VIDEO: The Lakehead Harvest Show In Esko
Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
Minnesota
St. Luke’s Seeing More Young People get Vaccinated
With students getting ready to go back to class, northland hospitals are seeing an increase in youths coming in to get their covid-19 vaccine.
DULUTH, Minn. — With students getting ready to go back to class, northland hospitals are seeing an increase in youths coming in to get their covid-19 vaccine. Staff at St. Luke’s say that they have seen a significant amount of young people come in to get the vaccine as some area colleges and grade schools will be requiring vaccines for…
Duluth Fire Department Cancels Annual Pinning Ceremony
The department isn't ruling out rescheduling the pinning ceremony later on this year.
DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth fire department will be recognizing 33 firefighters who have received a promotion or completed probation in a different way this year. Because of covid-19 concerns, the department officially canceled their pinning ceremony Tuesday night. It’s typically held at the DECC. Instead, there will be a smaller internal celebration while still allowing members of the department…
Minnesota Reopens Free Testing Sites As Delta Variant Surges
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials are reopening four free coronavirus testing sites this week as circulation of the highly contagious delta variant renews demand for testing. The reopened sites include the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul and a former Department of Motor Vehicles building in Bloomington, augmenting existing metro area sites in Brooklyn Park and at the Minneapolis-St. Paul…
City Crews Responding to a Water Main Break in Lakeside
DULUTH, Minn. – City of Duluth Utility Operations crews are responding to a water main break in Lakeside. The break was reported just before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and is located on the 4300 block of Peabody Lane. City officials say water has been shut off on Peabody Lane from North 43rd Avenue East to North 45th Avenue East. It is…
Containment of NE Minnesota Wildfire Grows; Rain Is Forecast
FINLAND, Minn. (AP) — Containment of a wildfire in northeastern Minnesota has risen to 37% as hundreds of firefighters expand their defensive lines. The Greenwood Lake fire has burned nearly 41 square miles in the Superior National Forest since it was spotted on Aug. 15, but it hasn’t grown much in the past week. As many as 2 inches of…
City Council, Boards and Commission Meetings To Continue Meeting Virtually
DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth announced Tuesday that the Duluth City Council and Boards and Commissions will continue meeting virtually as St. Louis County is classified as high or substantial risk for the spread of COVID. According to a recent press release, on August 12, City Attorney Rebecca St. George and Chief Administrative Officer Noah Schuchman sent a…
Finland Businesses Take Care of Greenwood Fire Crews from Incident Command Post
Firefighters have been coming through the Finland Co-Op for daily essentials like snacks, clothes, and coffee they get for free.
FINLAND, Minn.- Other businesses in the small town of Finland have seen more firefighters coming through after the Eastern Area Incident Command Post moved there from Isabella while fighting the Greenwood Fire. The Finland Co-Op a staple of the community since the 1900s, has been there for the firefighters’ daily essentials like snacks, clothes, and coffee they give them free….
Several Northland Red Cross Volunteers Assisting in Hurricane Relief
Volunteers must be 18 years and older and 21 to drive a red cross vehicle.
DULUTH, Minn. — Hurricane Ida made landfall Sunday on the gulf coast, and one northland organization has sent people down to help. Seven volunteers from the Northern Minnesota Red cross have been dispatched to assist in the hurricane relief. Some volunteers will spend two weeks or more at a given location on a natural operation. “Initially we will expect to…
Greenwood Fire Now 37% Contained as Incident Command Post Works from Finland
The boots-on-the-ground operations crew remains in Isabella, burning tactical fires to eliminate potential fuel to keep the main fire boxed in.
