News – Latest News

Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Midway Road

MIDWAY TOWNSHIP, Minn. – Officials say a small plane landed on Midway Road and Stark Road in Midway Township around 2:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say the pilot made an emergency landing on Midway Road shortly after taking off from the Superior airport. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the lone pilot was flying at approximately 3,000 feet when…

One Killed in Eveleth Rollover Crash

(courtesy: Northland FireWire) EVELETH, Minn. – According to the Eveleth Police Department, a 50-year-old Eveleth man was killed in a rollover crash around 6:55 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities say the semi tanker truck the man was driving rolled over at the intersection of Fayal Road and Kimberly Avenue. Eveleth and Fayal personnel responded to the scene of the crash along with…

Minnesota DNR Cancels 2020 Fish Egg-Taking Over Virus Concerns

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has canceled this year’s egg-taking for walleye, northern pike, muskies, and steelhead because of concerns over the spreading the coronavirus. The agency says the work cannot be done safely under social distancing guidelines. According to the DNR, collecting eggs and sperm from spawning fish in the wild is labor-intensive and requires teams…

Duluth Diocese Extends Temporary COVID-19 Measures

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Diocese announced Tuesday that they will be extending the temporary suspension of mass and gatherings of more than 10 people until May 4. The suspension has been in place since Friday, March 20. In a letter to the clergy Diocesan Administrator, Reverend James B. Bissonette wrote that during this time churches will remain open for…

More Wisconsin Farmers Filing for Bankruptcy

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The economic effects of the coronavirus appear to be pushing more Wisconsin farmers into bankruptcy. Court records show that 36 farmers have filed by Chapter 12 bankruptcy since the first of the year. In 2019, there were 57 similar filings for the entire year, the Journal Sentinel reported. Dairy farmers were already dealing with depressed milk prices…

Midday Update 4-14-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update, William Seay

Minnesota Lawmakers Ready COVID-19 Relief; Deaths Rise to 79

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers prepared Tuesday to pass a COVID-19 relief bill on a day when health officials reported nine more deaths due to the coronavirus. The Minnesota Department of Health reported that the nine new deaths raised the state’s total to 79. The department also reported 45 new confirmed cases to increase Minnesota’s total to 1,695. As of…

Morning Update 4-14-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update, William Seay

Woman Dies After Being Found Unresponsive in Hinckley Hotel Bathtub

HINCKLEY, Minn. – The Pine County Sheriff’s Office says a Wisconsin woman in her 50’s has died after being found unresponsive in a bathtub at America’s Best Hotel in Hinckley. According to reports, deputies and ambulance personnel arrived at the hotel just after 10:44 p.m. on Saturday and found the woman in the bathtub where life-saving measures were initiated. Authorities…

Utility Providers Including Minnesota Power Suspend Disconnections, Late Fees

Citizens Utility Board and Minnesota Power Urge Customers to Call to arrange payment plan.

DULUTH, Minn.- People struggling to keep up with heat, water, or electric bills due to the Coronavirus pandemic may find some relief from many utility providers. The Citizens Utility Board, a non-profit representing energy customers in Minnesota, is urging Minnesotans to contact their utility providers like Minnesota Power to work out a payment plan to avoid being disconnected. Many providers…

Cleveland-Cliffs To Idle Northshore Mining; 470 Employees Affected

The Northshore Mining Plant employees 570, only 100 remain employed.

SILVER BAY, Minn.- Cleveland-Cliffs has announced it is idling two of its iron ore plants, including Northshore Mining in Silver Bay, which will be shutting down by the middle of this month. This will affect roughly 470 employees, a significant number for a city like Silver Bay with a population of only 1,800. Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves said they’ve evaluated…

Radio DJ Records Show From Home

Some of your favorite on-air personalities are also working from home.

DULUTH, Minn. – Have you been listening to the radio a lot lately? Some of your favorite on-air personalities are also working from home, including Jill Mikkelson, a radio host for Life 97.3. She uses her room as her personal studio where she researches content and records her material. She works remotely while living with roommates. She says that she…

Grand Marais Community Reacts to Losing Three Businesses to One Fire

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — Fueled by strong winds, a Monday afternoon fire ripped away three businesses from Grand Marais, ones run by local families that are friends to many in the area. “We know these people, we know their families, we know their kids,” Grand Marais resident Kati Stieler said. “White Pine North had just switched owners. It was a new…

Duluth Playhouse Offers Free Virtual Tap Dance Classes

The Duluth Playhouse is hosting multiple free dance classes on Facebook live each week.

