Minnesota Archives - Page 134 of 360

Voting Begins in MnDOT’s 2022 “Name a Snowplow” Contest

January 19, 2022

Site Staff,

(courtesy: Minnesota Department of Transportation) ST.PAUL, Minn. – Voting is now open for MnDOT’s 2022 “Name a Snowplow” contest. MnDOT says they received almost 11,000 creative name submissions in December and have narrowed the list down to 50 finalists for public voting. Factors that were taken into consideration when selecting finalists included creativity, uniqueness, frequency of submissions, Minnesota-specific ideas, and…

Cloquet Mayor Announces State of Emergency, Mask Mandate

January 19, 2022

Site Staff,

CLOQUET, Minn. – On Wednesday, the Mayor of Cloquet announced a local state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Cloquet Proclamation and Declaration of Emergency states the decision to declare a state of emergency was made due to cases of COVID, including all variants, continuing to rise to levels unsafe for public gatherings and meetings in…

Spirit Mountain, Depot, Northern Lights Express Included in Gov. Walz’s Bonding Recommendations

Roughly $50 million is proposed to go to different entities in Northeastern Minnesota.

January 18, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s bonding recommendations for 2022 amounts to $2.7 billion. The largest in the state’s history includes much-needed funding for Duluth and the surrounding area. “They’re very geo-balanced across the state of Minnesota and these are projects that local folks requested. But there are projects in there that enhance our quality of life,” Gov. Walz said…

Walz Bonding Proposal: $1M For Lake Superior College’s Manufacturing Program Expansion Plans

January 18, 2022

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has put aside $1 million in his bonding proposal to help Lake Superior College develop plans to expand its Integrated Manufacturing program. LSC officials said demand has outgrown the current facility in downtown Duluth. So in the coming years, the program will be moved and expanded back onto the main campus on Trinity…

Duluth Armory Left Out Of Gov. Walz’s Bonding Recommendations

Mark Poirier, Executive Director of the Armory Arts and Music Center said he is disappointed but not surprised.

January 18, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- There were projects that didn’t make the cut on the governor’s list of entities and projects he’d like to see get bonding money, which includes the historic Armory on London Road in Duluth. Mark Poirier, Executive Director of the Armory Arts and Music Center said he is disappointed but not surprised they didn’t get the $7.5 million funding…

St. Mary’s Medical Center to Be Demolished When Vision Northland Completed

The redevelopment will be funded with $12 million in state dollars and headed by SEH local consulting firm.

January 18, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- As the new Vision Northland building for Essentia Health goes up in Duluth the decades-old St. Mary’s Hospital will come down. Essentia Health says the Medical Center will be demolished on East Third Street after the new building is ready for care in the third quarter of 2023. The oldest part of St. Mary’s hospital is almost 100…

Existing Essentia Building to Come Down When Vision Northland Complete

January 18, 2022

Site Staff,

DULUTH, Minn. – Essentia Health announced on Tuesday that after construction is complete on the Vision Northland project the current St. Mary’s Medical Center building will be demolished. The current St. Mary’s building will remain open into 2023 with demolition starting after the new SMMC hospital tower is fully operational and all services have been relocated. “The decision to demolish…

Walz Asks Lawmakers to Back Record $2.7 Billion Bonding Bill

January 18, 2022

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz asked the Legislature on Tuesday to back a $2.7 billion “local jobs and projects” plan that’s considerably larger than the record package that lawmakers passed two years ago. The Democratic governor unveiled his wish list at a news conference outside the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development, which is getting a major rebuild…

Spirit Mountain, St. Louis County Depot Among Northland Entities in Gov. Walz’s 2022 Bonding Recommendations

According to a spokesperson with the City of Duluth, the Aerial Lift Bridge was included in a write-up for the Governor's recommended $200 million for the Bridge Replacement Program.

