DULUTH, Minn. — Record breaking crowds came through the gates Saturday for the first day of Lake Superior Zoo’s, ‘Boo at the Zoo’. With capacity limited to 1,100 last year because of the pandemic, the Lake Superior Zoo is happy to have those limits lifted this year so families can enjoy their annual event to its full potential. And on…
DULUTH, Minn. — Crowds started setting up on the UMD campus around 9 am Friday morning to help kick off the homecoming game. After missing it last year because of a canceled season, the celebrations and tailgating Friday feels a little more like a family reunion. Football is not just a game for these fans but a perfect excuse to…
CULVER TWP, Minn.- Authorities with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a double homicide, to which the suspect confessed to during a pursuit before shooting himself in the vehicle. According to officials, St. Louis County 911 received a call from a father around 1:00 a.m. Saturday to check on his adult son in rural Culver Township, north of…
DULUTH, Minn. — Members of the Duluth Fire Department went to Portland Square Park on Friday to practice a new kind of Arial training– in trees. An arborist instructor team is teaching firefighters how to prepare for these situations, and how to properly execute them, when the time comes. Besides one that happened this past July, arborists say they haven’t…
DULUTH, Minn. — UMD’s kicking off homecoming weekend at the Kirby Student Center with the Bulldog Country Fair. The fair begins a weekend full of activities leading up to the homecoming football game. With food, lawn games and music, organizer say the event brings bulldogs together to celebrate and get excited for kickoff Saturday. “It’s really nice to know that…
DULUTH, Minn. — Today the city of Duluth’s first Lake Superior Stormwater Chalkfest initiative came to a close. 16 different groups, and over 300 students took part in this movement to draw attention to how our local waterways are impacted by the public. Friday, the Harbor City International School took to Superior Street in hopes their art will catch the…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — Food banks in the Northland are getting ready for the holiday season. Throughout the pandemic, area food banks have had the tough task of helping more families out. Even though food banks like Second Harvest North Central in Grand Rapids experience shortages every year around the holidays. They say there is typically more than enough food…
DULUTH, Minn. – The North Shore Scenic Railroad is inching closer to its final week of operation for the 2021 season. For the remainder of this season, all Monday excursions have been suspended due to a lack of new parts and people to volunteer at the attraction. Already, there’s a concern for next year. The depot is looking to focus…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Public Library is expanding its “Toy for Check Out” collection at its primary location. The library has allowed children to check out toys for a while now, but they could purchase new items for the collection with the help of the Every Child Ready Duluth initiative. The library offers the toys to be checked out as…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — The Itasca Economic Development Corporation has received over one million dollars in grants to turn one of their multi-use buildings they have owned since 2005 into what they are calling ‘The Forge.’ “The Forge will provide an opportunity for entrepreneur innovators as well as education training and workforce development all in the same roof,” Itasca Economic…
DULUTH, Minn.- It is Emergency Nurses Week, and the City of Duluth is honoring its nurses in multiple ways. Other first responders and city officials show their appreciation of Duluth nurses with cards, an appreciation video, and a light display. Starting tonight, Enger Tower will be lit up with purple lights through Sunday. Last year, purple was established as a…
DULUTH, Minn.- Starting today, retail stores in Duluth will begin charging shoppers five cents for each plastic bag needed for their purchase. To improve the city’s environmental waste, the Duluth City Council passed the ordinance to be effective April 1st of last year but is only now going into effect due to the pandemic. The Duluth City Council decided after…
ROBBINSDALE, Minn. (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz says he’ll use the Minnesota National Guard to help alleviate staffing shortages at care facilities that are struggling with the surge in COVID-19 cases. The governor announced plans Friday at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale for alleviating bottlenecks caused by staffing shortages that prevent hospitals from moving recovering patients to transitional and…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A former suburban Minneapolis police officer who has said she meant to use a taser instead of a handgun when she shot and killed Daunte Wright in April is laying out her potential defenses. Former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter’s trial is set to start on Nov. 30. Attorneys for Potter said in documents made public Thursday…
DULUTH, Minn. — The fourth annual Duluth Design Expo took place today at Clyde Iron Works and brought regional and Midwestern designers together to showcase their ideas. Organizers say this event allows different creative minds to come together and express their ideas and creations to one another while being able to network and connect. They also had a guest speaker…
DULUTH, Minn. — Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Canal Park is getting in the Halloween spirit with black cat and monster caramel apples, among other creepy characters. They have about 6 different designs for these staple holiday sweets, but also offer a wide variety of other fall treats like pumpkin fudge, pumpkin spice caramels and toffees, and different fall themed…
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth’s Blacklist Brewing Company is expanding with a new taproom on East Superior Street. The brewing company began its expansion plans this past spring and is expected to open by the end of the year. “With that, brings in more people into town and in your space, and we love our local regulars and other people that show…
DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made a stop in Duluth Thursday to highlight some of the state’s bonding projects passed in 2020, including a soon-to-be new seawall behind the DECC. It was part of the Walz’s kick-off for his ‘local jobs and projects tour’ to celebrate bonding projects throughout the state currently in the works to improve infrastructure…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Stella Maris Academy has officially found a new home for a Catholic high school, using the former Woodland Hills Youth and Family Services building. The academy was able to secure the 140-acre property for $4 million with help from private donations. The property features the main campus building, a gymnasium, and multiple outdoor amenities. “We felt this was…
DULUTH, Minn.- Animal Allies in Duluth are alerting cat owners of the highly contagious fatal disease, Panleukopenia, as they notice several incoming stray cats have the disease. The animal shelter is asking people to temporarily hold off on bringing in stray felines while they quarantine their sheltered cats and sanitize the facility. Animal Allies will be reaccepting stray cats in…
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth’s Blacklist Brewing Company is expanding with a new taproom on East Superior Street. The brewing company began its expansion plans this past spring and is expected to open by the end of the year. “With that, brings in more people into town and in your space, and we love our local regulars and other people that show…
(courtesy: MN Zoo via Twitter) APPLE VALLEY, Minn. – The Minnesota Zoo’s lost Eurasian eagle owl that flew off earlier this month during a training session has died. Zoo officials announced on their Twitter page Thursday that Gladys was found injured on the side of the road by a neighbor Thursday morning. The neighbor brought her into the Zoo to…
MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) – Four children were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening after the school bus they were riding in crashed with a pickup truck in northwestern Minnesota’s Clay County. Sheriff Mark Empting said the crash happened at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday in rural Clay County. Empting said the preliminary investigation shows the driver of…
MINNEAPOLIS – Authorities say handguns and rifles that have been modified into fully automatic weapons that can fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute have been involved in a string of Minneapolis shootings and have been showing up at more crime scenes. Police data show the city’s ShotSpotter network has recorded 78 automatic gunfire activations of 935 total rounds, compared…
DULUTH, Minn. — UMD hosted their first flu shot clinic of the season today for students and staff. Roughly 300 staff signed up to receive the vaccine. The campus was equipped to take walk-ins as well. With people coming to the university from all over the world, nurses say that it is essential for students on-campus, in housing and close…
DULUTH, Minn. — Many retail stores in the area continue to feel the effects of the pandemic. Toys for Keeps in Canal Park ordered a number of products at the beginning of the year and have yet to receive them. This is causing a backup with their orders. Owners say this is due to a lack of warehouse workers, truck…
MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – St. Luke’s and Gateway Clinic have partnered up to create a new multi-million dollar surgery center in Moose Lake called Northern Lakes Surgery Center. It’s happening in the former Shopko building on County Road 10. Project officials say the new facility will allow people in the Moose Lake area to stay closer to home and still…
CARLTON, Minn. — Carlton County hosted a pop-up drive-thru clinic for both COVID and flu vaccines on Wednesday, that will run through Thursday. 70% of the county’s 12 and older population has gotten at least one COVID dose already. Carlton County has roughly 35,000 residents. 255 got the flu shot at the pop-up clinic in Carlton on Tuesday, while 10…
DULUTH, Minn. — With so many jobs open across the state employers are having to get creative with ways to recruit and find the next batch of eager workers. A skilled trade job fair was held at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth today where jobseekers in the Northeast were invited to network with employers in search of jobs in manufacturing…
MINNESOTA — Senator Amy Klobuchar tells us she’s thrilled to see the Canadian border opening back up and says the financial impact goes far beyond tourism. Klobuchar says Canada is the best trading partner in Minnesota, so it’s important to keep communication and relationships open with them to do business. Nationally, about $1.4 billion worth of goods goes back and…
MINNESOTA — After more than 18 months of a closed border with Canada, the U.S. is allowing entry to fully vaccinated Canadians starting in early November. This is of course welcomed news for families who have been separated by the border during the pandemic, and not only does it allow for that re-uniting, but it’s also good for tourism and…
PROCTOR, Minn. – In his first sit-down TV interview, former Proctor football coach Derek Parendo speaks out to FOX 21 Sports Director Sam Ali about what led him to resign his position amid the ongoing criminal misconduct investigation involving players of the Rails football team. The video above is a preview from the 5:30 p.m. newscast. See the full story…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota leaders in agriculture gathered Tuesday morning to talk about the recent droughts regions across the state have experienced. We are now hearing the impact of farmers as about 90% of the state was under severe drought conditions this past summer. Back in September, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced a ten million dollar drought relief package…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Parks and Recreation Department started a ten-year planning process this summer. Now they are asking for the public’s feedback. The plan, called the essential spaces plan, is geared toward shaping the future of the parks for the next ten years. It also includes a survey for the public asking what they would like to see in…
