Minnesota

Minnesota Faces Potential $4.7 Billion Budget Deficit

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota faces a potential $4.7 billion deficit in its next two-year budget due to economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The Minnesota Management and Budget office said Friday that the pandemic has made economic conditions “extremely volatile” as a new planning estimate shows a continued deterioration of state finances. Minnesota has received more than $2…

Produce Stand on Central Entrance in Duluth Busy During Pandemic

DC's Best Produce Farms has been selling their fresh-picked tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelon there for years. 

DULUTH, Minn.- Fresh produce is in full bloom throughout the Northland, including at a stand on Central Entrance Road. DC’s Best Produce Farms in Esko has been selling their fresh-picked tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelon there for years. They say during the pandemic, they’ve seen more people stopping by for some locally-grown goodies. “It’s coming straight from the farm to here…

Duluth City Crews Clear Heavy Chunks of Metal Culvert from Lester River

Crews said they were pieces of culverts washed out from the 2012 flood. 

DULUTH, Minn.- Among the swimmers in the river and hikers on the trail, some may have spotted city crews at Lester Park clearing metal debris out of the river. Public works responded to a citizen report of chunks of metal floating downstream. Crews said they were pieces of culverts washed out from the 2012 flood. Some of those pieces weiged…

Trampoline Park Re-Opens Under New Name

After opening back up in 2017, the tramponline park has been undergoing some changes including its name.

DULUTH, Minn. – The entertainment venue known as Planet 3 is no more. After opening in 2017, the trampoline park has been undergoing some changes including its name after reopening in mid-June. “Anywhere hands can touch is being sanitized. We’re spraying down all the trampolines, pads. All of the hard surfaces are being wiped down every half an hour or…

Effie Rodeo Attendee Tests Positive for COVID-19, Others Urged to Watch for Symptoms

EFFIE, Minn. – State health officials are urging people that attended the North Star Stampede in Effie to watch for symptoms of COVID-19 after it was determined that an attendee from a neighboring county was infectious at the event. The Minnesota Department of Health says the person developed symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19 on July 27. Health officials confirm…

Lake Superior Art Glass Hosts Terrarium Design Class

Organizers say, that the designer classes have become more accessible then ever. 

DULUTH, Minn. – Lake Superior Art Glass has been hosting new designer events since October, one of those being for designing your own terrarium. The program is one of several put on by the shop, allowing anyone to design the globe which would then house a plant. Organizers say that the designer classes have become more accessible then ever. “For…

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Friday, July 31

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 54,463 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Friday morning and 6 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,600 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 1,024,916 tests have been completed to date. There are 47,289 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 5,155 patients have required hospitalization…

Hibbing Police Seize Nearly 177 Grams of Meth This Week in Two Drug Arrests

HIBBING, Minn. – The Hibbing Police department reported on Friday that officers have seized almost 177 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 2.5 grams of suspected heroin in two separate drug arrests this week. On Monday, officers responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on Mitchell Bridge. Authorities say the reporting party noted that the male driver took a backpack…

Chisholm Community Reacts to Arrest, Charge of Suspect in Nancy Daugherty Cold Case

Michael Carbo Jr., 52, was charged with second-degree murder Thursday thanks to DNA analysis.

CHISHOLM, Minn.- The people of Chisholm peeled back one of the city’s darkest days — the murder and rape of 38-year-old Nancy Daugherty in her own home — as a man from their very city is now charged with her murder. That man is Michael Carbo Jr., 52, a longtime resident of Chisholm, who was charged with second-degree murder Thursday….

How Parabon NanoLabs Helped Chisholm Police Identify A Cold Case Murder Suspect

CHISHOLM, Minn. — The company that helped Chisholm Police pinpoint suspect Michael Carbo Jr. in the cold case murder of Nancy Daughtery is called Parabon NanoLabs, which specializes in investigative genetic genealogy. Parabon has access to some DNA databases from companies such as GEDmatch and Family Tree DNA, which people send their DNA samples to when they want to learn…

Annual Car Show Returns in New Location, Pays Tribute to Local Drivers

Smalley-Moen Memorial Car Show brings hundreds of car lovers to Buffalo House

MIDWAY TOWNSHIP, Minn. – Every year, a memorial car show honors a local car racing legend. Kyle Smalley is usually celebrated at Spirit Valley Days, an event he helped organize. That gathering is canceled this year, so friends, family, and car lovers came together outside the Buffalo House restaurant and bar to honor Smalley’s life. Car people love talking about…

