Minnesota

COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available for Children 12-15 Years Old

DULUTH, Minn.– With the recent approval from the CDC allowing children as young as 12 to be vaccinated, Northland healthcare providers are getting even busier as more people come in to get the shots. Children have always dreaded shots and vaccinations, until now. It was finally announced that the COVID-19 vaccine is available for kids ages 12-15, which means, they…

Federal Judge Delivers New Blow to Foes of Twin Metals Mine

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A federal judge has rejected a second attempt by opponents of the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota to invalidate the mineral rights leases needed for the project. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden said Thursday that new arguments and evidence raised by the opponents in the 2020 lawsuit would not have changed the outcome of…

Walz to Provide Update on Mask Mandate After CDC Guidance

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he’ll provide an update about the state’s mask mandate later Thursday after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that fully vaccinated people can go without masks indoors. “This is exciting news! The vaccines are working. Gov. Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health are reviewing the CDC’s announcement and…

Minnesota House to Take up Cannabis Bill in Historic Vote

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota House will vote on a proposal to legalize marijuana use for adults and expunge minor marijuana convictions on Thursday — the first time either chamber has ever voted on legalization. The legislation, authored by Democratic House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, of Golden Valley, made its way through a dozen committees stops this legislative session before…

US Steel Interested in Developing Mineral Leases Near Nashwauk Mine Site

NASHWAUK, Minn. – U.S. Steel announced on Thursday that it is interested in developing mineral leases near the incomplete Nahwauk mine site. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has started the process of terminating leases for the Mesabi Metallics iron ore mining project in Nashwauk after the company did not meet critical and required benchmarks by the agreed May 1…

Proctor Teen Charged in Eveleth Stabbing

PROCTOR, Minn. – Authorities say a 16-year-old boy from Proctor has been charged with felony second-degree assault after stabbing a 20-year-old man in Eveleth on Monday morning. According to the Eveleth Police Chief, the teen stabbed the victim several times during a fight. The incident happened around 4:00 a.m. on the 300 block of 15th Avenue West in Eveleth. The…

General Services Administration: Duluth Lighthouse Now Available to Eligible Groups

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Harbor North Pierhead Light is now available at no cost to certain eligible entities. The U.S. General Services Administration announced last week that the light is no longer needed by the US Coast Guard for navigational purposes making it available to entities defined as: Federal agencies State and local agencies Non-profit corporations Educational agencies or…

Trial for 3 Ex-Officers Charged in George Floyd’s Death Delayed to 2022

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The trial for the three former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd is being postponed until March 2022, Judge Peter Cahill ruled Thursday. The federal civil rights case against all four officers involved in Floyd’s death will now take priority. Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng are all charged with aiding and…

All-Star Nutrition Opens near Miller Hill Mall

A new nutrition store in Duluth is offering not only supplements, but also diet planning and personal training programs.

DULUTH, Minn.- A new nutrition store in Duluth is offering not only supplements, but also diet planning and personal training programs. All-Star Nutrition opened right across the street from the Miller Hill Mall last week. The owner says he’s seeing a boom in people focusing on improving their health after being stuck at home. And he says his store is…

Duluth Public Library Hosting Annual Bookmark Competition

DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth Public Library is holding its annual bookmark contest, and submissions are wanted. The library wants children to submit their bookmark designs to encourage reading, art and creativity together. The staff will pick six winners and print them out to distribute during the summer. “We want kids to feel connected with the library, so any way that…

Wildwoods Sees More Orphaned Animals Coming In, Starts Amazon Registry For Supplies

Click here to buy items from Wildwoods’ Amazon registry, and click here to make a financial donation to the nonprofit.  DULUTH, Minn. — The Wildwoods Rehabilitation Center in Duluth is seeing more orphaned baby squirrels, bunnies, and other animals brought in as the weather warms up, and now the team there has launched an Amazon registry to help collect essential…

Virginia Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal Stabbing Following 7-Hour Search

40-year-old Derek Malevich is being held on preliminary charges of second-degree murder at the Saint Louis County Jail in Virginia.

