Minnesota

MN Film Festival Kicks Off With Duluth Screenwriter’s Film With The Late Bob Saget

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Film Festival opens Wednesday at Zeitgeist in downtown Duluth featuring independent films from our region and even around the world. On the FOX 21 morning show Tuesday, Duluth screenwriter Matthew Dressel gave us the lowdown on the festival and the festival’s opening film “Daniel’s Gotta Die,” which Dressel is the screenwriter for. The film features…

Vaping Trial: Juul, Altria Sued By Minnesota AG Over Youth Usage Epidemic

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Claiming the companies played large roles in propelling the vaping epidemic among the nation’s youth today, the trial of vape manufacturer Juul and tobacco marketer Altria, brought by the Minnesota Attorney General, is set to begin. One of 13 states that have sued the company since 2019, Minnesota will be the first case against Juul to go to…

Vista Fleet Ready To Set Sail For 2023 Season

DULUTH, Minn. — Vista Fleet, a local sightseeing and dinner cruise company in Duluth, is getting ready to set sail for their 2023 season. Crews have been working all winter long to plan their cruises for spring and summer with the season starting May 5. Vista offers regular sightseeing and dining cruises along with ones for special occasions, such as…

Study Of Potential Changes To I-35 In Downtown Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — There has been some discussion about possible changes in how the interstate goes through downtown Duluth. Now the University of Minnesota Duluth has added to the conversation. A study concludes that freeing up land for other uses could infuse between $500 million to over $4 billion to Duluth’s economy. The potential economic effects have been studied by…

Coffee Conversation: Minnesota Film Festival Starts Wednesday

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Film Festival is starting Wednesday at Zeitgeist in Duluth. A feature film from Duluth screenwriter Matthew Dressel with its Always Sunny in Philadelphia actress, Mary Lynn Rajskub in attendance will be played to kick off the event. The feature film is called Daniel’s Gotta Die and includes actor Bob Saget from Full House who passed away…

Juice Pharm Celebrates 3rd Anniversary

DULUTH, Minn. — A downtown Duluth business celebrated its 3rd anniversary Sunday. The Juice Pharm on 1st Street threw a party for the occasion, and everyone was welcome. The band, “Multigrade” played some tunes, while guests could grab a birthday cake smoothie from the Juice Pharm and so some shopping with the local vendors who stopped by. The Juice Pharm…

UPDATE: Duluth Missing Man Found Safely

UPDATE (March 27, 9:35 a.m.) — Duluth Police say that missing 23-year-old Joe Benjamin has been found safely on Monday. ORIGINAL POST:  DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing man. 23-year-old Joe Benjamin was last seen Sunday night in the East Hillside/Chester Creek area wearing a blue sweatshirt, blue undershirt,…

Turtle Story Time at Zenith Bookstore

  DULUTH, Minn. — It was story time at the Zenith Bookstore in West Duluth, kids gathered for a reading of a book about a turtle, then got to meet a very special guest. Sacred Serpents is a non-profit organization centered on breeding and the preservation of pythons. Founder Sarah Glesner read a book calley Mossy by Jan Brett to…

Duluth Jigsaw Puzzle Contest

DULUTH, Minn. — Hundreds of jigsaw puzzlers filled the great hall of the Duluth Depot this weekend. Each person was there to complete the goal finishing a 500 piece puzzle in the least amount of time with their team. The puzzle aficionados gathered from all across Minnesota, neighboring states, and some from even further. “The best thing about jigsaw puzzling that’s…

I-35 Closure Leads to Many Delays

DULUTH, MINN.  — Interstate 35 is closed this weekend through 6 PM Sunday. If you were trying to get somewhere today and you usually used I-35, you learned that first hand. There were traffic jams heading south on I-35 as cars backed up for quite a ways on the highway as they waited to get off to Michigan Street. They…

Much of Miller Hill Mall Now Open

  DULUTH, MINN — It’s been eleven days since the roof at Miller Hill collapsed in the area of Caribou Coffee. Most of the stores in the mall were closed for at least a week. Saturday it’s quite a different story….at least 50 of the stores are now open according to the Mall’s Facebook page. People were seen going into…

UMD Hosts First Medication Take Back Event

DULUTH, Minn. — UMD hosted its first Medication Take Back event Friday to spread awareness on how to properly dispose of your unused or expired meds. Often when people throw away their medications improperly there are harmful effects that can happen. That’s why the UMD Police Department teamed up with business school students to host this event. During the event…

Treatment Participants Graduate From Drug Court

DULUTH, Minn. — The Sixth Judicial District Treatment Court celebrated today because of the record number of Drug Court Graduates since COVID. Five participants were recognized for completing the treatment court program. Family members of the graduates spoke to honor program completion. Courts, law enforcement, and treatment providers partner to work with people suffering from addiction and mental health issues….

