Public Safety

New Rip Current Warning Signal Unveiled

The New Rip Current Warning Signal Flag is Located on the South Pier Near the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge

DULUTH, Minn. – Staff at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth recently applied for funds from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to add a rip current signal flag on Corps property near the Aerial Lift Bridge. On Wednesday, the new signal flag was unveiled with a ceremony including staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and…

Sister, Brother Sentenced in UMD Student’s Death

On Thursday, May 24, Noah Baker, 20, and Tara Baker, 23, Were Sentenced for their Connection to the 2017 Murder of UMD Student William Grahek, 22

DULUTH, Minn. – A difficult situation for two mothers, family members and friends entering the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth Thursday. More than 15 months after the murder of UMD student William Grahek, 22, two suspects — a brother and sister — involved in the case were sentenced for their role in the crime. Police responded to the scene…

Celebrating EMS Workers Week

Officials with St. Luke’s say it’s important to honor EMS workers every day.

DULUTH, Minn.-Local EMS workers enjoyed a cookout on this beautiful day to celebrate EMS workers week. The food was provided by St. Luke’s to celebrate the hard work emergency responders do every day. Workers from all over the Northland stopped by to celebrate. Officials with St. Luke’s say it’s important to honor EMS workers every day. “Trauma that goes on at…

Duluth Clears Sexual Assault Kit Backlog

Nearly six hundred kits dating back to 1993 have now been submitted to the state for testing

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth officials announced today that all of the city’s previously untested sexual assault kits have now been submitted to the state for testing. Back in 2015, Duluth had the most untested sexual assault kits of any city in Minnesota. After securing more than $2 million in federal grants to fund the project, local officials worked together to…

Honoring Duluth’s First Responders

Heads bowed on Thursday in honor of the 128 officers that died while serving the community

DULUTH, Minn.- Police week celebrations continue in the Northland, as first responders in Duluth were recognized. The 29th annual Law Enforcement Memorial Prayer Luncheon is dedicated to honoring officers serving, retired, and fallen. Heads bowed on Thursday in honor of the 128 officers that died while serving the community, one right here in Minnesota. “So we remember those that actually…

Fire Rips Through House on West Fourth Street

No One Injured in Blaze

DULUTH, Minn.- Scary moments on Tuesday afternoon after fire broke out inside a home on West Fourth Street in Duluth. At one point, fire officials worried the homeowner was trapped. Nobody was injured in this fire. The cause all centers around a cigarette. The fire broke out around 3:30 p.m at 4209 West Fourth Street. A neighbor called in the…

Citizens Express Environmental Concerns at Husky Fire Listening Session

UW-Extension hosted the session to collect comments and questions from residents

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A community listening session at Superior Middle School got heated as community members express environmental concerns in the aftermath of April’s Husky Energy Refinery explosion and fire. The listening session was offered by the University of Wisconsin Extension for Superior and other area residents to ask questions about the refinery fire and have their comments heard. Fear…

Superior Police Dept. Swears In New Officers

SUPERIOR, Wis. – It was the annual Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony on Thursday. Superior Police welcomed five new officers to the department, as they swore to serve their community. “I still can remember the day that I was sworn in and took the oath of office, and I remember how proud I was, and how exciting it was for me,”…

LSC Firefighting Students Complete Hands-on Training

After the '14 Hour Shift' second year students graduate from the program

DULUTH, Minn. – There is a big demand for firefighters across the nation. Lake Superior College firefighting students took their training to another level today before trying to find jobs in the competitive field. Firefighting students at LSC completed their ’14 Hour Shift’ Monday. The training puts together everything they’ve learned throughout the year and asks them to use it…

Final Bids Approved For New Superior Fire Department

SUPERIOR, Wis. – After years of planning, all contracts were in place Tuesday to begin construction for Superior’s new multi-million dollar fire station. Councilors gave the final bids Tuesday night to KBK Services out of Ashland, Wis. Councilor Brent Fennessey told FOX 21 the company came in at the lowest cost for the plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning at…

Questions Arise After Refinery Explosion

Husky Energy used Hydrogen Fluoride, a potentially deadly chemical compound in their facility

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Questions are rising involving Husky Energy’s use of Hydrogen Fluoride, a deadly, skin eating chemical when in contact with humans. This comes after the historic explosion and fire April 26th at Husky’s Superior oil refinery, which miraculously did not take any lives or release any of that Hydrogen Fluoride in the process. Governor Scott Walker (R-Wis.) was…

Local Road Improvements Take Priority Before Twin Ports Interchange Project Begins

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is hoping to receive feedback from the community.

