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Late Season Winter Storm No Issues for MnDOT

DULUTH, Minn. – Winter weather is not leaving the Northland yet, and road crews have been busy prepping for the wide range of precipitation that has fallen. MnDOT says this winter has seen few days of rest with persistent light snowfalls and below zero temperatures.  Preparations for this storm have been routine, with warmer temperatures last weekend allowing them to pre-treat…

Hermantown, Proctor, Rice Lake Provide State of the Cities Address

PROCTOR, Minn. – The leaders of the three cities that surround Duluth to the north and west gave their annual updates to area businesses Thursday. The Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their State of the Cities luncheon at the Black Woods Event Center in Proctor, featuring the mayors of Hermantown, Proctor, and Rice Lake. Chamber President & CEO Kimberly Parmeter…

Spirit Mountain Nearing End of Winter Season, Waiting to Transition to Summer

DULUTH, Minn. – Time is running out to enjoy the slopes of Spirit Mountain this winter season as they will soon begin their transition to summer activities. Interim Executive Director Ann Glumac says they will reduce their hours next week during the weekdays from 10 to 6.  After their last formal day March 27, they will remain open as long as…

Motorhead Madness Returning to DECC

DULUTH, Minn. – The DECC is transforming into an automotive paradise as Motorhead Madness returns this weekend. People can see around 150 classic cars on display, along with vendors, RC racing, the crowning of Miss Motorhead, and door prizes. “We’re marking the floors (Thursday),” says show co-owner Mike Podgornik, “getting the location set up for the cars and vendors and everyone…

Duluth Community Relations Officer Announces Run for Minnesota House

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Community Relations Officer is the latest to announce her bid to represent District 8B in the Minnesota House. Alicia Kozlowski has been active in the Duluth community over the past 12 years; first as a community organizer before joining the city’s Leadership Team in 2019.  She highlights her heritage as strengths for her candidacy.  That includes…

National Weather Service Looking for CoCoRaHS Volunteers

DULUTH, Minn. – The National Weather Service is looking for more volunteers to report rain, snow, and hail totals. March is the annual push for new members to join CoCoRaHS, which stands for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network.  It’s a program that allows people to measure precipitation from where they live, and supplement measurements recorded by automated devices…

Damiano Center Recreates First Meal for 40th Anniversary

DULUTH, Minn. – The community kitchen at Damiano Center celebrated its 40th anniversary Tuesday. It recreated its first meal, served March 15, 1982, by offering the same hamburger soup recipe to everyone who attended.  In addition, the meal offered side such as a salad and mixed fruit, and pie ala mode for dessert. Kitchen manager Flora Woodfork helped with the first…

Duluth Police Using Federal Funding to Add Text Updates for 911 Calls, Better Identify Crime Hotspots

DULUTH, Minn. – New federal funding will help the Duluth Police Department improve their customer service.   Chief Mike Tusken says the $750,000 will focus on adding or upgrading technology within the department that will focus on three initiatives. One of them regards SPIDR Tech, a program that gives people who make a call to 911 progress updates on their case through…

Perkins Location Next to Miller Hill Mall Closed

DULUTH, Minn. – After 37 years, Perkins next to Miller Hill Mall has closed its doors. “It’s a sad day,” says owner Dillon Flaherty.  “I didn’t plan my 37 year career ending this way, but it has.  It just wasn’t sustainable anymore.” Flaherty says a number of factors, from COVID to inflation to staffing, led to this decision.  “It’s not one…

Observing Women’s History Month Through Books

DULUTH, Minn. – March is Women’s History Month, and one area bookstore is helping to spread the word about those who have been major female figures in the past. Zenith Bookstore has set up a display of several dozen books that are by women, for women about women, ranging from history and autobiographies to children’s books and gifts. Manager Sarah Brown…

City of Duluth Still Looking for Public Board, Commission Members

DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth is still looking for Duluthians to fill openings on their boards, commissions, and authorities. Over a dozen of them have one or multiple spots available for people to help decide how city services could operate this year. “There’s everything from what the airport’s doing,” says Public Information Officer Kate Van Daele, “to being involved…

As COVID Cases Drop in Douglas County, Health Officials Adjust Messaging

SUPERIOR, Wis. – After seeing a surge in COVID cases in January, Douglas County say they have dropped to levels not seen since last summer.  That is allowing health officials to change their focus on how they respond to new cases, as well as their messaging to slow its spread. “We’re seeing definitely a decline in cases overall, which has been…