January 18, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- On Tuesday Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz released his bonding recommendation of $2.7 billion, which highlights several Northland and regional entities including Spirit Mountain and the St. Louis County Depot in Duluth. For Spirit Mountain, the Governor recommended $12 million in general fund cash to the City of Duluth “to renew, replace, and improve aged infrastructure.” The total cost…

Wildcat Sanctuary Rescues Starving, Injured African Serval

January 18, 2022

Site Staff,

SANDSTONE, Minn. – A starving and injured African serval found in Massachusetts has made it safely to his new home at the Sandstone Wildcat Sanctuary. Bruno was captured by the MSPCA-Angell after residents in Lincoln, MA reported spotting him in distress in their neighborhood. Bruno was found starving and with a severely broken leg trying to survive extreme weather. “Sadly,…

Update: Daughter Accused Of Shooting Mother Formally Charged

January 18, 2022

Site Staff,

MORCOM TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The juvenile-aged girl who allegedly shot her mother on Sunday afternoon in the Cook area, has now been formally charged. According to police, dispatch received a 911 call from 40-year-old Stephanie L. Straw around 4:26 p.m. Sunday who said she was on her way to the Cook Hospital with a gunshot wound. The woman identified her…

Cloquet Police: One Man Hospitalized Following Road Rage Incident

January 18, 2022

Site Staff,

CLOQUET, Minn. – A 32-year-old Cloquet man is hospitalized following a road rage incident over a parking issue in Cloquet on Friday. According to Cloquet Police, officers responded to reports of a man lying on the side of Hwy 45. When officers arrived at the location they learned that the man had been struck by a vehicle. After further investigation,…

Update: Victim Identified in Duluth’s First Homicide in 2022

January 18, 2022

Site Staff,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police have identified the victim in Duluth’s first homicide in 2022. On Saturday, authorities were dispatched to the 100 block of N 54th Avenue East around 12:50 a.m. for a medical/assault call. Dispatchers told responding officers a male was punched in the head and unconscious. At the scene, the unconscious 42-year-old man, now identified as Ryan…

Duluth Playhouse Postpones Upcoming Performances, Productions due to COVID

January 18, 2022

Site Staff,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Playhouse is making adjustments to its current season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In a Monday Facebook post, the Playhouse said it had made the difficult decision to not produce The Spongebob Musical, The Revolutionists, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night during the 2021-2022 season. CLUE has also been postponed…

Chester Bowl Packed for Warm MLK Day Off

January 17, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- Plenty of families took advantage of the warm Monday off to hit the slopes at Chester Bowl. The hill was packed with skiers and snowboarders, some new and some more experienced. Management there says with their rental program it’s a good place for people just trying the sport out and the weather’s never been better for it too….

Destination Duluth takes on Spirit Mountain

January 17, 2022

Mason Kroll,

DULUTH, Minn.-Today, Destination Duluth photographers took on the slopes of Spirit Mountain. Destination Duluth is a non-profit organization that is made up of more than 200 photographers that volunteer their work for select social media platforms. These photos are used to show how unique and beautiful the city of Duluth is, and some have received more than 7 million impressions…

Old Town Antiques’ Last Week in Business Before Being Forced Out of Building by Owner

Hall Equities, out of California, sent a letter to Old Town, Huckleberry, and Chinese Dragon restaurant last month saying they all needed to be out by January 31st.

January 17, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- It’s the last week open for Old Town Antiques and Books on Superior Street in Duluth, one of three businesses in that location forced out by the company that owns the building. Hall Equities, out of California, sent a letter to Old Town, Hucklebeary, and Chinese Dragon restaurant last month saying they all needed to be out by…

Missing Pets in the Northland’s Betty White Challenge Raises More than $1K

The Facebook page Missing Pets In The Northland raised roughly $1,800 in one day for its Betty White Challenge.

January 17, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- Betty White would have turned 100 Monday. After the screen icon passed on New Year’s Eve, animal humane organizations are receiving donations from her fans in her honor, including ones here in the Northland. The Facebook page Missing Pets In The Northland raised roughly $1,800 in one day for its Betty White Challenge soaring past her thousand dollar goal….

Ice Road on Large Northern Minnesota Lake Opens for 2nd Year

January 17, 2022

The Associated Press,

WARROAD, Minn. (AP) — A 37-mile ice highway in Minnesota that takes motorists across the mammoth Lake of the Woods to the northernmost point in the contiguous United States is open for the second straight year, with a toll of $250 per vehicle. The road, which costs an estimated $1,500 per mile for plowing and other upkeep, begins in Warroad…

Changes Coming to MN State Fair Admission Fees, Hours

January 17, 2022

KQDS Staff,

(AP Photo/Jim Mone,File) (FOX 9) – Changes are coming to the Minnesota State Fair, fair officials announced after concluding the 163rd annual meeting of the Minnesota State Fair Agricultural Society. The two main changes are an increase in admission prices and a change in hours. Starting in 2022 the entry fee for an adult will be $17. An increase of…

