Wisconsin

‘The Hockey Guys’ Tik Tok Account Drawing Millions of Eyes to UWS Men’s Hockey

What started as a personal account in 2020 for Lawson McDonald, skyrocketed into "The Hockey Guys" a brand with over a million followers.

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Wessman Arena is the place to be to catch the UWS men’s hockey team in action, but they’ve found a new audience, on Tik Tok, where they’ve been able to reach millions of fans. What started as a personal account in 2020 for Lawson McDonald, skyrocketed into “The Hockey Guys” a brand with over a million followers….

Evers Vetoes Bill That Would Have Allowed Teens to Work Late

(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers on Friday vetoed a bill opposed by labor unions that would have allowed teenagers to work longer hours during the busy summer tourism months. The measure Evers vetoed had the support of Republicans and the state’s hotel, restaurant, and grocery industries. Democrats and the Wisconsin AFL-CIO…

Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Homicide, Suicide in Town of Kelly

TOWN OF KELLY, Wis. – Authorities in Bayfield and Ashland counties are investigating an apparent homicide and suicide that happened in the Town of Kelly Thursday evening and into Friday morning. According to the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office, the Bayfield County Communications Center received a report of a car in the ditch on STH 118 just before 7:00 p.m Thursday….

Wisconsin’s College Graduation Rates Improve, but Gaps Exist

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s college graduation rates have improved and have surpassed the national average, but a new report shows there are significant gaps between racial groups. More than 70% of Wisconsin college students who enrolled in 2015 graduated within six years, according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The report tracked and compared six-year…

State Medical Officer: COVID Could Become Endemic in 2022

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin’s top medical officer says COVID-19 could become endemic this year. Department of Health Services Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westergaard still warned that case counts could periodically spike but the disease likely will reach a stage in 2022 where numbers remain fairly constant. The term endemic is used to describe a disease as a regular…

Several Hundred People Address Enbridge Pipeline Reroute

(AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Many of nearly 300 people who attended a 10-hour-long virtual public hearing spoke against a $450 million plan to reroute an oil and gas pipeline across northern Wisconsin. The hearing that began Wednesday finally wrapped up early Thursday. Participants addressed a draft environmental review for a 40-mile reroute of Enbridge’s Line 5…

Wisconsin Senate’s Top Democrat Won’t Seek Reelection

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin state Senate’s top Democrat said Tuesday that she won’t seek reelection this fall. Minority Leader Janet Bewley said she wants to spend more time with her recently retired husband and grandchildren. She said it’s time for her to make room for a new generation of “progressive and pragmatic leaders.” “Serving the people of Northern…

Military Mom Returns From Deployment, Surprises Daughter At Daycare

SUPERIOR, Wis. –  A military mother gave her 4-year-old daughter a big surprise at daycare Monday. Kaylie Gustum surprised her daughter, Natalie, after serving a nine-month deployment in Kuwait and Syria. Kaylie decided to make her return a secret after seeing reunion videos online. “It’s definitely overwhelming and it’s going to be very fun learning her again. It’s been a…

KYN: The Local Bar and Grille in Ashland is Open for Business

ASHLAND, Wis. – “We are really excited to be a part of the community here,” The Local Bar and Grille co-owner, Bradley Moullet says. A new restaurant in Ashland, Wisconsin is open for business. The Local Bar and Grille opened in December and has taken over a building known for hosting events in the community. “It has a lot of…

Enjoying Winter Wonders at Lake Superior Ice Festival

Hundreds were out enjoying the professional hand-carved ice sculptures, snow slide, and new this year the ice carousel.

DULUTH, Minn.- It was the perfect winter weather to enjoy all the season has to offer in Superior at the Lake Superior ice festival at Barker’s Island. “We came out today to enjoy this beautiful event and what an incredible turnout it has been for the Superior community! But this is our first time here and it is quite amazing,”…

Tiny Dogs Pull Tiny Sleds at Earth Rider’s Mini Sled Dog Races

There were two heats of races: 12 pounds and under then 12 to 22-pound pint-sized pups.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Before watching those elite dogs tear down the trail, people got to watch some tiny dogs pull some tiny sleds on Saturday! Earth Rider Brewery in Superior hosted the Mini Sled Dog Race fundraiser for Beargrease. There were two heats of races: 12 pounds and under then 12 to 22-pound pint-sized pups. Competitors and spectators came from as…

Spirit Room Debuts Ice Bar for Annual Ice Festival

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Superior businesses also decked themselves up for ice festival weekend. The Spirit Room on Broadway Street always showcases their penguin ice sculpture out front, and after expanding this past summer to have an outdoor patio, they also added an ice bar this weekend. Manager Lindsey Graskey tells us she hoped it add even more to their annual…

Milwaukee School Board OKs Spending $63m in COVID Dollars

MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Milwaukee school board has approved spending $63 million in federal COVID-19 relief dollars on dozens of renovation projects. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the board signed off on the spending Thursday. The board also approved allowing each school to spend $100,000 out of a separate $13.6 million pot of federal COVID-19 aid to hire staff and…