Winter Weather Doesn’t Slow Work at Marina

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The ice on area lakes, rivers, and streams have kept boats off the water the past several months.  That doesn’t means companies that help keep boats in top shape have been enjoying an off season. Barker’s Island Marina says this winter has been their busiest on record, having their largest staff ever to help repair and touch up…

North Star Academy Shows Ukraine Support Through Anthem

DULUTH, Minn. – Students at North Star Academy showed their support for Ukraine this morning through a performance of the country’s national anthem. Members of the combined eighth grade band, choir, and North Star Singers started learning the music and words last Thursday.  It is part of the school’s overall approach to teach students about what is happening in Eastern Europe….

UW-Superior Preps for President Biden’s Visit

SUPERIOR, Wis. – For the first time since Harry Truman came through the city in 1948, a sitting President will be making a stop in Superior Wednesday. UW-Superior’s Yellowjacket Union is undergoing a transformation as President Biden, along with First Lady Jill Biden, will speak to an invite-only crowd at Shippar Family Atrium, focusing on the infrastructure bill that passed…

Bob Tavani House Receives Grant to Expand Services

DULUTH, Minn. – An organization that helps homeless people recovering from acute medical conditions in the Twin Ports is planning on how it can sustain and expand its services in the future. Bob Tavani House, located next to First Covenant Church in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, has been around since 2018.  They converted the church’s old parsonage into a space where…

Local Veteran Weighs In on Possible Military Response in Ukraine

SUPERIOR, Wis. – As military action continues to escalate in Ukraine, could the United States and NATO nations soon get involved in direct conflict with Russia?  The commander of Superior’s American Legion Post 435 believes it can happen, but it may not be in Ukraine. Eual Moore, who served two tours during the Vietnam War, has spent time in Lithuania and…

Northland Residents with Ukraine Connections React to Russia Invasion

DULUTH, Minn. – The events in Ukraine since late Wednesday evening have people who have connections to the country concerned about its future, and the current health and safety of people they know and love. “(Wednesday) night it was horrible,” says Liliya Kacharova, a lab chemistry professor at the College of St. Scholastica and chemistry teacher at Lake Superior College,…

Spirit Mountain Running “Spirit Hearts Duluth Days”

DULUTH, Minn. – Spirit Mountain is saying thank you to Duluth by offering special discounts for city residents. On Thursday, February 24, and Sunday, February 27, they are offering five-dollar rates for lift tickets, Nordic passes, rentals, as well as free ski and board beginner lessons.  This evening also features a special for glow tubing. This is the second year Spirit…

CSS Ready for Musical Theater Return

DULUTH, Minn. – Musical theater returns at The College of Saint Scholastica as they open their production of “Little Shops of Horrors” Thursday, February 24. The college did return to theater productions last fall with “The Frogs, A Modern Adaptation”, but this is the first production with songs since the COVID pandemic began nearly two years ago.  Nearly 50 students, staff,…

Duluth Children’s Museum Prep for Busy Week

DULUTH, Minn. – The combination of winter break for Duluth Public Schools and the recent snow and cold is making for a busy week for indoor activities across the Twin Ports. The Duluth Children’s Museum says they are ready to handle the higher number of kids and parents looking to do something outside the home. “If last weekend was any indicator,”…

Energy Design Conference Held at DECC

DULUTH, Minn. – Dozens of builders, contractors, and others in the trades have spent the past two days at the DECC learning how they can make new and existing homes more energy efficient. The 32nd annual Energy Design Conference, hosted by Minnesota Power, allows people to learn new information covering a range of building practices. “We do see a large…

Remember to Clear Sidewalks of Snow

DULUTH, Minn. – As the latest winter storm moves out of the Northland, it’s time to follow the city’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance. Property owners who have sidewalk along their property are required to remove all snow and ice from it within 24 hours after a snow event ends.  The department works with the National Weather Service to determine when…

Duluth Officials: Adjustments Made for Latest Snow Emergency

DULUTH, Minn.- City of Duluth officials say they are ready for their second snow emergency, which will run from 9 p.m. Tuesday, February 22, through 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 23. This declaration means there will be no parking allowed on the roughly 120 miles of city streets that have been designated snow emergency routes.  A map of those streets can be…

