Minnesota

SilverSneakers: Active Older Adults Slide into Exercise at the Superior YMCA

ACTIVE ADVENTURES: Superior Family YMCA Hosts 65+ Workout Classes

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — In this weeks Active Adventures Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot heads to a YMCA class with the SilverSneakers! This a group of 65+ year olds working out together to keep their bodies healthy. They focus on stretching, warm ups, exercises, a yoga cool down and more! Increasing flexibility and helping with balance to prevent falls, the class builds…

St. Louis County Launches COVID-19 Webpage, Information Phone Line

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County announced on Friday that it has launched an information phone line and web page to help people access up-to-date information about COVID-19. “We want people to be informed so they can make educated decisions about how best to prepare and protect themselves and those around them,” said Amy Westbrook, St. Louis County Public Health…

Portion of Shamrock Shake Sales to Benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities

From March 6 - 17, 25 Cents From Each Shamrock Shake Sale will Benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities in Upper Midwest

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s a type of March madness with a minty twist all for a good cause. The shamrock shakes are back at local McDonald’s restaurants, and now you can help those in need by simply purchasing one. From March 6 – 17, more than 230 participating restaurants in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and Ironwood, Michigan will donate 25 cents…

Maple School District Sees Success With Sensory Grant

MAPLE, Wisc. – “No matter what happens during the day, we will love them no matter what,” Elementary School Counselor, Kara Hietala says. It’s a process newly integrated into the maple school district. “Getting really at the root of what is going on really in their own lives and helping them be able to problem solve and get through that,”…

A Community Survey Takes A Look Into Emotional Impacts Of The 2018 Husky Refinery Explosion

UMD graduate student Alyssa Dindorf is embarking on a journey to examine how the incident unfolded in the eyes of the community.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Husky Refinery explosion in 2018 was quite a devastation for many people in the Twin Ports. It was an event, that no one ever wants to experience again. It disrupted the lives of many people in the Twin Ports including causing thousands to evacuate their homes for safety. But as the years go by its impacts…

DTA Keeps Up With Daily Sanitizing As A Precaution For The Coronavirus

"We want them to feel comfortable knowing we are taking care of the equipment they ride on so they feel safe and secure," said the DTA General Manager.

DULUTH, Minn. – City buses can be another top spot for getting a virus. The Duluth Transit authority says they are continuing their daily practices to help keep their passengers healthy. The DTA currently has a chain of more than 75 buses used for transportation services. Every bus returned in the evening is thoroughly cleaned to help prevent the spread…

Pence Pledges to ‘Lean Into’ Fight Against Coronavirus

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (AP) – Vice President Mike Pence is pledging that federal officials will “lean into” the fight against the new coronavirus. The vice president commented from Minnesota, where he visited with a leading maker of masks being used to stem the spread of the virus. He spoke after meeting with 3M CEO Mike Roman and Minnesota Gov. Tom Walz…

Banh Mi Pizza Piled High With Superb Crunch

COOKING CONNECTION: Lulu's Pizza

DULUTH, Minn. — In this weeks Cooking Connection Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot headed over to the brand new pizza place in town, LULU’S PIZZA! With their grand opening just under their belt and a changing menu to feed Duluthian’s needs, they offer a calm and welcoming environment when you walk through the door. Delivery will soon be offered to businesses,…

2nd Annual Local Food Fair Happening Saturday in Cloquet

The 2nd Annual Local Food Fair is Happening at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet

CLOQUET, Minn. – Happening Saturday, March 7, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College will host the 2nd annual Local Food Fair sponsored by the United Way of Carlton County. The event is set to bring together local farmers, bakers, and other food producers. The Local Food Fair is happening from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. This free, family-friendly event brings…

Duluth Police K9 Luna to Receive Donated Body Armor in Memory of K9 Haas

DULUTH, Minn. – A Massachusetts non-profit organization has donated a bullet and stab protective vest to the Duluth Police Department’s K9 Luna. The non-profit organization that is donating the vest, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., says their mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United…

Fire Damages Garage Units at Highland Village Apartments

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth fire crews responded to reports of a garage fire at the Highland Village Apartments Wednesday night. According to the Duluth Fire Department, firefighters arriving on the scene around 8:00 p.m. found a 24-unit garage with heavy smoke. Fire damage was confined to two garage units with damage to contents estimated at around $30,000. Initial loss estimates…

Overnight Crash Results in Power Outages

The lone male driver sustained non-life threatening injuries.