FINLAND, Minn.- Fire crews hope to continue the momentum against the 26,000 acre Greenwood fire, now 37% contained as of Monday evening thanks to recent rainy weather, and now moving their Incident Command Post to Finland while operations remain in Isabella right near the blaze. “In terms of wildland fire, the goal is to be mobile, adaptable, resilient,” said Clark…
Return of UMD Students and its Business Impact
DULUTH, Minn.- University of Minnesota Duluth students and teachers kicked off their school year Monday morning, and business is picking up for local shopping centers. Businesses in the Bluestone and Mount Royal strip malls are excited to see campus life return to normal after many students attended their college classes online last year. Bulldog Pizza and Grill is one of…
Expert Fire Safety for your Home
DULUTH, Minn.- It is important to practice fire safety with all of the fires happening in the Northland. There were 141 fires in Duluth last year, and officials say the pandemic played a part in this statistic. The pandemic kept many people at home last year, leading to more house fires than usual. Negligent use of cooking materials and candles…
UMD Students Return to Campus
In the food court, there are some new signs up and even a new sushi restaurant.
DULUTH, Minn. — It was a familiar sight at UMD Monday afternoon as thousands of students could be seen walking the halls of campus headed to class. We caught up with one student who says it’s great to be back, especially for the new students who finally get that college experience of being on campus. “Just to see a lot…
St. Louis County Announces Logging Restrictions Due to Wildfire Risk
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – Due to ongoing drought conditions and wildfire risk St. Louis County is implementing logging restrictions in the northern part of the county. County officials say the restrictions include cutting and logging operations on all county-managed lands and apply to the same area where no open burning and no campfires are allowed. In a Monday news…
Minnesota Court Deals Yet Another Setback to Pipeline Foes
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Court of Appeals has affirmed a decision by state pollution regulators to issue a water quality certification for Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 crude oil pipeline. It’s the latest setback for opponents as the project nears completion. The court ruled that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s approval was “supported by substantial evidence in the record.” Under…
High Demand for Hospital Beds in Minnesota, ICU Beds at 95%
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The surge in the coronavirus delta variant has coincided with a high demand for hospital beds across Minnesota, according to health officials. The state Department of Health says 95 percent of intensive care unit beds are occupied and 91 percent of overall hospital beds are in use. The numbers are even tighter in metro areas…
Greenwood Fire Update: Fire Remains at 14% Containment
(US Forest Service) NEAR ISABELLA, Minn. – As of Monday morning, the Greenwood fire remains at 25,991 acres and 14% containment. Fire officials say significant rainfall over the weekend helped crews improve the fireline and “mop up”, extinguishing hot embers along the fire’s edge. On Sunday, heavy equipment operators continued improvements of the Stony River Grade Road, serving as the…
1 Dead, 1 Critically Injured in Early Morning Crash in Carlton
CARLTON, Minn. – One person is dead and another is critically injured after a single-vehicle crash in Carlton early Monday morning. According to the Carlton County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to reports of a vehicle leaving the roadway in the 200 block of Thomson Road around 12:18 a.m. Authorities say a truck driven by an adult male traveling southbound left…
Lightning Destroys Steeple of Hope City Church, Causes Water Main to Burst
DULUTH, Minn.- Around 7:45 p.m. Saturday, lightning struck Hope City Church in Central Hillside, causing a cross made up of wood and metal to fall and even broke a water main underneath the structure. The lightning bolt destroyed one of two steeples sitting on top of the church building, with force strong enough to reach below the concrete, causing a…
Mark Wick Named Interim Head Coach of Augsburg Men’s Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.– Hermantown native Mark Wick has been named Interim Head Coach for the Augsburg Men’s Hockey Team. He takes over for Chris Brown, who resigned on Friday, to pursue an assistant coaching job at Alaska-Fairbanks, a Division 1 Hockey School. Wick was the head coach of Men’s Hockey at Saint Scholastica for 14 years, and an Assistant Coach for…
East Hillside Apartment Catches Fire Damaging Homes, Displacing Tenants
One resident went door to door helping people get out of their apartments safely.
