Duluth's homegrown columnist. Since 1971.
Editor & Publisher of HowieHanson.com
I write about power, business, sports and civic life in Duluth and across Minnesota. My columns examine the people making decisions, the organizations behind those decisions and what their choices mean for the communities they serve.
My journalism career began in 1971 at the Cloquet Pine Knot. More than five decades later, I'm still reporting and writing from Duluth. I publish HowieHanson.com, an independent site built around original columns, local reporting and Minnesota sports coverage.
My work combines reporting, analysis and commentary. I believe in checking facts, asking direct questions and giving readers enough information to make up their own minds. My reporting and opinions are mine, and I stand behind the words I publish.
I welcome story ideas, questions, corrections and tips from readers. Email is the best way to reach me.
Email: GuyHowieHanson@gmail.com
Minnesota Duluth is 5-2 all-time in Frozen Faceoff semifinal games and will play for its fourth NCHC tournament title. Denver and the Bulldogs enter the championship game tied for the most titles in conference tournament history with three.
In a country where public confidence has eroded in too many places, Hermantown has preserved something that is becoming more valuable all the time: the sense that a city can grow, modernize and prosper without surrendering basic standards of safety and livability.
Howie is a longtime Minnesota journalist, independent columnist and author covering sports, power and civic life. His daily column is sponsored by Lyric Kitchen
In the wild, peregrine falcons typically nest on high, open ledges such as rocky cliffs. In modern cities, tall structures — including skyscrapers — serve as stand-ins for those natural cliff faces, and the St. Paul nest box has become a reliable urban nesting site.
For readers in the Duluth market, the takeaway is pretty simple. The FOX21 site now looks and feels like a modern news operation. Clean design, smoother navigation, stronger technical backbone — all of it working together to deliver stories more efficiently.
There is a buzz in the air right now about Minnesota Monsters arena league football at Amsoil Arena. Training camp opens on March 23. You can feel it. Something special is building.
The Hilltoppers will face the winner of the New London-Spicer vs. Minnehaha Academy quarterfinal on Friday night.
Last October, I experienced something new: my first round of golf with my son.
Attorney Melissa Maloney has returned to the Duluth-based law firm Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A., the firm announced. Maloney earned her
If Duluth decides it prefers less marketing and more governing, voters may discover that the model for that kind of leadership has been sitting in plain view at City Hall for several years. His name is Arik Forsman.
“Brianna and I are building a strong franchise for Duluth. We have a vision and lofty goals.” -- Minnesota Monsters owner Jacob Lambert
The Hilltoppers, led by super-sophomore Chloe Johnson (31.3 points per game), enters the tournament as one of the favorites in the eight-team bracket and could meet No. 3 seed New London-Spicer or No. 6 Minnehaha Academy in the semifinals if both teams advance.
The Vikings could add another veteran quarterback, draft another young passer and force McCarthy to earn his way back into the starting job. Competition is the reality of the NFL, where roster spots — and careers — are constantly on the line.
Under the leadership of Chamber President Matt Baumgartner, Duluth and St. Louis County Days has become a respected presence at the Capitol. Legislators expect it. Policymakers notice it. And participants leave knowing their region’s voice has been heard.
Quick news and notes from across Duluth and the Northland, updated throughout the day.
The Minnesota Monsters have made their move by stepping into a stronger league and bringing the team into Amsoil. Tuesday afternoon is the community’s opportunity to meet the players, see the vision for the franchise and decide whether Duluth intends to build something lasting around it.
UMD has not advanced beyond the quarterfinal round since the 2021-22 season, when it won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff. Since then, the Bulldogs are 2-5 in the quarterfinals, losing series to St. Cloud State in 2022-23, Denver in 2023-24 and Arizona State in 2024-25.
“As with any large customer, Google will cover the costs associated with the necessary energy infrastructure to meet its energy needs. The agreement enhances grid reliability and protects other customers,” Minnesota Power Chief Operating Officer Josh Skelton said.
Johnson is one of the nation's top prospects in the Class of 2028, and Brown is a rising star who will draw a lot of attention from college scouts next summer.
If tourism funding is now driven by measurable return, then measurement should not stop at the application stage. Duluth should see which organizations applied, which received funding, how proposals scored against criteria, what outcomes were promised and what results were delivered one year later.
For now, the political formula in Minnesota’s 8th District remains remarkably consistent. Duluth votes. The Iron Range votes. Then the rest of northern Minnesota votes. And the rest of northern Minnesota is usually enough.
If Kirill Kaprizov ever gets a true sniper riding shotgun -- Brock Boeser? -- the rest of the Western Conference might suddenly discover something Minnesota fans have suspected for a while now. The Wild are closer than they look.
Duluth and St. Louis County are not asking for luxury investments. They are asking for help maintaining systems — water treatment plants, shoreline protection, waste management infrastructure — whose costs exceed what local taxpayers alone can reasonably sustain.
Every venue eventually tells the truth about its city. Not through press releases or attendance numbers, but through what finally fills the seats.
Meeting Duluth’s housing needs will require focus, coordination and a willingness to try new approaches grounded in proven ideas.
Duluth Marshall super-sophomore Chloe Johnson is averaging 31.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game his season.
If re-elected, Ramsay says his priorities won’t drift. He lists them plainly: reduce the impact of illegal drugs, maintain a healthy and effective workforce and deliver professional, responsive service across the county.
Known for combining traditional tenor harmonies with energetic staging and contemporary arrangements, the group has performed thousands of concerts worldwide and remains one of the longest-running touring vocal ensembles in the crossover genre.
When ownership asks fans to pick their seats at $200, they’re not just selling tickets. They’re asking the city to co-sign the project. They’re saying: Trust us early. Commit early. Help us build this from day one.
The question is no longer simply whether Roger Reinert deserves another term. The question is whether Duluth believes it is on the path it wants — and if not, who has the discipline, clarity and courage to alter it. November 2027 will deliver the verdict. The work of deciding it begins now.
