Minnesota

City Of Duluth Releases Winter Storm Information, Closings, Delays

DULUTH, Minn. — The City of Duluth’s communications office released the following information about the winter storm: Due to the impending winter storm, the City of Duluth is providing some updates to City facility availability and programming on City properties tomorrow: As of 5:00 PM Wednesday, City Hall will remain open tomorrow. Some departments may have limited in-person staffing tomorrow,…

St. Louis County Unveils New 911 Dispatch Center

Duluth, Minn. — The new 911 Emergency Communications Center in St. Louis County has 14 working stations that support 180 user agencies – police, fire and EMS. On an average year, dispatchers answer 205,000 calls throughout the county. The new state-of-the-art took a year of planning, and the actual switchover took about five months.  During that time, the dispatch center…

Minnesota Celebrates 7th Annual School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

MINNESOTA — Wednesday is all about our school bus drivers here in Minnesota as it’s School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. The day is held in hopes of drawing attention to these dedicated professionals and the statewide bus driver shortage. Governor Tim Walz proclaimed the day in the State of Minnesota saying: “Minnesota’s school bus drivers are in the fabric of…

Driver’s Licenses For All Bill Passes Minnesota Senate

St. Paul, Minn. (Fox 9) – The Minnesota Senate has approved the “driver’s licenses for all” bill, the culmination of a long-running campaign to give tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants the right to drive legally in Minnesota. The bill, dubbed “driver’s licenses for all,” would allow the estimated 81,000 undocumented immigrants in Minnesota to take the state’s knowledge test and receive…

UMD Medical School Graduates the Second Highest Number of Indigenous Doctors

Duluth, Minn. –The University of Minnesota Duluth’s Medical School has the distinction of having graduated the second largest number of native or indigenous medical professionals in the nation.  Only Oklahoma State University has more. The Center of American Indian and Minority Health Department has been a part of UMD’s Medical School for more than 40 years. Dr. Mary Owen, an…

Pine County Sheriff’s Office Involved In 2 ‘Use-Of-Force’ Incidents Tuesday

PINE COUNTY, Minn. – The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating two separate use-of-force incidents that unfolded Tuesday with the Pine County Sheriff’s Office. The first incident happened around 2 p.m. in Pine City in the form of a shooting. Deputing were trying to arrest a man wanted on a felony warrant. The BCA said at one point deputies fired…

Duluth Man Convicted Of Killing Then-Fiancé’s 3-Year-Old Son

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth man accused of killing his then-fiancé’s young son has been found guilty of the crime. St. Louis County Judge Teresa Neo convicting Jordan Carter, 32, of second-degree murder Tuesday. This comes after Carter waived his right to a jury trial. It was in September of 2020 when Carter told investigators he found 3-year-old Cameron Gordon…

Peacetime Emergency Declared By Gov. Walz Due To Upcoming Winter Storm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Governor Tim Walz called for a peacetime emergency and authorized the National Guard to provide services during this week’s storm. With more than 20 inches of snow possible between Tuesday and Thursday and temperatures plummeting below zero, state emergency agencies are preparing to help stranded motorists throughout the state. “Minnesotans are no strangers to extreme weather, but this storm…

Coffee Conversation: Lake Superior Modern Quilt Guild to hold Inaugural Quilt Show

DULUTH, Minn. — The Lake Superior Modern Quilt Guild (LSMQG) invites the public to its first ever quilt show to be held throughout the month of March in the Lincoln Park Craft District. LSMQG Leadership Team Members, Heidi Foltz and Jen Gustafson, joined FOX21 on the morning show to talk about the event. The LSMQG’s Modern Quilt Walkabout quilt show…

Coffee Conversation: Duluth Women’s Expo to Return for 14th Year

DULUTH, Minn. — The 14th annual Duluth Women’s Expo will return to the DECC Pioneer Hall on Saturday (2/25) showcasing more than 100 vendors and a range of offerings. The Lundeen Group Vice President Kynze Lundeen joined the FOX21 morning newscast on Monday to preview the event. Onsite you can expect to find food and drinks, shopping, activities, pampering, a…

