Public Safety

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…

Duluth Police Recruits Train For High-Speed Chase

Class Of 15 Recruits Is The Largest Ever For the Department

DULUTH, Minn. –  We’re taking you on the tarmac and behind the wheel as Duluth police recruits get tested during a mock high-speed chase. It’s all about learning to have full control of a police cruiser while facing so many distractions, especially on a 911 call. John Villa, 34, one of the 15 recruits – the largest class on record…

Superior Police Department Awarded Domestic, Sexual Violence Grant

(Superior Police Dept.) SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior Police Department announced Thursday that it has been awarded a U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) grant totaling over $440,900 over the next three years. The “OVW Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking” grant is designed to encourage partnerships among our…

Two Arrested after Cloquet Drug Bust

CLOQUET, Minn. – The Cloquet Police Department with the assistance of other agencies, has been working to crack down on a large-scale marijuana distribution operation. The operation began in November, as investigators looked into large quantities of marijuana and hash oils being sold in the area. According to authorities, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Cloquet on…

Meeting Held on Preventing Future Fires

Multiple Federal Agencies Involved in Meeting

DULUTH, Minn.-Training to respond to unique fires all boils down to communication. Today, multiple federal organizations gathered at the Duluth Holiday Inn to determine how to better handle responding to situations like wildfires, chemical spills, and even tornadoes. Leaders at the meeting said much of the discussions are about predicting how the next fire season will go and how they…

Text-to-911 Now Available Statewide in Minnesota

Calling still the preferred method for 911 services

Text to 911 Banner ST. PAUL, Minn. – In an emergency, safely dialing 911 might not be an option, as one may need to remain quiet in a dangerous situation, or if an individual has hearing loss, it can make calling 911 near impossible. The Department of Public Safety Emergency Communication Networks (DPS-ECN) has been working with Minnesota to develop…

Coldest Air Of Season Creates Concern For Homeless

CHUM and Life House In Need Of Donations

DULUTH, Minn-  The coldest air of the season is settling in on the Northland, which has advocates concerned for homeless in the area. Typically, the CHUM homeless shelter in Duluth hosts about 50 people a warm night, according to CHUM support staff member Shawn Carr.  But he says that number can double when the deep freeze sets in. “During cold…

MnDOT Reminds Northlanders to Prepare for Winter Conditions

They Warn to Keep Up to Date with Weather Conditions and Check Tire Tread

DULUTH, Minn. – According to MnDOT officials, many of their ninety-one plows in Northeastern Minnesota are out and ready to begin clearing roadways. This year, they’re doing something different: using a more expensive but faster acting compound called potassium acidate bridges and tunnels. Plowing started during the afternoon hours in the International Falls area and is expected to continue throughout…

Dog Brings Home Human Skull, Remains Found in Barron, Wis.

BARRON, Wis. (KMSP) – Authorities in western Wisconsin are investigating a death after they discovered skeletal remains of a body in the woods near a house in the area. On Dec 3, the Barron County sheriff’s department received a call from a resident who said his dog brought home what looked like the partial remains of a human skull. Authorities later…

Difficult Driving Conditions Expected Late this Afternoon, Evening

DULUTH, Minn. – A large weather system is moving into northern Minnesota that is expected to create difficult driving conditions in the region. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is advising motorists to watch the weather carefully as road conditions often deteriorate quickly. Rain has been falling across the region, leaving roads wet, which can rapidly freeze when temperatures drop. Freezing…