Public Safety

Duluth Street Maintenance Team Making Progress on Potholes

A milder winter and dry spring have given the City a head start on street repairs

DULUTH, Minn. — Summer in Minnesota means potholes, but this year is a little different. Thanks to a mild winter and low-moisture spring, the Duluth street maintenance team is ahead of their typical schedule. This year, they were able to get a jump start on repairs, beginning in May. According to Street Maintenance Operations Manager Geoff Vukelich, they’re already almost…

Hibbing Police Make Big Break In 2017 Unsolved Murder Of Businessman

HIBBING, Minn. — The 2017 murder of Hibbing business owner Brian Nelson remains unsolved, as the 7th anniversary of his death approaches next week. But Monday night, FOX 21 confirmed Hibbing police investigators are closing in on the case. After seven years of investigating every lead possible, new forensic technology has created the most credible lead yet into finding out…

Diver Drowns In Crane Lake While Trying To Recover Sunken Machinery

CRANE LAKE, Minn. – A scuba diver from Embarrass drowned Sunday while trying to recover a piece of sunken machinery on Crane Lake, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. The 50-year-old, William Rebarich was in 70 feet of water when he failed to resurface during the attempt to recover the sunken equipment. Crane Lake is just outside Voyageurs…

Ashland County Sheriff Received $228 Thousand to Aid the Fight Against Opioids

ASHLAND, Wis. — It kills more Wisconsinites a year than car crashes. Opioids, a powerful prescribed painkiller, has overwhelmed communities across the country. In 2023, Wisconsin saw just over 1,300 opioid-related deaths. To combat rising opioid death rates, the state of Wisconsin has announced grants being awarded to law enforcement agencies state-wide.  “As Attorney General, my top priority is public…

Cook Community Leans On Each Other As Swollen River Takes Over Downtown

Gov. Walz will visit Cook and Biwabik on Thursday to survey the flood damage.

COOK, Minn. – The small, close-knit city of Cook is dealing with a big problem.  The swollen Littlefork River has sent feet of water into the low-lying downtown. Homes and businesses are surrounded by water.  Some basements have feet of water, according to locals. There was a slight sign of relief Thursday because forecasters believe the river has hit its…

UPDATE: Two Juveniles Arrested in Robbery and Assault of 75-year-old Man

DULUTH, Minn. — Two male juveniles, a 14-year-old and 16-year-old, were arrested Wednesday, June 19 in the assault and robbery of a 75-year-old man in the DECC parking ramp. UPDATE (6/20): The juveniles are facing pending charges of Aid and Abet 1st Aggravated Robbery and 3rd Degree Riot charges. They were detained at about 10:30 pm on Wednesday, June 19…

FOX 21 Local News At 9: Tuesday’s Severe Weather Coverage

NORTHLAND — Video from viewers from around the Northland shows manholes unable to hold all the rain water in Bovey. The streets were comparable to small riverways. A similar story comes out of McKinley, as the heavy rainfall sends water down the streets and around homes. Video from viewers in Hibbing shows parking lots flooded. With vehicle owners moving cars…

Fire Breaks Out At Uptown Mall In Virginia

Credit: Northland Fire Wire VIRGINIA, Minn. – Fire broke out at the Uptown Mall in Virginia Thursday afternoon. Credit: Northland Fire Wire Pictures from the Northland Fire Wire showed dark, black smoke coming from the building. The Fire Wire reported that the flames were contained to a storage area thanks to the mall’s sprinkler system. Multiple area fire departments responded….

Crow Wing County Reports Significant Storm Damage

We are getting new images of significant damage in Crow Wing County from Wednesday’s severe storms. The Sheriff’s Office posted photos late Wednesday showing a camper flipped over, trees down, and pieces of debris, like a 2X4 through a home’s roof. The pictures were taken off Highway 6 just north of Crosby. This is the same area where storm chasers…

Female Exits Residence Peacefully After Crisis Team Response In Lincoln Park

UPDATE: 10:30 p.m.: After making contact with the female, she exited the residence peacefully and was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. There were no injuries during this incident and the area is now clear. BREAKING: Officers are on scene of a welfare check in the 3000 block of Restormel Street in Duluth’s Lincoln Park that…

