ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – St. Louis County Public Works employees are back at work after a six-day strike. The Teamsters Local 320 approved a new three-year contract Monday night with a unanimous vote. According to the county, the Teamsters will get wage increases, extra personal leave days, and the chance to shop around for health insurance plans. County officials…
DULUTH, Minn. – Some big money could be coming to UMD in the near future after Governor Walz released his bonding bill last week. The school could be in line for more than $10 million for campus renovations. The funding would modernize much of the campus’ infrastructure. The money could also help projects like repurposing the former chemistry building by…
HIBBING, Minn. – Ongoing debates about new Minnesota gun laws continue. Several state senators traveled to Hibbing for a public informational hearing to touch on a few proposed bills addressing firearms and public safety in Minnesota Nearly 100 advocates from both ends of the spectrum of gun rights and gun control showed up to testify about their stance on the…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – An internal audit has found several violations of laws to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in a Department of Human Services division responsible for a string of improper payments. The department’s behavioral health division was responsible for $29 million in overpayments to two American Indian bands and $70 million in improper payments to chemical dependency…
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have five additions to the NFC Pro Bowl roster, giving them eight players in the all-star game for their highest total in 10 years. The team announced Tuesday that quarterback Kirk Cousins, defensive end Everson Griffen, fullback C.J. Ham, linebacker Eric Kendricks, and cornerback Xavier Rhodes were picked as replacements. Running back Dalvin…
DULUTH, Minn. – Renegade Theater Company is proud to present the first production of their 2020 season, “Bright Star.” Performers Christina Stroup Manchester and Blake Reistad stopped by FOX 21 Local News from 7 – 9 a.m. to chat about the upcoming production. It’s set to take center stage on Friday, January 24. Other performances will take place January 25,…
EAGAN, Minn. – The mayor of Eagan is accused of driving drunk and crashing into a snowbank with a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit. Mike Maguire was arrested near his home Jan. 11 after police responded to a report of an SUV stuck in a snowbank. A criminal complaint says a responding officer smelled alcohol and noticed…
EVELETH, Minn.- In an unprecedented unanimous vote, the Teamsters Local 320 Union representing St. Louis County Public Works employees voted to ratify a contract agreement with the County, ending their strike which began last Wednesday. “You ratified the contract 133-0, it was unanimous,” announced Teamsters Recording Secretary Erik Skoog. That announcement was met with raucous cheers from the Union members….
DULUTH, Minn. – Nearly 100 high school students visited the College of St. Scholastica for a day of music-making. The college hosted it’s fourth annual High School Honor Band Festival. High school band directors from around the region nominated students to take part in this year’s event. The students spent the day rehearsing in preparation for their big concert at…
DULUTH, Minn. – Communities around the nation are honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year, the Duluth community is continuing its annual tradition of paying homage. People of all ages and races have come together to solidify the strength in the community while honoring Dr. King. Hundreds of folks showed up early to the Washington Center in Duluth ahead…
DULUTH, Minn. – The pop-up shop in the Miller Hill Mall is now filled with a *new tattoo shop. The lost cove co was founded by Minnesota native, and celebrity tattoo artist and MTV start Travis Ross along with his friend Aaron Larson. The two began collaborating after several months ago when the two met in the Twin Cities. “I…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth native CJ Ham will be on his way to the Pro Bowl after being named as the replacement for 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk. The announcement was made by his agent on Sunday night. And Just like that @cjham28 is in the Pro Bowl. Right where he should have been all along. Let’s Go! @TeamIFA — Blake…
(AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota court records show a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Prince’s family members has been quietly dismissed in recent months against all defendants. Though the dismissal of one defendant is being appealed, the rest were dismissed by agreement, which experts say could indicate settlements. Meanwhile, efforts to determine the value of Prince’s estate…
DULUTH, Minn. – Northland children in need of dental care are now able to apply for free services to be completed on February 7 & 8. The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) is proud to provide free dental care to thousands of Minnesota children from low-income families through the annual volunteer program, Give Kids a Smile. This is the eighteenth year,…
TAYLORS FALLS, Minn. (AP) – Sheriff’s officials say a teenager was found unresponsive after falling off a 30-foot cliff at a state park north of the Twin Cities. The Chisago County Sheriff’s Office says deputies navigated the “extreme terrain” to reach 19-year-old Luke Zajac from Marine on St. Croix at Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls Sunday afternoon. Deputies used…
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.- Excitement is building less than a week before the 40th annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. A fundraiser was held at Breeze Inn on Jean Duluth Road to help raise money for the race, after 200 bales of straw were stolen back in October. That straw is used as bedding for the dogs. The race raised money in…