DULUTH, Minn. – On Wednesday night police responded to a crash on the 1200 block of West 1st street in Duluth. At the scene, officers found an SUV had rolled onto its side and crashed into a power line. This resulted in a loss of power to a number of residents in the area. The lone male driver sustained non-life…

Duluth Prepares For Phase Three Of The Lakewalk Reconstruction Project

"We want people to understand we are open for business," said Canal Park Business Association President Matt Baumgartner.

DULUTH, Minn. – After three major storms in 2017 and 2018 violently destroyed sections of the Lakewalk, the City of Duluth has been working to restore the damage done. The city is now preparing for phase three of the reconstruction project, estimated to cost $15 million, which is being funded by FEMA. The City of Duluth has been planning the…

2 Passengers at MSP Airport Told to Self-Quarantine After Coming Into Contact With COVID-19 in Europe

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – State health officials have instructed two passengers who arrived at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International on a flight from Europe Tuesday afternoon to self-quarantine for two weeks because they encountered a person confirmed to have the new coronavirus while abroad. The Minnesota Department of Health said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Quarantine Station at MSP…

Biden Claims 9 Super Tuesday Victories, Including Texas

WASHINGTON (AP) – A resurgent Joe Biden scored sweeping victories from Texas to Massachusetts on Super Tuesday, revitalizing a presidential bid that was teetering on the edge of disaster just days earlier. But his rival Bernie Sanders seized the biggest prize with a win in California that ensured he would drive the Democrats’ nomination fight for the foreseeable future. Suddenly,…

Bernie Sanders Super Tuesday Watch Party Held in Duluth

Supporters gathered to cheer Bernie on in Primary.

DULUTH, Minn.- Carmody’s Irish Pub was packed with Bernie Sanders supporters from across the Northland anxious to see their candidate win Super Tuesday. Sanders and Joe Biden were neck and neck for most of the night, but in the end Biden was declared the projected winner for Minnesota. The Twin Ports Democratic Socialists of America have been meeting at the…

Senior Housing Proposal Gets Preliminary Approval Of Revised Plans

Construction could begin this summer to allow for people to move in by the fall of 2021.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. –  Senior housing development planned for Hermantown has finally received a preliminary approval from the Hermantown city council, but those plans will now come with a few revisions. This comes after the original proposal was turned down due to strong opposition from residents back in January. Much of the discord was due to residents believing the new development…

Biden wins Minnesota, surges in South; Sanders wins Colorado

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden scored key Super Tuesday victories in Minnesota and across the South, building on momentum that has swiftly revived his Democratic presidential campaign in recent days. Bernie Sanders countered with wins in his home state of Vermont and in Colorado, as the race began to shift west, where some polls were starting to close. Biden took…

A Local Daycare Center Stays On Top Of Keeping Kids Healthy Amid Coronavirus Concerns

"All we can do is do our very best on a daily basis to try and stay as healthy as possible," said Director Nancy Thomas.

DULUTH, Minn. – As the Coronavirus continues to be a big problem and children being more vulnerable to illnesses, the potential for a spread of the virus brings up the question of what daycare facilities are doing to protect children. Happy Time Day Care Center in Duluth is an accredited facility. This holds them to a higher standard to protect…

Accountant Charged With Stealing Over $235k From Duluth Chamber Pleads Not Guilty

Frye is Due Back in Court on April 13

DULUTH, Minn. – The accountant accused of stealing more than $235,000 from the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce pleaded not guilty to charges of theft by swindle on Tuesday. Jesse David Frye, 40, was charged with two counts of felony theft by swindle in January after the Chamber identified “discrepancies in the bookkeeping and payroll records” in their 2018 Financial…

