minnesota

Extra Patrols on Minnesota Roads Throughout New Year’s Day

Nearly 500 Fatalities Have Occurred on Minnesota Roads in 2021

DULUTH, Minn. – While many make plans to go out and ring in the New Year with friends and family while having a few adult beverages, the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety is reminding drivers to plan ahead and be responsible. “500 families this year have planned or will plan a funeral for a loved one who’s not coming home…

Grim Milestone: Minnesota Tops One Million COVID Cases Since March of 2020

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota has topped a million cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March of 2020. The state Department of Health confirmed 4,155 new cases, lifting the total number of infections to 1,000,361. The figures released Monday do not include cases from the holiday weekend, which are expected to be updated Tuesday. Minnesota’s case count includes…

VFW Post 137 Preparing Holiday Feast

DULUTH, Minn. — The VFW post 137 in Lincoln Park is prepping for a big free holiday feast Friday. The supplies for the meals are all donated by community members. The VFW will be serving the holiday traditions from mashed potatoes to veggies and turkey with gravy. With the tradition going strong even after 30 years, organizers say this is…

Santa Visits Mesabi Preschool Academy

DULUTH, Minn. — Santa made a pit stop in Duluth on Thursday to visit children at the Mesabi Preschool Academy. Chris Kringle greeted the children at the Duluth Candy Company. He says his elves are going over the naughty and nice list and they have already started loading the sleigh. Even though this year, like the last is different than…

Chester Bowl Opens For Season

DULUTH, Minn. — Chester Bowl has officially opened for the season on Wednesday. The popular ski hill opened this morning with the first people getting on the chair lift at 11 a.m. Members of Essentia Health were also there and awarded a $25,000  grant to Chester Bowl. This will allow them to plan for future infrastructure developments. “So to be…

Duluth City Councilors Prioritize Public Safety, Affordable Housing in 2022 Budget

DULUTH, Minn. — Monday night, Duluth city councilors made significant investments in their budget for public safety and housing. After hearing a need to recruit and retain police officers, councilors will increase their wages by 10 percent for all DPD staff in the 2022 budget. They have also increased the training budget of the DPD and the fire department to…

Whole Foods Co-Op Keeping Up With Holiday Demand

DULUTH, Minn. — Whole Foods Co-Op is doing its best to keep up with customer demand this holiday season. With popular items including holiday floral, gift ideas, and more holiday staples. Store managers stress the importance of shopping local, not just during the holidays but for every season. The atmosphere is a little more special during the holidays. “It’s so…

Essentia Health Hopes to Double Bentleyville Food Donations

DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health is partnering with Bentleyville in hopes of boosting food donations. Some Essentia employees will be at Bentlyville on Thursday encouraging people to donate as they walk in. The tour of lights usually collects about 300 pounds of nonperishable food items each night. Essentia Health wants to see that number double. “It’s part of our mission and…

Unseasonable Weather Not Wanted at Lester-Amity Chalet

DULUTH, Minn. — The unseasonably warm days are adding a little concern about the longevity of this winter’s ski and snowboarding season. At Lester-Amity chalet in Duluth the warmer weather can ruin ski trails. The lack of frozen ground has not let the trails develop a consistent snowpack. It’s a mixture of conditions that are making some in the skiing…

Red Cross Sending Northlanders to Kentucky for Recovery Efforts

DULUTH, Minn. — The Northland Division of the Red Cross will be sending down volunteers to assist with the tornado relief in Kentucky. Three Duluth-area volunteers are heading out today, and one Iron Ranger will be going out there tomorrow. The volunteers range in their expertise, some are nurses and others have the skillsets to help with shelter needs. The…

Annual Sock Drive Brings Thousands of Socks to Northlanders in Need

DULUTH, Minn. — The Salvation Army is partnering with the Fond-Du-Luth Casino to give thousands of socks to northlanders in need. The 12th annual sock drive began with the Fond-Du-Luth Casino collecting socks in early October. They since have amassed nearly four thousand pairs and recently dropped them off at the Salvation Army community center. Socks are typically not donated…

Fresh Off First Major Snowfall, Outdoor Enthusiasts Hit the Trails

Staff at Maple Grove Lodging & Bait Store in Finland is Receiving a Plethora of Phone Calls Regarding Trail Conditions

FINLAND, Minn. – Just days after the first snow of the season, and outdoor winter enthusiasts are chomping at the bit to begin doing what they love. “We’re excited, the ice is forming really well for ice fishing so that was great,” said Nicole Chumley, owner of Maple Grove Lodging & Bait Store. From ice fishing to more intense activities…

