Public Safety

Former Duluth Police Chief Joins Race For St. Louis County Sheriff

DULUTH, Minn. – Former Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay is officially in the race for St. Louis County Sheriff. Ramsay joins two other candidates for the job — St. Louis County Undersheriff Jason Lukovsky and Moose Lake police officer Chad Walsh. “Reducing crime in the county is goal number one,” said Ramsay in a news release Tuesday. “To do that…

Duluth Crews To Remove Snow In Downtown Business District Wed., Thurs.

DULUTH, Minn. – With spring-like air on the way, the city of Duluth will be removing piles of snow throughout the Downtown Business District this week. Starting Wednesday, crews will begin removing snow on Michigan Street from 6th Avenue West to 3rd Avenue East. Then on Thursday, crews will remove snow from 6th Avenue West down to Michigan on the…

Senators Klobuchar, Smith Secure Funding For Lift Bridge, Duluth 911

DULUTH, Minn. – More than $1 million in federal funding is headed to Duluth to revitalize the Aerial Lift Bridge and modernize the city’s 911 system. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, both Democrats representing Minnesota, made the announcement Monday. They say $500,000 will go to infrastructure improvements on the Lift Bridge and $750,000 will help modernize the Duluth…

Minnesota DNR: Clear Ice Houses Off Northern Lakes By March 21st

If you have any trouble, officials say to just contact your local DNR officer for help.

DULUTH, Minn.- The deadline is nearing for Minnesota anglers on frozen lakes north of Highway 2 and 10 to bring their ice houses back to shore. Midnight on March 21st is the cutoff for the Northern part of the state — a couple of weeks later than the March 7th deadline for Southern Minnesota, as the ice stays thicker longer…

Snapshots Of 4 Men Charged In Whitmer Kidnapping Plot

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — After more than two days of testimony, jurors have unflattering snapshots of four men who are charged with planning to strike back against government by kidnapping Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from her weekend home. Prosecutors introduced videos, messages and secretly recorded conversations full of antigovernment screeds, mostly expressed by Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox, who are described…

Liberal US Cities Change Course, Now Clearing Homeless Camps

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Makeshift shelters abut busy roadways, tent cities line sidewalks, tarps cover broken-down cars, and sleeping bags are tucked in storefront doorways. The reality of the homelessness crisis in Oregon’s largest city can’t be denied. “I would be an idiot to sit here and tell you that things are better today than they were five years ago…

Coast Guard Cutter Spar Headed to New Home in Duluth

The Coast Guard Cutter Alder left Duluth for Baltimore in mid-June 2021 and is expected to move to its new homeport in San Francisco this summer.

Photo: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter SPAR Facebook Page DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spar is traveling from Baltimore to its new homeport in Duluth. The crew’s duties will include maintaining aids to navigation, domestic icebreaking, search and rescue, and law enforcement. The Spar was commissioned in 2001 and originally based in Kodiak, Alaska. The 225-foot buoy…

Cause Of Superior Warehouse Fire Ruled ‘Undetermined’

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior Fire Department has ended its investigation without a cause of a massive January warehouse fire that took down two historic buildings on the city’s North End near the Blatnik Bridge. Camron Vollbrecht, battalion chief for the Superior Fire Department, said investigators were able to determine the fire appears to have started in the northern half…

Officials: 7 Dead After Tornadoes Tore Through Central Iowa

Betty Hope of Winterset, Iowa, searches for items worth keeping at her home as cleanup efforts are underway on Sunday, March 6, 2022, after a tornado tore through an area southwest of town on Saturday. (Bryon Houlgrave/The Des Moines Register via AP) WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say seven people are dead after tornadoes swept through central Iowa, destroying homes,…

Gov. Walz Directs State Agencies To End Russian Contracts

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz has directed state agencies to terminate any contracts with Russian entities to punish the country for invading Ukraine. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Walz issued an executive order on Friday directing more than two dozen state agencies to end their contracts. He also asked his cabinet not to enter into any future contracts…

Some City of Duluth Plow Drivers Refuse to Work Overtime For Saturday Storm as Union Members Prepare to Vote on Contract Agreement

On Saturday city officials said snowplows would be out for this storm through the city, but the fleet would be operating fewer than normal.