Beating the Winter Blues with a Trip to Bayfield County

Bayfield County and the Surrounding Areas Offer a Plethora of Activities for All Ages in the Winter

BAYFIELD, Wis. – If you don’t embrace it, winter in the upper Midwest can be a dreadful time of year. The folks in Bayfield County have an extreme passion for the season and look to share it with others. “It’s pretty much a Hallmark movie,” said Kati Anderson, marketing director for Bayfield Chamber & Visitor Bureau. “We’ve very inclusive. Everybody’s…

Evers Proposes $150 Checks Under Plan To Spend Surplus

(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers unveiled an election-year plan Thursday that would send $150 refund checks to every Wisconsin resident, bolster funding for K-12 schools and help defray child care costs. But don’t go spending those refund checks just yet. Evers’ plan would have to be approved by the Republican-controlled…

City Crews Clear Away Mounds Of Snow Along Hammond Avenue

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior city crews were out on Hammond Avenue Wednesday clearing away snowbanks on the sides of the road to help free up parking spaces and provide better access to vehicles. Mayor Jim Paine told FOX 21 a new policy this winter has crews still clearing snowbanks on Tower Avenue and Highway 2 first.  But now, after those…

Barker’s Island Preparing Frozen Fun for Lake Superior Ice Festival

The family-oriented event in and around Barker's Island is back for its 6th year, Friday and Saturday.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Frozen fun is almost ready as organizers put the finishing touches together for this year’s Lake Superior Ice Festival in Superior. The family-oriented event in and around Barker’s Island is back for its 6th year, Friday and Saturday. Activities on deck include car races on the ice, snowshoeing for kids, and trivia with $500 dollars worth of prizes….

Superior Police Train To Avoid ‘Causing Harm Or Making Costly Mistakes’

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior Police Department is going through a national training program to develop a deeper culture of intervention to avoid harmful situations or making costly mistakes. The Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement, also known as The ABLE Project, was developed by the Georgetown University Law Center. Superior police join a select group of 200 law enforcement agencies…

Wisconsin Assembly OKs Vaccine Passport Ban, Immunity Waiver

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Republicans who control the Wisconsin Assembly has approved bills that would require employers to count a prior coronavirus infection as an alternative to vaccination and testing and prohibit vaccine passports. Both measures would face a likely veto from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The governor last year vetoed a GOP bill that would have barred public health…

Wisconsin Budget Forecast Improves by $2.9 Billion

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin’s budget picture improved by nearly $2.9 billion with a revised forecast released driven by higher-than-expected tax collections that will force the Republican-controlled Legislature to decide whether to spend the surplus, save it or put it toward tax cuts. Republican legislative leaders said Tuesday that the money would go toward tax cuts in the next budget…

Only Citizens Could Vote in Wisconsin Under Amendment

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin Senate has passed a constitutional amendment that says only citizens can vote in elections. The Republican-authored amendment approved Tuesday must also pass the Assembly this year and both houses of the Legislature next session before it would go to voters to decide. The governor has no power to veto constitutional amendments. The Wisconsin Constitution…

Assembly to Vote on Bill Barring Vaccination Discrimination

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Assembly is set to vote on a Republican-authored bill that would prohibit government entities from creating COVID-19 vaccination passports. The bill’s main Assembly sponsors, Reps. Rob Stafsholt and Scott Krug, say they developed the legislation because they’re worried the Biden administration may mandate such passports. They say the bill would prevent government outreach. The…

VP Harris Touts Replacing Lead Lines During Milwaukee Stop

(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP) MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Vice President Kamala Harris says during a stop in Milwaukee that removing and replacing lead pipes is a moral imperative and must be one of the nation’s highest priorities. She noted the environmental and health risks lead exposure presents from children to the elderly. Harris said Monday that the country is…

Kohl’s Confirms Approach About Potential Acquisition

NEW YORK (AP) – Kohl’s is confirming that it has been approached about a possible sale of the department store chain, sending shares up more than 30% in early trading. The company said that it would not comment further, but its confirmation Monday follows media reports that the private equity firm Sycamore Partners had approached Kohl’s about a potential deal….

GOP Investigator No Longer Wants to Jail Wisconsin Mayors

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Republican-hired investigator looking into Wisconsin’s 2020 election is no longer seeking to jail the mayors of Green Bay and Madison for allegedly not complying with a subpoena he issued last year. A judge on Friday said he needed more facts before deciding whether to compel the mayors to testify. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez…

Rittenhouse Seeks Return of Gun Used During Kenosha Protest

KENOSHA, Wis. – Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois man acquitted of fatally shooting two men and wounding a third during street protests in Kenosha in 2020, has filed papers in court to recover property seized by police after his arrest, including the gun he used in the shootings. A motion filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court on Wednesday states that Rittenhouse…

Family Builds More Than 40 Foot Tall, Super-Sized Snowman in Milltown, Wis.