Spirit Mountain Preps for Upcoming Events

DULUTH, Minn. – It has been a warm weekend and people were outside enjoying the weather. Over at Spirit Mountain, people are still hitting the slopes making the best out of warm winter conditions until spring finally arrives. However, the forecast might change some plans. “Looking ahead this week, we’re looking forward for more natural snow,” said Director of Resort…

Duluth Sport Show is a Hit Once Again

DULUTH, Minn.– The Duluth Sport Show has finished is third of four days back at the DECC and so just one day remains to sees all kinds of things to enjoy. It’s Saturday, so the attendance was way up from the first two days. Vendors showing everything from RV’s and resorts to Fishing equipment and boats. Vendors showed off heir…

23rd Annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics

DULUTH, Minn.– The temperature may be nice for February but the water is still freezing, but that’s not stopping anyone from jumping in to support of a great cause. Many brave souls are local, but country singer Frank Ray decided to take a cold dip before his performance at Amsoil Arena tonight. “I’m so fired up to be here, it’s…

23rd ANNUAL POLAR PLUNGE

Duluth, Minn. — Lake Superior played host to the 23rd Annual Polar Plunge in Duluth this afternoon.  Some 600 people were scheduled to take the plunge to help raise funds for Special Olympics. Ryan Temple of the Duluth Police Department said, “Law enforcement is the number one supporter and fund raiser for Special Olympics and the world. So to see…

AmeriCorps Members Help Local Students with SEL

Dultuh, Minn. — The pandemic had, in the words of the Brookings Institute, a devastating impact on students.  It not only affected academic levels, but with students not having interactions with other students their social skills were also impacted. True North AmeriCorps is helping 30 schools and other organizations work with children to help the students with their Social Emotional…

Duluth’s Amazing Grace To Host ‘Last Hurrah’ After 27 Years In Business

Amazing Grace Cafe & Grocery, a staple in Canal Park for 27 years, will close the doors for good at the end of February. The decision to close, according to the owner Connor riley, was very difficult to make but the right one after trying to fight through the pandemic and its aftermath. Amazing Grace has been providing locally sourced,…

Fire Destroys Two-Story Home Near Cook

Courtesy: St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office BEATTY TOWNSHIP, Minn. – Fire ripped through a two-story home north of Cook Friday evening. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said the fire broke out around 4:50 p.m. on the 8700 block of Raps Road in Beatty Township. When firefighters arrived, the structure was fully engulfed in flames. Nobody was inside the home…

Company Fined $387K For Hiring Children To Clean Slaughterhouses In Minnesota

(FOX 9) – The company sued by the U.S. Department of Labor for using child labor at slaughterhouses and meat processing facilities in Minnesota and seven other states paid over $1.5 million in penalties on Friday, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL said Packers Sanitation Services Inc (PSSI) paid civil penalties to facilities in Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tennessee…

Talking with IRRRB Commissioner Ida Rukavina

Duluth, Minn — It’s been just a month and a half since Ida Rukavina was appointed commissioner of the IRRRB. For most of that time, she has been in St. Paul talking with legislators and committees about the IRRRB and its needs.  Rukavina is a name most people in the area will recognize…Ida Rukavina is the new commissioner of the…

Coffee Conversation: Ojibwe Winter Games Returns to UMD

DULUTH, Minn. — Ojibwe Winter Games returns to UMD for second year, displaying traditional Ojibwe games and experiences for students and community members. Iris Carufel, Assistant Director of UMD’s American Indian Learning Resource Center, joined FOX21 on Friday’s morning newscast to talk about the event and its purpose. The event is taking place from 10:00am – 3:00pm at the Bagley Nature Area. People can…

Bent Paddle Turns Original Tap Room Into THC, CBD ‘Cann-A-Lounge’

DULUTH, Minn. – Gov. Tim Walz declared Feb. 16 Beer Day in Minnesota.  That means breweries in Duluth were celebrating with specials. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Associations said it’s a day to celebrate not just the past of beer in the state, but also how far it has come, and what the future holds. In the past 20-plus years, more…

