Howie: MCCU puts real money behind mental health
“Members’ commitment through Project Horizon will change the landscape of the Northland’s mental health by supporting organizations like ours.” -- Brightwater CEO Benjamin Hatfield
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Howie: Reinert has failed Downtown Duluth
The library debate generated plenty of noise and no resolution. Skywalk conversations took up oxygen without producing a clear direction. The broader Imagine Downtown Duluth effort exists, but still feels like a $300,000 plan waiting for a moment when it becomes real in ways people can’t miss.
Howie: Forsman the best choice for Duluth’s next mayor
Arik Forsman doesn’t posture. He doesn’t spend his time trying to win the internet for a day. He leans into the unglamorous mechanics of governing — budgets, policy detail, stakeholder conversations — and does it with a steadiness that’s easy to overlook if you’re chasing noise instead of results.
Howie: IFL, AF1 tout digital growth as indoor football shifts to streaming-first model
The IFL said the shift in distribution represents a multi-thousand percent increase compared to its YouTube-only model from two years ago, when live audiences were significantly smaller.
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.
Howie: After 50 years, I’m asking — what do you want to read?
After 50 years, the only thing that still matters is whether the work connects. And the best way to make sure it does is to listen — even now. Especially now.
Howie: In Duluth, the bills keep climbing — and the people can’t keep up
Howie's daily column is sponsored by Lyric Kitchen Bar. eMail Howie There’s a quiet kind of panic that doesn’t show up in ribbon cuttings or glossy tourism campaigns. It lives at the kitchen table, in the pause before a credit card is swiped, in the slow
Howie: Duluth Public Schools outline $4.3M budget reduction plan
District officials said they attempted to keep reductions away from classrooms when possible, instead targeting administrative roles, support services and programs with declining enrollment.
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: The music they refused to silence
Inside the camp, conductor Rafael Schächter secretly assembled choirs, staging performances with limited resources and even a single smuggled score. These were not just artistic exercises — but acts of resistance, a way for prisoners to assert identity and dignity in a system designed to erase both.
St. Louis County Board votes on unique use for taconite tailings by-product
By Dana Kazel The St. Louis County Board met in Hermantown on Tuesday, approving resolutions on a range of topics. Here is a recap of three notable actions: The Board approved a $955,000 contract with Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc., out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for bituminous seal coat projects
FOX 21 announces new morning anchor
“Since Xavier started with us as a production assistant, it was evident he cared about the community, good reporting and serving viewers. I’m excited for this opportunity for him, and I know his family is very proud.” -- Fox 21 News Director Matt McConico