Duluth Settles With Victim Of Officer-Involved Shooting For $600,000

Jared Fyle’s door showing damage from bullets: Photo credit: Robins Kaplan LLP DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth has awarded a $600,000 civil suit settlement to a man who was shot by a police officer in 2020. Officer Tyler Leibfried was responding to a domestic assault call at a downtown apartment building when he mistakenly thought he heard two…

Esko Contamination Cleanup

ESKO, Minn.– An ongoing contamination issue in Esko is currently being fixed. Near the post office, a clean-up project is in progress. Soil contaminated with harmful chemicals will be removed and replaced around the parking lot. With this being fixed, they are preventing the spread of contamination that could ruin surrounding water sources. They are also installing a groundwater treatment…

Two South Range Residents Die in Motorcycle Crash

Sheriff says it happened Sunday evening in Douglas County.

A man and woman from South Range both died Sunday evening when their motorcycle and a car crashed. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the names of the victims are not yet being released. A press release said the man and woman were both 23 years old. It was about 7:05 p.m. when deputies responded to the report of the…

Michipicoten Emergency: U.S. Coast Guard Was Ready For ‘Worst Case Scenario’

The Coast Guard said the ship struck something underwater in Lake Superior.

The 689-foot Michipicoten safely arrived in the harbor of Thunder Bay Saturday afternoon after the ship starting taking on water 35 miles southwest of Isle Royale Saturday morning. The U.S. Coast Guard said the ship struck something underwater just before 7 a.m. Saturday near Isle Royale Pumps were used to displace “some water entering spaces,” according to the USCG. The…

Duluth Teen Found Guilty of Murder in Shooting of Another Teen

Verdict came this week in 2022 death.

Corey Devon Young Found Guilty Two years ago, a 17-year-old Duluth resident was shot and killed. Tuesday the shooter was found guilty. Corey Devon Young was found guilty of second-degree intentional murder. He is now 19 years old, but was 17 at the time of the shooting. In July of 2022, Duluth police were called to 1st Street and 16th…

K9 Gus Joins The Duluth Police Department

  DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Police Department welcomed a furry new member to their team. K9 Gus has joined the K9 Division and Officer Nate Abbott is his handler. Both of them began school in February and graduated in May. The 2-year-old Dutch Shepard is from Poland. He specializes in narcotic detection, tracking, article searching, and apprehension. As for…

Minneapolis Mass Shooting Suspect Identified

Mustafa Ahmed Mohamed MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota law enforcement on Saturday identified the man who they believe fatally shot a Minneapolis officer in what police are calling an ambush. Minnesota Public Safety Department spokesperson Bonney Bowman named 35-year-old Mustafa Mohamed as the suspected shooter. He was later shot and killed by another responding officer. Minneapolis officer Jamal Mitchell was responding…

Body of One of Two Missing BWCA Canoers Found

Search for the two men has been going for two weeks.

Over Curtain Falls May 23   (Updated May 31, 4:41 p.m.)  The body of a missing canoeist has been found in the BWCA. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s office says they found 41-year-old Jesse Melvin Haugen. The Cambridge, Minnesota man was one of two canoeists missing after four people went over Curtain Falls near the Canadian border. In a press…

Minneapolis Police Officer Among 4 Dead In Mass Shooting: KMSP-TV

(FOX 9) MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis police officer and the suspected shooter were killed in a mass shooting in the city on Thursday. According to officials, the shooting at an apartment building Thursday afternoon along Blaisdell Avenue near 22nd Street left six people shot, including two police officers and four civilians. In an update at 8:30 p.m., city officials said the suspected gunman and…

Groundbreaking Ceremony For New Public Safety Center In Virginia

VIRGINIA, Minn. — Construction has officially started for a much-needed facility for fire, police, and EMS services in Virginia. The groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the Virginia Public Safety Center and Training Facility. The center will be a new and improved state-of-the-art home for the Virginia Fire & EMS Departments and Police Department. Current facilities are outdated and lacking…

Virginia Man Charged in Stabbing of Two

Criminal complaint says fight started outside bar.

  (Updated May 29, 3:30 p.m.) A Virginia man has been charged with the stabbing of two people over the weekend. Israel Albert Wayne Contreras, who turns 48 on Thursday, faces two felony counts of 2nd Degree Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and a misdemeanor involving reckless use of a dangerous weapon. A man and woman were stabbed, with the…

Superior Police: Speed, Alcohol Likely Factors In Fatal Rollover

Viewer photo of crash scene SUPERIOR, Wis. —  Superior police are investigating a fatal one-vehicle rollover that they believe involved excessive speed and alcohol. The accident was reported around 10 p.m. Sunday on Hwy 105 and Logan Avenue in the South Superior neighborhood. The 25-year-old male driver from Superior was ejected and later died at a hospital. The 24-year-old male…

Man Charged with Attempted 1st Degree Murder in Duluth Grocery Store Attack; Victim Remains Hospitalized

Complaint says the attacker used a hammer to severely beat 81-year-old man; Victim says he never saw the man before.

UPDATE (May 28, 11:10 a.m.)—A 43-year-old man has been charged with premeditated, 1st degree attempted murder in the assault of a man at a Duluth grocery store last Friday. Meanwhile, police said Tuesday the victim is in stable condition with significant head injuries. In a criminal complaint filed Tuesday morning, the attacker is identified as Lance Alexander Tolbert. The complaint…

Duluth Girl Dies After Side-By-Side Crash; Criminal Investigation Underway

Authorities said the driver is 18 years old and alcohol is believed to be involved.

Crash scene CANOSIA TOWNSHIP, Minn. — A Duluth girl has died after a UTV side-by-side she was riding in rolled into some trees earlier this month in Canosia Township, according to Sgt. Eric Sathers. Meanwhile, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says criminal charges could soon be filed against the driver. The crash happened around 10:15 p.m. May 6 near…

Police: Douglas County Sheriff’s Detective Arrested For Drunken Hit-&-Run

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A detective with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is accused of hit-and-run while under the influence of alcohol. Superior police told FOX 21 Matthew DeRosia, 50, was arrested Sunday around 10:15 p.m. after an officer saw his vehicle sparking from a blown-out tire. The incident unfolded on the 1100 block of E. Fifth Street. Upon further investigation,…

‘Toward Zero Deaths’ Reminds Drivers to Slow Down and Drive More Safely

DULUTH, Minn. — Over the last two decades, the number of traffic-related deaths in Minnesota has declined by 37 percent through 2023. The Toward Zero Deaths program in that same period has brought many different groups together to work on making roads safer and changing people’s driving behaviors and habits to reduce crashes. On Tuesday, more than 80 regional traffic…

Names Released Of 2 Missing Canoers, After Canoes Go Over Curtain Falls In BWCAW

Curtain Falls (Cliff Wold’s Outfitting Co. 2017) UPDATE (May 20, 10:45 a.m.) — The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of those involved in the search for two missing canoers in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. 41-year-old Jesse Melvin Haugen from Cambridge, Minnesota and 40-year-old Reis Melvin Grams of Lino Lakes, Minnesota are the two missing…

Duluth’s ‘Substance Use Response Team’ Coordinator Talks Opioid Crisis

DULUTH, Minn. —  Last year in Duluth, a record number of opioid-related overdoses were recorded. There were a total of 480 opioid-related overdoses, including 46 deaths. In 2013, there were 42 opioid-related overdoses and one death. Jessica Nickila, coordinator of the Duluth Police Department’s Substance Use Response Team (SURT), said the over prescribing of opioids decades ago in our area…

Driver Arrested After Hitting Utility Pole, Vehicle On Garfield Ave.