DULUTH, Minn.- Updates on the long-awaited can of worms construction formally known as the Twin Ports Interchange Project. Officials say construction on local roads will be the first priority before starting work on the interchange itself. Minnesota Department of Transportation officials tell us work will begin on Garfield Avenue, Railroad Street, and 7th Avenue W. during the 2019 construction season. The…

Servers and Customers at Local Diner Work Together to Evacuate Safely

Around 10 a.m. Thursday morning, customers at Julie's Diner began to point out the large smoke cloud outside the restaurant.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Husky Oil Refinery explosion last Thursday forced business in Superior to close up shop for the day. We spoke with one local dinner where servers and customers watched it all happen right from the window. Around 10 a.m. last Thursday morning, customers at Julie’s Diner began to point out the large smoke cloud outside the restaurant. Staff…

Clean-Up Effort, Questions Continue After Husky Explosion, Fire; Gov. Walker To Return

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The city of Superior is continuing to stay in the conversation among other local and state agencies as Husky Energy works through the clean-up effort after the historic explosion and fire at the Canadian company’s Superior refinery Thursday. Mayor Jim Paine told FOX 21 Sunday there is no evidence of any lingering health effects or contamination of…

Mental Health Group Launched For Wisconsin Firefighters

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association has launched a task force to help firefighters struggling with mental health issues, following the death of a Superior firefighter who took his own life. Association President Jon Cohn tells Wisconsin Public Radio that members of the task force will receive 40 hours of training to become peer support counselors….

Two People Fall Through Lake Superior Ice

St. Louis County Sheriff's Office urges everyone to stay off ice

DULUTH, Minn. – Saturday evening, two people fell through ice on Lake Superior off of Park Point. A 13-year-old boy was seen in the water floating on an ice chunk. He was pulled out of the water by a supervising adult and was treated for possible injuries at the scene. Later, a 47-year-old woman also fell through the ice in…

Emergency Plan Keeps Adoptable Four-Legged Friends Safe

The Douglas County Humane Society was forced to evacuate after the Husky refinery explosion on Thursday.

  SUPERIOR, Wis.-  We checked in on our four-legged friends at the Douglas County Humane Society after dealing with evacuating. The shelter shook on Thursday, after the explosion at the Husky refinery, putting their emergency plan in motion. The director says the plan has been in place for nearly five years and they never expected to put it to use….

City: Irvin Can Fit Through Slip Bridge; Seawall Construction Timeline Released

DULUTH, Minn. –  The city of Duluth has released new details to FOX 21’s Dan Hanger involving an updated construction timeline on the delayed seawall project in Canal Park, and also when and where the William A. Irvin could eventually open for the season. But first, the Minnesota Slip Bridge in Canal Park, also known as the “Blue Bridge,” is…

Paramedics Talk with FOX 21 During Husky Explosion Incident

SUPERIOR, Wis. – First responders have established a command center in Superior. Duluth and Hermantown Police, along with the St. Louis County and Douglas County Sheriff’s Offices all on the scene to assist the Superior Fire and Police Departments. We spoke with one of the paramedics standing by today, “we do train for this sort of thing, so this is…

Superior Residents React after Explosion, Fires at Husky Energy

An Explosion and Two Fires Rocked Husky Energy Superior Refinery Thursday, Causing Residents to be Evacuated

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Reports of smoke being seen from Highway 61 along the North Shore to Cloquet came in throughout Thursday as residents in Superior evacuated their workplace and homes. “None of us expected this to happen,” said UWS student Jonathan Patras. A day unlike any other in the City of Superior. Students at UWS received important news alerts as…

Superior Firefighters Mourn After Death of Battalion Chief

Cause Of Death Not Officially Released Sunday

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Firefighters in Superior are mourning after the death of their longtime battalion chief who recently retired. Erik Sutton, 46, was on the Superior Fire Department for 20 years. The Superior Firefighters Local 74 released the following statement to FOX 21: “It is with deep regret and sadness that the Superior Firefighters Local 74 announce the passing of…

Two People Hospitalized in Virginia House Fire

Residents Were Hospitalized for Possible Smoke Inhalation

VIRGINIA, Minn. – A house fire Saturday afternoon sent two residents to a local hospital to be treated for possible smoke inhilation. More than a dozen Iron Range fire departments battled the flames at the house on the 500 block of 8 1/2 Street South. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Categories: News, News – Latest News, Public…

Virginia House Fire Causes Heavy Damage

Fire was at a residence on Sixth Avenue North in Virginia

VIRGINIA, Minn. – A fire Saturday afternoon in Virginia left one house heavily damaged. Nobody was injured in the fire. It was reported just after 12:00 p.m. Saturday at a house on the 1000 block of Sixth Avenue North. At the height of the fire, more than fifty firefighters were at the scene from several area fire departments. The cause…

