DULUTH, Minn.- COVID-19 has dealt a financial blow to St. Louis County in the form of a projected budget shortall. According to County Auditor Nancy Nilsen, the budget shortfall is expected to be at least $6 million. She said her office is not looking at layoffs or furloughs, but instead plan to save money with a hiring freeze leaving about…
VIRGINIA, Minn.- The City of Virginia is set to furlough up to 28 employees beginning May 4th due to projected revenue losses. Mayor Larry Cuffe said a majority of the 28 employees are expected to come from Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Golf Course staff. While they’re avoiding cutting any staff from public safety departments right now, the Mayor…
MINNESOTA,- An assisted living facility in Duluth and Moose Lake Prison in Carlton County is dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 28 cases in St. Louis County, and 14 cases in Carlton County. On Wednesday St. Louis County saw a jump in cases of 11, a large percentage linked to St. Ann’s Residence in Duluth….
DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County Public Health along with AEOA and partners such as CHUM is working to make sure those without a safe place to shelter if they were to test positive for COVID-19 can self-isolate. Four hotels would be used at various locations throughout St. Louis County – one each in Duluth, Hibbing, Virginia, and Ely. According…
DULUTH, Minn.- St. Louis County saw a jump in COVID-19 cases over the weekend. Five new presumptive cases were confirmed, doubling the total number of cases to 10 in the county, in just one day. The newest cases include a woman in her early 60s who is being hospitalized for treatment–the first case severe enough to require hospitalization in the…
The cases of Coronavirus continue to climb in the Northland. A second case has been discovered in St. Louis County, along with three others in Douglas County, bringing the total there to four–with one case in Superior. There remains one confirmed case in Bayfield County The newest case in St. Louis County is a woman in her early 60s who…
DULUTH, Minn.- Officials have announced the first confirmed COVID-19 case in St. Louis County. Along with one in Bayfield County and one in Douglas County, the total cases in the Northland are now three. According to County officials, the patient in St. Louis County has not had contact with anyone outside her close relatives and is recovering at home. “While…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn.- The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in St. Louis County. The individual is a woman in her late 60s who is currently recovering at home. Her infection is linked to domestic travel, and not the result of community transmission. “At this point, there has been no request for the…
DULUTH, Minn.- In the most intense step the State of Minnesota has taken in response to the Coronavirus, Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order closing all schools in the state starting Wednesday, until March 27th. This comes just two days after Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced all schools statewide would close through April 6th. While parents prepare to cope…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – The Saint Louis County board has officially passed a zoning ordinance allowing short term rental homes in the county. The approval allows vacation rental properties such as Airbnb’s to grow in areas of St. Louis county other than Duluth. Officials say, they made the ordinance as streamlined as possible. The zoning ordinance is also geared…
DULUTH, Minn. – According to Teamsters Local 320 Recording Secretary Erik Skoog, an agreement has been reached between public works employees and St. Louis County. The announcement was made early Monday morning on Skoog’s Facebook page. In a post, Skoog says, “After 15 hours of mediation, we reached an agreement that both parties can be proud of! Congrats Teamsters and…
DULUTH, Minn.- A final round of mediation has been scheduled between the Teamsters Local 320 Union representing plow operators and St. Louis County, by the state of Minnesota. According to a document from the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services, the mediation will begin next Friday January 10th at 10:00 am at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth. After the…
DULUTH, Minn.- Tuesday is the final day of the existing contract the St. Louis County Public Works employees have with the county. According to St. Louis County Officials, they haven’t received notice of the Teamsters Local 320 Union’s intent to strike, or any interest to return to the bargaining table. Both sides will continue working under the terms of the…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Minnesota Department of Human Services recently awarded $11 million in grant funding to state organizations to help fight the opioid epidemic. A portion of that funding will go towards the fight against opioids in St. Louis County. Minnesota’s state opioid response grants, worth more than $500,000, will go to two organizations to help bring more access to…