DULUTH, Minn.- The kickoff to Duluth’s events commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. was an interfaith service honoring the work of freedom fighters of the past, with performances by youth continuing the fight in the future. “We’re still remembering the words of him 60 years later,” said Salaam Witherspoon, Chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee. “We’re still asking for…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth police are investigating an apparent home invasion and robbery that injured a man. The call for help came in around 5:30 p.m. Sunday on the 200 block of St. Paul Avenue in the Woodland neighborhood. Two suspects were arrested and police were not searching for anyone else. Authorities say two BB guns, baseball bats, and marijuana…
MINNESOTA- This year the Minnesota State Fair will be adding metal detectors to their gates, among other upgrades and maintenance projects. According to Fair Officials entrance gates will be changed to accommodate fair-time metal detectors. “We’ve looked at adding metal detectors to our public safety program for a while now,” said State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer. “We added bag…
DULUTH, Minn.- UMD’s Northern Lights Ultimate Frisbee Team held their annual MLK Indoor Tournament Fundraiser at Ward Wells Fieldhouse Saturday. Teams from as far as Mankato and North Dakota came to the fieldhouse to play. The tournament is how the UMD team raises most of their money for travel expenses, jersey fees, and more for the whole season. According to…
DULUTH, Minn. – Governor Walz recently announced his higher education proposal. The proposal included nearly $1 million in pre-design funding for new manufacturing labs at Lake Superior College. LSC’s manufacturing department resides in downtown Duluth, but the program has outgrown the leased space over the years. If the funding is awarded, it would allow the manufacturing department to move from…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluthians were out early Friday morning casting their votes for the 2020 Presidential Primary Election. Voters say this is a convenience factor that should allow more people to get to the polls. “That’s exciting because folks who are just busy who still want to participate don’t have to get a babysitter to go to their caucus night…
DULUTH, Minn. – Nine auto care centers in the Northland, in association with Napa Auto Parts, have come together to fix and then donate used vehicles for people in need. It’s something the organizations have been doing for over ten years and today at Brad’s Auto, Julie Merriman was the recipient of a 2006 Toyota Sienna. The vehicle had over…
Saturday College of St. Scholastica’s “Survivor Songs” concert – Canceled ALL ISD 709 High School events – Canceled All home and away games, meets, and contests All practices at all facilities Robotics Duluth Community Education Classes – Canceled Denfeld Snow Ball Dance – Postponed East High School Sweetheart Dance – Postponed School District of Superior – all sporting events and…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A woman who had worked as a probation officer is accused of luring a real estate agent to a Minnesota house before the agent was kidnapped and killed on New Year’s Eve, prosecutors alleged Friday. Elsa Segura, 28, of Fridley, was charged Friday in Hennepin County court with one count of kidnapping. Segura is accused of luring…
(AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Legal challenges to the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine enter a new phase this week. A Minnesota judge will open a fact-finding hearing Tuesday into allegations that state regulators improperly tried to suppress serious concerns by federal regulators about the project’s risks. The judge will then prepare findings that the Minnesota Court of Appeals…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Twin Ports community is set to honor and celebrate the legacy of Civil Rights Movement leader, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in a series of tribute events January 19 – 20. The events are being coordinated by the Duluth Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). These events are free and…
Join FOX 21’s Brett Scott and Meteorologist Brittney Merlot for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, January 17, 2020. Categories: Community, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, News Update Tags: Brett Scott, brittney merlot, community, Headlines, Local News, morning update
DULUTH, Minn. — In this weeks Active Adventures Fox 21 competes for the third time in the Annual More Cowbell Event, put on by the Northern Lights Foundation. All proceeds go to helping local kids with serious illnesses. This took place Thursday January 16th, 2020 at Grandma’s Sports Garden in Canal Park. The competitive and fun fundraiser featured 10 teams…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota voters became some of the first in the country to cast ballots in the presidential primaries as polls opened for the state’s Super Tuesday contest. Eligible voters can now vote at county courthouses across the state, and early voting stations in some cities and they can also request absentee ballots for the March 3 primary. But…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s day two of the Teamsters Local 320 plow strike. Dozens of members lined the entrance of the Saint Louis County Public Works Building since early Thursday morning. The union wants wage increases, the option to elect their own health insurance plan and more sick leave. We spoke with a mechanic who says, Saint Louis County roads…
DULUTH, Minn. – Stella Maris in Duluth received a big donation recently. On Thursday, the academy announced it had received a $250,000 donation. A large percentage of their funds come from the parish and community support. Staff are grateful for the gift, and say it will help them continue providing quality education for children. “This gift helps us reach our…
DULUTH, Minn. – The former Sunset Bar & Grill will be home to a new restaurant this spring. New owners Jessica and Erik Lietz say they plan to open a Boomtown bar and restaurant at 4483 Martin Road in the spring of 2020 that will offer “comfort food with a twist.” This will be the third Boomtown restaurant location for…