Superior Fire Department Holds Swearing In Ceremony

Members of the Superior Fire Department celebrated promotions, as well as the beginning of new careers.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Fire fighters in Superior took a big step forward in their careers on Friday. The department celebrated with a swearing in ceremony on Friday afternoon. Some members received promotions to higher ranks, while others were taking their first steps towards serving the community. The crowd was full of proud family members. “It really has to be a source…

Cigarette Causes Apartment Fire in Duluth

Initial Damage Estimates at $15,000

A discarded cigarette started a fire in Duluth Sunday that caused $15,000 in damage to an apartment complex. It happened at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, at 1005 Glen Place Drive in Duluth. When the fire department arrived they found smoke coming from the deck of two top floor apartments. Initial damage estimates are $15,000  for the structure and $500 for…

Man On Probation For DWI Kills Self, 2 Others In Alcohol-Related I-35 Crash

Driver Was Going Wrong Way On Interstate Before Accident

DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth man on probation for a 2016 drunken driving conviction is now dead along with two others in a wrong-way alcohol-related crash on Interstate 35 in Duluth. The accident happened 1 a.m. Monday on southbound I-35 near 40th Avenue West. The Minnesota State Patrol says a 1997 Toyota 4Runner was traveling north in those southbound lanes…

Superior Elementary Parents Learn School District’s Emergency Procedures

Parents Learned How They Can Help Districts Prepare for Potential Violent Incidents

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A parent’s worst nightmare is an emergency at their kids’ school. Wednesday, parents at Superior Elementary Schools learned about the district’s plans for preventing violence and how they can help. Over the last year, the Superior School District has added new security measures and installed buzzer systems at the front doors of all their schools, and they’ve…

St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Shares Results of Text to 911 System

Once a text message comes in authorities are already working to locate the person who sent the message.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Text to 911 system has been working well for the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office after being introduced just three months ago. The department receives an average of two emergency text messages a day. When a message comes through it shows up on a dashboard with location coordinates. The coordinates are then placed into a mapping system to…

Forum on Opioids Held at South Ridge School

Attendees Learned How to Administer Narcan and Could Dispose of Unused Prescriptions

CULVER, Minn. – St. Louis County officials are continuing to battle the opioid epidemic in this region. At a program at South Ridge School in Culver, people learned how to administer Narcan to an overdose victim. They could also give unused prescription drugs to St. Louis County Sheriff deputies for them to be disposed. Speakers said opioid addiction affects everybody…

New Virginia Public Safety Building Closer to Becoming a Reality

Officials Are Asking for $2 million to $14 million in State Bonding Money to Move Forward

VIRGINIA, Minn. – A proposed new public safety building in Virginia is closer to becoming a reality. Renderings of the new facility have been released. The 50,000 square foot building would house the city’s police and fire departments in the same place along the Second Avenue corridor. Virginia leaders are now asking for between $2 million and $14 million in…

Policy Change: Duluth Police Allowed To Sport Beards — With Conditions

For 120 Years, Officers Could Only Sport A Mustache Or Clean-Shaven Look

DULUTH, Minn. – What turned out to be a facial-hair fundraiser for local non-profits this past November has turned into a permanent policy that now allows Duluth police officers to sport beards from here on out. This change in policy is truly historic because for the last 120 years officers could only sport a mustache or a clean-shaven look. But after…

11-Year-Old Girl in Custody After Cloquet School Threat

Cloquet Police Say There Is No Concern About School Safety Following Investigation

CLOQUET, Minn. – An eleven year old girl is in police custody after she made a threat of violence referencing Cloquet Middle School and High School. Cloquet Police say all is safe at the school following their investigation Wednesday morning. Late Tuesday night, Cloquet Police were made aware of a social media post containing a violent threat to Cloquet schools….

Two Harbors Principal Talks Ways To Avoid School Violence

Principal Jay Belcastro Believes Building Relationships with Students Is Key

DULUTH, Minn. – Area high schools are paying close attention to how threats are handled in other school districts, like at Duluth Denfeld where a student there threatened to shoot up the school Monday and later said he was just “messing around.” Two Harbors High School principal Jay Belcastro believes the best way for schools to prevent threats and violent…

Threat at Denfeld High School Could Mean Consequences for Student

Police Do Not Believe There's Any Remaining Threat at Denfeld

DULUTH, Minn. – A student has been identified in connection to a threat of a shooting at Duluth’s Denfeld High School. Classes were not cancelled Monday. Police and the school district felt there was no intent to carry out the threat. On Friday, a Denfeld High School student was overheard by another student talking about shooting up the school. It…