Truckers for Tots Aims to Help Families for Christmas

DULUTH, Minn. — Some trucks unloaded more fun cargo for Northlanders on Friday. The Salvation Army once again partnered with Mid-State Truck services to bring Christmas cheer to families in need this holiday season. The Truckers for Tots campaign started over a decade ago in Wisconsin and came to Duluth just last year. Mid-State Truckers raised $55,000 total at all…

Lincoln Park Flats Now Leasing Apartment Units

DULUTH, Minn. — A new Duluth apartment complex called Lincoln Park Flats is scheduled to open this summer. “People have been excited about it. It’s not too often that we do have brand new housing coming into areas that are coming into areas that are so developed and in such as need,” P&R Companies Operations Manager, Megan Holsclaw says. With…

Duluth Indoor Sports Complex Staying Busy During Winter Months

DULUTH, Minn. — The multi-sport facility on rice lake road hosts different sports from soccer, volleyball, tennis and pickleball. “We kind of adapt to the time of year. Our primary thing is tennis. We do that generally from September through May. Late May-early June,” Duluth Sports Complex Assistant Manager, Nikoli Wiens says. With being shut down most of 2020, complex…

Frost River Has Successful Small Business Saturday

DULUTH, Minn. — Local outdoors shop Frost River is having a strong holiday season. Staff say they have one of the most successful small business Saturdays ever and expect next year to be even bigger. The store has also introduced a second website with more items for customers. “Which is sort of a one of a kind unique items that…

President Biden to Visit Minnesota

(FOX 9) – The White House announced President Joe Biden will visit Minnesota on Tuesday.  Biden will be in Rosemount to discuss the new Infrastructure Bill worth nearly $1 trillion. The exact location of the visit has not been released. Categories: Business, Community, Minnesota, News Tags: Joe Biden, minnesota, President

Hoops to Host Pop-Up Market

It's all to get the community to come together and support several local artists in one spot.

DULUTH, Minn. —  As part of Small Business Saturday, Hoops Brewing Company in canal park will be hosting several local artists. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be pop-up shops selling different items from handmade winter wear to pottery. Hoops is one of many local businesses hosting smaller artists who can showcase their work. It’s all to get the…

Holiday Travel Remaining Steady This Year

DULUTH, Minn. — “What we have found is that we continue to observe and watch and see what types of things need to be adjusted or changed but we’ve stayed pretty consistent around here,” Duluth Airport Authority Director of Communications & Marketing, Natalie Peterson says. Air travel in Duluth is going steady heading into the holiday season with more than…

Shops Gearing Up for Small Business Saturday

DULUTH, Minn. — Local businesses in the Twin Ports and beyond are hoping to cash in for small business Saturday this weekend. It’s a day to encourage shoppers to buy local and support local one day after Black Friday when larger retail stories end up getting a lot of business on big deals. Small shops like ‘Bailey Builds’ in West…

CSS Volunteers Preparing Over 5,000 Meals for Thanksgiving

DULUTH, Minn. — The smell of Thanksgiving is flowing through the DECC. It’s the place where volunteers with The College of Scholastica are cooking thousands of meals for the community. The traditional in-person Thanksgiving buffet at the DECC won’t be happening for the second year in a row because of Covid-19. More than 5,000 meals will be handed out at…

Depot Foundation Announces Depot United Campaign

DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Louis County Depot will be getting an added boost in its fundraising efforts to support programs within the building. The Depot United Campaign will raise money to be equally distributed among all the organizations and non-profits housed in the depot. The campaign falls under the depot foundation which has been around since 1979. They are…

Defense Department Helping to Relieve Two Minnesota Hospitals

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz says the Department of Defense will send medical teams to two major Minnesota hospitals to relieve doctors and nurses who are swamped by a growing wave of COVID-19 patients. The teams, each comprising 22 people, will arrive at Hennepin County Medical Center and St. Cloud Hospital next week and begin treating patients immediately. Walz…

Great Lakes Aquarium Seeing Record-Setting Attendance

DULUTH, Minn. — After a year of closures and low attendance during the pandemic, the Great Lakes Aquarium is on track for its biggest year ever. The aquarium’s attendance is expected to reach more than 185,000 visitors by the end of the year. That’s 10,000 more visitors than the previous record in 2018. The aquarium’s executive director tells us more…

Duluth Pack Hosts Puppy Adoption Event

Anyone who adopted a puppy also received an adoption gift.

