Public Safety

House Fire Sends Resident to Hospital

Home is Considered a Total Loss

MEADOWLANDS, Minn. – Friday morning, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a house fire. The call came in at 5:05 a.m., and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the 10200 block of Dart Rd. in Meadowlands, MN. The male homeowner, who was home alone, awoke to a fire in the kitchen area. The…

Three Dogs Die in Duluth Fire

DULUTH, Minn. – Just before midnight on Feb. 6 the Duluth Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 1509 99th Avenue West. The first arriving fire rig established that most of the interior of the main floor was heavily involved in fire. All occupants were safe and evacuated from the home when crews arrived on scene. There were six…

Cook County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes K-9 Deputy

"I feel like he chose me" - Paul Spry, Cook County Sheriff's Deputy

Deputy Paul Spry and K-9 Deputy Eddy (Photo: Cook County Sheriff’s Office)Grand Marais, Minn. – The newest member of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the Law Enforcement Center this week. Meet Eddy, a one-year-old German  Shepherd from Slovakia. Eddy was secured through Performance Kennels, Inc. in Buffalo, MN, who specializes in top-quality law enforcement working dogs.  K-9 training…

148TH Fighter Wing Keep Skies Safe Above Super Bowl

Fox 21 flies with the 148th to see how it's done

Duluth, Minn. – Keeping the Super Bowl safe is on the minds of Duluth’s 148th Fighter Wing.  Different departments come together to help achieve their mission of protecting the sky. Fox 21 photojournalist Adam Jagunich flew aboard a KC135 Stratotanker on an F-16 refueling mission.  The plane reached 20,000ft with a full crew on board. Categories: News, News – Latest…

Police To Release More Details Tuesday In “Random” Stabbing

DULUTH, Minn. – Charges were pending Monday night against a man accused of randomly stabbing another man in West Duluth multiple times while he was sleeping in his bedroom. The attack happened 6 a.m. Saturday inside an apartment building at 4731 Grand Avenue. Authorities believe the 23-year-old suspect went through an unlocked door before stabbing the 20-year-old victim at least…

New Duluth Police Officers Train For Field Sobriety Tests

DULUTH, Minn. — The culture of drinking and driving in Minnesota has changed since the 1980s when more than 250 people died every year in alcohol-related crashes. Since 2010, that number now averages around 127 deaths every year. But authorities stress even one death a year is far too many. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger gives you a look inside the Duluth…

MnDot Considers “Can of Worm” Intersection Updates

The can of worms intersection is a visibility concern.

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth’s ‘can of worms’ or what the Minnesota Department of Transportation formally calls the “Twin Ports Interchange Project” is slowing sliding along. MnDot is currently narrowing down the preferred alternatives to make the “can of worms” intersection a safer place for drivers traveling through the Twin Ports. Monday night transportation officials discussed advancing the design process and taking…

Some Summer Tourism Uncertainty For Irvin, Vista With Delayed Seawall Reconstruction

City Projects Seawall Project Complete After Grandma's Marathon Weekend

DULUTH, Minn. – There’s some slight uncertainty involving the summer tourism season for Duluth’s Vista Fleet and William A. Irvin. This comes as the multi-million dollar seawall reconstruction project is roughly two months behind schedule and won’t be complete until sometime mid-summer after Grandma’s Marathon weekend. Last week, the Irvin was moved away from the seawall in the Minnesota Slip…

Two killed in shooting at high school

BENTON, Ky. (AP)  – Gov. Matt Bevin says two people have been killed and 19 injured in a shooting at a high school in southwest Kentucky. Of the 19 injured, Bevin says 14 of those were gunshot wounds. Bevin also said the suspect in the Tuesday morning shooting at Marshall County High School is a 15-year-old male student who will…

Superior Fire Department Upgrading Its Headquarters

The Superior Fire Department is accepting bids for the project until Feb.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A big change is coming for the Superior Fire Department. The department’s headquarters will be replaced. The process began in 2014 after a station assessment on all of the facilities found a replacement was needed. The Superior Fire Department is currently operating out of a building that’s 37 years old. The facility doesn’t have enough space to store all…

MnDOT Urging Motorists to be Cautious Around Snow Plows

ST. PAUL, Minn. – With significant snow totals around the state, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is urging motorists to use extra caution during plowing and snow removal operations. According to MnDOT, there have been 22 crashes so far this season involving vehicles and snowplows. A total of 58 were reported last year. “Inattentive drivers, motorists driving too close to…

Sex Trafficking Vigil Held in Two Harbors

Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force Aims to Stop Trafficking Before It Starts

TWO HARBORS, Minn. – January is Human Trafficking and Sex Trafficking Awareness Month. Monday, in Two Harbors, a vigil was held honoring the victims of sex trafficking. The Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force held their annual vigil in memory of those who lost their lives to sex exploitation and in solidarity with those who continue to be victimized. The…