Governor Walz Announces Localized Return-to-School Plan with Option for Families to Keep Students Home

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota state officials on Thursday unveiled a plan to reopen schools this fall that gives districts some flexibility to toggle between in-person and online learning, but reserves the right for the state to step in if the coronavirus gets out of control. Gov. Tim Walz acknowledged the importance of schools and the value of in-person learning but…

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Thursday, July 30

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 53,692 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Thursday morning and 5 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,594 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 1,007,882 tests have been completed to date. There are 46,965 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 5,112 patients have required hospitalization…

Minnesota Governor to Announce Reopening Guidance on Schools

(courtesy: Fox 9) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz is set Thursday to announce guidance for school districts to reopen in the fall as the coronavirus has accelerated statewide in recent weeks. State health and education officials last month asked school districts to prepare for three scenarios: in-person learning for all students, distance learning as in the spring, or a…

Minneapolis Panel Rejects Proposal to Remove Police Minimum

(Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis Charter Commission on Wednesday rejected sending voters a referendum on eliminating a minimum staffing requirement in the city police department. The 15-member commission voted 8-6 against putting the proposal on the November ballot, with one member absent. The proposal was an alternative to a more aggressive change in the…

Senator Amy Klobuchar Introduces Bill To Save Independent Live Music Venues

About 90% of venue owners in the nation have reported they are at risk of closing without extra financial support.

  MINNESOTA – Independent live music and entertainment venues across the nation are continuing to feel the devastating effects of the global pandemic. As a result, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Texas Senator John Cornyn are introducing a bill to help keep those venues from going under. About 90% of venue owners in the nation have reported they are at…

DNA, Public Genealogy Databases Lead To Arrest In 1986 Chisholm Cold Case

Suspect Michael Carbo Jr., 52, of Chisholm was arrested Wednesday just hours after the DNA match.

CHISHOLM, Minn. – Three decades since the rape and murder of Nancy Daugherty in the close-knit city of Chisholm, a 52-year-old man, Michael Carbo Jr., living in that very community was arrested for the crime Wednesday on probable cause of second-degree murder. “This is the day Nancy Daugherty’s family and all of Chisholm have waited for, for over 34 years….

Gary New Duluth Rec Center Distributes Food Bags from YMCA Summer Food Service

Volunteers say the meals help in the food desert of Gary New Duluth.

DULUTH, Minn.- Some people in Gary New Duluth Wednesday spent the warm sunny weather handing out bags of food to those in need. The Duluth Area YMCA Summer Food Service Program has been giving out grab-and-go meal bags at the Gary New Duluth Recreation Center since March. The bags included juice, healthy snacks, and produce from the community garden. A…

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Wednesday, July 29

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 52,947 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Wednesday morning and 9 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,589 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 993,091 tests have been completed to date. There are 46,636 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 5,077 patients have required hospitalization…

Mayor Frey Closes all Indoor Bar Areas in Minneapolis due to COVID-19 Pandemic

  MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is closing all indoor bar areas due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency regulation, which goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Aug. 1, also covers taprooms, distilleries, nightclubs, and restaurants with a bar area. This does not mean, however, that bars must close their doors. The bar areas within restaurants and other…

Canal Park Grandma’s Saloon & Grill, Little Angie’s to Temporarily Close After Employees Test Positive for COVID

DULUTH, Minn. – Two Canal Park restaurants will be temporarily closing due to employees testing positive for COVID-19. Grandma’s Saloon & Grill in Canal Park announced on Wednesday that a second employee at the restaurant has tested positive for COVID-19 and an employee has now tested positive at the Little Angie’s restaurant as well. The announcement was made on the…

State Moves Prisoner Intake From St. Cloud due to COVID-19

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Department of Corrections is moving the state’s prisoner intake operations from the St. Cloud prison where the number of coronavirus cases has spiked. The intake function will move to the Lino Lakes prison north of the Twin Cities this week, and will remain there “for the foreseeable future” to allow the St. Cloud…

Aluminum Can Shortage Having Huge Impacts On Northland Breweries And Cideries

Canned beverage sales account for 90% of revenue for Bent Paddle Brewing.