Judge Stops Minnesota Hospital From Disconnecting Ventilator

January 17, 2022

The Associated Press,

(courtesy: Fox 9) COON RAPIDS, Minn. (AP) – A man who has been suffering from a severe case of COVID-19 and was being kept alive by a ventilator has been moved from a Minnesota hospital to a Texas facility after a judge issued a restraining order stopping the hospital from turning off his machine. Fifty-five-year-old Scott Quiner, of Buffalo, was…

Rep. Pete Stauber Announces Re-Election Campaign for Minnesota’s 8th District

January 17, 2022

Site Staff,

DULUTH, Minn. – Congressman Pete Stauber on Monday formally announced his run for re-election. U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R) who represents Minnesota’s 8th District won his second term against Democratic challenger Quinn Nystrom in 2020. “I am running for re-election because northern Minnesota needs a voice in Washington who will champion our causes built on the foundation of our values…

Daughter Accused Of Shooting Mother, Then Driving Away

January 16, 2022

Alexandra Burnley,

ST. LOUIS CO., Minn. — A juvenile-aged girl allegedly shot her mother on Sunday afternoon in the Cook area, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities were sent over after a 911 call was made while the 40-year-old mother was brought to the hospital around 4:30 p.m. While law enforcement was on the way, the daughter got into…

Red Bull Heavy Metal Turns Cascade Park into Extreme Snowboard Course

40 riders from California to as far as Canada were attracted to Duluth’s unique venue.

January 16, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- After 19 years the Red Bull Heavy Metal Rail Jam came back bringing extreme street snowboarding stunts right to many Duluthians’ backyard – Cascade Park. It’s not a sport for the faint of heart, but the thrill is what fuels these athletes. “Definitely scary,” snowboarder Melissa Riitano said. “Had butterflies dropping in for that first hit.” Last held…

City, Local Businesses Come Together to Stick Landing with Red Bull Event

The city does want to remind people that Cascade Park is never an area for these tricks outside of organized events.

January 16, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- Putting the Red Bull Heavy Metal Rail Jam together required a team effort from the City of Duluth and even some local businesses. From the clerk’s office issuing permitting, to the Duluth firefighters on scene providing medical attention, 5 city departments were involved. Spirit Mountain crews set up the obstacles, while Damage Board Shop in Lincoln Park shut…

Cedar and Stone Sauna Offering Opportunities to Re-Charge this Winter

January 16, 2022

Natalie Noury,

DULUTH, Minn. — A one-of-a-kind local sauna experience hit its 2 year anniversary this month and continues to help people decompress, reduce stress, and feel rejuvenated on the shores of Lake Superior. The Cedar and Stone Nordic Sauna in Canal Park is a traditional Nordic sauna inspired from Duluth’s Finnish history. It’s an indoor wood fired sauna that runs between…

Hockey Community’s Renewed Attention to Neck Guards

January 16, 2022

Natalie Noury,

DULUTH, Minn. — A recent fatal accident on the ice involving a 16 year old Connecticut hockey player is bringing a renewed attention in the north land to the importance of neck guards in the sport of hockey. On January 6th, Teddy Balkind was sliced on the neck from a skate blade during an on-ice collision, he passed away later…

Garage Fire Destroys Residence in Carlton County; No One Injured

Firefighters were able to confirm all occupants made it out, and there were no pets inside.

January 16, 2022

Arman Rahman,

CARLTON COUNTY, Minn.- A fire that started at a detached garage spread to and destroyed the nearby residence in Thomson Township Sunday. According to the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office, around 2:00 a.m., crews from the Esko, Carlton, and Wrenshall Fire Departments discovered the garage at 21 Ridge Road fully engulfed with fire. It was only a few feet from the…

Fans React To New UMD Proof Of Vaccine To Attend Games

January 15, 2022

Natalie Noury,

DULUTH, Minn. — Fans have gotten used to wearing masks here at Amsoil arena, but in a few weeks, they’re going to have to bring one extra thing to allow them to come support the Bulldogs. Friday, the President of the University Of Minnesota System announced a new temporary change across their 5 campuses — proof of vaccination or a…

Red Bull Heavy Metal Returns to Duluth 20 Years Later

January 15, 2022

Natalie Noury,

DULUTH, Minn. — Time to lace up and hit the slopes, the Red Bull Heavy Metal rail jam is back in town after 20 years. 40 snowboarders took to the terrain park at Spirit Mountain Saturday to get a feel for the rails, and make a game plan ahead of tomorrow’s competition at Cascade Park in Central Hillside. Competitors have…

Eveleth Community Celebrates Hippodrome’s 100 Years of Hockey, History

Community members are also working to preserve this venue as a future historical site, hoping to prevent it from ever being torn down.