DULUTH, Minn. — UMD’s robotics program is helping nursing homes in the area get the quality care they need while also helping facilities experiencing staffing shortages. Monarch healthcare bought these robots to help staff in several of their local nursing homes. They can help patients with daily physical and cognitive skills. For those patients who may not be receiving regular…
DULUTH, Minn. – On Wednesday, Stella Maris Academy announced the purchase of the former Hills Youth and Family Services property. The property will be the site of the Academy’s new high school which is set to open in the fall of 2022. The former Hills property is adjacent to the St. John’s campus and is situated on 140 acres of…
(courtesy: MN Zoo via Twitter) APPLE VALLEY, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Zoo is searching for a lost owl. KFGO reported Wednesday that Gladys, the zoo’s Eurasian eagle owl, flew off during a routine exercise and training session earlier this month and didn’t return. Zoo staff believes Gladys is probably still within the zoo’s 485-acre, heavily forested grounds. They’re asking…
DULUTH, Minn. — The winter season is getting closer. That’s why a group of maintenance operations workers in Duluth spent Tuesday getting some special training to help make sure they are ready for action when the first snowfall hits. It’s annual plow training time for street maintenance workers in Duluth featuring both classroom work and hands-on training. “Once we do…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Supreme Court says workers’ compensation for injured employees doesn’t cover medical marijuana because the drug remains illegal under federal law. The high court issued a pair of rulings Wednesday that overturned lower court orders for employers to pay for medical marijuana to treat work-related injuries. Federal law prohibits the prescribing and possession of marijuana regardless…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A federal judge won’t block a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for scores of Minnesota health care workers, at least for now. Nearly 200 Minnesota health care workers filed a lawsuit in September challenging the requirement from President Joe Biden’s administration that all workers in most health settings get vaccinated or lose their jobs. The workers argued…
DULUTH, Minn.- St. Louis County continues to see an uptick of COVID-19 cases, while the country overall is seeing a dip. The surge is continuing to fatigue health systems according to experts, as they urge more to get vaccinated and mask up. “Now, while much of the country experiences a decrease in COVID transmission following the latest peak, there’s some…
TWO HARBORS, Minn.- Lake County Ambulance service, covering Two Harbors and Silver Bay is seeing higher demand for services. According to Executive Director Julia Shepersky, ambulance medical supplies PPE, and certain medications are all in high demand, making them harder to get at times. Right now, Shepersky said they’re not facing a critical shortage of workers, but losing even one…
DULUTH, Minn. – America’s largest free walk-thru Christmas light display, Bentleyville Tour of Lights, is facing a serious lack of volunteers to get everything set up. Owner Nathan Bentley said volunteers are “desperately” needed every weekend before opening in November. He’s averaging 10 volunteers on Saturdays and Sundays, which is 90 people short of what’s needed to put up millions…
DULUTH, Minn. — Food and sports are getting closer to being connected at Lincoln Parks biggest entertainment venue. Crews are preparing to link the heritage sports center to the nearby Clyde Iron Works restaurant with an enclosed walkway. This will help all hockey players, their parents, and friends don’t have to truck it outside in Duluth’s winter weather to get…
DULUTH, Minn.- Northlanders have been preparing for winter in more ways than one, and it seems several people got a head start during the summer. Since the pandemic led to more people picking up outdoor activities, sporting goods stores keep busy with customers. Ski Hut in Duluth has been continuously selling out of skis all summer long, and the sales…
DULUTH, Minn.- More sporting goods stores are preparing for winter by restocking shelves and organizing their shops. Customers are coming in to Play It Again Sports for skates, hockey sticks, and more. Like other sports supply stores, Play It Again is experiencing high demand in products and a supply shortage. The sports shop regularly orders products throughout the year but…
DULUTH, Minn.- This year, the Minnesota Knights of Columbus collected more coats than expected to distribute to kids in the Northland. The council has participated in Coats for Kids for nearly six years now, and after not being able to do it last year due to the pandemic, the group can provide 96 children with a warm winter coat. The…
DULUTH, Minn.- More opportunities are underway for filmmakers, editors, and writers, with three different courses offered through the Northland Film School. “Wherever you go, I think in Northern Minnesota, there’s such a rich kind of history and strong identity,” said filmmaker Matthew Koshmrl. “And I thought this would be a really great place to facilitate film school.” Northland Film School…
DULUTH, Minn. — This annual vigil brings a sense of peace to those who are silently suffering among us. No parent should ever have to bury their child, but more often than not, that seems to be the case. A yearly vigil that honors the lives of children who have passed away, and the loved ones they left behind is…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota’s COVID-19 test positivity rate has soared to 8.3%, the highest mark since the vaccines first rolled out late last year. The seven-day rolling average for the state’s positivity rate continues to climb toward the high-risk category. The state draws that line at 10%. Meanwhile, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota reached 960 as of Monday and…