Deer River Man Pleads Not Guilty to Second Degree Murder

Jackson is Due Back in Court on March 31

ITASCA COUNTY, Minn. – A 29-year-old Deer River man pleaded not guilty on Monday to second-degree murder charges. Kevin Daniel Jackson was charged with second-degree murder last August in the death of his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son. According to the criminal complaint, authorities responded to a call of a non-responsive four-year-old on August 21, 2019. When officers arrived on the scene…

Looking to Laugh? Maritime Improv Comedy Crew Has You Covered

March Madness is Happening Saturday, March 7 at the Fitger's Spirit of the North Theater

DULUTH, Minn. – The Spirit of the North Theater inside the Fitger’s complex will come alive with laughs galore Saturday, March 7. Maritime Improv Crew invites the public to their event, March Madness. It’s taking place from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The comedy crew performs a hilarious long form improv PG 13 show once a month with added comedy games…

Klobuchar Exit Boosts Sanders for Minnesota’s Super Tuesday

(AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The abrupt withdrawal of Amy Klobuchar from the presidential race gives front-runner Bernie Sanders a sudden opportunity for locking up her home state on Super Tuesday. Sanders, who easily won Minnesota’s caucuses in 2016, has a large and motivated progressive base in the state. He also had a fortuitously timed last-minute rally…

CHUM Food Shelf Getting Major Makeover Thanks to Leadership Duluth, Other Community Members

At no cost to CHUM, a large part of the building is being renovated.

DULUTH, Minn.- Starting this weekend, the CHUM Food Shelf on First Avenue West is getting a makeover, thanks to some help from Leadership Duluth and other businesses in the community. “We’re really excited to give back to the community and there’s over 16,000 community members that walk through this door annually and it’s people just like you and me,” said…

DTA Launches New Free Downtown Bus Line

The Duluth Transit Authority has launched it’s new free bus route servicing downtown. The new circulator, known as the “DuLooper” will run every 15 minutes… It will travel from 10th Avenue East to 6th Avenue West between Michigan Street and Superior Street. The hope for the new service is to give more people better access to downtown especially as the…

UMD Students Speak On The Importance Of Hitting The Polls For The Primary

DULUTH, Minn. – About half the voting population is represented by young voters, including college students. With the 2020 presidential election inching closer, the local primary elections are an opportunity for students to begin exercising their right to vote. Like many college campuses, the University of Minnesota Duluth has students with various ideas and opinions on political issues that may…

Garrison Keillor NorShor Theatre Show Canceled

DULUTH, Minn. – The upcoming Garrison Keillor show at the NorShor Theatre has been canceled. According to Keillor’s booking agency, the April 16 show was canceled “due to unforeseen circumstances.” The event has since been removed from Keillor’s website and the NorShor Theatre website. The former MPR radio host was originally scheduled to perform a show called Garrison Keillor: Stories,…

Duluth Cross Country Ski Club Hosting Year-End Event

Tour DuLuth Ski Fest is Happening Saturday, March 7, 2020

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Cross-County Ski Club is gearing up to host its year-end celebration, the Tour Duluth Ski Fest on Saturday, March 7. The event features all-day/all-evening ski events around the city of Duluth. Schedule of Events: 9:00 a.m. – Lester-Amity Chalet open with doughnuts and coffee All day – Ski Duluth’s Trail System – The more the…

Klobuchar Cancels Minnesota Rally

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar has canceled a rally in her home state after protesters took over the stage shouting for her to drop out of the presidential race. Klobuchar was scheduled to speak Sunday at St. Louis Park High School ahead of Tuesday’s primary. But dozens of protesters took the stage chanting “black lives…

Models Hit the Runway at Women’s Expo Fashion Show

DULUTH, Minn. – Thousands of people packed the DECC this weekend for the annual Women’s Expo, and the fashion show was another hit. Former B105 radio personality Cathy Kates and FOX 21’s Dan Hanger emceed the show again this year featuring fashion designs from local retailers. FOX 21’s Alexandra Burnley and Brittney Merlot were some of the models hitting the…

Bringing Home the Bacon at Baconfest

Event raises money for church mission trips.

