

Shipping on the Great Lakes is crucial to the regional economy and how the U.S. gets many of the things it needs. Friday, a coalition of those relying on and advocating for the navigation system, thanked Minnesota Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber for his efforts. Stauber was named Legislator of the Year by the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force. Eighty…