Duluth Polar Plunge Set for Saturday

DULUTH, Minn. – The 21st annual Duluth Polar Plunge is set to take place Saturday, February 19, at Park Point Recreation Area. Over 500 people are expected to take the plunge into Superior Bay starting at 2 p.m. “Everybody that has raised $75 for Special Olympics is going to have that opportunity to run out, jump into the lake, and come…

Senator Smith Introduces Bill to Increase Rural Broadband Access

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Senator Tina Smith is continuing her push to make high speed internet access available to everyone. She joined three other Senators in introducing a bipartisan bill this month that would focus Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program funds to communities in greatest need to establish broadband services. “The federal government is investing billions of dollars in expanding broadband,”…

Plans for U-Haul at West Duluth Kmart Site Rejected

DULUTH, Minn. – The future of the former Kmart in West Duluth remains up in the air. The Duluth Planning Commission unanimously voted down plans in early February that would have transformed it into a U-Haul mini-storage site, citing it did not meet the retail development standards for Spirit Valley. “Generally in this type of neighborhood location it would be atypical…

Landline Continues Growth During Pandemic

DULUTH, Minn. – The addition of Sun Country to Duluth International Airport in late 2021 has helped one business offering services to people looking to get to and from the Twin Cities. Landline says they have been partners with the airline just a few months after they started in 2019.  Despite the pandemic, they continued to offer rides and have been…

CHUM Food Shelf Keeping Up with Demand, Winter Cold

DULUTH, Minn. – Wednesday saw CHUM’s location in downtown Duluth busy as they held their latest food shelf distribution.  Despite a persistent breeze, boxes filled with canned goods, pantry staples, meat, dairy, and other times were waiting for people who were seeking this help to take it and go on their way. Even with temperatures at times dipping below zero this…

Ronald McDonald House Northland Celebrating 1st Anniversary

DULUTH, Minn. – Thursday marks the one year anniversary of the opening of the Ronald McDonald House Northland. They have provided 739 nights of free lodging and amenities to parents and guardians as their child received treatment at Essentia Health.  That translates to families saving more than 190-thousand dollars if they had to pay for their own hotel rooms, meals, and…

Pizzerias Preparing for Busy Super Bowl Sunday

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – With the Super Bowl coming up this Sunday, pizza restaurants are preparing for a busier than usual day. Do North Pizzeria and Pub in Hermantown says they enjoy the added business during the winter months, as they see an increase in deliveries when compared to a typical Sunday. “We do a lot of deliveries all the way up…

West Duluth Business Club Joins Duluth Chamber

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Chamber welcomed a new member Wednesday, the West Duluth Business Club. The organization with its around 150 members say they are ready to help contribute to the chamber, as well as use the chamber’s resources to help their businesses grow. “To expose our businesses to other opportunities of learning how to run our businesses better,” says…

FDLTCC Holds Annual Nursing & Healthcare Expo

CLOQUET, Minn. – It was a busy Tuesday at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.  It was a campus visit day for prospective students, and the college’s annual Nursing and Healthcare Expo. Everyone who attended, from current and future students to members of the public, got their chance to learn more about what opportunities are available in health care.  The…

Thunder Food Pantry Opens at FDLTCC

CLOQUET, Minn. – Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College students have an expanded food pantry to help them achieve food security. Thunder Food Pantry opened last week, increasing what had originally been in on-campus housing prior to the pandemic. Organizers say all Minnesota State campuses are working to have this type of pantry available.  It also means working with Second…

Light Art Projections in Lincoln Park This Weekend

DULUTH, Minn. – The Lincoln Park Business District will have a new public art display starting February 10. Four drawings from three artists will be projected by light onto the sides of the Duluth Children’s Museum and Aerostich buildings. “Light displays are a way to have the awestruck moment of a mural that is not permanent,” says Noah Hobbs, member…

Duluth to Observe Transit Equity Day Friday, DTA Offers Free Rides

DULUTH, Minn. – Friday would have been Rosa Parks’ 109th birthday.  The civil rights icon will be remembered in Duluth and dozens of other communities nationwide through Transit Equity Day. A proclamation from Mayor Emily Larson honors Parks’ role in pushing for equal rights on public transit, which also comes during Black History Month. “Making sure that we are affirming and…