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth firefighters spent hours battling an apartment fire in Duluth’s East Hillside neighborhood late Saturday into Sunday, which left multiple units damaged, and tenants displaced. At about 10:30 Saturday night, the apartment building on the 1100 Block of East 3rd Street caught on fire. Multiple fire crews responded to the scene, where five cats from three different apartments…
Goalies Inc. Returns for Skills Camp at AMSOIL Arena
DULUTH, Minn.– This weekend at AMSOIL Arena, about 40 young goaltenders not only sharpened their skates, but their skills as well, in a unique two-day goalie camp that travels through the country. Goalies Inc. based out of Marquette, Michigan is a goaltending and power skating skills camp that makes its second return to AMSOIL this year and 7th return to…
Duluth Police Struggling With Recruitment, Officer Shortage
The Duluth Police Department is about 5 officers short of being fully staffed. But up to 16 are set to retire in the next year totaling 30 retirees in the next three years.
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Police Department is among the labor forces experiencing a dry spell. The number of applications this year to date is at its lowest in 3 years, as they work to overcome the growing number of retirees and some negative feelings towards police officers statewide. Right now the Duluth Police Department is about 5 officers short of…
Weather Helps Keep Greenwood Fire 14% Contained, Evacuations Lifted for Slate Lake
A weather system Sunday afternoon is expected to bring lower humidity and potentially strong wind gusts.
NEAR ISABELLA, Minn.- The Greenwood Fire continued to sit at 25,991 acres and 14% contained Sunday, with some evacuation orders lifted. Officials say dryer weather is in the forecast and drought conditions will continue. According to a spokesperson with the Superior National Forest, hand crews and heavy equipment operators took advantage of cool temperatures, high humidity, and light rain Saturday…
East Hillside Apartment Fire Damages Multiple Units, Displaces Tenant
Crews located and rescued a total of five cats in three different apartments
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth Firefighters spent hours battling a fire at a multi-unit apartment building in Duluth’s East Hillside neighborhood late Saturday into early Sunday morning. According to a spokesperson with the Department, the call came in just after 10:30 p.m. of a structure fire at a nine-unit apartment building on the 1100 block of East 3rd Street. The reporting party…
Tribute Fest Wraps Up, Breaks Record for Advance Tickets Sold
The Duluth Vet Center was also on-site to help connect veterans to counseling and other services.
DULUTH, Minn.- Saturday’s weather took a break from the doom and gloom to give this year’s Tribute Fest at Bayfront Park a sunny sendoff. Organizers say upward of 2,000 tickets were sold in advance to the show, more than they’ve ever sold in previous years. Veterans and their families were allowed in and fed for free. All the money goes…
Lightning Damages Steeple of Hope City Church, Leaves Building Structurally Unsound
Due to the amount of debris and the building's structural concerns, streets will remained closed to vehicular traffic over Saturday night.
DULUTH, Minn.- A lightning strike damaged both a Duluth church and a nearby water main during thunderstorms Saturday night, and officials are monitoring the structure overnight. According to a spokesperson with the Duluth Fire Department, at approximately 7:45 p.m., crews responded to Hope City Church at 417 North 3rd Avenue East, after a recording party said that the church had…
Two Harbors City Union Pickets for Health Care
TWO HARBORS, Minn.- City employees in Two Harbors took up pickets today, protesting what they call unfair changes that could be made to their health insurance. Union group AFSCME local 1123 says they’re fighting to keep their current health insurance plans. The city covers 85 percent of the premium, and the remaining 15 percent is billed to the employee. They…
UMD Welcome Week is Back with Bulldog Bash
DULUTH, Minn.- The first day of school for the University of Minnesota Duluth is right around the corner, but Welcome Week is not over yet. UMD’s Kirby Student Center was flooded with new students for their annual Bulldog Bash. The welcome week event introduces new students to all things UMD. “This is a big event where we have a lot…
Edna G. the Tugboat Celebrates 125 Years
TWO HARBORS, Minn.- It is the 125th anniversary of the historic tugboat, Edna G., and people are here in two harbors to join in on the celebration. Returning for the first time in 25 years, the event brings live music, food, and games to keep people entertained for the weekend. Built in 1896, the famous tugboat is known for its…
Tornado Watch Issued for East-Central Minnesota, Northwest Wisconsin
According to National Weather Service, large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are all possible.