DULUTH, Minn. – As more businesses are going virtual, the Duluth Playhouse is giving students and community members the chance to keep moving. The Duluth Playhouse is offering a variety of free Facebook live classes each week. On Monday, the Duluth Playhouse held their second tap class, learning a routine from “The Newsies”. With the classes being held for free…

Virus Closes Some Meat Plants, Raising Fears Of Shortages

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Some massive meat processing plants have closed at least temporarily because their workers were sickened by the new coronavirus, raising concerns that there could soon be shortages of beef, pork and poultry in supermarkets. The meat supply chain is especially vulnerable since processing is increasingly done at massive plants that butcher tens of thousands of animals…

Virtual Job Fair Helps People Find Work During Pandemic

Job fair runs through April 27th.

DULUTH, Minn – The Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training and its partner CareerForce in Duluth is offering a virtual job fair for people searching for work during the pandemic. More than 50 employers from a variety of industries including construction trades and healthcare are participating in the career fair to help fill open jobs. This event replaces the third…

UMD Campus Food Shelf Remains Open To Students As Pandemic Continues

Champ's Cupboard is expected to be open at least until the end of the semester.

DULUTH, Minn – The University of Minnesota of Duluth is making sure students, who are dealing with food insecurities, have access to healthy meals by keeping the campus food shelf open during the pandemic. Champ’s Cupboard is a free food shelf offered to all UMD students. It opened in 2013 after university officials noticed a need to help those dealing…

Superior City Council Election Results

Nicholas Ledin, Warren Bender and Brent Fennessey won the election for Superior City Council.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The results are in from last week’s Superior City Council races. In District 1, Nicholas Ledin defeated Kalee Hermanson 383-342. Ledin will replace Dan Olson, who is leaving his seat. In District 3, incumbent Warren Bender defeated Kelly Schoen 344-205, while in District 5, incumbent Brent Fennessey defeated Amanda Foster 469-369. You can view a full list…

Duluth Pack Manufactures Medical Gowns For Healthcare Workers

The goal is to manufacture 1,000 gowns a day.

DULUTH, Minn – Instead of manufacturing outdoor gear and apparel Duluth pack will now be making protective gowns for healthcare workers. Duluth Pack is partnering with the Michigan-based company Stormy Kramer, which also manufactures outdoor apparel, to help make the gowns. The protective equipment is being made with materials that are moisture resistant. Medical gowns are usually disposable, instead, this…

Local Observations on Coronavirus Impact

People of many different racial and ethnic backgrounds have been sickened by the virus all over the world, but studies are finding both the African American and the Native American communities seem to be especially susceptible.

DULUTH, Minn. – People of many different racial and ethnic backgrounds have been sickened by the virus all over the world, but studies are finding both the African American and the Native American communities seem to be especially susceptible. Many individuals from minority backgrounds work as essential workers, including grocery stores and public transportation. When it comes to obtaining information…

Biden Defeats Sanders as Wisconsin Releases Election Results

Joe Biden has defeated Bernie Sanders in Wisconsin’s presidential primary, which was held last week during the coronavirus pandemic.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Joe Biden has defeated Bernie Sanders in Wisconsin’s presidential primary, which was held last week during the coronavirus pandemic. Biden’s victory became academic after Sanders dropped out last week, one day after Wisconsin held in-person voting despite widespread concern over the health risks. Republican legislative leaders refused to delay the election, and the party won a…

Northsore Mining in Silver Bay to Be Idled Until August

Northshore Mining employs around 570 workers and will have to lay off approximately 470.

SILVER BAY, Minn. – Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. announced on Monday that the company will be idling production at two of its iron ore mining operations, which includes Northshore Mining in Silver Bay. Northshore Mining employs around 570 workers and will have to lay off approximately 470. They will keep approximately 100 employees to maintain the yard and dock crews for loading…

Gov. Walz Extends Peacetime Emergency Through May 13

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has ordered his peacetime emergency be extended through May 13 to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Walz declared a peacetime emergency one month ago when there were fewer than 15 coronavirus cases in the state. As of Monday, there are 1,650. The order was due to expire this week. The governor used the declaration…

