Minnesota

New Owners of Duluth Paper Plant Propose to Expand Facility

DULUTH, Minn. — A new company that has taken over the reigns of the vacant paper mill along I-35 and is planning to expand operations. Sofidel American Corp hopes to build four new buildings, adding nearly 600,000 square feet to the infrastructure of the Duluth facility. It would likely double workforce and triple the production plants footprint. The project could…

Vehicle Crashes into Duluth Elementary School Gymnasium

DULUTH, Minn. — A vehicle crashed into the gymnasium of Myers-Wilkens Elementary School in Duluth this morning, causing significant damage. No injuries to students or staff, but the two occupants of the vehicle were hospitalized for treatment. At around 8:25 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, Duluth Police responded to an incident involving a vehicle that crashed into the gymnasium of Myers-Wilkens…

Driver Injured In T-Bone School Bus Rollover Is Asst. Volleyball Coach At South Ridge

CHERRY TOWNSHIP, Minn.– It was a truly a terrifying school bus ride Thursday morning for students from Cherry School when their bus was t-boned, sending it rolling into a ditch. Twenty-one students were on board when the bus rolled and ended upright. Twelve students were sent to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  The bus driver is also going to be…

Coffee Conversation: ShelterBox Highlights the Urgency of Disaster Planning

DULUTH, Minn. — September is National Emergency Preparedness Month, a timely reminder of the importance of having a plan in place. Bill Tobin with ShelterBox, a global non-profit dedicated to providing aid to those displaced by disasters and conflicts, joined Fox 21 live in-studio Thursday to talk about being prepared. ShelterBox’s mission is to ensure that no one is left…

City of Eveleth Looks to Take Action Against Hells Angels Clubhouse

EVELETH, Minn. – Eveleth’s city council is looking into purchasing the Hells Angels clubhouse, located in the heart of downtown. According to property records, the clubhouse is owned by Jerand French, who prosecutor say is the President of the Hells Angels’ Iron Range Charter. French is facing kidnapping, false imprisonment, and assault charges, in connection to a 2023 incident that…

Essentia Health To Drop Medicare Advantage Plans With UnitedHealthcare, Humana

Essentia Health is dropping in-network coverage for 20,000 patients who have Medicare Advantage plans through UnitedHealthcare and Humana. Essentia said those two companies are too often “denying or delaying” patient care at more than twice the rate of other Medicare Advantage plans. “This was not a decision we made lightly. The frequent denials and associated delays negatively impact our ability…

UMD’s Economic Impact on Duluth Community

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth community often refers to the Twin Ports as a college town. That being said, with the start of every fall semester, that name becomes a reality. Since 1947, University of Minnesota Duluth has been a staple for students, professors, and other staff over the years. The UMD campus has impacted the community economically. Every fall,…

Volunteers Help Maintain Superior Hiking Trail

DULUTH, Minn. — The Superior Hiking Trail caters to outdoor enthusiasts, and casual hikers alike. That being said, the trail doesn’t magically maintain itself. A group of dedicated volunteers hit the trails Tuesday to help maintain the Superior Hiking Trail. Lots of work goes into keeping the area up to code, as well as sustainable. Creating rock staircases, and replacing…

Ely Under Boil Water Advisory Following Water Outage

ELY, Minn. — The City of Ely has restored water service following a watermain break, but remains under a Boil Water Advisory, urging residents to boil or use bottled water for all consumption and food preparation until further notice. As of 12:30 AM, city officials report that water service has been restored following recent disruptions. City crews are actively flushing…

Denfeld High Security Lockdown Lifted After Disturbance

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Police responded to a disturbance call near Denfeld High School Wednesday morning, which initially triggered a security lockdown that has now been lifted. Duluth Police were dispatched to the 4600 block of Grand Avenue following reports of an armed individual, according to a press release, prompting the SECURE protocol at Denfeld High School. After investigating, authorities…

Trillium Services Inc. Celebrates Employees During DSP Appreciation Week

Direct Support Professional Recognition Week in the state of Minnesota

DULUTH, Minn.–  This week is Direct Support Professional Recognition Week in the state of Minnesota. Trillium Services, a disability service provider, hosted their annual appreciation event for their DSP employees. People could enjoy food from the Rambler food truck and had an opportunity to win raffle prizes that were donated by local businesses. “This is a really important job. Just…

UMD Held an Educational AI Forum for Students and Faculty

The University of Minnesota Duluth held an AI forum to address the positives and negatives of artificial intelligence.