DULUTH, Minn.- The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 4 p.m. Saturday for much of east-central Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. According to a post on their Facebook page, large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are all possible. Categories: Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, Weather in the News, Wisconsin Tags: Hail, national weather service,…
Hundreds of Kids Get Free Backpacks, School Supplies to Start the Year
Donations were provided by local businesses, Duluth Police Department, UMD, and other sources.
DULUTH, Minn.- As more kids get ready to head back to school, Mike Letica teamed up with Neighborhood Youth Services to give away hundreds of backpacks and school supplies Friday for families who may have a tough time paying for them. Organizers filled about a thousand backpacks with supplies like crayons, notebooks, scissors, and more. Donations were provided by local…
Boys and Girls Club Youth Test Out Firefighting Skills
72 kids put their skills to the test with a chair climb, dragging a hose and dummy through the course, and other obstacles.
DULUTH, Minn.- Some local youth from the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northland got to see first-hand what it takes to be a firefighter at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center today. For the Youth Firefighter Combat Challenge, 72 kids put their skills to the test with a chair climb, dragging a hose and dummy through the course, and other…
National Weather Service Helps Amid Wildfire Season
The weather service continues to utilize these tools in helping alert people of unsafe air quality.
DULUTH, Minn. — The Greenwood fire continues to spread, and smoke from the wildfire affects air quality in surrounding areas. The National Weather Service continues playing a massive role in monitoring wildfire smoke across the state of Minnesota. By using satellite imaging and air quality sensors, the National Weather Service has been working closely with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency…
Lakehead Harvest Returns to Esko
If you’re looking for a family fun activity for this weekend, tickets are $10 for a daily pass and free for kids 11 years old and younger.
ESKO, Minn. — Lakehead Harvest is back with its 60th annual harvest show in Esko this weekend, showing people the history behind growing crops and harvesting. The three-day event runs through Sunday night and has a line-up of activities starting as early as 9 a.m. “Looking back and then getting recognition of our past—where we came from, what farming was…
Duluth Public Schools Push for Academic Recovery Programs Amid State Test Results
The assessments break down into three different categories, reading, math, and science.
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Public Schools is looking to help students academically recover after recent statewide assessment results revealed declining students meeting grade-level standards. The 2021 results show students who took the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments and Test of Academic Skills scoring lower than previous assessments in the spring of 2019. The assessments break down into three different categories, reading, math,…
North Shore Businesses Going Strong Despite Air Quality Concerns
Resorts and campgrounds up the North Shore are continuing to feel the effects of the Greenwood fire.
SILVER BAY, Minn. — Resorts and campgrounds up the North Shore are continuing to feel the effects of the Greenwood fire. “The majority of our guests come up here to go hiking and visit the state park. Split Rock and Tettegouche being the most popular,” Cove Point Lodge Director of Operations, Kyra Bremer says. For much of the summer, business…
Superior National Forest to Close Camping Outside of Developed Campgrounds
DULUTH, Minn. – As wildfires continue to rage and much of the Northland remains in severe drought, the U.S. Forest Service says it is closing camping on Superior National Forest lands outside of developed campgrounds, effective immediately. Officials say day use is allowed and most developed campgrounds will remain open to public use. A list of open campgrounds can be…
Line 3 Protesters Removed From Minnesota Capitol Lawn
(AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota troopers on Friday removed some demonstrators protesting Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 replacement pipeline project on the lawn of the state Capitol. Videos posted on social media showed troopers carrying protesters onto a bus as dozens of law enforcement officers surrounded a small remnant of the 1,000 or more protesters who…
Minnesota State Fair First-Day Attendance Down by Half