With Results due in Wisconsin Election, Voters File Lawsuit

(Angela Major/The Janesville Gazette via AP) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Municipal clerks across Wisconsin on Monday were set to start tallying votes from last week’s chaotic presidential primary, a count that was delayed for several days by the legal struggle over whether to postpone the election due to the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of voters congregated for hours in long lines on Tuesday,…

Minnesota Reports 29 New COVID-19 Cases but No New Deaths

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Twenty-nine more Minnesotans have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the state’s total of confirmed cases to 1,650, the Minnesota Department of Health reported Monday. But the department reported no new deaths Monday, so the state’s coronavirus-related death toll stood at 70. It’s the first time since March 25 that the state has recorded no new deaths. As…

Midday Update 4-13-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, April 13, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Monday, April 13, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, midday update, William Seay

Easter Storms Sweep South, Killing at Least 19 People

Nicolas Galindo/The News-Star via AP) JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Severe weather has swept across the South, killing at least 19 people and damaging hundreds of homes from Louisiana into the Appalachian Mountains. Many people spent part of the night early Monday sheltering in basements, closets and bathroom tubs as sirens wailed to warn of possible tornadoes. Eleven people were killed…

Morning Update 4-13-20

Local News and Weather Making Headlines Monday, April 13, 2020

Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Monday, April 13, 2020. Categories: Community, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update, William Seay

Duluth Police, Fire Hold Surprise Easter Parade in Harbor Highlands

Kids ran out to wave as the firetrucks and police cars drove past.

DULUTH, Minn.- The sounds of sirens, some very excited kids, filled the Harbor Highlands neighborhood Sunday. Members of the Duluth Police and Fire Departments pulled together a surprise Easter Parade for everyone there. “Break up the monotony for all the ids up here, probably have had their routines with what they’re used to doing: playing with their friends, going to…

Facebook Gift Card Raffle Raises $20K for Superior Local Businesses So Far

Councilors Brent Fennessey and Craig Sutherland started the closed group two weeks ago.

SUPERIOR, Wis,- Like the rest of the Northland, normally busy streets and storefonts in Superior are bare as local businesses cope with being partially or completely shut down. Two Superior City Councilors decided to raise money for them, by raffling gift cards on Facebook. Weeks later, the small boost they hoped to give businesses is turning into a big help….

Duluth NAACP Giving Away Masks on Monday

The Duluth NAACP says COVID-19 has been greatly affecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

DULUTH, Minn. – Monday, the Duluth NAACP will be handing out free cloth face masks to people who have barriers buying or making masks. The Duluth NAACP says COVID-19 has been greatly affecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The organization will hand out homemade masks to make sure people in these communities are protected. Anyone who is struggling to…

Essentia Now Requiring All Visitors and Staff to Wear Masks

Because COVID-19 can be spread by a person with no symptoms it is especially important to take precautions and wear masks.

DULUTH, Minn. – Starting Monday, Essentia Health will require all patients, visitors, and staff to masks to help limit the spread of COVID-19 at all its locations. Essentia is asking everyone who has a mask to bring their own from home to wear. For those who do not already have a mask, Essentia will supply one. Because COVID-19 can be…

Duluth Harbor Mission Serves Nearly 200 Easter Dinners To-Go

On Sunday, the meals they served included ham, mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes, corn, and even desserts.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Harbor Mission held its fifth annual free Easter dinner to those in need on Sunday. The faith-based mission provides food, shelter, and clothing year-round for people in need. During the pandemic, they say the need has been much greater. On Sunday, the meals they served included ham, mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes, corn, and even desserts. The…

Easter Storms Sweep South, Killing at least 6 in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Strong storms pounded the Deep South on Sunday, killing at least six people in south Mississippi and damaging up to 300 homes and other buildings in northern Louisiana. Mississippi Emergency Management Agency director Greg Michel said one person killed was in Walthall County, two were killed in Lawrence County and three were killed in Jefferson Davis…

Boating, Biking, Even Dancing in Sunshine at Leif Erikson Park

Two dancers turned the stage in the center of the park into their own dance floor.

DULUTH, Minn.- Saturday’s above average temperatures brought tons of people out to Leif Erikson Park to enjoy the sunshine. The park was alive with people taking advantage of the nice day in their own way–boating in the lake, biking and jogging along the walkways. Now, a new outdoor park activity: dancing on the stage in the center of the grass….

OMC Smokehouse Opens Back Up For Online Pre-Orders

On the first day open, the restaurant received 200 online orders.