VIRGINIA, Minn.-  A hours-long manhunt in Virginia Wednesday for a man suspected of stabbing a woman to death in his own apartment ended at a nearby hotel — where they took 40-year-old Derek Malevich into custody. “A buddy of mine was asking if I was okay he said ‘yeah there was just a stabbing like just down the block from…

Zeitgeist Arts Cafe Re-Opening and Looking to Community for Ideas

DULUTH, Minn.– New and exciting things are happening around Duluth, and a local non-profit restaurant is getting ready to welcome customers back inside with some major changes. The cafe that was housed at Zeitgeist plans to open in August after being closed since last summer. It will likely look a lot different as the non-profit is seeking restaurant entrepreneurs who…

Leadership Duluth Excited to Return to In-Person Sessions

DULUTH, Minn.– A local leadership program is happy to be back to meeting in-person this week. Leadership Duluth, which is a development and networking program for emerging leaders in the community, went on their first in-person session since last October during a class at the Underground Theater at The Depot. We spoke to Director, Martha Bremer, earlier today to talk…

Harbortown Rotary Helps Clean Up Vandalized GND Park

Members of the club say, they are always looking for different ways to have a positive impact on the community.

DULUTH, Minn. — Volunteers came together this morning to help clean up the Gary-New Duluth Recreational Area after it was vandalized almost a month ago. Several members of the Harbortown Rotary Club stopped by Memorial Park in Gary-New Duluth to help clean up the grounds, fill holes in the dog park and also install a new backboard on the basketball…

Sen. Klobuchar’s Father, Columnist Jim Klobuchar, Dies at 93

(Klobuchar Press Office via Fox 9) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jim Klobuchar, longtime Minnesota newspaper reporter and columnist and father of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, has died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Klobuchar died Wednesday at the Emerald Crest care facility in Burnsville, a Twin Cities suburb, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He was 93. Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota…

Update: Suspect in Fatal Stabbing Located in Virginia

UPDATE: Authorities say the Virginia Police Department, Minnesota BCA, and the Saint Louis County Sheriff’s Office located Malevich in a room at the Quality Inn Suites in Virginia around 9:08 a.m. Malevich is being held on second-degree murder charges at the Saint Louis County Virginia Jail. The MN BCA and the Virginia Police Department are actively investigating the homicide. UPDATE:…

Essentia Health to Begin Vaccinating Children Aged 12-15

(courtesy: Essentia Health) DULUTH, Minn. – Essentia Health says it will soon begin vaccinating 12-15-year-olds with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. This follows the announcement on Monday that the Food and Drug Administration cleared the expanded use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine citing evidence that the shot worked well in that age range. Essentia Health officials say shots are expected to begin…

Ruling Paves Way for Longer Sentence in George Floyd’s Death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge has found aggravating factors in the death of George Floyd. The ruling made public Wednesday paves the way for a longer sentence for former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin. He was convicted in April on murder and manslaughter counts. He’s scheduled to be sentenced June 25. Under Minnesota sentencing guidelines, he would have faced a…

Groome Transportation to Resume Shuttles from Duluth to MSP Airport

Masks will be required, middle seats will be vacant for social distancing, and  buses will be sprayed with a hospital grade disinfectant between uses.

DULUTH, Minn.- As more people start taking trips again after the pandemic another shuttle is resuming service from Duluth to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Groome Transportation will restart its route on June 1st. Masks will be required, middle seats will be vacant for social distancing, and  buses will be sprayed with a hospital grade disinfectant between uses. After pausing operations…

Tortoise and Hare Footwear Gears Up For Grandma’s Marathon in June

As the buzz around Grandma's is growing, many more are coming in for running shoes and gear.

DULUTH, Minn.- Some local shoe stores are feeling the runner’s high from Grandma’s Marathon weekend approaching next month. Owners of Tortoise and Hare Footwear in Duluth’s Denfeld neighborhood say it’s been a pretty busy spring with many coming in for hiking shoes and boots to get out to places like the Superior Hiking Trail. But as the buzz around Grandma’s…

Bait Shops Anticipating Busy Opener

With the earlier ice out, the expectations are for anglers to have some nice catches this opener.