January 15, 2022

Arman Rahman,

EVELETH, Minn.- A staple of the Eveleth community celebrated a big milestone Saturday. The 100th birthday of the city’s Hippodrome was celebrated at the nearby Eveleth Auditorium. For the past century, quite a few famous hockey stars have graced the ice there, and others played some heart-pounding games. It was also home to many basketball games, fundraisers, and even concerts…

Fight Turns into Duluth’s First Homicide of 2022

Investigators learned a 46-year-old man got in a physical altercation with the 42-year-old after arguing.

January 15, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- One man has died and another arrested pending manslaughter charges after an altercation in Duluth’s Lester Park neighborhood — the city’s first homicide of 2022, according to Duluth Police. According to a spokesperson with the Department, around 12:50 a.m. Saturday officers responded to a medical/assault call in the 100 block of N 54th Ave E. Dispatchers told responding…

COVID Cases, Staff Shortages Could Shift Duluth Schools to Distance Learning ‘with little notice’

The district considers three key variables as criteria for determining the need to move to distance learning at a single school, an entire level, or for the entire district.

January 15, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- As COVID-19 cases continue to climb across the region, officials with Duluth ISD 709 shared the factors needed to keep learning in person, warning that a switch to virtual could happen fast. According to a press release sent out by Superintendent John Magas Friday, experts the district is consulting with forecasted that there will be “significant improvement” to…

Duluth Businesses on Enforcing Indoor Mask Mandate Round 2

A few businesses who differ on how they think the mandate will affect them over the next 30 days.

January 14, 2022

Natalie Noury,

DULUTH, Minn. — As of 5 o’clock Friday evening, local businesses will have to require masks indoors. We caught up with a few businesses who differ on how they think the mandate will affect them over the next 30 days. One retail store in Canal Park, Flagship Apparel that screen prints, and sells some local-themed gear is coming off of…

Duluth Police Welcomes First Mother-Daughter Duo Officers in Department’s History

Officer Angela Robertson got to pin the badge on her daughter, Maddyson.

January 14, 2022

Arman Rahman,

DULUTH, Minn.- Friday’s pinning ceremony at the Duluth Police Department was a special one for two officers with a special bond. Officer Angela Robertson got to pin the badge on her daughter, Maddyson. It’s the first mother-daughter duo in the department’s history. Ever since she was a child going on ride-alongs with Officer Angela Robertson, Maddyson knew she wanted to…

UMD Students Signing Petition to Protest Vaccine Form for Enrollment

January 14, 2022

Rusty Mehlberg,

DULUTH, Minn. – The start of the spring semester at UMD saw one recent student begin an effort to end the vaccine requirement to attend classes. Lucius Lafromboise is protesting against the form required by the University of Minnesota system that identifies a person’s vaccination status, or list a medical or religious exemption against getting one. He chose not to fill…

Hospitals in Carlton County Meet to ‘Crisis Plan’ as COVID Continues Surging

Crisis planning is to prepare the hospitals, and make a course of action in case they become overwhelmed and have to send patients elsewhere.

January 14, 2022

Natalie Noury,

CLOQUET, Minn. — Doctors from the Community Memorial Hospital met on Thursday to “crisis plan”, concerned that the latest surge of the Omicron variant might overwhelm medical facilities. Crisis planning is to prepare the hospitals, and make a course of action in case they become overwhelmed and have to send patients elsewhere. But with so many medical facilities bogged down…

University Of Minnesota System Announces Temporary Proof of Vaccination

January 14, 2022

Natalie Noury,

DULUTH, Minn. — The president of the University of Minnesota System announced a new temporary change to how they are allowing people into events with more than 200 people. The university system, across the 5 campuses in the state, will be requesting proof of vaccination or a negative test 72 hours prior to the event in order to attend. This…

Proctor Teen Charged With Criminal Sexual Conduct

January 14, 2022

Site Staff,

PROCTOR, Minn. – A Proctor teen has been officially charged in connection to the “sexual misconduct” allegations made in September against members of the Rails football team. According to the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, a 17-year-old male has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct. According to the criminal complaint, on September 16 the Proctor Police Department received an…

U of M Systems Announces Temporary Proof of Vaccination Policy at Indoor Events

January 14, 2022

Site Staff,

DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota on Friday announced a new temporary proof of vaccination policy for all indoor events on any of its University campuses. According to a Friday message from University President Joan Gabel, this policy will be in effect from Wednesday, January 26 through at least Wednesday, February 9. The policy includes all University events of…

St. Luke’s Updates Visitor Policy

January 14, 2022

Site Staff,

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Luke’s is updating its visitor policy once again due to the high community spread of COVID-19. Effective Monday, the hospital will be requiring visitors of inpatients, surgical/procedural care, and the Emergency Department to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test within 72 hours of their visit. To view the current visitor policy, click here….