DULUTH, Minn. – Breweries and cideries in the Northland are being thrown another curveball as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A national aluminum can shortage is beginning to have major impacts on those businesses, which is causing some big concerns. Many breweries and cideries are scrambling to get their hands on a supply of aluminum cans to survive the…

Duluth Mayor Reacts to Costco Officially Coming to the City

DULUTH, Minn. –With about $2 million in tax breaks now approved for infrastructure improvements, Costco is officially coming to Duluth next fall. After a year of negotiating with the retailer, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson said she’s excited that both the city and county tax abatement proposals were approved. St. Louis County commissioners unanimously approved $650,000 in tax abatement for Costco…

Local Campgrounds Busy This Summer

All sites are full at Buffalo Valley Campground

MIDWAY TOWNSHIP, Minn. – Local campgrounds are having what could be their busiest summer ever. One campground manager tells us it’s tough to get a site between Duluth and Canada. All 130 campsites are full at Buffalo Valley Campground. Manager Darrell Eckenberg says weekend sites are filling up weeks in advance. “My phone doesn’t stop ringing now. It starts at…

Duluth Police: Use of Force Incident ‘Within Policy and Training’

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Department announced on Tuesday that they have determined the officers involved in a weekend use-of-force incident were acting within proper policy and training. The arrest in question happened on Saturday during a traffic stop near the West 4600 Block of Grand Avenue around 10:30 a.m. During the stop officers recognized the passenger in the…

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Tuesday, July 28

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 52,281 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Tuesday morning and 4 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,580 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 979,988 tests have been completed to date. There are 45,987 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 5,028 patients have required hospitalization…

Injured Female Rescued From Island on Kettle River

PINE COUNTY, Minn. – The Pine County Sheriff’s Office says a female was rescued Tuesday morning after breaking her leg on an island on the Kettle River. Pine County 911 says they received a call around 7:40 a.m. of an injured female stuck on an island between Sandstone and Hinckley. Pine County deputies, MN DNR, Hinckley Fire, and Essentia Ambulance…

Minnesotans Receiving Mysterious Packets of Seeds From China

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture Advises Minnesotans to Not Plant the Seeds

ST. PAUL, Minn. – On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced they’ve had multiple reports of residents receiving unsolicited packages of seeds appearing to come from China. “We’re uncertain what these seeds may be and why people are receiving these unsolicited packages,” said Denise Thiede, MDA’s Seed Unit Supervisor. “Until we know more, we encourage people to contact…

Prosecutors Want no Audio-Visual Coverage of Cops’ Trials

(Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors in the cases against four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd said Monday that they do not want audio or visual coverage of the trials, but they did not provide a reason. Derek Chauvin and three other former officers are scheduled to go on trial in March….

Congressman Pete Stauber Speaks on Legislative Session While Attending Trump Visit

DULUTH, Minn. – Eighth district Congressman Pete Stauber was also in attendance… for the signing of the Pledge to America’s Workers at Duluth Pack. Congress is back in legislative session this week after closing for the weekend. As some of the C.A.R.E.S. Act funding is set to expire, Congressman Stauber says they are taking on a variety of issues. “There’s…

Ivanka Trump Visits Duluth

Nearly 500 companies have signed the Pledge to Americas Workers.

DULUTH, Minn. – Senior Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump and U.S. Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt made a visit to Duluth on Monday. They toured the local manufacturing company Duluth Pack. A big part of the visit was company leaders signing what’s being called the Pledge to America’s Workers, a Trump administration initiative designed to provide more workforce opportunities….

Protesters Rally Outside of Duluth Pack During Ivanka Trump Visit

Some protesters believe hosting Ivanka Trump will have a negative effect on Duluth Pack's reputation.