DULUTH, Minn. — Bait shops are looking to capitalize on the busy fishing opener this weekend. With the earlier ice out, the expectations are for anglers to have some nice catches this opener. Bait shops are advising to get your license early to avoid the hassle of waiting in line during the opener on Saturday. “We’ll have a express line…

Judge Denies Media Requests for Cameras at Potter Hearing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge on Tuesday denied media requests to allow cameras at an upcoming hearing for a suburban Minneapolis police officer charged in Daunte Wright’s death. Kim Potter, 48, is charged with manslaughter in Wright’s death during a traffic stop April 11 in Brooklyn Center. The city’s police chief at the time said he believed Potter, who is white, mixed…

Grandma’s Marathon Post-Race Celebration, Spectators Back On for 2021 Race

DULUTH, Minn. – Following Governor Tim Walz’s announcement last week to end restrictions on outdoor limits and indoor activities by the end of May, Grandma’s Marathon announced Tuesday that they will now be allowing spectators and a post-race celebration for the 2021 race. “Those things were crossed off pretty early in our planning process based on the previous guidelines, and…

UMD Students Create Robot to Climb Walls, Deploy Items in Hostile Territory

The students designed the rover for this year's U.S. Air Force Research Lab Challenge.

DULUTH, Minn.- From the minds of UMD Students comes a robot that can climb walls, carry and drop off items — their entry in this year’s Air Force Research Lab Challenge. The challenge was to design a remote controlled, autonomous robot that could climb walls and deploy sensors or cameras in hostile territory. UMD’S rover is outfitted with a moveable…

New Therapy Center for Children with Autism Opens in Hermantown

The center is filled with brightly colored, sensory-friendly spaces where therapists will work with kids on skills, relationships and confidence building.

HERMANTOWN, Minn.- The ribbon was cut Monday for a new therapy center in Hermantown for children on the autism spectrum. Caravel Autism Health celebrated its grand opening. The center is filled with brightly colored, sensory-friendly spaces where therapists will work with kids on skills, relationships and confidence building. According to specialists, Caravel staff will also work with families to continue…

Duluth Council Tables Vote on Spirit Mountain Debt Forgiveness Plan

Councilors heard the Mayor's plan the same night as the council meeting, and many said it was too short notice to vote on it just yet.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth City Council Monday unanimously tabled a vote on Mayor Emily Larson’s plan to forgive $900,000 of Spirit Mountain’s $1.2 million line of credit it received from the city, to take up again at the next meeting May 24th. Councilors heard the Mayor’s plan in a Committee of the Whole meeting before Monday’s council, and many of…

Minnesota to Get $200M More Than Expected in Federal Aid

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s state government will get about $200 million more than it was expecting under President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief package, and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz expressed hope Monday that new guidelines over how states can spend the aid might help speed up the slow pace of negotiations over the state’s next budget. The legislative session is due to adjourn next Monday,…

Minnesota Reports 1,191 New COVID-19 Cases, 0 Deaths Monday

(FOX 9) – Minnesota reported 1,191 new COVID-19 cases and no deaths Monday. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the state has now seen a total of 588,952 COVID-19 cases and 7,231 deaths since the start of the pandemic. The state hit 60 percent of its eligible population getting at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which amounts to more than 2.6…

Two Injured in Pequot Lakes ATV Crash

PEQUOT LAKES, Minn. – Authorities say two were injured, one seriously, in a Saturday night ATV accident in rural Pequot Lakes. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report around 7:34 p.m. Saturday of a serious ATV crash near 17th Avenue Southwest. When officers arrived at the scene they learned that a 58-year-old female had been…

Business at Engwall’s in Full Bloom on Mother’s Day

Floral designers at Engwall's say they have had more than 800 orders in the last four days.

DULUTH, Minn.- Of course it wouldn’t be mother’s day without a bouquet of flower’s for mom, making local florists like Engwall’s in Duluth busy. Floral designers at Engwall’s say they have had more than 800 orders in the last four days, with plenty of people coming in the store to pick something up today too. They say the most popular…

Fitger’s Brewhouse Busy for Mother’s Day Lunch and Dinner

Staff say many of the customers were excited not only to celebrate mom, but do so with a fun "dining out" experience again.