End of Protection for Salvadorans Fills Families with Dread

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s decision to end special protections for nearly 200,0000 Salvadoran immigrants filled many Salvadoran families with anxiety dread Monday, raising the possibility that they will be forced to abandon their roots in the U.S. and return to a violent homeland they have not known for years, even decades. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen gave Salvadorans…

St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Phone Scam

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office would like to inform citizens of a current phone scam. The Sheriff’s Office has received multiple, recent reports of callers posing as law enforcement telling parties that they “have missed federal jury duty and have arrest warrants.” The caller goes on to state that the person can clear up warrants by…

Level III Predatory Offender Relocating to Canyon

CANYON, Minn. – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is notifying the public of a Level III Predatory Offender relocating to the Canyon, Minnesota area. James Harvey Jennings, 32, has relocated to the rural Canyon area. Jennings has a history of sexual contact with adult females, which included sexual touching and has used a weapon in an attempt to gain…

Police Chief Tusken Talks to East Hillside Residents

Potluck Was the Cheif's First Community Engagement Event of 2018

DULUTH, Minn. – Police Chief Mike Tusken is starting off the new year talking to East Hillside residents. This was the third annual “Chillin’ With the Chief” potluck at the East Hillside Community Club. It was Chief Tusken’s first community engagement event of 2018. At the potluck, residents could talk with the chief and other Duluth police officers in a…

Firefighter Discusses Cold Weather Concerns

Extra Precautions Are Taken When Fighting Fires in the Cold

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Sub zero temperatures can be dangerous for anyone outside for very long. Firefighters have to do their job in all kinds of extreme conditions including dangerously cold weather. They recommend not going outside unless you need to and wearing as many layers as possible. The Superior Fire Department takes extra precautions when battling flames in the cold….

Man injured in New Year’s shooting at bar in Racine

RACINE, Wis. (AP) – Authorities are investigating a New Year’s shooting at a bar in Racine. Police responded to Curmudgeon’s bar shortly before 2 a.m. Monday. Bar employee Jeff Dandeneau told WITI-TV that bar patrons were celebrating the new year when “everything broke loose.” The man who was shot was taken to a hospital and reported in stable condition. No…

UPDATE: Officers Identified in Gilbert Shooting

GILBERT, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the officers involved in a shooting that took place in Gilbert on Dec. 22.  According to the Minnesota DPS BCA preliminary investigation, Deputy Derrick Deutsch with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Joseph Bradach of the Gilbert Police Department were looking for an…

Wisconsin Woman Dead Following Snowmobile Accident

BESSEMER, Mich. – A 51-year-old Wisconsin woman is dead after a snowmobile accident Friday. According to the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office, the report came in just before 11:30 Friday morning. The accident happened on Powderhorn Road just north of US Highway 2. The initial investigation by police indicated that a group of snowmobiles were traveling southbound in the unplowed right…

Officials: Deadly NYC Fire Lit by Child Playing with Stove

AP NEW YORK (AP) — A preschooler toying with the burners on his mother’s stove accidentally lit New York City’s deadliest fire in decades, turning an apartment building into an inferno that killed a dozen people as smoke and flames swept up the stairwell in minutes and blocked the main route to safety, the fire commissioner said Friday. The 3½-year-old…

Fire Claims Superior Home

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the Superior Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 1900 block of Tower Avenue. Crews arrived on scene to heavy smoke coming from the second floor of a two-story home. All residents were able to safely evacuate. Crews remained on scene for 2 1/2 hours. Damages have been estimated at $30,000….

Ely Man Dead After Apartment Fire

330 South 3rd Avenue West

ELY, Minn. – A 70-year-old man is dead after an apartment at the Grahek Apartments in Ely. According to the Ely Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the Grahek Apartments at 5 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Initial reports indicated flames and smoke coming from a third story apartment. An occupant, who has been identified as David Curtis Cashman, 70, of…

Structure Fire North of Chisholm

6894 Hwy 73

BALKAN TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a structure fire in the 6800 block of Highway 73 in Balkan Township around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26. According to authorities, first responders arrived on scene to heavy smoke and flames coming out of the residence. Three adult residents were able to safely evacuate…

Duluth Firefighters Celebrate Christmas at Their Station

They Made a Holiday Meal and Ate Together as a Family

DULUTH, Minn. – A lot of people in the Northland were working this Christmas including police and fire departments across the region. Duluth firefighters say Christmas is just another day on the job for them. They still have work to do and calls to respond to, but that didn’t stop them from sitting down together to eat Christmas dinner. At…

New Communication Tower Ensures Signal for Emergency Responders

The communications tower will help provide a signal that has caused issues for emergency responders in the past.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- A new communications tower will be built in the city of Superior, after to the approval from the state panel. The tower will be built near the intersection of Townline Road and Polish Road on county property. Officials said the signal in that area is spotty. The topography drop off towards the St. Louis River can cause signal problems…

Local Experts Offer Travel Tips During Busy Holiday Season

AAA Offers Multiple Tips on Travel

DULUTH, Minn.-With many of you expected to head out the door in the coming days to visit your holiday destination, one local group has some tips to avoid a lot of travel headaches. A local representatives from AAA says that this is expected to be the busiest travel season ever, with 107 million people hitting the roads. With that, they…