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Pack in Canal Park helped some furry friends find new families on Friday. Partnering with Northern Lakes Rescue and Ruffwear, the dog-friendly store hosted several puppies looking for their forever home. Staff at the outdoor store say, after having success in the past, they are excited to collaborate with local organizations to find these pets new…

Search Continues for Missing Mother From Western Wisconsin

Miller-Carlson Has Been Missing Since Her Vehicle Was Found Partially Submerged in Pine County Sept. 24

PINE COUNTY, Minn. – Crews in Pine and Burnett Counties continue to search for Ashley Miller-Carlson after her rental car was located, partially submerged, in Grace Lake in Pine County, Minnesota on Sept. 24, 2021. Authorities say Ashley’s personal belongings were left inside the vehicle. The Pine County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office to check Ashley’s residence…

Bong Historical Center Receives $10,000 For Disabled Veterans

Cenovus energy which owns the superior refinery formerly known as husky donated $10,000 to the bong museum.

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — On Wednesday the Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior has landed a big donation to help send disabled vets on summer trips to the boundary waters. Cenovus energy which owns the superior refinery formerly known as husky donated $10,000 to the bong museum. The money will fund two summer canoe trips to the BWCA for seven veterans…

Duluth Fire Department Participating in ‘Movember’

Captain Black said the driver of his rig usually wins the competition every year.

DULUTH, Minn. — Members of the Duluth Fire Department can spend a little less time getting ready in the morning this month, as they’re growing out mustaches for a good cause. The goal is to see who can grow the best mustache within department grooming standards. It’s also to pass on the importance of getting screened early for cancers and…

KYN: Port City Nutrition

That's why she decided to bring Herbalife products such as proteins and herbal teas to downtown Two Harbors along with a positive environment.

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — “I like being in a place that people can go to get nutrition and to get coaching and get into an active lifestyle and a healthy lifestyle,” Port City Nutrition Owner, Quinn Kasell says. After moving from Grand Rapids to Two Harbors with her family, owner Quinn Kasell knew she had to bring her drive for…

Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue Searching for More Foster Homes, Adopters

Based in the Twin Cities Metro Area, Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue Serves the Entire State

DULUTH, Minn. – Serving the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue has worked for years to pair stigmatized bully breeds with the right families after they’re moved from states such as Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Just last year, they helped rescue a record number of 200 pit bulls from life-threatening situations. On average, they help place over…

Deer Processors Ready For Upcoming Hunting Season

The meat processing fee is $110. 

POPLAR, Wis. — Meat processing plants around the Northland are gearing up for the upcoming Minnesota and Wisconsin firearm hunting seasons. “We start with the bear season so that’s pretty fast and furious. Then it cuts back a little for the bow season. We take both from Minnesota and Wisconsin,” Hursh Meat Processing Owner, Robert Hursh says. With bow season…

General Election Takes Place Tuesday

If you still have your mail-in-ballot they are due at city hall by 3 p.m. tomorrow.

DULUTH, Minn. — The general election gets underway on Tuesday in Duluth. Beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning and running until 8 p.m. at night the polls will be open. The municipal primary held back in August had just over 12% voter turnout. It was an increase from the previous primary in an off-year. City staff want to encourage people…

Duluth School District to Start Voluntary Vaccination Clinics for Elementary Students

It would allow students a better chance of not contracting the virus and learning in person.

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth school district could become one of the first districts in the state to host voluntary vaccine clinics for 5 to 11-year-olds. Pending FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine for that age group on Tuesday, the district is poised to become one of three districts in the state of Minnesota to offer these clinics. The superintendent…

MNsure Open Enrollment Period Begins Nov. 1

Open Enrollment for MNsure Runs Through Jan. 15, 2022

ST. PAUL, Minn.— Nov. 1 marks the beginning of MNsure’s open enrollment period. Open enrollment refers to the once-a-year opportunity when all Minnesotans can enroll in affordable, comprehensive health and dental coverage through MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace. This year, Minnesota’s open enrollment will run from Nov. 1 until Jan. 15, 2022, with two important deadlines: Minnesotans must enroll by…

Halloween Marks 30th Anniversary of 1991 Blizzard

The storm dumped over 30 inches of snow in the northland during a three-day period.

DULUTH, Minn. — Weather forecasters are looking back at an even more scary holiday as Sunday marks 30 years since the 1991 blizzard in Minnesota. The storm dumped over 30 inches of snow in the northland during a three-day period. It broke records that still hold up decades later. Experts at the National Weather Service in Duluth say technology back…

Zup’s Opens In New Location

Store owners say they have added 30 employees giving them 90 total. 

