Author: Matt McConico

Caregiver accused of sexually assaulting resident at Northome care facility

Morgan Sylvester Johnson NORTHOME, Min. – A Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) investigation says a caregiver at a Lutheran Social Services facility in Northhome sexual assaulted a vulnerable adult. The report from DHS says the caregiver helped the vulnerable adult get into bed. The caregiver then got into that bed with the vulnerable adult and began to kiss them. …

Duluth caregiver who took vulnerable adult on drug run not banned from future roles

DULUTH, Min. – A staff person at a residential facility in Duluth took a vulnerable adult to a home, where the staffer used illegal drugs, and then drove the vulnerable adult back to the facility.  Yet with those allegations, the staff person is still able to care for vulnerable adults according to Minnesota state regulations. The state report where the…

Bessmer Schools closed Monday due to threat

Bessemer Schools Logo BESSMER, Mich. – Bessmer schools in Bessmer, Michigan will be closed on Monday, January 12 due to a threat. A statement on Facebook said: “Out of an abundance of caution, at this time there will be NO SCHOOL Monday, January 12, 2026, due to a threat that we received. Nobody will be allowed in either building until…

Green Bay Packers versus Chicago Bears playoff preview

Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Chicago. SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers will travel to the Chicago Bears in a wild-card game and rare playoff matchup. The NFL’s longest-running rivalry will only be televised on Amazon Prime. The two teams…

Duluth Schools take moment of silence as part of Minnesota Day of Unity

Duluth Schools Logo DULUTH, Min. – Secondary Schools in the Duluth School District took a moment of silence at 10am on January 9, 2026. It was part of Governor Tim Walz declaring it to be a “Day of Unity”. In the announcement Governor Walz, “encouraged individuals, businesses, faith institutions, and organizations to observe a moment of silence at 10:00 am,…

New Blackout and Retro license plates now available in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Retro & Black Out License Plates MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin’s newest state license plates, a Blackout design and a Retro butter yellow design, are now available for purchase at most DMVs. In making the announcement Gov. Tony Evers said, “I’m really jazzed folks will start seeing these new plates out on our roads that really showcase our proud Wisconsin…

Man arrested for murder of Chazz Toney

Branden Russell King DULUTH, Min. – The Duluth Police Department says they arrested 32-year-old Branden King for pending charges of 2nd Degree Homicide. He’s accused of killing 35-year-old Chazz Toney. Duluth Police say on October 10, 2025 at 12:25am officers were dispatched to the report of a shooting in the 200 block of West 3rd Street. Officers arrived on scene…

Federal immigration officers shoot and wound 2 people in Portland, Oregon, authorities say

2 people shot and wounded by federal immigration officers in Portland, Oregon, authorities say PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The FBI’s Portland office says it is investigating a shooting that happened around 2:15 p.m. Thursday “involving Customs and Border Patrol Agents in which 2 individuals were wounded.” The Portland Police Bureau said its officers responded and found a man and woman with…

Inside the Indictments: Twin Ports anti-drug trafficking operation

John Deon Herring DULUTH, Min. – The Duluth Police Department announced on January 7, 2026 they were, “executing a series of narcotics-related search warrants and arrests in connection with the trafficking of controlled substances in the Duluth/Superior area.” We are now getting a first look into the charges via a “Statement of Probable Cause”. It says the main target was…

What federal policy says about shooting at vehicles

A bullet hole is seen in the windshield as law enforcement officers work at the scene of a shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP) – The Department of Justice says in its Justice Manual that firearms should not be used simply to disable a moving vehicle. The policy allows deadly force only in…

Driver shot in Minneapolis is at least the fifth person killed in US immigration crackdown

A bullet hole is seen in the windshield as law enforcement officers work at the scene of a shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP) – The fatal shooting Wednesday of a woman by an immigration officer in Minneapolis was at least the fifth death to result from the aggressive U.S. immigration crackdown the Trump…

Governor Walz notifies National Guard to prepare to protect public safety in Minneapolis

TIm Walz News Conference follow ICE shooting of woman in Minneapolis (AP) – An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a Minneapolis motorist on Wednesday during the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown in a major U.S. city — a shooting that federal officials claimed was an act of self-defense but that the city’s mayor described as “reckless” and unnecessary….

