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
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.
For players attending this week’s event, the National Scouting Combine offers exposure to multiple professional pathways. For leagues such as AF1, it provides a centralized environment to identify talent, verify performance metrics and begin roster planning well ahead of training camps.
We are attempting to run a full-service, high-touch, progressive city on a tax base that isn’t keeping up — and hasn’t been for a long time. We talk about growth like it’s just around the corner. We budget like it already arrived. And we tax like it never left.
John Reynolds McAllister passed away on December 22, 2025. John was born September 10, 1928 to Walter Leo McAllister and Mabel Louise (Nelson) McAllister
Under Executive Director Dan Hartman’s leadership, the DECC has become a clear example of what disciplined, effective stewardship looks like: manage the asset with purpose, respect the public trust, adapt with confidence rather than panic, and consistently aim higher than anyone expects.
A 17-year-old male was taken into custody following an attempted armed robbery Monday night in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, police said.
Betty Lou Bruland Conklin passed away peacefully in Duluth, Minnesota on December 26, 2025, following a short hospital stay. Betty was born in 1934
Scott Spalding Tessier, of Duluth MN, passed away peacefully at his home on Dec. 24, 2025, at the young age of 64 after a
UMD men's hockey is surrounding its future core with the kind of balance you rarely see in a single signing haul: scoring up front, size and skating on the back end, and a top-flight goaltender to anchor the whole operation.
Bonnie Louise Melander, age 81, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2025. She was born in Duluth, Minnesota on September 9, 1944 to parents,
Larry Joe Olson, 77, of Superior, passed away unexpectedly on December 22, 2025, at his home from natural causes. He was born on June
For the broader community, Northstar Ford Arena is a gathering place — the kind that small towns understand better than anyone. Rinks aren’t just buildings here. They’re living rooms. Story banks. Time machines. They hold memories whether they’re supposed to or not.
Marie Garofalo, 100, passed peacefully in her home. She was born February 17, 1925 in Duluth to Anthony(Tony) and Helen Garofalo. Marie grew
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.
Steven John Kuehn, age 72, of Knife River died on December 19, 2025 surrounded by an army of loved ones. He was born in
AF1’s real challenge is not production quality or rule tweaks or even competitive balance. It is relevance. And relevance, in 2026, is earned by showing up — consistently, freely, and without friction — in the lives of people who didn’t know they were fans yet.
“The city of Duluth embraced this team when they were the Duluth Harbor Monsters. Going to all these games — for me to take that away from them would have been selfish.” -- New Minnesota Monsters owner Jacob Lambert
Hermantown delivered a three-sport statement Friday night, with the Hawks’ boys hockey, boys basketball and girls basketball teams all turning in convincing wins.
Several teams across AF1 continued to reshape their rosters Thursday, adding depth through signings at multiple positions. Michigan led the activity, adding four players
Tim MacDonald, 68, of Duluth – lifelong resident of Lakewood, died peacefully in his home on December 15, 2015. Tim married Sharon (Jones), who he
Michigan continued to add depth across its roster Wednesday, announcing the signings of four players who bolster the defensive line, linebacker corps and wide
Duluth has always supported teams that show up honestly and invest consistently. The formula hasn’t changed. Don’t overpromise. Don’t disappear when things get hard. Build something people can recognize as theirs. When that happens, this city responds — not with blind loyalty, but with earned trust.
In an era when public trust in institutions is fragile, Hermantown Schools has earned its credibility the old-fashioned way: by respecting taxpayers, confronting reality, and governing with integrity.
Leadership has mattered during the uneven stretches. Senior captains Bailey Hermanson and Aurora Decker have been the stabilizers — not just when the Hawks are rolling, but when they’re searching.
Denfeld had seen this movie before. Hermantown coach Patrick Andrews reminded his team before the Lake Superior Conference game that the Heritage Center has been tricky for his team in recent years — ties, slow starts, even a three-goal hole a season ago. This time, there was no messing around.
By Dana Kazel The St. Louis County Board today approved its 2026 budget at $564,403,199. The budget ensures stability in the delivery
New partnership offers unprecedented benefits for customers and communities while maintaining local management and regulatory oversight
By Dana Kazel Beginning in January, residents and businesses in the St. Louis County Solid Waste Management Area could see a decrease in their
Four-time Minnesota Class A boys hockey state champion Hermantown closed a demanding stretch of its schedule with its most complete performance Saturday night,
Monday, Dec. 15 Hermantown’s boys eighth-grade basketball team plays at Ordean East Middle School at 4:30 p.m. The girls C
Ham will show up somewhere that needs someone dependable, respected, and comfortable doing the hard work without applause. Which, if we’re being honest, means he’ll still fit right in around here.
1. Vegas Knight Hawks (IFL) 2. Albany Firebirds (AF1) 3. Green Bay Blizzard (IFL) 4. Nashville Kats (AF1) 5. Arizona Rattlers (IFL) 6. Minnesota