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (AP) – First-day attendance at the Minnesota State Fair was down by roughly half as the fair returned after missing last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. With simmering concern over the delta variant, and fair officials declining to require masks or proof of vaccinations, Thursday’s attendance was 61,983. That’s less than half of the 2019 record…
Suspected Human Bones Discovered by Utility Crew in Beltrami County
BELTRAMI COUNTY, Minn. – Utility crews in Beltrami County unearthed what is believed to be human bones on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Department, the 911 center received a call from the workers around 12:40 p.m. to report the discovery. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the…
12-State Human Trafficking Operation Nets Rescues 47 Victims
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt says a 12-state law enforcement operation rescued 47 victims of human trafficking and led to the arrest of more than 100 people. Schmitt said most of the arrests were made Thursday night into Friday morning. The effort, called Operation United Front, used undercover officers who arranged to meet potential human…
Greenwood Fire Remains at Nearly 26,000 Acres, Zero Percent Containment
(US Forest Service-Superior National Forest/Facebook) ISABELLA, Minn. – The U.S. Forest Service says cooler temps and higher humidity helped to slow the growth of the Greenwood fire on Thursday. Fire crews took advantage of the weather conditions to improve fire lines and use defensive operations in the west and north parts of the fire. Officials say the priority for Friday…
Albert Lea Quarantines Nearly 300 Students for COVID-19 in First Week of School
ALBERT LEA, Minn. (FOX 9) – Nearly 300 Albert Lea students have been quarantined for exposure to COVID-19 after the first week of school, prompting changes to the school district’s face mask requirements. Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent Mike Funk shared an update with families Thursday, stating the virus has “significantly disrupted” the start of school. After five days of…
Gov. Walz Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff to Honor Victims of the Attack in Kabul
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz has ordered all United States and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in Minnesota to remember, mourn, and honor theUnited States service members and other victims that were killed or wounded in a terrorist attack carried out in Kabul, Afghanistan Thursday. The governor’s office says the order…
Greenwood Fire Won’t Be ‘Extinguished’ Until Snow Falls
The fire was estimated at 25,991 acres Thursday.
NEAR ISABELLA, Minn.,- For those who thought the incoming rain would help fight the Greenwood wildfire, officials Thursday said it’ll be snow that likely provides the moisture needed to bring the almost 26,000-acre fire down. “And this’ll be a long-term incident, of course,” Incident Commander Brian Pisarek said. “Put this out as probably snowfall as what’s gonna extinguish it, in…
Minnesota Elks Give 200 Backpacks with School Supplies to Kids in Need
Each backpack contained about $70 worth of school supplies.
DULUTH, Minn.- Hundreds of kids in need got to start their school year worry-free, with free backpacks full of school supplies. The Minnesota Elks gave out 200 backpacks full of whatever their supply lists called for. It’s the 9th year the elks have done the back to school event, and they say the joy it brings to the kids brings…
Tribute Fest Kicks Off Return to Bayfront Park
All the money goes to the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, or MACV.
DULUTH, Minn.- A weekend of live music from Johnny Cash to Metallica is back in the Northland as Tribute Fest kicked off today at Bayfront Park. The event is two years in the making after being called off last year due to the pandemic. Veterans and their families can enjoy the festival free of charge while tickets for other are…
Babbitt Community Giving Back To Men and Women Battling Greenwood Fire
On Thursday, departments fighting the Greenwood Fire received a big donation courtesy of the United way and D&D distributors.
BABBITT, Minn. — As the Greenwood Fire rages on, community members and organizations in the town of Babbitt are doing their part to help the men and women on the front lines. “A lot of evacuation and setting up sprinklers on homes and stuff like that just to get people out of the way of danger,” Babbitt EMS Worker, Mike…
Second Structure Fire Ignites at Spoons Bar & Grill
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Department has responded to a second report of fire coming from Lincoln Park’s Spoons Bar & Grill Thursday morning. According to the fire department, crews responded to the restaurant for a second time around 11:38 a.m. When they arrived at the scene fire crews found smoke coming from the rear of the building near…