HERMANTOWN, Minn.- Hermantown Community Church was packed with meat lovers for their 6th annual Baconfest. Baconfest raises money for mission trips form the church. Every year they go to California and Ireland, partnering with local churches in those areas. Baconfest included a bacon-eating contest, and People’s Choice Award for their favorite bacon-centered dish, which there were many according to organizers….

Northlanders Enjoy Warm First Day of Meteorological Spring Outside

Temps reach low 40s as people enjoy the lakeside in Canal Park.

DULUTH, Minn.- Sunday was the first day of Meteorological Spring, the three month period of March, April and May which meteorologists use to calculate seasonal statistics. It sure felt like Spring here in the Northland, as temperatures got as high as 42 degrees in Duluth. So people got outside in Canal Park enjoying the melting lake and sunshine, as we…

Glik’s to Open in Miller Hill Mall

DULUTH, Minn. –  The Miller Hill Mall announced Sunday that Glik’s will be opening there in April. The boutique store will be designed for women only with fashion, footwear and accessories. Glik’s will be located between Center Court and Caribou Coffee. The nearest Glik’s stores in the Northland are in Hayward and Grand Rapids.   The first store opened in 1897…

Four Babies Leap Out into World on Leap Day

Two babies out of St. Luke's and Two out of Essentia on this special day.

DULUTH, Minn.- Saturday was Leap Day which of course only happens every four years, and quite a few babies were born on this extra day of February in Duluth. Four babies were born on Leap Day in Duluth, two at Essentia Health and two at St.Luke’s. Now begins the process of deciding when to celebrate the baby’s birthday on non-Leap…

Northland Boy Scouts Practice Outdoor Skills in Beargrease Derby

Dog sled style race in Cloquet helps kids develop winter outdoor skills.

CLOQUET, Minn.- The Boy Scouts were out in the sunshine practicing their outdoor winter skills Saturday. The annual Beargrease Derby took place at the University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center. The mile long course is named after John Beargrease, with 10 stations named after spots on the real Beargrease trail. Kids go to each station to perform different outdoor tasks….

UMD Hosts Third Annual Sustainability Education Summit

DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Duluth hosted its third annual Sustainability Education Summit. It’s an opportunity for professionals and students to share ideas. They also learn how the topic of sustainability could be incorporated into classes. UMD’s Sustainability Coordinator says it’s important to have these discussions to help give a better understanding of the topic, which often can…

Duluth Police Officer Sustains Minor Injuries in Crash

DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth Police officer sustained minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon. According to the Duluth Police Department, the crash happened around 2:00 p.m. at the intersection at Lake Avenue and Superior Street. One of the vehicles involved in the crash was a Duluth Police Squad. The officer driving the squad car was taken to St….

Physical Therapy to Help Injury or Illness Restricting Daily Tasks

ACTIVE ADVENTURES: Physical Therapy at Viverant

  DULUTH, Minn. — In this weeks Active Adventures we head up the hill to Viverant with Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot. After Merlot’s recent back break in August left her unable to walk, she has been in physical therapy for months getting back on her feet. Physical therapists teach patients how to prevent or manage their condition so that they…

Minnesota Still Has No Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus

(FOX 9) – There remain no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Health had sent one case to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing this week, but those test results came back negative for the COVID-19 virus. The new respiratory illness first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. There are…

Semi Tips Over on Highway 2 in Cloquet

CLOQUET, Minn. – Multiple agencies responded to reports of a semi that had tipped over on Highway 2 Friday morning. According to a post on the Cloquet Area Fire District’s Facebook page, the accident happened around 6:00 a.m. Friday morning on Highway 2 at Highway 33. The semi had tipped over and spilled a load of lime on the highway….

Geared Up: Duluth Police Train For Potential Civil Unrest

DULUTH, Minn. — With a use-of-force policy now in place for Duluth’s newly purchased protective gear, officers are going through specialized training for those rare events when protesters can turn violent. And while full-blown riots are not a common occurrence in Duluth by any means, Chief Mike Tusken believes it’s his responsibility to be prepared for the worst to keep the…