‘Trans Refuge’ Bill Closer To Becoming Law Despite Concerns Of Lacking Protection Safeguards

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Lawmakers in Minnesota are working to ensure transgender youth have a safe space when seeking gender-affirming healthcare, moving a new “Trans Refuge” bill closer to law after passing the House of Representatives early Friday on a vote of 68-62. Known as the “Trans Refuge” bill, H.F. 146, would prohibit the court-ordered removal of a child from…

Play & Learn For Family, Friend, And Neighbor Care Providers At Hartley Nature Center

DULUTH, Minn. — With technology taking over our daily lives, many could say it’s important to get outside and appreciate nature. That’s why Hartley Nature Center is teaming up with the Duluth Public Library to put on an educational event for childcare providers. The program, which is led by a nature educator, involves reading, singing, and playing with the little…

Ramadan Begins In The Twin Ports

DULUTH, Minn. — Ramadan, the holiest month of the year in Islam officially started Thursday. Ramadan is the month when God, or Allah, revealed the first verses of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. It’s a time for Muslims to abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset for 30 days, bringing them closer to God, and to each…

Duluth Mayoral Candidate Reinert Addresses Larson’s ‘State Of The City’

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Mayor Emily Larson’s leading opponent in the mayoral race is Roger Reinert.  On Thursday evening, one day after Larson’s State of the City Address, Reinert held a formal press event at Clyde Iron Works to respond to that address. About 100 people were on hand to hear Reinert’s thoughts on where the city is and where…

Repairs to Clarifiers are Needed at Western Lake Superior Sanitary District

DULUTH, Minn.  The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (W-L-S-S-D) is asking the Minnesota state legislature for millions of dollars to fix some components that treat our wastewater. Raw sewage was being dumped into the St. Louis River until the 1970s, heavily polluting the waterway. Since then, W-L-S-S-D has been treating the sewage using four clarifiers that separate the solids and…

County Auditor’s Service Center Reopening At Miller Hill Mall After Roof Collapse

DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Louis County Auditor’s Service Center will fully reopen Friday in its usual location at the Miller Hill Mall following a major roof collapse in a section of the mall more than a week ago. All service center operations were temporarily moved to the Courthouse in Duluth March 15. The Service Center is located on the…

Minnesota State Parks Are Free These Days In 2023

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Fees to visit Minnesota state parks and recreation areas will be waived on four different dates this year. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Thursday revealed the four Free Park Days that vehicle permit fees will be waived at all 75 state parks and recreation areas: Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day) Saturday, June 10 Saturday, Sept. 9 Friday,…

Murder Charges Filed After Human Remains Found In Storage Container Near Mille Lacs Lake

MILLE LACS LAKE, Minn. (FOX 9) – A 21-year-old man faces felony charges for murder and concealing a body after a construction crew found human remains inside a plastic bin on the side of the road near Mille Lacs Lake on Tuesday. Prosecutors charged Bradley Weyaus Jr., 21, with second-degree murder, concealing a body, concealing evidence and fleeing police in a vehicle. According to…

Duluth Schools Superintendent Reacts to Free Lunch

DULUTH, Minn.  — Beginning next school year, school breakfasts and lunches will be free for all students in Minnesota public schools after Governor Watz signed the bill into law last week. Every year, Duluth Public Schools serves about 400 thousand breakfasts and 800 thousand lunches. Currently Duluth Schools have about $70 thousand dollars in unpaid lunch debt Duluth schools superintendent…

Full Transcript: Mayor Emily Larson’s State Of The City Address

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Mayor Emily Larson held her State of the City Address Wednesday evening at The West Theatre.  Click here for the complete transcript from that speech. The mayor covered a broad range of topics which she believes need to be addressed. Larson has served as Duluth’s mayor for the past seven years. She’s running for another term,…

