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Plante brothers, Hanson on Hobey Baker fan ballot
For Hermantown, the impact is already unmistakable. A high school program in northern Minnesota placed three of its own among the nation’s best college hockey players — simultaneously, on the sport’s biggest individual stage — reinforcing a legacy that now stretches far beyond state lines.
Howie: Fox 21 promotes Maria Vollom, reinforces market-leading evening newscast
“The Northland is home to me, from my hometown of International Falls to the Iron Range and rural areas of northwestern Wisconsin." -- Maria Vollom
Howie: Minnesota Star Tribune often first and only in the Twin Ports
Veteran print journalists Jana Hollingsworth and Christa Lawler, elite writers formerly with the legacy local newspaper, don’t parachute in. They don’t rewrite press releases. They don’t treat northern Minnesota as an afterthought or a curiosity.
Howie: How AF1 is quietly building its 2026 season
The looming television and streaming announcement may become the league’s most visible milestone yet. It will not just determine how fans watch games. It will determine how sponsors value the league, how players view its legitimacy and how teams recruit talent.
Albany, Nashville and Minnesota top three in AF1 preseason poll
Defending Arena Football One playoff champion Albany Firebirds collected the No. 1 ranking in the annual 50YardFootball.com AF1 preseason poll, released Tuesday. The Nashville Kats, the 2025 playoff runner-ups, ranks second. The Minnesota Monsters are third in as they transition after capturing The Arena League championships in 2024 and
Howie: When civic habits wear thin
People didn’t wake up wanting authoritarianism. They woke up tired. Tired of chaos. Tired of humiliation. Tired of politics that felt like permanent trench warfare. They stopped believing the system deserved their patience. That part should feel familiar.
Plante brothers, Hanson on Hobey Baker fan ballot
For Hermantown, the impact is already unmistakable. A high school program in northern Minnesota placed three of its own among the nation’s best college hockey players — simultaneously, on the sport’s biggest individual stage — reinforcing a legacy that now stretches far beyond state lines.
Hermantown Sports Notebook
Beau Christy and Ford Skytta each scored twice to lead Hermantown to a 7-2 victory over Mahtomedi on Friday night at the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center. Hermantown scored three goals in both the second and third periods. Kole Lendzyk and Bode Madill each contributed a goal and an assist
Hermantown Police and St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office introduce new K-9s, honor retiring K-9s
Three new law enforcement K-9 teams have graduated from training and are ready to begin working patrol shifts. The teams were introduced to the community on Monday during a special event at Hermantown City Hall. They include: . K-9 Bruno is partnered with Hermantown Police Officer Olivia Gottschald . K-9 Kylo is
Hawks showed grit in a season-opening loss at Princeton
“The most encouraging thing, in my eyes, was the fact that no matter which five guys we had on the floor, no matter the score, they were playing their hearts out.” -- Hermantown boys basketball coach Andy Fenske
Prep Sports Preview: Hermantown boy's basketball
“We only graduated two players from last year and had a fantastic summer with our players.” -- Hawks coach Andy Fenske
Obit: Rolland Neal Mammenga
Rolland N. Mammenga, 91, of Hermantown, MN passed away on Monday November 17. 2025 in Essentia Health, St. Mary’s Medical Center. He was born on the family farm in Waterbury Township, MN on February 19, 1934, to William and Ida Mammenga. Rolland graduated from Mahnomen High School Class of
Howie: Hermantown sports in the news
Martin Sleen named All-Minnesota, Hawks expected to battle Hibbing-Chisholm in 7A hockey
Take a bow, Hermantown football team
Hermantown’s 2025 football season came full circle Friday night — ending against the same team that handed the Hawks their first loss of the fall. Grand Rapids, physical and efficient from the start, again proved too much, defeating Hermantown 41-0 in the Section 7, Class 4A championship game to end
Hawks advance to Section 7AAAA football final
Hermantown led 14-8 at halftime and 28-16 after three quarters before Sleen’s third touchdown in the fourth extended the margin to 35-20.
Minnesota Star Tribune expands access to fact-based journalism with new sharing, subscription options
MINNEAPOLIS — At a time of heightened uncertainty across Minnesota, the Minnesota Star Tribune announced new steps to broaden access to its fact-based, independent local journalism. The Star Tribune has made its live breaking-news blog available outside the paywall, allowing all readers to follow a continuously updated stream of verified reporting
Howie: The Minnesota Star Tribune announces key newsroom leadership hires
The Bellville and Baumgarten hires reflect a newsroom making deliberate bets: on audience intelligence, on subject-matter authority, and on leadership that understands journalism doesn’t succeed just because it’s good — it succeeds because it reaches people where they actually live now.