MISSING: Dennis Jesh, of St. Cloud

Last seen on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017

Dennis Jesh (BCA) Dennis Jesh (BCA) ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Minnesota BCA and St. Cloud VA Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 65-year-old veteran who was last seen on the St. Cloud VA Hospital campus. Dennis Anton Jesh was last seen Wednesday, Dec. 20 at approximately 3 p.m. wearing a black leather jacket and work…

Authorities Continue Search for Missing Redwood Falls Man

LAST SEEN OCT. 13

Mato Dow (BCA) UPDATE 12/20: The Redwood Falls Police Department and Minnesota BCA are still seeking assistance in locating 26-year-old Mato Dow of Redwood Falls. Authorities have provided a photo (above) of Mato shortly before he went missing. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, gray long shorts, and black/dark shoes. Mato was last seen on Oct 13. Anyone with…

LOCATED: Alyssa Leonardis, of Lauderdale

UPDATE: Alyssa Leonardis was located safe and uninjured, according to the BCA. Alyssa Leonardis LAUDERDALE, Minn. – The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vulnerable adult that walked away from her group home on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Alyssa Leonardis, 21 is described as 5’2″, 220 pounds, short brown hair. Last seen wearing…

Level III Predatory Offender Relocating to Virginia

Adam Hart (Virginia PD) VIRGINIA, Minn. – The Virginia Police Department is notifying the public of a Level III Predatory Offender that has relocated to Virginia. Thirty-two-year-old Adam Samuel Hart has relocated to the 300 block of Chestnut Street. Hart has a history of sexual contact with adolescent females between the age of 13-17. Contact has included sexual touching and…

18 Year-Old Eveleth Woman Dies After Snowmobile Accident

ORR, Minn. – An 18-year-old Eveleth woman is dead after a snowmobile accident northwest of Orr, Minnesota, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. According to authorities, the incident happened around 6:42 a.m. at the intersection of Lost River Road and Ash Lake Camp Road. When authorities arrived on scene they found a single snowmobile with two occupants had…

Amtrak Train Hurtles Off Overpass; At Least 6 People Killed

RACHEL LA CORTE - AP

Courtesy: FOX NewsDUPONT, Wash. (AP) — An Amtrak train making the first-ever run along a faster new route hurtled off an overpass Monday near Tacoma and spilled some of its cars onto the highway below, killing at least six people, authorities said. The death toll was expected to rise. Seventy-eight passengers and five crew members were aboard when the train…

Plow Drivers Power Through To Clear the Snow

Operators plowed the shoulders in preparation for additional snow

DULUTH, Minn. – It was another busy day for plow drivers still cleaning up from this week’s snow storm. The biggest snowfall so far this season had trucks clearing 99 routes throughout the eight county district. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) crews applied a sand and salt mixture to try to keep the roads from getting too slippery. In Duluth the lake effect…

Heavy Snow, Poor Road Conditions Cause Blatnik to Close

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Northbound lanes of the Blatnik Bridge were closed Wednesday afternoon after numerous crashes. Authorities closed the bridge just after 4 p.m., after multiple traffic incidents were reported due to weather conditions and poor road conditions. The bridge reopened shortly after 4:30 p.m. Categories: News, News – Latest News, Public Safety, Road Construction/Traffic

Truck Breaks Through Ice on Grand Lake

SAGINAW, Minn. – Early Wednesday afternoon, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a truck going through the ice on Grand Lake. According to authorities, the incident happened just after 12:33 p.m. The report indicated that a truck went through the ice and two occupants of the vehicle were able to exit the truck before it…

Ironton Man Dies When Snowmobile Goes Through Thin Lake Ice

CROSBY, Minn. (AP) – A northern Minnesota man has died after the snowmobile he was driving went through thin ice in Crosby. A Crosby police officer heard calls for help coming from Serpent Lake around 5:30 a.m. Monday. Law enforcement and first responders responded, and divers found the man’s body in about 45 feet of water. The Crow Wing County…

Drug Bust in Fayal Township

(St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office) FAYAL TWP, Minn. – Members of the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force executed a search warrant on December 8, in the 3600 block of Highway  53 in Fayal Township, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. During the search, investigators located 36 pounds of high-grade marijuana inside of the residence, along…

Train vs. Semi Crash in Kelsey Township

KELSEY TWP, Minn. – A 75-year-old man was left uninjured after his semi truck collided with a train, just west of Cotton, Minnesota in Kelsey Township. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office reports that the call came in around 5 p.m. Monday of a semi pulling a trailer had been struck by a train West of Highway 7 on Arkola…

2 Fall Through Ice on St. Mary’s Lake

EVELETH, Minn. – Two males from Iron, Minnesota fell through the ice on St. Mary’s Lake in Fayal Township, just south of Eveleth, late Monday morning, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. According to authorities, first responders arrived on scene, they found two men a 39-year-old, Paul Ollila, and 36-year-old Travis McDonald, clinging onto the ice in an…