DULUTH, Minn.- To cut back on the current drug epidemic in northeast Minnesota, the White House has announced that St. Louis County has been approved a part of the existing High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program. The program provides counties assistance in the coordinating efforts between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials. “Investigations are becoming more and more…
DULUTH, MN – The Veterans Service Center Office in Duluth held an open house Friday afternoon. There, vets were able to grab a free lunch, tour the office and meet veteran service officers. Organizers say, it’s all to provide an open, inviting space for members of the armed forces that served out country. “Open up a dialogue with some of…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.-The intersection of Stebner Road and Maple Grove Road in Hermantown will be closed for most of the day Monday. St. Louis County is paving the roads there starting at 7:30 Monday morning until about 4 p.m. The closure means you may need to plan an alternate route to get to the Hermantown Community Church, Jefferson Children’s Center, and…
DULUTH, Minn.- More than one hundred Northland properties went up for sale today during St. Louis County tax forfeit land auction. Some of the top properties for sale included more than twenty houses, and some prime waterfront locations that had cabins. Those in attendance are thrilled to walk away with a new piece of property. “It’s hard to keep them…
DULUTH, Minn.- This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week. With the construction season just around the corner, St. Louis County Officials are sharing driving tips on how to make it through those construction areas. Officials ask drivers to remain extra vigilant on their normal routes, looking out for lane closures and changes due to construction. Not only for the…
DULUTH, Minn.- An Anti-Nepotism Policy has been unanimously approved by the St. Louis County Board. This comes after the board received backlash when longtime County Attorney Mark Rubin hired his son Tony as a prosecutor back in January. The board met about the introduction of a Nepotism Policy last month, after constituents complained the hiring was unfair or a conflict…
DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County now has a new anti– icing system for roads. Officials have also purchased new equipment costing around $1.2 million to help pre–treat roads. This new anti–icing system will not only relieve the stress of icy roads this winter, but St. Louis County Public Works says it’s also more environmentally friendly. Gour brand new trucks…
DULUTH, Minn.- The fate of Commissioner Pete Stauber’s emails rests in the hands of a St. Louis County Judge, who won’t make a decision about whether they should be released until next week. The Minnesota DFL is suing St. Louis County, to try and get those emails between Stauber and the National Republican Congressional Committee made public. This comes after…
DULUTH, Minn. – A 30–year employee with St. Louis County is calling for an investigation into Commissioner Pete Stauber who is running for the 8th Congressional race on the republican side. Dennis Frazier believes Stauber is using his platform as a county commissioner to run for higher office. One example, Frazier says happened at an opioid round table in August where Stauber identified himself as a 8th District Congressional candidate….
DULUTH, Minn.- Minnesota is leading the nation in reductions to Veteran homelessness but there’s still a lot to be done. Five hundred people are advocating for the homeless population in Duluth on Thursday, September 13th, at the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless annual conference at the DECC. Advocates tell us the hot topics for Minnesota as a whole, are serving…
DULUTH, Minn.-Â Tension and skepticism is high as Republican Congressional Candidate and St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber has been accused of violating a county policy, by emailing a GOP group using his government email address. Now, some Democrats say they want answers. “It’s clear that Pete Stauber thinks that he has one set of rules, for himself, and one set…
DULUTH, Minn. – While working on a road construction project a St. Louis County Public Works crew uncovered several wood coffins and possible human remains. Coming into this St. Louis County staff tell us they knew there was a possibility they would run into something because this particular area is close to what once was the Greenwood Cemetery. The area…
DULUTH, Minn. –Â Longtime sixth judicial judge Mark Munger will soon be retiring after decades on the job in St. Louis county. Judge Munger has been practicing law for almost 40 years. He’s lived and worked in Duluth for his entire life. Munger served as a practitioner for 18 years and a judge for almost 20 years. “Well I think I’m…
DULUTH, Minn. – A new traveling exhibit shines a spotlight on 18 men from St. Louis County who served in the Civil War. The 18 Exhibit is on display at the Depot in downtown Duluth. Visitors will go back in time and learn what life was like for the men who volunteered to serve their country. The men made an impact…