DULUTH, Minn.- After a the pandemic put a damper on Mother’s Day activities last year, many restaurants were packed again with families treating their moms to a meal. While Fitger’s Brewhouse doesn’t serve the traditional mother’s day breakfast or lunch, it was still busy for lunch and dinner. Staff say many of the customers were excited not only to celebrate…

Families Get Out, Do More to Celebrate First Mother’s Day Out of Pandemic

The Duluth Children's Museum Pop-Up Play Place and the Lake Superior Zoo were busy with families.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Northland was busy this Mother’s Day, coming out the tail-end of the pandemic. After more traditional brunches, some families who reunited for the day decided this year was more special and spent time doing other activities. “We went out to lunch, and then we’re coming here to play with their friends,” said Stacy Cozzi at the Duluth…

Lack of Staff Impacting Local Business Owners Along the North Shore

Staff Shortages Prompting Many Small Businesses to Make Adjustments to Menus, Hours of Operation Along the North Shore

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. – It’s a serious, seasonal problem along the North Shore of Lake Superior. The struggle to find employees at often overflowing businesses. Frustration is high among business owners as the peak summer season is now just weeks away. “We’ve tried every possible avenue to attract staff,” said Abby Tofte, owner of The Fisherman’s Daughter. It’s a common…

Railroad Museum Celebrates National Train Day

DULUTH, Minn.– It was National Train Day on Saturday and plenty of families celebrated all things choo-choo over at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth. The event honored the completion of the trans-continental railway, which connected the east and west coasts of the U.S. 150 years ago. Kids could take speeder rides, get tours of a locomotive engine, and…

UMD 2021 Graduates Make Most of Virtual Commencement

DULUTH, Minn.– University of Minnesota graduates were sent off into the world Saturday celebrating their years of hard work. More than 2,300 students will be graduating this year from UMD. Like the year before, the UMD class of 2021 commencement took place virtually due to the pandemic. School chancellors say to ensure everyone could stay safe. One of the students…

Gary New Duluth Rec Center Looking for Donations to Match Pledge

DULUTH, Minn.- The Gary New Duluth Community Center and Recreation Area recently received a pledge to match up to ten thousand dollars in donations. The center, with operates through volunteer work and donations, is in the process of expanding their facilities with the construction of a skate park, small pavilion, and parking lot.  While the money will help go towards…

Premier Mini Golf Course Coming to Proctor

The course called Rogue Eagle Mini Golf is designed by a New Jersey based Harris Miniature Golf.

PROCTOR, Minn. — A new mini golf course is coming to Proctor this summer. After a conditional use permit was approved, a mother and son team found the ideal spot on Boundary Avenue on Waterview drive. The course called Rogue Eagle Mini Golf is designed by a New Jersey based Harris Miniature Golf. With the addition of a club house…

Animal Allies Offering Discount Adoption Fees

Because of an influx of dogs, the shelter is offering $50 off adoption fees for dogs and puppies from today going through Sunday.

DULUTH, Minn. —  Animal Allies Human Society is giving a little extra incentive to adopt this weekend. Because of an influx of dogs, the shelter is offering $50 off adoption fees for dogs and puppies from today going through Sunday. Although staff say it’s rare that they offer this type of discount, they hope it gives these pets a chance…

Brazil Variant Found in Itasca County

ITASCA COUNTY, Minn. – A fourth variant of the COVID-19 virus was found in Itasca County earlier this week. Itasca County health officials say the P.1 variant which originated in Brazil was identified through genetic sequencing. “Virus mutations are possible when and where a virus spreads from person to person, which is why getting to widespread immunity is so critical…

Minnesota Community Vaccination Sites Now Taking Walk-Ins

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Vaccine-eligible Minnesotans can walk in for a COVID-19 shot without an appointment at the state’s Community Vaccination Program locations effective immediately, the governor’s office announced Friday. “We want Minnesotans to pile in the car, walk into a state site and get the whole family vaccinated,” Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement. Walk-ins for Minnesotans…

Charges Imminent In Minnesota Bank Hostage Case

(Stearns County Sheriff’s Office via AP) ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — Charges are expected to be filed against a man accused of holding five employees hostage during a standoff at a St. Cloud, Minnesota, bank that lasted more than eight hours. The Star Tribune reports that Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall said a criminal complaint against the 35-year-old suspect was…

1 Year Old Dies in Remer Duplex Fire

CASS COUNTY, Minn. – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded early Friday morning to reports of a house fire in rural Remer. According to reports, deputies arrived at the scene around 1:46 a.m. in the area of Ghe We Zance Lane Northeast in Boy Lake Township and found a duplex engulfed in flames. Deputies located and safely removed…