Duluth, Minn.–  The University of Minnesota Duluth held an artificial intelligence forum to address the positives and negatives of AI.  The forum highlighted UMD’s new Generative AI tools policy for the school year while looking to teach students, staff, and faculty how AI should be used properly in the workplace and in college. One of the points highlighted at the…

Wrenshall School District Sees Rise In Student Enrollment

WRENSHALL, Minn. — One of the Northland’s smaller schools has gotten a bit bigger this year. District officials tell us Wrenshall is experiencing an almost 10% bump in total enrollment. The school serves grades K through 12. Most of the new students are in kindergarten and 4th grade. School Board Chair Mary Carlson believes that’s a good sign for the…

Coffee Conversation: Music Video for ‘Indecent Proposal’ Shot Aboard the William A. Irvin

DULUTH, Minn. — Local band Indecent Proposal drops a new song and music video filmed aboard the William A. Irvin, also known as the “Haunted Ship.” The band appeared on Fox 21’s morning newscast Tuesday to discuss “The Cage” and its music video. Indecent Proposal will release an alternate version of their music video in October to promote alongside the…

Four National Touring Broadway Shows Coming to the DECC in 2025

DULUTH, Minn. — Four national touring Broadway shows are coming to Duluth. “Chicago,” “Pretty Woman,” “Mean Girls” and “Riverdance” will hit the stage at the DECC in the beginning of 2025. These productions will mark the first time in 13 years that a Broadway series has come to the northland region. Each show will take to the stage for one…

Great Lakes Tree Planting Initiative Kicks Off in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — State lawmakers from the Great Lakes region are on a mission to plant 250 million trees along the Great Lakes by 2033. Four of those trees were planted Monday in Duluth, across from Pier B along Railroad St. The ceremony included Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois lawmakers. Local officials like Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert were also there. The…

Vikings Game Festivities at Caddyshack

DULUTH, Minn. — Football Sunday is back on Fox and that meant local bars were kicking off the season with parties. The Caddyshack in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood celebrated the opening of the Vikings season with free food, drink deals and a whole lot of purple and gold. Vikings fans from all over town came together to share in the…

Mayor Reinert Directs Internal Review Post Fish Kill In Tischer Creek

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert said on Sunday that he has directed internal leadership to review all procedures and training to figure out how 1.7 million gallons of treated drinking water got into Tischer Creek in August, ending with the killing of more than 1,000 fish. Reinert took to social media Sunday to say the city’s drinking water…

Lake Superior Harvest Festival Celebrates 30 Years

DULUTH, Minn. — Bayfront Park was the place to be this weekend for the 30th annual Lake Superior Harvest Festival. The grounds were packed Saturday with people enjoying everything from live music to home-goods and produce shopping. There was also an energy fair to explore. A local farmer and his family have been selling at the festival for years. Here’s…

Sharp Divisions Persist Over Walz’s Response To Riots After George Floyd’s Murder

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz faced the biggest crisis of his political career when Minnesota’s two largest cities erupted in protests and riots after a white Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd. The Black man’s murder in 2020 sparked a nationwide reckoning over racial discrimination and police misconduct. His death, and its complicated aftermath, tested Walz’s leadership at one…

YMCA & Essentia Partnerships Bridges Gap with Childcare & Housing Needs

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth is in need of over one-thousand spaces reserved for childcare. Although this problem is far from reaching a complete solution the Duluth Area Family YMCA and Essentia Health are adding more than 100 childcare spots in the Central Hillside neighborhood. Duluth Area Family YMCA has committed more than $1 million and Essentia Health more than $2.6…

Minnesota and Wisconsin Law Enforcement Agencies Host Passenger Safety Awareness Event

DULUTH, Minn. — Law enforcement agencies across Minnesota and Wisconsin are urging drivers to make sure their passengers are safe on the roads. Officials say drivers tend to be more focused on road safety during the busy summer travel months. But after Labor Day travel slows down and more mistakes are made, some deadly. “As we enter into the fall…

Coffee Conversation: Hunt Family Celebrates Publishing Milestone and Inspires Young Minds

DULUTH, Minn. — Children’s book authors Jenn and Isaac Hunt are celebrating the one-year anniversary of their publishing debut. In just a year, the Hunts have expanded their literary portfolio with four additional books. Their collection now includes: Snowy Halloween, The Yellow Dragon, The Blue Fox, The Wheels on the Ram, The Little Skunk that Didn’t Stink, The Purple Kangaroo, and Donut Man. Two…