DULUTH, Minn.- Amid the many local restaurants forced to close under Governor Tim Walz’s Executive Order, OMC Smokehouse in Lincoln Park decided to get cooking again, doing takeout in an unconventional way for them. The restaurant opened up to online pre-orders only on Saturday, with food prepped and ready 5-10 mins before scheduled pickup. “I’ve been doing this 40 years,…

Duluth Workforce Development Staff Offers Employment Help

DULUTH, Minn.– With their offices closed down, the Workforce Development staff for the city of Duluth has been transitioning to help the community virtually. Along with their website, they are adding staff to their phone lines to answer people’s questions about finding work and unemployment insurance. Online workshops and resume reviews are also available to help people find a job…

Short-Term Housing Available Aimed at COVID-19 Medical Providers at First Responders

One local company, US Coporate Housing LLC, is opening three new units in Superior for short-term leasing.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Short term housing that is affordable on the average budget can be hard to come by for many. COVID-19 medical providers and first responders are coming to the Northland and some want to avoid year-long leases. One local company, US Coporate Housing LLC, is opening three new units in Superior for short-term leasing. The company hopes these…

Masks Now Mandatory for Super One Employees

Super One in West Duluth distributed 250 asks to employees this week that they are required to wear while at work.

DULUTH, Minn. – As mask-wearing becomes more common in the Northland, employees at Super One Foods are now wearing them every day at work. Super One in West Duluth distributed 250 asks to employees this week that they are required to wear while at work. Other employees are wearing their own masks they made at home. All masks are cleaned…

Ashland County Reports Second Confirmed COVID-19 Case

ASHLAND COUNTY, Wis. – A second case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Ashland County, according to the county public health department. The individual who tested positive has a history of domestic travel and has been self-isolating since returning home. Ashland County Public Health tells us they are working with the individual to identify any people they were in close…

Seven New COVID-19 Deaths Reported in Minnesota Saturday

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health reports 64 people have died from COVID-19 statewide as of Saturday, April 11th. That’s seven more deaths than were reported Friday, April 10th. 1,427 Minnesotans have now tested positive for the virus, 91 more than on Friday. Of the people who tested positive, 793 are no longer needing isolation. As of…

Amnicon Falls State Park Still Open Despite Closure of Southern Wisconsin Parks

Though people are out, many northern Wisconsin parks have not seen the hordes of people like ones in more populated areas.

SOUTH RANGE, Wis. – Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers recently announced the closure of 40 state parks, forests, and recreation areas mostly in the southern part of the state. Most northern Wisconsin parks are still open for people to enjoy the outdoors. Gov. Evers announced the order due to unprecedented crowds, litter, and vandalism at the parks to our south. As…

Bridgeman’s Busy with Curbside Fish Fry on Good Friday

Due to COVID-19, they served the fish curbside and were busy with a consistent stream of cars considering no one can eat in the restaurant.

DULUTH, Minn. – Bridgeman’s is a staple for many people who are looking for fried fish during lent and Good Friday is their busiest fish fry of the year. Due to COVID-19, they served the fish curbside and were busy with a consistent stream of cars considering no one can eat in the restaurant. The owner estimates fish fries were…

Gov. Walz Issues Executive Order to Help First Responders

The Order Provides COVID-19 Information from Minnesota Department of Health to First Responders

DULUTH, Minn. – Local first responders continue to risk not only their own but the lives of family and loved ones as we continue to live in this new era surrounding COVID-19. Congressman Pete Stauber (R-MN) is now making sure they can continue to work safely with peace of mind. Area police, fire, and various other first responders have been…

Looking Back at the 1918 Spanish Flu in Duluth

This isn't the first time Duluth has been under a city-wide lock down because of the virus.

DULUTH, Minn. – This isn’t the first time Duluth has been under a city-wide lock down because of a virus. In 1918, the Spanish Flu swept across the globe and Duluth where 300 people died. Similar to today, public libraries, lodges, the YMCA and other gathering places were closed. Places such as Moose Hall in West Duluth were turned into…

Teacher Leave Heartwarming Messages in Windows of Lester Park Elementary

DULUTH, Minn. – Students in Minnesota are currently out of school to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Teachers at Lester Park Elementary in Duluth are making sure to keep the connection with the kids. The teachers left heartwarming messages to their students in the windows. Many of the messages are expressing how much the teachers miss their students. Others…