Security cameras catch another alleged porch pirate in the act

DULUTH, Min. – Duluth Police say Lance William Olson, 30, Duluth stole a package from infront of a person’s apartment front door. It happened at the Ramsey Manor Apartments. The Statement of Probable Cause said  the theft happened the day after Christmas. Documents say Olson was spotted on a Ring doorbell camera taking the package. Police say another security camera in…

Duluth caregiver takes vulnerable adult on errand to do drugs in a garage

DULUTH, Min. – A staff person at a TBI Residential & Community Services facility in Duluth took a vulnerable adult to a home, where the staffer used illegal drugs, and then drove the vulnerable adult back to the facility. That’s the allegation in a Minnesota Department of Human Services investigation. The report said the vulnerable adult asked the staffer for…

Soo Locks soon closing for seasonal repair and maintenance

Soo Locks closing for seasonal repair, maintenance SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan will close to all marine traffic beginning 11:59 p.m. January 15, or until commercial traffic ceases, through 12:01 a.m. March 25 to perform seasonal critical maintenance. Operations Branch Chief Jeff Harrington said, “Every year, our lock and dam operators transition…

Voyageurs National Park Snowmobile Trail Hazard Alert

Voyageurs National Park Snowmobile Trail Hazard Alert (1/6/2-26) INTERNATIONL FALLS, Min. – Voyageurs National Park has issued a “Snowmobile Trail Hazard Alert”. The alert issued on January 6, 2026 said, “Snowmobile riders please be aware. An “ice heave” is rapidly growing and changing on the Green Trail near Sphunge Island on Kabetogama Lake.” It added, “In some areas the ice…

Trump says the US ‘needs’ Greenland for Arctic security. Here’s why.

A North American Aerospace Defense Command F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from the South Carolina ANG’s 169th FW takes off at Pituffik Space Force Base, Greenland, Oct. 9, 2025. Operating in the Arctic provides the flexibility and adaptability needed to overcome logistical hurdles in a dynamic and unforgiving environment. (AP) – Location, location, location: Greenland’s position above the Arctic Circle makes…

Shooter who killed Brown students and MIT professor planned attack for months, says DOJ

A police vehicle is parked at an intersection near crime scene tape at Brown University, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Providence, R.I., following a Saturday shooting at the university. BOSTON (AP) — The man identified by law enforcement as the shooter who killed two Brown University students and an MIT professor had been planning the attack for at least six…

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears in Minneapolis ICE raid video

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on ICE raid in Minneapolis WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has launched what officials describe as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out, preparing to deploy as many as 2,000 federal agents and officers to the Minneapolis area for a sweeping crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. Homeland Security…

Trump administration says it’s withholding social safety net money from 5 states over fraud concerns

U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services (HHS) Logo (AP) – President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday that it is withholding funding for programs that support needy families with children in five Democratic-led states over concerns about fraud. “For too long, Democrat-led states and Governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch,” U.S….

Man accused of stalking a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice gets probation in a plea deal

Jill Karofsky MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin man accused of sending the state Supreme Court’s chief justice intimidating emails has been sentenced to probation after prosecutors dropped a felony stalking charge. Ryan Thornton, 37, of Racine, was initially charged in October in Dane County with stalking and misdemeanor counts of intimidating a victim and disorderly conduct. Prosecutors dismissed the stalking count…

Staffer stole money from two vulnerable adults at Iron Range facilities

Minnesota Department of Human Services Logo EVELETH, Min. – A Minnesota Department of Human Services investigation found a staff member at a home and community-based services facility finically exploited two vulnerable adults. It happened at two NHS Northstar sites.  One in Eveleth and a second in Chisholm. The investigation in large part focused on Amazon purchases charged to the bank…

IIHF president on Olympic arena delays: ‘We’re going to have a tournament’

Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Logo ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The head of the International Ice Hockey Federation said parts of the main hockey rink for the Milan Cortina Olympics might not be fully finished on time, but the playing surface, practice facilities and dressing rooms will be ready when the puck drops for the men’s event Feb….