Howie: Fox 21 promotes Maria Vollom, reinforces market-leading evening newscast
“The Northland is home to me, from my hometown of International Falls to the Iron Range and rural areas of northwestern Wisconsin." -- Maria Vollom
Howie: The great AI panic is about power, not journalism
The loudest voices warning that artificial intelligence will “destroy journalism” are almost never talking about journalism. They’re talking about control. Newsrooms are entering a period they’ve avoided for two decades: a genuine reckoning with what readers actually value. And the uncomfortable truth is this — readers do not care
Howie: Minnesota Star Tribune often first and only in the Twin Ports
Veteran print journalists Jana Hollingsworth and Christa Lawler, elite writers formerly with the legacy local newspaper, don’t parachute in. They don’t rewrite press releases. They don’t treat northern Minnesota as an afterthought or a curiosity.
Howie: The Minnesota Star Tribune sues Minneapolis Police Department over public records access
Public records aren’t optional. They’re not favors. And they’re not something a police department gets to release once the inconvenience wears off. The law is clear — even if compliance apparently isn’t.
Swim Creative wins 2025 w3 Award for website
Swim Creative delivered a fully custom site featuring rich visuals, storytelling rooted in Minnesota’s folklore, and an interface designed for both exploration and ease of use. The project also emphasized mobile-first design, search optimization, and user accessibility.
Longtime WDIO 10/13 news anchor Danielson to retire
“We are so happy for Darren and his wife Vicki to be embarking on their great adventure of retirement.” -- WDIO General Manager Deb Messer
The Minnesota Star Tribune announces return of The Wrap
MINNEAPOLIS — The Star Tribune will host the second annual edition of The Wrap on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the newspaper’s Heritage printing facility in Minneapolis’ North Loop. The immersive year-in-review event offers a look back at Minnesota’s most defining stories of 2025 through interactive exhibits, live music, food,
Plante brothers, Hanson on Hobey Baker fan ballot
For Hermantown, the impact is already unmistakable. A high school program in northern Minnesota placed three of its own among the nation’s best college hockey players — simultaneously, on the sport’s biggest individual stage — reinforcing a legacy that now stretches far beyond state lines.
Howie on local prep hockey
I’m not handing Hermantown a boys hockey state trophy in January. I’ve been around too long for that. But when the Section 7A tournament begins and the pressure turns real, I know who I’m riding with. I’ve seen this movie before. It usually ends with everyone else wondering how they missed it.
50 Yard Football: Inside a typical arena football team budget
Howie Hanson is editor & publisher of 50-Yard Football, which covers arena/indoor football leagues. While every arena football team operates with slightly different resources, league officials and front-office executives say the financial pressures are largely the same across the sport. Travel, payroll and arena expenses consume most of the
Howie: Hawks boys eye strong basketball regular season finish
Howie's daily online column is powered by Lyric Kitchen · Bar Hermantown’s boys basketball team is about to find out who it really is. Grand Rapids comes to Hermantown High School on Friday night, the start of a stretch that will define whether the Hawks can turn a
Howie: Hermantown hockey, Duluth Marshall girls basketball making headlines
Top-ranked Hermantown is 12-1-3 and No. 2 Hibbing-Chisholm 13-1-1 in boys hockey; super-sophomore Chloe Johnson scores career-high 45 points at Stevens Point
Howie: Max Plante is playing himself into the NHL/AHL, but only if he can stay healthy
The Detroit Red Wings are watching to see if the Bulldogs sophomore forward is ready to step into a much harsher world. Judging by the way he played this weekend, that question is starting to answer itself.
National Scouting Combine roster announced
National Scouting Combine has released its player roster for 2026. Draft-eligible athletes and free agents from across the country will compete Tuesday through Friday at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Florida. The world-class event will provide players the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of professional football
Hermantown girls riding a 7-game winning streak
The Hermantown girls basketball team has found its rhythm — and its confidence — heading into January. After navigating an early stretch that tested the Hawks against quality competition, Hermantown has posted seven straight victories and enters the week at 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the Lake Superior Conference. “After a tough
Howie: McCarthy's toughness question isn't going away
McCarthy didn’t just remove himself from a game. He removed himself from a moment. And moments like that don’t come back. Not in January. Not in training camp. Not with a clean injury report.