DULUTH, Minn. – The rebuilding of 4th Street in Duluth began as a resurfacing project, which then led to the full reconstruction of the road. Almost four years later St. Louis County has finished the project. The 4th Street reconstruction is the single largest road project delivered by St. Louis County. Taking a drive down 4th Street in Duluth will no…
DULUTH, Minn. – A difficult situation for two mothers, family members and friends entering the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth Thursday. More than 15 months after the murder of UMD student William Grahek, 22, two suspects — a brother and sister — involved in the case were sentenced for their role in the crime. Police responded to the scene…
DULUTH, Minn.- After property evaluations were recently sent out by St. Louis County many local downtown Duluth businesses were shocked to see huge increases in the value of their property. Now the county assessor’s office is taking a second look at how they evaluated those properties with the possibility of changes being made. The phones started ringing off the hook at the…
DULUTH, Minn.- St. Louis county is hoping to preserve the Duluth Depot with help from the state. The Depot is asking for a $4 million inclusion in the upcoming bonding bill. Officials say citizens won’t visibly notice improvements. The projects in place will prevent noticeable damage before they occur. Officials say the proposal for preventable maintenance will keep the building running…
DULUTH, Minn.- Tuesday is Capitol Days as Duluth and St. Louis County will head to St. Paul discussing local issues. Over 500 community members and local officials are bringing a voice for the Northland to St. Paul. The city will be asking for $10 million towards rehabilitation of the sea wall. Officials are also seeking approval for the half percent sales…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s Opioid Awareness Day in Minnesota. Many advocates from the Northland are at the State Capitol to have their voices heard. Last year 50 percent of child protective cases involved parents abusing drugs, which in turn cost taxpayers more than $7 million in St. Louis County. The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office is taking action by aggressively prosecuting dealers selling opioids. “We still want to…
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Historical Society is filled with stories of all the different cultures that have passed through and immigrated to the area. Now, historical society officials are hoping to share those stories with the Northland. The historical society has 16 traveling exhibits available for rent. Any organization can borrow them from schools and churches to…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. – There are not many places around the Northland where you can buy property for as low as $200. But it could happen at a tax forfeited land sale auction. At these auctions people can bid on properties that are tax forfeitures for non-payment of taxes. “We can transact a transaction in the same day as the auction….
DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Historical Society is announcing 36 recipients of 38 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants, totaling $324,149 in 22 counties. Locally, the Duluth Art Institute will receive $10,000. This money will go toward plans for two phases of Duluth Art Institute Lincoln Park Building preservation. The grant will help the Institute hire a qualified consultant to…
A family home has been destroyed in Brookston after a fire broke out there Sunday afternoon. St. Louis County deputies and local fire departments responded a report of a fire at 4792 Stevens road in Brookston. When they arrived the house was engulfed in flames, its now been deemed a total loss. One person was at home during the fire,…
DULUTH, Minn. – A busy stretch of road closed for construction is now back open to drivers. The 21st Ave. E. and 4th St. intersection is back open for motorists. The intersection has been closed for a month to work on water mains, gas lines, traffic signals and retaining walls. This is all part of the 4th Street project in…
DULUTH, Minn. – Happening now through Monday, September 4, dozens of Northland 4-H youth will make way to the Minnesota State Fair, eager to share their projects, research, and livestock with other 4-H members. In this week’s Animal Answers, Duluthian Landen Dahl visited FOX 21 Local News alongside Tim Caines, Program Coordinator for South St. Louis County 4-H. Dahl will…
DULUTH, Minn. – The historic Zenith city has several landmarks within its borders. Some of these historic staples are quickly losing their shine. That’s why the Duluth Preservation alliance has made a list of 10 endangered properties in town. The old St. Louis County Jail is one of them. It was built in 1924 to complement the Civic Center. The…
DULUTH, Minn. – The stories of the Minnesota Ballet are on display at the St. Louis County Historical Society, along with the corresponding costume. The exhibit called, “Once upon a Ballet,” features costumes and props from Minnesota Ballet official productions of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and 1997-2008 The Nutcracker. The exhibit is located in the Small Fesler Gallery on the main…