DULUTH, Minn. – Dozens of protesters gathered outside of Duluth Pack to protest the visit of the president’s daughter. Many of them are calling for change expressing frustration over the administration’s handling of the Covid-19 outbreak. One protester was even dressed as a doctor from the medieval times of the black plague. “So my question is, who speaks for the…

Vikings’ Infection Control Officer Tests Positive for COVID

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Vikings vice president of sports medicine Eric Sugarman, who’s in charge of the organization’s virus prevention plan, has tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Monday. In a statement from the Vikings, Sugarman said he and his family members immediately quarantined themselves and began following the NFL’s appropriate protocols after testing positive over the weekend. Sugarman,…

Cloquet’s County Seat Theater to Perform Play in August

Theater will have 47 of its 140 seats available for production of 'The Boys Next Door'

CLOQUET, Minn. – Arts organizations around the Northland have shut down for months during the COVID-19 pandemic. Live theater has been especially difficult to restart because cast, crew, and audiences are all needed in venues at the same time. But now, Cloquet’s County Seat Theater is planning to perform a live show in August. Actors are back onstage for rehearsals,…

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Monday, July 27

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 51,803 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Monday morning and 2 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,576 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 970,726 tests have been completed to date. There are 45,198 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 4,961 patients have required hospitalization…

International Falls Area Businesses Experience Impact of COVID-19

U.S., Canada Border Closure Impacts Businesses in the International Falls Area

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. – COVID-19 continues to keep a tight lockdown on our daily lives and routines. Businesses are being impacted, and communities are having to come together now more than ever before to help one another. The community of International Falls, situated right along the Canadian border, is feeling the economic impact due to the ongoing U.S., Canadian border…

Thousands Attend Effie, MN Rodeo Protesting Governor Walz’s COVID-19 Restrictions

Billed as largest longest running rodeo in country, many protested what they called Government overreach.

EFFIE, Minn.-  As Minnesota’s mask mandate takes effect, Governor Tim Walz reminded the state that it’s important for people to follow his directives to slow the spread of COVID-19 — but at a small town rodeo, some do not believe government intervention is necessary. Thousands of people packed the stands at the 65th Annual North Star Stampede Rodeo in Effie…

Ivanka Trump to Visit Duluth Monday

Image Courtesy: Associated Press DULUTH, Minn. – Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump and U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt will be in Duluth on Monday, July 27th. They will visit a local manufacturing facility where the company is expected to sign the Pledge to America’s Workers, a Trump administration initiative that “calls on job creators and trade…

Coin Shortage Impacting The Northland

Consumers are being asked to spend coins or use exact change when making purchases.

DULUTH, Minn. – Across the nation many communities are currently in the middle of a coin shortage. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are disrupting the circulation of coins needed to supply businesses and banks. According to the United States Mint, there is an adequate amount of coin in the economy. As many businesses shut down during the pandemic, the…

Thunderbird Mall In Virginia Gets A Name Change

Three national brands are interested in opening stores at Uptown Virginia.

VIRGINIA, Minn. – The Thunderbird Mall in Virginia is now going by a new name. It is now called Uptown Virginia. RockStep Capital,which owns the mall, recently announced the name change as part of a company wide rebranding initiative. Many malls across the nation are losing retailers due to bankruptcy issues. The president of RockStep says rebranding during pandemic was…

Minnesota Craft Beer Magazine ‘The Growler’ to End 8-Year Run with August 2020 Issue

(courtesy: The Growler Magazine/Fox9) (FOX 9) – Next month’s print issue of The Growler Magazine will be the last. Matt Kenevan, owner, founder, and publisher of The Growler announced the end of the craft beer magazine’s eight-year run Thursday in an online letter to readers. He said 2020 was “looking to be a pretty good year,” but the COVID-19 pandemic hit the…

Feds Send Team to Evaluate Minnesota’s Coronavirus Response

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal COVID-19 response team provided Minnesota health officials with recommendations for improvements Friday in the state’s pandemic response following a recent rise in cases statewide. The COVID-19 Response Assistance Field Team was sent to Minnesota by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. It arrived earlier this week hoping to slow a rise in new cases….

Updated COVID-19 Numbers: Friday, July 24

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota health officials reported 49,488 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state Friday morning and 5 new deaths bringing the death total to 1,566 in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, 922,876 tests have been completed to date. There are 42,882 patients who no longer require isolation. So far, 4,852 patients have required hospitalization…

Canal Park Grandma’s Saloon & Grill Partially Closing After Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19

DULUTH, Minn. – Grandma’s Saloon & Grill in Canal Park announced on Friday morning that they will be partially closing after an employee recently tested positive for COVID-19. The restaurant made the announcement on its Facebook page writing, “Starting today, we will be temporarily closing our downstairs Grandma’s Saloon & Grill restaurant and kitchens at our Canal Park location due…