Adopt a Hydrant Program Offered in Duluth

Resident Can Shovel or Mow Around Hydrants to Help Out Fire Department

DULUTH, Minn. – Homeowners in Duluth can now adopt a fire hydrant in the city to help fire fighters access hydrants in case of a fire. Adopters will maintain their hydrants by cutting grass around it in the summer and shoveling snow around it in the winter. The clear hydrants can cut down on Fire Department response time. “You could…

Duluth Fire Station is Home to Nearly 100 Years of History

Northland Uncovered: Fire Station 10

DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth is home to eight fire stations. Some of those are nearly 100 years old. That includes Station 10 in Gary New Duluth. It was built in 1927 and was first occupied in 1928. Originally, the building housed both the fire department and police department, along with a library and community center. “We had…

Special Report: Flying High With Life Link’s Life Savers

DULUTH, Minn. – Police, fire and medical are three professions where people are trained to help us – often during the worst times of our lives. In a special report called “Life Savers,” FOX 21’s Dan Hanger introduces you to some of the men and women who not only help on the ground but also thousands of feet in the air….

Two Level 3 Predatory Offenders Moving to Hibbing

Public Notification Meeting to be held tomorrow, February 22, 2018 at 6 PM.

ROYCE ANTHONY DRIFT TIMOTHY DAVID PAIGE HIBBING, Minn. – The Hibbing Police Department will be holding a Community Notification Meeting tomorrow, February 22, 2018 at 6 PM.  The meeting will be held in the Little Theater located on the lower level of the Hibbing Memorial Building 400 East 23rd Street. This meeting is to inform the public that two Level…

UMD Police Department Host Active Shooter Training Session

UMD Police DEpartment hosts this training session at least once a year to keep faculty and staff updated

DULUTH, Minn. –  UMD faculty and staff underwent an active shooter training session on Tuesday. The UMD Dolice Department hosts this training session at least once a year to keep UMD faculty and staff updated on ways to stay safe should a shooter do harm on campus. “Us as a police department, this is something that we plan for, something…

Students Shaken by Shooting Focus on Stopping Gun Violence

Grief stricken students find new role in activism

Chris Grady, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, poses at a memorial outside the school, for Wednesday’s mass shooting, in Parkland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. Grady huddled in his classroom at the high school last Wednesday listening to shots ring out nearby, what he felt wasn’t fear, but anger. Grady and his friend are among about 100…

Cloquet Police Seeking Help Identifying Woman

Cloquet PD wants to speak to the woman regarding the theft of a purse at L&M today.

Contact Cloquet Police if you have seen this woman. 218-879-1247CLOQUET, Minn – The Cloquet Police Department is looking to identify the woman shown in the photo and talk to her regarding the theft of a purse at L&M today. The woman left in a red Ford Focus with an unknown license plate. If you know the identity of this woman,…

Northalnders dig way out of snow as it falls

Kevin Bowditch actually likes it

DULUTH, Minn. – With the snow piling up pretty nicely, people have been shoveling away on this President’s Day. Digging out, clearing pathways, all common as the snow just hasn’t let up for some. And for Northlander Kevin Bowditch, it’s no big thing. He actually likes all this snow. “It’s just kind of something to do. I enjoy shoveling. Always…

Duluth Police Department Accepting Applications for Citizen Police Academy

25 People Will Be Accepted to 2018 Class, Participants Learn What Police Do on a Daily Basis

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Department is accepting applications for their 2018 Citizen Police Academy. The free academy is open to anyone but precedence in the twenty-five person class will be given to people who live or work in Duluth. Attendees will learn what the Police Department does on a daily basis with classes in use of force, narcotics…

Polar Plungers to Dive into Frigid Lake Superior Saturday

Duluth Polar Bear Plunge Supports Special Olympics Minnesota

DULUTH, Minn. – Hundreds of brave souls will be jumping into the frigid waters of Lake Superior this weekend and it’s all for a good cause. The Duluth Polar Bear Plunge, benefitting Special Olympics Minnesota, is Saturday. “Special Olympics athletes, just in our area, we have a few hundred people. There’s 8,000 in the state and they range anywhere from…

Duluth Polar Bear Plunge is Saturday

Plungers Dive into Lake Superior for Good Cause

DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend hundreds of people will be jumping into the frigid waters of Lake Superior all for a good cause. The Duluth Polar Bear Plunge is taking place on Saturday, February 17. The annual dive ito the lake raises money for Special Olympics Minnesota. Duluth Police Officer Mike Thamm says Minnesota has one of the biggest Special…

Stabbing in Lincoln Park Sends One to the Hospital

The Stabbing Remains Under Investigation by the Duluth Police Department

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Police say they responded to reports of a stabbing incident early Thursday around 1:45 a.m. The stabbing involved multiple people, and occurred at North 21st Avenue West and 3rd Street in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood. Officials say they located one male at the scene. The person was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor…