Down 21 points in the third quarter, Hermantown mounted an epic comeback to defeat top-seeded North Branch 35-28 in the Class 4A, Section 7 prep football championship game on Friday night at Marv Heikkinen Field in West Duluth.
Hawks defeat North Branch, advance to state 4A prep football quarterfinals
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Plante, Gajan lead Bulldogs’ 2025-26 award recipients
Howie's daily column is sponsored by Lyric Kitchen Bar. University of Minnesota Duluth honored six players with its 2025-26 men’s hockey team awards Wednesday, headlined by sophomore forward Max Plante, who capped a historic season as the Bulldogs’ most valuable player. Plante, a Hermantown native, received the
Howie: Hobey in hand, unfinished business ahead for Plante and Bulldogs
A group that could have fragmented chose to remain intact, and that continuity alters expectations in a meaningful way. Teams that stay together tend to become harder to play against, not just because of talent, but because of familiarity and shared understanding.
Howie: Max Plante wins Hobey Baker
Plante said he plans to return to Minnesota Duluth next season, with the opportunity to play alongside his brothers, Zam and incoming freshman Victor.
Howie: The 10 most important people in arena football right now
If arena football stabilizes, history will trace it back to whether Jerry Kurz succeeds. Kurz understands the league’s past because he lived it. His challenge is preventing nostalgia from becoming policy. Expansion discipline, ownership vetting and media credibility all run through his office.
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Howie: Grandma’s announces sale of Miller Hill location
Company officials said the sale aligned with long-term strategic goals after Vireo Growth approached the group with an offer for the site. Vireo focuses on cannabis operations with an emphasis on safe access and community restorative justice.
Howie: Arena Football One reports surge in early-season digital viewership
AF1 is a professional arena football league, the circuit of the Minnesota Monsters, focused on high-scoring gameplay and fan accessibility. Games are streamed live each weekend on the league’s official website, with additional content available across its social media platforms.
Tim Meyer: Hermantown needs a city center
Hermantown continues to grow. Whether it chooses to define a physical center or not, its role within the larger metropolitan area will continue to evolve.
Howie: FOX 21 surges as Northland news habits shift online in real time
In March 2026, the newly redesigned FOX21Online.com saw nearly 100 percent growth in web traffic compared to March 2025. That number is the kind that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens with volume, speed and a willingness to treat digital not as a side product, but as the front door.