Minnesota PFAS: $45 Million Requested In Walz Budget To Combat ‘Forever Chemicals’

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Reducing cancer-causing chemicals found in everyday household products and water are the focus of several political efforts this legislative session, and the result of more than $45 million in additional budget requests. On Thursday leaders from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Department of Health (MDH) provided updates to the public on the state’s progress on addressing…

Roger Reinert, Duluth Mayoral Candidate Hosts Coffee And Conversations

DULUTH, Minn. — Roger Reinert is one of the candidates running for the Duluth mayoral election coming up this fall. Reinert is hosting a total of 6 “Coffee and Conversations” meet-ups with the public, and one of them happened Wednesday. He says it’s an open invitation for anyone to join him for small group conversations on issues they’re concerned about…

Human Remains Found In Tote Along Mille Lacs Lake

KATHIO TOWNSHIP, Minn. (FOX 9) – A homicide investigation is underway along the shores of Mille Lacs Lake after deputies say human remains were discovered in a tote. The tote was found in a ditch by a county highway maintenance crew while working along Twilight Road on the southwest shore of the lake on Tuesday. Deputies say the workers called them around…

UPDATE: Missing Duluth Resident Found Dead

UPDATE (March 22, 2:20 p.m.) — 35-year-old Duluth Resident Joshua Parker has been found dead, according to the Duluth Police Department. Police say his body was found Wednesday in the 220 block of 45th Avenue East in Duluth. Parker died from cold weather conditions and no foul play was suspected. UPDATE (March 21, 5:15 p.m.) — 35-year-old Duluth resident Joshua…

Corrections Center Meat Retail Store Now Open In Northeastern Minnesota

SAGINAW, Minn. (FOX 9) – The Northeast Regional Corrections Center has announced the final steps in a decades-long effort to open a retail store in partnership with its facility are now complete. The new meat processing retail store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday at the corrections center in Saginaw, Minnesota. The store offers a variety of poultry, beef, pork…

New Minnesota Budget Targets Include $3 Billion For Tax Cuts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Democratic legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz agreed Tuesday on broad budget targets that add up to nearly $17.9 billion in new spending, including $3 billion for tax cuts, but the details of where the money will go remain to be negotiated. Agreeing on the targets was a necessary step so that legislators can begin work in earnest on setting a…

Minnesota Department Of Agriculture Teaching People How To Find Emerald Ash Borer

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — A type of beetle known as the Emerald Ash Borer was first identified in Two Harbors last spring. The species can be a huge problem as they can kill trees. Tuesday experts from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture were teaching people outside of Seagren’s Home Hardware how to find trees becoming sick from beetles. They hope…

Minnesota Experts Predict Mosquitoes Will Be ‘Out With A Vengeance’ Once It’s Warm

(FOX 9) – As winter slowly gives way to spring, Minnesotans are starting to think about the warmer temperatures and longer days that come with the change of seasons. But experts are thinking ahead to what else the warmer weather will bring: mosquitoes. It’s been cold and snowy this year, which tends to delay the mosquito season, according to the Metropolitan Mosquito…

Minnesota Moving To Fortify State Status As Abortion Refuge

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota is moving to fortify its status as a refuge for patients from restrictive states who travel to the state to seek abortions — and to protect providers who serve them. The state House on Monday passed a bill by a 68-62 vote to prohibit enforcement in Minnesota of laws, subpoenas, judgements or extradition requests from other states…

Mentorship Program Fundraiser Kicks Off At Hoops Brewing

DULUTH, Minn. — Mentor North kicked off a month-long fundraising drive at Hoops Brewing Monday night. The nonprofit matches kids and teens with adult mentors who inspire creativity and learning. Throughout the next month, Hoops Brewing is hosting a variety of events, closing with a comedy show. One of the leaders of the organization explained how role models who take…

Mall Businesses and Employees Feeling Economic Impact of Roof Collapse

DULUTH, Minn — Ever since the roof collapse at the Miller Hill Mall last Tuesday, dozens of businesses ranging from local stores to chain stores to Essentia have been waiting for the go to reopen their doors.  While some have been given the green light, others remain closed as workers continue to repair the damage and ensure the structural integrity…