Pedestrian Struck By Vehicle Near City of Kinney

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is reporting an apparent hit-and-run involving a pedestrian. The incident was reported around 4:45 p.m. Thursday. That’s when first-responders and law enforcement were dispatched to the 5300 block of Highway 25, which is just south of the city of Kinney. A 26-year-old man was found lying in the ditch. Officials said the man was…

State Lottery Outdoors Funds Vote Renewal

DULUTH, Minn.–Local outdoor-based companies are urging voters this November to take them into consideration. Renewal of lottery funds for outdoor conservation will be on the ballot for every Minnesotan. For thirty years now, a portion of state lottery gets funded for preservation of outdoor spaces. Overtime, it has provided over one billion dollars for the Great Outdoors. Officials say, if…

The Duluth Transit Authority’s New Bus System Finds Success in Inaugural Year

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Transit Authority has found success after making major changes to its bus system. One year ago the DTA launched ‘The Better Bus Blueprint.’ It added two new “GO” routes and consolidated many of its local stops. The system is designed to efficiently transport riders to city activity centers. In its inaugural year, the new system…

Cloquet Labor Day Car Show

CLOQUET, Minn.– For some people, celebrating Labor Day can be a little more mechanical. Self-proclaimed “motor heads” flocked to Cloquet to see all 90 cars at the show. They’re showcasing cars from different eras, or simply displaying their latest project. Officials say it’s always a great time to get together and check out the collection of cars! Some of the…

People Gather for the Annual Duluth Superior Pride Parade

SUPERIOR, Wis.– The Duluth Superior Pride Festival held its annual pride parade on Tower Avenue in Superior. The parade was one of the final events of the festival weekend. The Duluth Superior Pride Festival happens on Labor Day weekend and is an opportunity for people to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Categories: Community, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, Wisconsin

Move Over, It’s the Law

DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota State Patrol looks to crack down on motorists who don’t move over for emergency and maintenance vehicles with activated flashing lights. Beginning Aug. 31, the Minnesota State Patrol will put effort towards extra enforcement and education of the Mover Over Law. This Minnesota Law was created in honor of a fallen Minnesota State Trooper Ted…

The Snake Pit Opens New Location

HERMANTOWN, Minn.–A place where reptile enthusiasts call home, recently got a new home! Their old building shut down, and the community came together to help give them a new location. The Snake Pit in Hermantown has been serving the community closer to three decades now. From classroom interactions to simple stops for all things reptile care. That new shop is…

2024 Mayor’s Pride Reception Kicks Off

DULUTH, Minn.–Pride is in the air once more, as the annual mayor’s reception kicked off Thursday afternoon. The reception at the Depot, accompanied by local musicians was a hit. It’s a chance for officials to mingle with the community, and most importantly, to celebrate. This is the first year Duluth Mayor Reinert is officiating this event, and he has made…

All 87 Minnesota Counties Represented with 4-H Projects at the State Fair

For over 100 years the Minnesota 4H program has helped kids learn more about agriculture.

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — For over 100 years the Minnesota 4H program has helped kids learn more about agriculture, STEM, and leadership development skills, all while discovering new interests.  “It’s about finding their passion. It doesn’t have to be agriculture. It doesn’t have to be the old clothing and foods projects that maybe 4H in the old days was known…

Minnesota State Fair Traditions

Saint Paul, Minn.– The Minnesota State Fair is a place where people can cap off their summer. This year’s annual get together was definitely unique. Record breaking heat, and severe storms didn’t stop people from making the trip. “We have to come to the fair every year. My dad loved coming, and we haven’t missed one yet, even during covid…

Duluth City Crews Respond to Water Main Break, Grand Ave & Central Ave

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth City Officials are addressing a water main break at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Central Avenue. Utility crews are still assessing the situation, and the break has impacted numerous homes and businesses in the area. As a result, Grand Avenue between Central Avenue and Elinor Street is closed to traffic to facilitate repairs. Drivers are…

City of Duluth Asking For Input on Athletic Facilities Action Plan

DULUTH, Minn. — The City of Duluth is asking for community input on local athletic facilities. Duluth is developing an Athletic Venues Reinvestment Initiative action plan to fund 30 million dollars towards indoor and outdoor athletic venues. During three open houses, users of the facilities were invited to share suggestions on how current spaces can be improved, and what they…

Mesabi Trails Sees Spike in Popularity

EVELETH, Minn. — One of Minnesota’s largest trails has been gaining popularity. The St. Louis & Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority has been tracking the number of new people hiking along Mesabi Trail. The 165-mile trail has seen upwards of 140,000 users so far in 2024. The trail has is one of the longest paved trails in the United States….