DULUTH, Minn.- Some plow drivers refused to come in to work overtime for this weekend’s winter storm as the City of Duluth says their contract requires them to do. While the reasoning is unclear at this time, this comes as a tentative contract agreement was reached in the 11th hour between union workers and the city administration. On Saturday city…

Duluth Police Chief Testifies For ‘Statewide Missing And Murdered Indigenous Fund’

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Duluth’s newly created Missing and Murdered Indigenous Fund is gaining attention as the state capitol. Members of the Minnesota House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Committee met Thursday to hear testimony from members involved with the fund, including Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken. The bill would create a reward fund to help get information and…

Wisconsin Prisons To Allow In-Person Visits Again

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin prisons will allow in-person visits again beginning next week as COVID-19 cases continue to decline. Department of Corrections officials said Friday that they will reopen their facilities to visitors starting Tuesday. The prison system initially closed its doors to visitors in March 2020 as the pandemic was taking hold. The DOC reopened to visits in…

Sentence, State Trial Loom For Ex-Cops In Floyd’s Killing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Three former Minneapolis police officers convicted of violating George Floyd’s civil rights now face federal sentences that one expert says could range from less than five years in prison to as much as the 25 years prosecutors are seeking for Derek Chauvin. A comprehensive process to determine how that plays out could take months. Meanwhile, the officers…

Duluth Police: 20-Year-Old Arrested in Alleged Baseball Bat Assault in Central Hillside Friday

Investigators learned someone living at one of the apartments allegedly assaulted a resident of another apartment with a baseball bat. 

DULUTH, Minn.- A 20-year-old man is in jail after an assault with a baseball bat occurred in Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood Friday. According to a spokesperson with the Duluth Police Department, at 3:15 p.m. Friday officers responded to an assault at an address in the 300 Block of North 2nd Avenue East. Investigators learned someone living at one of the…

Gov. Walz Visits Duluth to Discuss what $300 Million Public Safety Proposal Could Mean for City

Duluth would receive about $1.5 million per year from the budget surplus for public safety improvements.

DULUTH, Minn.- Governor Tim Walz stopped in Duluth, as part of his statewide public safety tour to discuss what his $300 million public safety plan could mean for the city. Duluth would receive about $1.5 million per year from the budget surplus for public safety improvements. The Governor says it’s important these measures address not only crime and arrests, but…

UPDATE: 2 Water Main Breaks Shut Off Water To Morgan Park Neighborhood

UPDATE: According to a spokesperson with the City of Duluth, water was being restored to the neighborhood Tuesday morning. Water did remain shut off to residents in the Pleasant View Mobile Home Park. DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth operations crews are responding to two water main breaks near the 9400 block of Grand Avenue. Water has been turned…

Duluth City Hall, Public Libraries Closed Tuesday

DULUTH, Minn. —   Duluth City Hall, Duluth public libraries and the CareerForce building will be closed Tuesday because of the ongoing snow storm.  Meanwhile, the city will not decide on whether to issue a snow emergency until Tuesday. More information is below in this press release from the city: Due to current and incoming inclement weather, the City of Duluth…

DOJ: Superior Police Officer ‘Unknowingly’ Drove Over Person Lying In Road

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A state investigation is underway after a Superior police officer “unknowingly” drove over a person on Tower Avenue Saturday night who was lying in the road, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. According to a press release from the DOJ, the officer was responding to a call for an “injured subject in…

Duluth Firefighters Tackle Propane Tank Fires Outside Vision Northland Project

DULUTH, Minn. – Multiple propane tanks started on fire Sunday afternoon outside the Vision Northland construction site in downtown Duluth. City officials were asking people to stay away from the area of East 1st Street between North 3rd Street and North 4th Street, and West 2nd Street and East Superior Street. Fire crews went through the Vision Northland building “evaluating…

Two Arrested with 10g of Meth, 21 Doses of Clonazepam in Backus Residence

The 69-year-old woman and 32-year-old man are awaiting formal charges relating to Controlled Substance Possession.

BACKUS, Minn.- A 69-year-old woman and 32-year-old man from Backus were arrested Wednesday with several items of drug activity, paraphernalia, drug sales, and ammunition seized from their residence. According to Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch, as part of an ongoing investigation into the sales and use of controlled substances, a search warrant was executed at the residence Wednesday. Among the…

Authorities Investigating Burnt Body, Pickup Truck in Saginaw

According to investigators, the vehicle was on the property belonging to the reporting party and the deceased. 

SAGINAW, Minn.- The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a vehicle fire in Brevator Township, and the burnt body discovered next to it. According to the Sheriff’s Office, around 11 p.m. Friday emergency responders were dispatched to the area of Highway 2 in Saginaw on a report of a pickup truck on fire with a burnt body next to…

No One Injured After Car Smashes Through Salvation Army Thrift Store

It shattered to full glass window panes and a piece of the structure as well as some shelves and inventory.

SUPERIOR, Wis- No injuries were reported after a car crashed into a Salvation Army Thrift Store in Superior Friday afternoon. According to a spokesperson with the Superior Police Department, the 70-year-old driver told officers she tried to park in front of the store on Belknap Street when the car went forward suddenly and burst through the front of the store….

