Coast Guard

First Indigenous-Lead Coast Guard to Set Sail Next Year

GRAND PORTAGE, Minn.– The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa announced their latest partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for a new search and rescue program. This will be the first indigenous-lead coast guard. On average, the Grand Portage Band said that they help out with around 10 search and rescue missions each year. After the Auxiliary U.S….

Coast Guard Cutter Spar Headed to New Home in Duluth

The Coast Guard Cutter Alder left Duluth for Baltimore in mid-June 2021 and is expected to move to its new homeport in San Francisco this summer.

Photo: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter SPAR Facebook Page DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spar is traveling from Baltimore to its new homeport in Duluth. The crew’s duties will include maintaining aids to navigation, domestic icebreaking, search and rescue, and law enforcement. The Spar was commissioned in 2001 and originally based in Kodiak, Alaska. The 225-foot buoy…

Local Agencies Discuss Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Plan

This year's scenario went over the coast guard's plan of handling a bomb going off on a cruise ship.

DULUTH, Minn. — 37 organizations and agencies met in Duluth on Tuesday to go over what their roles would be in a mass disaster situation. This year’s scenario went over the Coast Guard’s plan of handling a bomb going off on a cruise ship. Each agency, such as police, fire, the sheriff’s office, and more went over how roles would…

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder to Leave Twin Ports After 17 Years

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder will leave Duluth for Baltimore Wednesday for a year-long "mid-life maintenance". 

DULUTH, Minn.- A ship tasked with breaking up Lake Superior’s winter ice for more than a decade is leaving the twin ports for the first time. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder will leave Duluth for Baltimore Wednesday for a year-long “mid-life maintenance”.  Since it first entered the water in 2004, the Alder cut ice on the lake in the…

Alder Begins Ice Breaking in Duluth Harbor

It's all to prepare Duluth and the surrounding waters for the upcoming shipping season.

DULUTH, Minn. – The U.S Coast Guard began ice-breaking this morning in the Duluth Harbor. With the Sault-Ste. Marie Locks set to open March 25th, the Alder is gearing up to break more ice with roughly 31% more ice coverage this year than last year. It’s all to prepare Duluth and the surrounding waters for the upcoming shipping season. “The…

Coast Guard Advises Caution When On Lake Superior

DULUTH, Minn. – The Coast Guard here in Duluth is warning the public to be aware of the thin ice on Lake Superior. The coast guard has three boats which are used for such occasions. Historically, all of them are winterized by December. This year, however, they have one boat still remaining because of the amount of open water and…

Superior Entry Lighthouse Up for Auction

National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act Program puts Superior and two other lighthouses up for sale.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- A lighthouse that has stood off the coast of Superior since 1913 is now up for sale. As part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act Program, Superior Entry, and two other lighthouses in Michigan, are up for an online auction. The auction for Superior Entry began on July 10, with a starting bid of $10,000. Interested bidders…

Free Haircuts For Federal Workers

Dapper Jack's Treating Unpaid Workers Affected by Shutdown

DULUTH, Minn.- As businesses across the Northland continue to offer discounted or free services to unpaid federal workers during the shutdown, Dapper Jack’s barbershop on 47th Avenue East offered free haircuts to federal workers. If you’re wondering how many people really need it, the barber there says he had folks lined up before he even opened. He says the feeling after…

Ignite Studio Helps Unpaid Government Workers

Fitness Studio Offers All Classes Free To Workers and Family

DULUTH, Minn.- It’s day 23 of the partial government shutdown, about 800,000 employees are either working without pay, or furloughed. Businesses are stepping forward to help those workers with the financial difficulties. Ignite Studio in Duluth is trying to help ease the worries of those affected by the shutdown by offering free classes so they can exercise–improving moods, boosting energy,…

Feeling Unappreciated: Shutdown Hitting Northland Coast Guard Families

Many Working Without Pay

CLOQUET, Minn.- In this Cloquet house, dinner is becoming limited to a few options. “We have leftover Hamburger Helper, there’s pork chops. There’s hotdogs, mommy bought plenty of hotdogs,” the mother tells her children. “It’s pasta dishes, it’s things that you can get dirt cheap,” said Andrea Hawkins. “Y’know, it’s like living on a college kid’s income all over again.”…

Storm Damages Boats, Sends One Into Duluth Harbor

DULUTH, Minn.- The raging water of Lake Superior knows no bounds. It doesn’t recognize that the dock is where boats are to be kept, safe and secure. The bobbing stern of a boat reads “Wild Water.” That boat lived up to its name, rocking back and forth violently with its peers at the pier by Lakehead Boat Basin. The dock fights…

Powerful Winds Damaged Coast Guard Building

Strong gusts of wind damaged roof at Park Point Coast Guard.

DULUTH, Minn.- Powerful winds slammed the Duluth Coast Guard out on Park Point. Nearly half of a roof on the Coast Guard’s storage building was ripped right off. The roof folded over onto a boat and even took down a power line.  “Usually we don’t see something quite like this,” Petty Officer Tristan Degrush said. “I’m not sure if it…

Special Report: Final Farewells

Rural Northland Towns Struggle to Staff Honor Guards

DULUTH, Minn. – The end of a life can be one of the hardest experiences for a family to get through. The presentation of military honors at a veteran’s funeral can give that last bit of pride to the deceased. Unfortunately, across America, there is a struggle to keep honor guards staffed, and it’s even harder in rural areas. “They…

Coast Guard Reminds Boaters to Stay Safe

As Thousands Prepare for a Long Memorial Day Weekend, Others are Thinking Safety

DULUTH, Minn. – Thousands will be driving to the cabin or favorite summer destination this Memorial Day weekend. With that, the United States Coast Guard is looking to make sure safety comes first. The Coast Guard in the Twin Ports is busy making sure they’re up to date on rescue techniques and procedures. One Officer we spoke with say boaters,…