(courtesy: Fox 9) MILLTOWN, Wis. (FOX 9) – With arms made out of actual trees, a smile made out of saw blades and a pipe made out of a five-gallon bucket this super-sized snowman is turning heads and drawing people to Milltown, Wisconsin. Craig Carlson’s giant snowman journey started in the winter of 2019-2020 when Milltown challenged businesses in the…

Wisconsin Bill Makes New Crime for Vaccine Tampering

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Intentionally damaging vaccines would be a felony in Wisconsin under a bill with bipartisan support that the state Assembly is scheduled to approve Thursday. The measure comes in response to a pharmacist in a Milwaukee suburb spoiling more than 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in January 2021. He pleaded guilty to the federal charges and…

Vice President Harris Plans Milwaukee Visit Next Week

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit Milwaukee on Monday, which would be her second trip to Wisconsin since taking office a year ago. The White House said Wednesday that Harris will be joined by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan and second gentleman Doug Emhoff for the visit. Additional details were to be…

Group Delivers Whistleblower Documents on Clergy Abuse

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An advocacy group working to end clergy abuse in Wisconsin has delivered thousands of documents from Wisconsin’s five Catholic dioceses to the state attorney general, documents it says show a systemic coverup of abuse. The documents were provided to Nate’s Mission by whistleblowers within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the Diocese of Madison, La Crosse, Green…

Public Input Wanted: Hammond Ave. Reconstruction

The city will be fixing the highly traveled road and its storm sewer system from Belknap Street to North 28th Street

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The City of Superior is asking for public input on proposed reconstruction plans for Hammond Avenue. The city will be fixing the highly traveled road and its storm sewer system from Belknap Street to North 28th Street. It’s set to start in 2023. On Tuesday the city showed different ideas at the Superior Public Library, like widened roadways…

Wisconsin Republicans Seek to Tighten Unemployment Benefits

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Republican lawmakers have introduced a package of legislation that would tighten eligibility for unemployment benefits and Medicaid coverage. Republicans said Tuesday that the bills are designed to get more people into the workforce and address what they maintain is a crippling labor shortage in the state. The sweeping package would require audits of recipients’ work…

Collectors Connection Connects To More Hobbyists with New Superior Location

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Just in time for the last holiday season a Duluth staple for collectors expanded their connection across the bridge. “We opened on Black Friday which, I was overly optimistic as far as being ready,” Aaron Davis said. Davis, the owner of Collectors Connection by Miller Hill Mall in Duluth, opened up a larger mecca for hobbyists across the…

Wisconsin Lawmakers Plan Would Lower Age To Carry Concealed Weapon

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Republican state lawmakers are pushing a plan that would lower the minimum age to legally carry a concealed weapon in Wisconsin. Currently, a Wisconsin resident needs to be 21 before they can apply for a concealed carry permit. The GOP-backed bill would lower it to 18. The measure’s sponsor, state Rep. Shae Sortwell says 18-year-olds have…

Waukesha Parade Suspect To Stand Trial for Murder

(Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department via AP)   MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A Wisconsin court commissioner has ordered a Milwaukee man accused of plowing his SUV through a suburban Christmas parade, killing six people and injuring dozens more, to stand trial. Waukesha County Court Commissioner Kevin Costello ordered Darrell Brooks Jr. bound over for trial on more than 70 charges, including…

National Guard to Staff Wisconsin Hospitals, Nursing Homes

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin National Guard troops will help fill staffing shortages at the state’s hospitals and nursing homes over the coming weeks due to a surge in COVID-19 patients, Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday. The governor said troops are being trained as certified nursing assistants. About 50 soldiers were deployed to six nursing homes during the past week….

Fire Dept.: Cause Of Superior Warehouse Fire May Never Be Known

The extensive damage to the building is hindering the investigation into a cause.

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s been almost a week since two warehouses went up in flames in Superior’s North End district, and now FOX 21 is learning there’s a strong chance a cause may never been known. Light smoke could be seen Wednesday coming from the rubble of what’s left of the 1980s-era buildings near the Blatnik Bridge. Old Main Park…

Collector’s Connection Hopes To Reach More Hobbyists with New Superior Location

The owner says the new location allows him more room to display and sell his roughly 100 thousand comics, sports cards, and more.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- A longtime comic book and hobby store in Duluth has expanded to cater to enthusiasts across the bridge. Collector’s Connection opened its new location on Tower Avenue in Superior this past Black Friday. This is their second location the first being up by Miller Hill Mall in Duluth. The owner says the new location allows him more room…

All Superior Students Required To Mask Up Again Wednesday

According to the Superintendent, going back to masking is the best way to get ahead of the spread and go back to the low transmission they saw from September to December.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Starting Wednesday, masks are back for everyone in Superior Schools — less than a week after making masks optional when cases were low enough among students and staff. But that’s not the case anymore, and Superintendent Amy Starzecki said this change could happen, basing it all on the numbers. It may seem like a quick turnaround, but Starzecki…