Duluth’s Esmond Building Demolition Begins To Make Way For Affordable Housing, Retail

DULUTH, Minn. – The condemned Esmond Building in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood began to be demolished Wednesday to make way for a new affordable-housing development with retail space, too. In 2014, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority created a three-step plan for the site on West Superior Street that started with maintaining the building to keep current residents satisfied. Then Center…

Duluth Man Arrested After 3 Armed Robberies In Two Days

Police are investigating if the suspect in Tuesday's two armed robberies also committed Monday's armed robbery.

DULUTH, Minn. –  Duluth police arrested a 25-year-old Duluth man Tuesday after two armed robberies near each other – one at Walgreens on East Superior Street and the other at the nearby Jimmy John’s in the Plaza Shopping Center. The arrest also comes just one day after an armed robbery at the CVS on East Superior Street. Duluth police believe…

Duluth Fire Officials to Anglers: Be Prepared, Think Twice Before Fishing on Lake Superior Ice

If the ice is at least 4 inches thick, and the wind isn't coming out of the West-Northwest, proceed with caution and the right gear.

DULUTH, Minn.- As winter continues Lake Superior is getting more frozen. But emergency officials and experts encourage people to think twice before venturing out on that ice. “That ice is always shifting in there too so you definitely have to watch what’s going on,” said Marques Hoglund, who works at Marine General. And the ice was on the move off…

City Of Duluth Looking To Hire Blight Mitigation Specialist to Address Vacant Buildings

Recently, the Esmond Building which formerly housed the Seaway Hotel caught fire for the second time in two months, suspected to be caused by squatters inside.

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth has seen more than one abandoned building catch fire this winter. Now the city is proposing a new job to reduce how long these buildings sit around as potential hazards. The Blight Mitigation Specialist would work with the Duluth Fire Department, Office of Life Safety, and Duluth Planning and Economic Development. The City plans to hire someone…

Downtown Duluth Library Worker Assaulted, Highlights Years-Long Safety Concerns By Staff

Mayor Emily Larson's administration is expediting plans to create two "Library Safety Specialist" positions to tackle the problem better.

DULUTH, Minn. – Staff at Duluth’s downtown main library tell FOX 21’s Dan Hanger safety and security concerns are at a boiling point after a second employee was recently assaulted on the job.  This time, a punch to the face after the worker asked a patron to put on his mask. While physical violence at the downtown library has never…

Duluth Mask Mandate Set To Expire

"We are now moving not towards ending this pandemic, but finding ways to co-exist with it,” Duluth Mayor Emily Larson said.

DULUTH, Minn. — With the Duluth mask mandate ending Saturday, businesses are looking forward to serving their community face to face, once again. “We are now moving not towards ending this pandemic, but finding ways to co-exist with it,” Duluth Mayor Emily Larson said. The past 30 days, Duluth has had to mask up in attempts of trying to slow…

U Of M Ending COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate For Athletic Events

(University of Minnesota) DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota has announced it will end its vaccine mandate Wednesday for large campus and athletic events. This includes UMD men’s and women’s hockey and basketball games. The policy had been in place since Jan. 26, but in a letter from U of M President Joan Gabel Tuesday, she credits a decrease…

Duluth Opens City’s First-Ever Permanent Warming Center in Lincoln Park

The facility in the basement of the Lincoln Park Community Center on West 3rd Street includes 3 showers and handicap-accessible restrooms

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth opened its first-ever permanent warming center Monday, located in Lincoln Park. While acknowledging the major step forward in bringing more people across the city inside from the cold, advocates said this new facility barely scratches the surface of housing the 600+ people without a permanent place to live in Duluth right now. “It is good to have…

Mayor’s Office, Reception Room Renovated, More Secure

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 got a first look inside the newly renovated Mayor’s Reception Room and Mayor’s Office at Duluth City Hall. For decades, the Reception Room was dark and very outdated from the 60s or 70s, according to Mayor Emily Larson.  But now, it’s looking brighter with improved lighting and sound for press events, a fresh coat of…

“Structure Failure’ At Minntac; No Workers Injured

MOUNTAIN IRON, Minn. – Minntac is reporting a “structural failure on the conveyor system.” The accident happened Saturday at its facility in Mountain Iron. Minntac officials said nobody was injured because “the area was cordoned off at the time of the incident. There was no danger to personnel at any time.” As for last report, the company said it did…

Duluth Boy Scouts Clear Hydrants of Snow to Help Firefighters have Clear Access

DULUTH, Minn.- Some young Duluthians decided to get out and shovel Saturday around some fire hydrants. 8 Boy Scouts with Troop 25 and several troop leaders cleared 10 hydrants in just 3 hours around West Duluth as a service project. Duluth Firefighters say it’s important residents clear three feet of snow around entire hydrants and make sure a path is…

Amir Locke Shooting; Protesters Gather in Minneapolis Saturday

The protest on Saturday follows a car caravan rally on Friday night rallying against the shooting.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Dozens of people are gathering in Minneapolis on Saturday to protest the deadly shooting of Amir Locke by Minneapolis police. The protest is currently underway outside the Hennepin County Government Center. Locke was shot and killed as police executed a “no-knock” warrant last week. Bodycam video shows police charging into an apartment on Marquette Avenue early…

‘Blinking Lights for Safety’ At Proctor School Dist.