DULUTH, Minn. – Dozens of women who work in the construction industry came together for a networking event at Clyde Iron Works in Lincoln Park. The women had the opportunity to participate in speed mentoring, where they were able to connect with other women to get advice on working in the industry. The ladies also got a chance to hear…
DULUTH, Minn. – If you’ve ever seen a train go by and wonder what it would be like to sit up in the cab, hand on the throttle, or be a conductor welcoming passengers and actually being in charge of the train, then this class is for you. The North Shore Scenic Railroad is again hosting its very popular and…
BEMIDJI, Minn. – The parents of two students are suing the Bemidji school district, alleging it was negligent in allowing a former assistant principal to sexually exploit their children. Brandon Bjerknes, who was arrested in 2017, is serving a federal prison sentence for producing child pornography and coercing minors into sexual contact. A lawsuit by the parents of two of…
DULUTH, Minn. – Four-time John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon champion Nathan Schroeder will be returning to the race this year. The announcement was made Thursday morning on the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Facebook page. Schroeder won his 4th Beargrease title in 2016 and has completed the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race four times. He was also named the 2014…
DULUTH, Minn. – Viking Cruises announced Thursday that it will begin sailing a new ship to the Great Lakes starting in 2022 as part of its Viking Expeditions. The Viking Octanis is scheduled to debut in January 2022 and will sail to Antarctica and the Great Lakes. The company says the Viking’s arrival will mark a major commitment to local…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – PolyMet Mining Inc. will ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that canceled three permits needed for its proposed copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota. PolyMet President and CEO Jon Cherry says Monday’s decision from the Court of Appeals has far-reaching impacts for Minnesota and any future project that depends on state permits. The…
EVELETH, Minn.- On Mondays and Wednesdays at the Curl Mesabi Curling Club, the curlers taking over the ice are more experienced in the game, and in life. Curl Mesabi’s Senior Curling League is made up of 65 curlers. The youngest are 50-55, and the oldest curler sweeping those rocks is 92-years-old. According to organizers, the hour-and-a-half to two-hour sessions are…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – Dozens of union plow drivers posted up outside of more than ten public works locations hoping to get the attention of St. Louis County officials. “It’s heartbreaking because we know the impact this is having on employees. It’s disappointing, we know it has impacts on the citizens,” said St. Louis County Communications Manager Dana Kazel….
EVELETH, Minn.- The identity of a 77-year-old woman who died in a house fire in Eveleth Tuesday morning has been released. Several area fire departments responded to a structure fire on North Court, after a woman called saying she was unable to get out. “Me and my wife were talking about when the reports were coming in that her body…
DULUTH, Minn. – Childcare providers have more support coming their way. A new business plan has now been introduced by the city of Duluth which provides loans and grants to childcare providers. Each will create more spaces for kids in their programs. Leadership from the city says, this program will help grow the economy. “We recognize that not only is…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Copper-nickel mining would be permanently banned upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness under a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum. The Minnesota Democrat said at a news conference in Washington that the bill would protect over 234,000 acres within the Superior National Forest outside the Boundary Waters from copper-nickel mining. The land includes the…
(courtesy: Facebook/Northland FireWire) EVELETH, Minn. – Authorities have released the name of the victim who died in a house fire in Eveleth on Tuesday. The Eveleth Police Department identified the victim as 77-year-old Bonnie Mae Phinney. The fire was reported around 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the 700 Block of North Court. When fire crews arrived on scene the home was…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the final bonding packages Wednesday morning in their Local Jobs and Project Plan which includes funds for Duluth’s shoreline projects. The Local jobs and Project Plan includes The Public Safety and Asset Preservation package, an $857 million proposal, includes funding for armories, police stations, fire departments, and…
DULUTH, Minn. – For folks dealing with a strange fever in the Northland, the Northern Lights Foundation has a prescription — More Cowbell! The 11th annual Northern Lights Foundation Fundraiser supports local children facing life-threatening illnesses. The comical event is happening Thursday, January 16 at The Sports Garden in Canal Park. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. with the show…
DULUTH, Minn. – A new childcare facility plans to open this spring in downtown Duluth. According to a recent press release, Mesabi Preschool Academy plans to open a second facility in the Wieland Building located at 26 East Superior Street in May. Mesabi Preschool Academy is currently located in Proctor and provides childcare to 70 children ages two through fifth…
CLOQUET, Minn.- Cloquet’s only combination coffee shop and car wash is seeing new ownership this year. Natalie and Chris Swanson officially owned Bearaboo Coffee Escape and the adjacent car wash as of New Year’s Day. Natalie had been working at the hangout since February, she said customers warned not to change much and she respects that. So people can still…