FBI says it disrupted a New Year’s Eve attack plan inspired by Islamic State group

Christian Sturdivant CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The FBI said Friday it disrupted a New Year’s Eve attack plot targeting a grocery store and fast-food restaurant in North Carolina, arresting an 18-year-old man who authorities say pledged loyalty to the Islamic State group. Christian Sturdivant was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Investigators said he told…

Superior man has car stolen after leaving it running unattended

SUPERIOR, Wis. & DULUTH, Min. – Duluth Police say they arrested a man for stealing a car in Superior, Wisconsin. A Probable Cause Statement said the vehicle’s owner had left the car running with the keys in the ignition. The theft happened on December 27, 2025. The charging documents say a Duluth Police cruiser’s automated license plate reader saw the…

Alleged porch pirate in Duluth caught on Ring camera and arrested

DULUTH, Min. – Duluth Police say they were able to catch an alleged “porch pirate” thanks to a Ring surveillance camera. Charging documents claim Donissa Ann Saice Garcia stole an Amazon package off the porch of a residence on the 2800-block of West 2nd Street in Duluth. It happened on December 18, 2025. A “Ring brand” camera in the neighborhood…

Trump: Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife captured

President Nicolas Maduro addresses supporters during a rally marking the anniversary of the Battle of Santa Ines, which took place during Venezuela’s 19th-century Federal War, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP) – The United States hit Venezuela with a “large-scale strike” early Saturday and said President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the…

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa explains what’s next after signing cannabis compact with Minnesota

Shane Drift DULUTH, Min. & NETT LAKE, Min. – The day after making it official and signing a Tribal-State cannabis compact with Minnesota, we’re learning more about what is next for the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and cannabis. The agreement signed on December 30, 2025 provides a blueprint for a shared goal of safeguarding the health of Minnesotans regarding…

Trump administration says it’s freezing child care funds to Minnesota after series of fraud schemes

Jim O’Neill WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration announced on Tuesday that it’s freezing child care funds to Minnesota after a series of fraud schemes in recent years. Acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Jim O’Neill announced on the social platform X that the step is in response to “blatant fraud that appears to be…

What you clicked on in 2025

DULUTH, Min. – Here are the top three stories people clicked on FOX21Online.com for each month of 2025: JANUARY 2025: 1. 1880s Water Main Breaks At Busy Duluth Intersection 2. Two Injured, One in Custody After Stabbing in Duluth 3. Carlton Co. Inmate Charged with Attempted Murder of Guard FEBRUARY 2025: 1. Newborn Left at Duluth Shelter Triggers Police Investigation…

Former Viking star Stefon Diggs charged with strangulation and other criminal charges

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) gets tackled by New York Jets cornerback Qwan’Tez Stiggers (37) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 in New York. The Patriots won 42-10. BOSTON (AP) — New England Patriots star wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing strangulation and other criminal charges in connection with a dispute with his former private…

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa signs cannabis compact with Minnesota

Bois Forte Band Of Chippewa Seal ST. PAUL, Min. – The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa has signed a Tribal-State cannabis compact with Minnesota. In a news release Secretary/Treasurer of the Bois Forte Band Tara Geshick said, “The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa has done great things – one is entering the cannabis market…  Unlocking opportunities and seeking strategic alliances will…

Man stabs person ‘because he felt like hurting someone’: Deputies

Donovan Vondall CLARIFICATION: The story originally said the victim was a co-work, it was in fact a customer. – GRAND MARAIS, Min. – A man is accused of stabbing and trying to kill someone at the Cook County Co-op. Charging documents say Donovan Michael Vondall stabbed the customer “because he felt like hurting someone.” Vondell allegedly told Cook County Sheriff’s…

Surge in federal officers in Minnesota focuses on alleged fraud at day care centers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A surge of federal officers in Minnesota follows new allegations of fraud by day care centers run by Somali residents. President Donald Trump has previously linked his administration’s immigration crackdown against Minnesota’s large Somali community to a series of fraud cases involving government programs in which most of the defendants have roots in the east African country. Surge in federal officers Department of Homeland Security…

Top baby names for 2025 at Essentia Duluth

DULUTH, Min.  – Entering the final week of 2025, 1,685 babies were born  at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. Essentia has released the top baby names for the year in Duluth. TOP BABY BOY NAMES  Theodore or Theo and Oliver — 12 Rowan — 10 James — 9 TOP BABY GIRL NAMES Evelyn or Evelynn — 14 Harper — 10 Lucy, Nora and Hazel — 8 Categories: Community, Minnesota, News, News –…

