Moody’s downgrades Duluth school district’s credit rating as reserves decline
The agency lowered the Duluth's issuer rating and several debt ratings from A3 to Baa2. Moody’s also reduced the rating on the district’s annual appropriation certificates of participation from Baa1 to Baa3. The district had about $184 million in outstanding debt as of October 2025.
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Howie: Duluth Schools’ referendum will rise or fall on trust
Financial need alone will not carry two operating referendum questions across the finish line Nov. 3. The district must confront a trust issue that has accumulated over two decades and explain why voters should believe the next 10-year, $103 million plan be better than the plans that preceded it.
5 MIN READ
Red Flag Warning issued for 13 northern Minnesota counties
A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday across 13 northern Minnesota counties because of extreme wildfire danger, according to the National Weather Service. The warning covers Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Roseau
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Howie: Minnesota’s primary map points to Klobuchar, but gives Demuth a path
"All signs, including the huge turnout in Tuesday's DFL primary, point to a strong year for Democrats in Minnesota. If that proves to be the case, then Senator Klobuchar should have a smooth path to the governor's office." -- Former Duluth city councilor Joel Sipress
5 MIN READ
Vikings name Kyler Murray starting quarterback for 2026 season
Murray, who turned 29 on Friday, signed a one-year contract with Minnesota in March after spending his first seven NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
3 MIN READ
Howie Live: Wednesday, August 12
GOOD WATCH: Duke Skorich's Personal Meeting Room, talking regional politics. . . . BREAKING SPORTS: St. Scholastica athletics director Jessica Cherry announced Kyle Yost as the Saints’ next women’s basketball coach. Yost takes over as CSS prepares for the 2026-27 season after earning the program’s first Minnesota Intercollegiate
2 MIN READ
Howie: Jim Oberstar kept northern Minnesota on the federal map
Jim Oberstar understood that roads connected workers to jobs, airports connected employers to markets, ports connected Minnesota resources to the world and research connected traditional industries to new possibilities -- that northern Minnesota could remain strong only if it remained connected.
8 MIN READ