PROCTOR, Minn.- Students in Proctor will soon sport a flashy new keychain on their backpacks that helps keep them safe. The school district is partnering with St. Luke’s to attach LED blinking lights on the kids’ backpacks. With flashing strobe settings. With many students coming from more rural towns the lights help them stay safe if walking home from the…

Mayor Larson, Fire Officials: Stop Running Over Hose Lines

DULUTH, Minn. –  Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and firefighters are pleading with drivers to stop running over their hoses at fire scenes before someone gets hurt or even killed. The latest incident happened Friday during a massive fire of a vacant building on East First Street. According to fire officials, when a vehicle drives over a hose line, water pressure…

Damaged Duluth Gas Main Fixed, Residents No Longer Need To Turn Down Heat

Without residents' cooperation, neighborhoods were at risk of a full shutoff.

DULUTH, Minn.- The City of Duluth says home and business owners east of Lake Avenue no longer have to keep their thermostats low as crews have assessed and repaired a massive gas main that was damaged last week. According to the City the natural gas main was struck within the ‘can of worms’ construction site on Thursday. It’s the City’s…

UPDATE: Standoff with Armed Person at Kwik Trip Ends Peacefully, Duluth Police Say

The Tactical Response Team and the Crisis Negotiation Team responded to provide resources to resolve the incident quickly and safely.

DULUTH, Minn.- After nearly two hours of police surrounding the evacuated Kwik Trip on 27th Ave. W, an armed individual was arrested without incident outside the store Saturday. According to a spokesperson with the Duluth Police Department, Officers responded to an armed individual at the Kwik Trip. They blocked off Michigan Street and evacuated the store. The Tactical Response Team…

Duluth Natural Gas Residents Asked to Keep Thermostats Low Through Weekend After Gas Main Break Thursday

DULUTH, Minn.- All natural gas residents east of Lake Avenue are asked to maintain 62 degrees inside homes and businesses through the weekend, as City of Duluth crews continue repairing a large gas main that was damaged within the Can of Worms construction going on near Michigan street and 19th Avenue West Thursday. “Crews have been working hard to repair the…

Gas Line Break has Thousands of Duluth Homes Turning Thermostats Down

The City asked residents to turn their thermostats down to 62 degrees to lessen the pressure on the systems, and avoid the possibility of a neighborhood-by-neighborhood shutdown of gas.

DULUTH, Minn. — On Friday, the city of Duluth asked thousands of residents to turn down their thermostats potentially through Saturday in hopes of avoiding a shutdown of heat during bitterly cold air, after a massive gas pipe break within the can of worms project in Lincoln park. City officials say Thursday afternoon a contractor drove through a piling, hitting…

Downtown Duluth Fire Destroys Building, City Orders Demolition

DULUTH, Minn. — A structure fire that broke out around 2:05 Friday morning on East First Street of downtown Duluth was reported to be out at around 8:30 but crews are still trying to find out how it started. The Duluth Fire Department was on site responding within minutes officials report surrounding buildings were not visibly damaged, and are assessing…

Duluth Plow Drivers: Garbage Cans Left On Streets Won’t Survive

DULUTH, Minn. – If you’ve got your garbage cans all over the street right now, the city of Duluth’s snow plow drivers are hoping you’ll get those cans out of the way so they don’t blast through them when the next snow falls. The city says it’s actually illegal to place your garbage cans and recycle bins in the right…

Duluth Fire Dept. To Drivers: Stop Running Over Hoses At Fire Scenes

  DULUTH, Minn. – A house fire in Duluth is forcing firefighters to issue another plea to drivers to stop running over their hoses when fighting fires. It happened again Thursday morning during am electrical fire on the 700 block of West 4th Street in Duluth. Everybody got out safely. Nobody was injured. But fire officials say several vehicles ran…

Local Law Enforcement Officers Awarded For ‘Hat Trick’ Of 3 DUI Arrests in Each’s Single Shift

The Duluth Police Department had 278 DUI arrests in 2021, up from 2020, but down overall from 314 in 2018.

DULUTH, Minn.- Many have heard about hat tricks in the game of hockey when a player scores 3 goals in one game. But 3 local law enforcement officials scored a hat trick of their own while also protecting their communities. Duluth Police Officer Todd Simmons, St. Louis County Deputy Sheriff Matt Sobczak, and Minnesota State Patrol Officer Jacob Christopherson were…