St. Louis County Board backs higher levy for 2026 amid rising costs
By state law, counties must set their maximum levy by the end of September. The board can lower the figure before adopting a final budget in December but cannot increase it.
UMD students displaced after Woodland Avenue house fire
The Duluth Fire Department responded to a blaze early Tuesday morning on the 600 block of Woodland Avenue that forced six Minnesota Duluth students from their home. Crews were called to the two-story residence at 3:47 a.m., where heavy smoke poured from the basement and first floor. Firefighters
Weaving ancestry through sculptural basketry at the Nordic Center
Bird, a Twin Cities–based studio artist, uses basketry techniques as the foundation for contemporary sculptural forms that push past utilitarian design. Her work is in the Minnesota Historical Society collection and private collections in New York, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
Duluth Playhouse opens season with rock ‘n’ roll smash ‘Million Dollar Quartet’
The cast features Trevor Lindley Craft as Elvis Presley, Wyatt Andrew Brownell as Jerry Lee Lewis, Davis Wood as Johnny Cash and Drew Black as Carl Perkins. Tyler Railey plays Dyanne, the sharp-witted singer, while Dan Prevette takes on Sun Records founder Sam Phillips.
City News
Duluth will spotlight jobs and training this week as Mayor Roger Reinert proclaims Wednesday Workforce Development Day in the city. The declaration comes during Workforce Development Month, a statewide effort to highlight the programs and partnerships that connect Minnesotans to careers. Reinert will read the proclamation at a 1 p.
Steve Grove to discuss new memoir in Duluth with former Duluth mayor Emily Larson
Grove writes about his work in Gov. Tim Walz’s administration during the pandemic and the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, while reflecting on how the Midwest shaped his views of community and the country’s future.
Howie: Reinert’s 2026 budget faces test of tax promise
A windfall of state aid helped soften the edges. Local Government Aid jumped by $4.4 million in 2024, the largest increase in more than two decades and the equivalent of a double-digit property-tax hike. The city collected $35.2 million in aid in 2025, nearly one-third of its General Fund.
Wilderness hire Larson as assistant coach
The Minnesota Wilderness named Craig Larson assistant coach Sunday, filling the spot vacated by Evan Alexius, who left for an NCAA job. Larson, a 30-year coaching veteran, spent the past three seasons with Aberdeen as scout and director of player personnel. He previously guided Northern Lakes to its first state
Hermantown rolls past Denfeld in Northeast Red opener
“Overall it was a beautiful night for football … a big crowd, a new flag pole dedicated to a tremendous man and coach (former Hawks coach Gary Bowen) and a Hermantown win … really couldn’t ask for much more than that.” -- Hermantown Coach Mike Zagelmeyer.
Thielen’s back, Ham’s 'injured,' and the Vikings cash in on the hometown discount
Picture it: Ham in sweats, headset strapped on, coaching up young backs on the sideline like he’s been auditioning for the job all summer. He’s never been the rah-rah type in uniform, but suddenly he’s Mr. Clipboard? This isn’t rehab. This is a trial run for the next phase of his career.
Essentia Health clinic nurses ratify first contracts through 2027
Negotiations continue at Solvay Hospice House and Essentia Health Surgery Center-Miller Hill in Duluth. Two bargaining sessions were held this week, with additional meetings scheduled for Sept. 8 at Solvay and Sept. 10 at the Surgery Center.
Gophers open with home win over undermatched Buffalo
Minnesota’s defense dominated from the outset, holding Buffalo to just 151 total yards and limiting the Bulls to 1 of 11 on third down. The Gophers forced six three-and-outs and kept Buffalo’s rushing attack under 40 yards.
Howie: St. Scholastica readies another batch of wide-eyed freshmen
And lest anyone think St. Scholastica is just a nice regional option, the rankings folks beg to differ. U.S. News puts them among the Best National Universities, Money magazine says it’s one of the “Best Colleges for Your Money,” and the Princeton Review keeps listing it among the Midwest’s best.
Howie: 2025 Spirit of Duluth tourney the first without Bill Oswald
This December, Bill Oswald's seat at the table will be empty, but his fingerprints will be on every shift, every goal, every frazzled parent clutching a cup of bad coffee. The Spirit of Duluth is back. It never really left. And he wouldn’t want it any other way.
Howie: Thielen’s back
The real story is simple: the Vikings needed a guy who knows the offense and won’t panic on third-and-six. Nostalgia just happened to be the bonus prize.
Prep Sports Notebook
Hermantown used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Proctor 4-0 in a girls soccer match Thursday night. The Hawks jumped out early with three first-half goals. Senior forward Brooke Wiese converted a penalty kick to open the scoring, and Claire Niksich followed by finishing a setup from Mya Gunderson. Bryden