Teen accused of trying to rob person at gunpoint near Lincoln Park Pavilion

DULUTH. Min. – Duluth Police says at approximately 8 p.m., Monday, December 29, 2025 police responded to the call of a person with a gun in the 400 block of Lincoln Park Drive. That is near the Renee Van Nett Pavilion in Lincoln Park. A 17-year-old set-up a sale via Snapchat. Police say the initial information said shows the 17-year-old…

Three former Holiday Station Stores in Duluth to be permanently closed

Circle K Logo DULUTH, Min. – Holiday Station Stores around the northland recently went through rebranding to Circle K stores. Now three of those newly branded stores have closed with caution tape placed around the buildings or gas pumps. Those closures are permanent. A Circle K spokesman tells FOX21, “After a recent review of our operations, we made the business…

Wisconsin judge sends Slender Man attacker back to mental health institution after group home escape

Morgan Geyser, one of two Wisconsin girls charged with stabbing a classmate to impress the fictitious horror character Slender Man, sits in a Waukesha County Courtroom for a status hearing Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional horror villain known as Slender Man was ordered back…

Feds accuse Minntac of violating pregnant woman’s rights

US Steel Corporation Logo DULUTH, Min. –  The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Steel – the company that runs Minntac. The lawsuit says the violated a pregnant woman’s rights. During her pregnancy she needed to avoid working on the most physically jarring machinery as an accommodation during her high-risk pregnancy. The lawsuit claims, “Instead…

Man accused of attempting to kill ex-girlfriend was guilty of past animal abuse

Dave Bolden SUPERIOR, Wis. – Dave Bolden is being held in the Douglas County Jail on a $1,000,000 cash bond after being accused of trying to kill his ex-girlfriend. Superior Police say Bolden stabbed his ex-girlfriend at least seven times with box cuter on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at a residence on the 2800 block of Ogden Avenue in Superior….

Pete Stauber expresses concerns over newly proposed Canadian border crossing rules

DULUTH, Min. – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), Senator Kevin Cramer (ND), and Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) on Friday, December 19, 2026 sent a letter to the Canadian government inquiring about new border crossing rules that were just announced. Canada Border Services Agency announced that the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) program will end on September 14, 2026. Rep. Stauber said…

ICE makes arrests at Ashland restaurant

ASHLAND, Wis. – US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Border Patrol made two arrests at an Ashland, Wisconsin restaurant on Monday, December 15, 2025. This all happened at Ashland Family Restaurant which is sometimes also called the “Chequamegon Family Restaurant”. The federal agencies told the Ashland Police Department they would be taking actions in the town, but would not…

Superior man charged with attempting to kill his ex-girlfriend

Dave Bolden SUPERIOR. Wis  – “I thought he was going to kill me” that is what the alleged victim of Dave Bolden said to law enforcement. Bolden is accused of attempting to kill his ex-girlfriend on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at a residence on the 2800 block of Ogden Avenue in Superior. The victim said she had recently broken-up with…

USPS deadlines for shipping Christmas 2025 packages

DULUTH, Min. – Postal deadline are coming soon to ensure packages and letters arrive before Christmas 2025. December 16, 2025 was the recommended deadline for any service for international or military packages. Recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before December 25. Domestic Mail Class/Product Date (excluding Alaska & Hawaii) USPS Ground Advantage® Service Dec. 17 First-Class Mail® Service Dec. 17 Priority Mail® Service Dec. 18 Priority…

Duluth Public Schools Superintendent releases statement in response to ICE being in Twin Ports-area

John Magas DULUTH, Min,. – Duluth Public Schools Superintendent John Magas sent a message to parents in the district titled, “Our Commitment to Student Safety and Belonging.” The statement said in part, “We understand that many in our community are currently experiencing fear and uncertainty regarding immigration enforcement.  While we cannot control the actions of outside agencies, we want to…

Canada Border Services changing remote border crossing procedures

Flag Of Canada DULUTH, Min & OTTAWA – The Canada Border Services Agency is introducing new telephone reporting border crossings for remotes areas of US – Canadian border crossing. Effective September 14, 2026 the old Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) Program will end. That program allowed permit holders to cross ports of entry into Canada without physically present themselves at…