DULUTH, Minn. — A driver is facing serious charges after Duluth police said he slammed into a utility pole and a vehicle. The crash happened around 10:45 a.m. Saturday in the 500 block of Garfield Avenue. The Blatnik Bridge and Garfield Avenue were closed until Minnesota Power could stabilize powerlines and install a new power pole. Police said the 36-year-old…

Hermantown Firefighters Tackle ‘Significant Training Opportunity’

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Hermantown firefighters battled a house fire Saturday as part of a “significant training opportunity.” The structure was donated by local developers from Platinum Properties and Patriot Properties of Hermantown. The day-long event featured a variety of training exercises within and around the house on the 4700-block of Lindgren Road. Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, Public…

Prescribed Burns Begin In Superior National Forest

Prescribed burning began Sunday in the Superior National Forest, north of Ely. Officials said the burning helps reduce hazardous fuel build-up and lowers the risk of intense wildfires. The process helps forest health and wildlife habitat, and is culturally significant to indigenous people in the area, according to the DNR. Categories: Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, Public Safety

Minnesota’s April Distracted Driving Citations ‘Extremely Frustrating’

Disturbing, unacceptable and extremely frustrating — those are the words from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety when describing the number of distracted driving citations in April. “The number of citations issued is disturbing, unacceptable and extremely frustrating,” said Mike Hanson, DPS Office of Traffic Safety director. “Getting distracted behind the wheel for even a couple seconds can end with…

Wildfire Burns Dozens Of Acres Near Cotton

Courtesy: Northland Fire Wire KELSEY TOWNSHIP, Minn. — A wildfire ignited Thursday afternoon near Cotton that burned up dozens of acres. Kelsey and Cotton firefighters, along with the Minnesota DNR, were called in around 1p.m. along Kacer Road in Kelsey Township, according to the Northland Fire Wire. The Cotton Fire Department said the fire burned at least 80 acres, according…

Work Continues on Downtown Duluth Safety

Approach is combination of outreach, education, and when necessary--enforcement.

Crime and safety in downtown Duluth have been a growing community concern, and the city has taken steps it says are slowly making a difference. That was the message inside the Greysolon Ballroom Wednesday, where Downtown Duluth members heard from the mayor, police chief and city attorney. The approach has involved a combination of education, persuasion and enforcement. It ranges…

Day 2: Pro-Palestine Demonstrations At Rose Garden, Civic Center

DULUTH, Minn. — At least 50 people arrived at the Duluth Rose Garden during the 7 o’clock hour Thursday evening. The pro-Palestine protesters were making their voices heard for the second day in a row there. The crowd Thursday was much larger than last night’s demonstration. Earlier in the day Thursday, the city of Duluth put out a warning that…

Duluth Police Ask Pro-Palestine Encampment To Leave Civic Center

DULUTH, Minn. — A small encampment In the Duluth Civic Center courtyard got a visit from the Duluth Police Department Wednesday evening. The two officers told the pro-Palestinian protesters that it’s against the law to set up camps sites on the property. Wednesday marked the first time protesters have taken to the streets of Duluth to set up an encampment…

Sexually Explicit Video Involving Minors Circulates Lincoln Park Middle School

DULUTH, Minn. – Lincoln Park Middle School alerted parents Wednesday about a sexually explicit video involving minors that was circulating among students. In an email to parents, the principal said the video originated outside of school but was still a serious situation because of the content and the “legal implications associated with distributing or possessing such material.” The school is…

Update on Twin Ports Interchange Project

DULUTH, Minn – The Twin Ports Interchange Project won’t be completed until the end of 2025 instead of the end of this year. MnDOT says the discovery of a jawbone in the construction zone last February is the main reason for the delay. In 2019, prior to construction starting the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council reviewed the site for potential impact…

Drowning of Three Teenage Brothers and Hero Remembered

57 years ago, Coast Guard member died trying to save three brothers.

Tuesday was quiet and peaceful on the waters of Lake Superior. But fifty-seven years ago, the winds were vicious and the swells high. Four would die. The annual ceremony to remember those who drowned took place Tuesday at the Duluth pier. It marks the 57th anniversary of the tragic drowning that took the lives of the three Halverson family teenage…

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Reminds Both Drivers and Riders to Stay Alert

Warm weather means motorcyclists are already on Northland roads and beyond

DULUTH, Minn. — May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, but warmer weather had motorcyclists on the roads as early as March. Minnesota has already seen four motorcyclist fatalities this year, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. However, both deaths and injuries to motorcyclists went down from 2022 to 2023 in the state. Wisconsin has also seen a decrease…