6-Year-old Struck, Killed on Highway in Mille Lacs County

January 14, 2022

The Associated Press,

ONAMIA, Minn. (AP) – The State Patrol says an individual struck and killed on an east-central Minnesota highway was a 6-year-old girl. The patrol says the child was in the lanes of traffic when she was struck on Highway 169 at about 11 p.m. Thursday near Onamia in Mille Lacs County. Troopers identified the child as Unique Sincere Beaulieu. She…

Heavy Snow in Midwest Slows Travel, Closes Scores of Schools

January 14, 2022

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Heavy snow spread across a large swath of the Midwest, where travel conditions deteriorated and scores of schools closed or moved to online instruction. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for parts of Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa, and Illinois, where forecasters were expecting up to 10 inches of fresh snow. The weather service tweeted…

City Crews Responding to Water Main Break in Piedmont

January 14, 2022

Site Staff,

DULUTH, Minn. – City of Duluth Utility Operations crews are responding to a water main break in the Piedmont Heights neighborhood. The break was reported Friday morning and is located on the 3300 block of Celia Street. City officials say water has been turned off on Celia Street from Hutchinson Road to Trudeau Road. It is not known at this…

Duluth City Councilors Join Mayor Larson For Inauguration

January 14, 2022

KQDS Staff,

DULUTH, Minn. – Four Duluth city councilors were sworn in Thursday through a virtual ceremony with Mayor Emily Larson. Therese Tomaneck, Azrin Awal and Mike Mayou were all inaugurated as the newest members of the council. Tomanek has already served on the council after winning a special election previously. Awal is the first Asian-American to join the council. And Mayou…

Acting St. Louis Co. Atty. Kimberly Maki Running For Official Office This Nov.

January 13, 2022

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Acting St. Louis County Attorney Kimberly Maki, who recently took over for Mark Rubin who retired after more than 40 years of service, has announced she’s running to keep that seat in the next election. Maki announced her campaign Thursday outside the Virginia County Courthouse where she says her interest in law began nearly 30 years ago…

Mayor Larson Announces 30-Day Duluth Mask Mandate; Restaurant Assoc. Not Thrilled

January 13, 2022

Natalie Noury, Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — Just days after the Duluth City Council was unable to unanimously vote to pass a new city-wide mask mandate, and after councilors agreed Mayor Emily Larson should take the lead on emergency orders of that kind, Larson stepped to the podium Thursday afternoon announcing just that — a new mask mandate for the next 30 days effective…

St. Louis County’s Size, Local Governments Within County Make It Unlikely For Mask Mandate

The only mask mandate within the county has been inside county buildings.

January 13, 2022

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Louis County’s Public Health Director, Amy Westbrook, spoke in support of Duluth’s mask mandate Thursday, and the county released a statement on its take on a possible county wide mask mandate. Westbrook, along with Essentia’s Chief Medical Officer, pointed to growing concerns over hospitalization rates. Out of the 342 hospital beds at Essentia in Duluth, 58…

Eveleth Celebrating 100th Anniversary Of Hippodrome On Saturday

January 13, 2022

Alexandra Burnley,

EVELETH, Minn. – The 100th anniversary of the Hippodrome opening in Eveleth will be celebrated this weekend. For the past century, it’s been the venue where quite a few famous hockey stars have graced the ice, and it’s now somewhat of a mecca for Iron Range hockey history. It was also home to many basketball games, fundraisers, and even concerts…

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Aerial Lift Bridge Temporarily Shut Down After Person Climbs To Top

January 13, 2022

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – The Aerial Lift Bridge was temporarily shut down Thursday evening after authorities said someone climbed to the very top of the structure. The city alerted people to stay away from the area around 7 p.m. “We are asking the public to stay away from Lake Avenue and Morse Street while we provide assistance to the individual. The…