ELY, Minn. — Folks in one part of the Northland have a brand new option for buying groceries. After closing their old location in mid-October, Zup’s has now officially opened a new store in Ely formerly occupied by Shopko. “They needed to expand, and they did. It’s a wonderful location,” Ely Resident James Stone says. While it’s still on the…

Statewide Virtual Manufacturing Fair Takes Place Thursday

Most manufacturing jobs only need a high school degree and on-site job training.

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Walz declared October Manufacturing Month in the state in an effort to get more people into the field. The average salary in the industry is more than $70,000 a year in Minnesota, which is 10 percent higher than other industries in the state. Right now, there are more than 8,000 job openings in Minnesota manufacturing…

Stores Gearing Up for Hunting Season

Northwest outlet in Superior received their hunting clothing items a few weeks ago.

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Clothing stores are getting their gear in for hunting season. Northwest outlet in Superior received their hunting clothing items a few weeks ago. They are seeing people come in to purchase their blaze orange clothing, cover scents and more as hunting season approaches in Minnesota and Wisconsin. “We never know if it’s going to be 20 degrees…

Warming Centers Preparing to Open

In January, it's moving over to a bigger facility in Lincoln Park.

DULUTH, Minn. — A few shelters in the twin ports say the need to help the homeless community is growing as both supplies and space to house more people are continuously in-demand. The new executive director of CHUM, John Cole, says Duluth’s homeless population is only getting bigger. The Rainbow Center, which CHUM oversees, is going to open as a…

School Board Resignations Triple in Minnesota

Nearly 70 Board Members Have Resigned in 2021, Triple the Number of Resignations in a Regular Year

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Contentious disagreements over COVID-19 policies and critical race theory have caused a significant increase in the number of local school board resignations in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota School Boards Association, nearly 70 board members have resigned from their positions this year, triple the number of resignations in a regular year. The association says that equates…

National Take Back Prescription Drug Day Held Saturday

Experts say there has been a 31% increase in opioid use since the start of the pandemic.

DULUTH, Minn. — Saturday is the annual ‘Take Back Prescription Drugs Day’ hosted by local law enforcement agencies across the country. On Friday, state leaders got together virtually urging people to properly dispose of their unwanted or unused prescription medication. Experts say there has been a 31% increase in opioid use since the start of the pandemic. All the more…

Legacy of F and D Meats Continues Under New Ownership

The Previous Owners Left the Business in December of 2020

VIRGINIA, Minn. – After nearly 50 years in business, it can be difficult and nerve-wracking for new ownership to take over a strongly rooted establishment. “I just wanted to keep my shoulder behind the wheel and my toes out of the way,” said Joseph Walls, co-owner of F and D Meats in Virginia. Whether you’re a local, or just passing…

Gov. Walz Announces Bid for Second Term

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan Also Announced Re-Election Tuesday Morning

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has launched his campaign for a second term in an increasingly divided state, saying he made the tough calls necessary to beat back the COVID-19 pandemic and revive the economy. The former high school football coach made the announcement in a YouTube video posted Tuesday that shows him standing on a football…

Food Banks Gearing Up for Holiday Season

They say there is typically more than enough food to go around.

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — Food banks in the Northland are getting ready for the holiday season. Throughout the pandemic, area food banks have had the tough task of helping more families out. Even though food banks like Second Harvest North Central in Grand Rapids experience shortages every year around the holidays. They say there is typically more than enough food…

UMD Hosts Flu Shot Clinic

Health officials recommend people get the flu shot annually.

DULUTH, Minn. — UMD hosted their first flu shot clinic of the season today for students and staff. Roughly 300 staff signed up to receive the vaccine. The campus was equipped to take walk-ins as well. With people coming to the university from all over the world, nurses say that it is essential for students on-campus, in housing and close…

Agriculture Committee Gives Drought Update

We are now hearing the impact of farmers as about 90% of the state was under severe drought conditions this past summer. 

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota leaders in agriculture gathered Tuesday morning to talk about the recent droughts regions across the state have experienced. We are now hearing the impact of farmers as about 90% of the state was under severe drought conditions this past summer. Back in September, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced a ten million dollar drought relief package…

Parks Department Releases ‘Essential Spaces Plan’

The parks levy was passed in 2011 allocating 2.6 million dollars each year to the department.

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Parks and Recreation Department started a ten-year planning process this summer. Now they are asking for the public’s feedback. The plan, called the essential spaces plan, is geared toward shaping the future of the parks for the next ten years. It also includes a survey for the public asking what they would like to see in…