56th Annual Duluth Sport Show At The DECC This Weekend

DULUTH, Minn. — The 56th Annual Duluth Sport Show is coming to the DECC this weekend. The show features many different opportunities truly making it feel like you are in the great outdoors. From hunting, fishing, camping, traveling gear and events, to testing your boating skills. There is even a waterskiing squirrel. This is a family friendly event with an…

Eli Hart Killing: Mom Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murdering Her Son

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Eli Hart’s mother Julissa Thaler has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering her 6-year-old son on May 20, 2022. Thaler was sentenced Thursday, Feb. 16, to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of first-degree murder. Before the judge handed down her sentence, she said she was innocent, used an expletive and called everyone…

UMD, UWS Offer Support After Fatal Michigan State University Shooting

UMD and UWS sent emails to students, faculty and staff to offer support and guidance following the fatal Michigan State University shooting. The following message was sent by UMD Interim Chancellor Dave McMillan: “The events of last evening at Michigan State University are horrifying. UMD shares in the sadness and sorrow of the Michigan State University community. We honor the…

Minnesota National Guard and Norway Sign State Partnership Program Agreement

DULUTH, Minn. – “Today, the U.S. is Norway’s most important ally,” Chief of the Norwegian Home Guard, Elisabeth Michelsen says. It’s been five decades since two generals, one from the United States and the other from Norway met in Norway and shook hands to start the longest running military exchange program between two nations. “That handshake meant so much it…

Jungle Gym Announces March Pro Boxing Match In Duluth

FOX 21's Dan Hanger will be the event's ring announcer

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s Jungle Boy Boxing has announced a pro boxing match at The Garden in Canal Park next month. Zach Walters, head coach of Jungle Gym in downtown Duluth told FOX 21 Wednesday that he’s more than pumped to get this fight night in front of hundreds of people March 10th. And if you’ve never been to a…

Duluth Police Ask For Public’s Help Locating Kwik Trip Robbery Suspect

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a robbery suspect who they say targeted the Kwik Trip on the 4200 block Grand Avenue at 1:15 a.m. Wednesday. The following is a post on DPD’s Facebook: “The reporting party stated that the suspected male passed a note to them and demanded money from the till….

Indigenous Families Seek Support/Understanding in Loss of Loved Ones

Feel there is more urgency when other groups need help

The effort to remember Native American women who have been murdered or are missing was the focus of a community event in Duluth Tuesday.  But the issue of violence affects not only women, but also men and entire families. Sage Matthews of Duluth still mourns the loss of her niece and nephew who died separately four years ago.  She and…

Blowing Snow In Northwestern Minnesota Leaves Vehicles Stranded; National Guard Responds

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minnesota National Guard is responding to Clay County, Minnesota, where vehicles have been left stranded during a blizzard warning along Interstate 94 between Fergus Falls and Moorhead. In a news release on Wednesday, Sen. Rob Kupec says Gov. Tim Walz has deployed the Minnesota National Guard to assist motorists and residents amid blizzard conditions. “In light of the severe…

PolyMet Mine In Minnesota Becomes NewRange Copper Nickel

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – PolyMet Mining and Teck Resources finalized a joint venture Wednesday to complete the copper-nickel mine that PolyMet has been developing in northeastern Minnesota, and the partnership hopes to eventually build a separate mine next door in an even larger ore body that Teck controls. The long-planned PolyMet mine near Babbitt will now be known as NewRange Copper…

Felon Voting Rights: Minnesota Supreme Court Makes Decision

(FOX 9) – More than a year after hearing oral arguments, the Minnesota Supreme Court has reached a decision on a highly anticipated case regarding voting rights for convicted felons. On Wednesday, the state’s highest court published its opinion, declining to overturn a Minnesota law (Minnesota Statute 609.165) that bars felons from voting while they’re on parole or probation, essentially leaving the decision to the…

St. Luke’s Celebrates New OB-GYN Clinic And Lab

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Luke’s is celebrating the opening of a new multi-million-dollar OB-GYN clinic and lab in Downtown Duluth. The $5.2 million renovation project involved a total renovation of the third floor of the hospital’s Lakeview Building. Which is on the corner of 10th Avenue East and Superior Street. The new space is double the size of the old…