Fred Friedman
Fred Friedman: Rachel Robinson, at 104, is a civil rights hero in her own right
Most of Howie’s readers and many of my friends do not know of the oldest and most
Latest Stories
University of St. Thomas
St. Thomas’ $183 million arena strengthens its Division I ambitions
Lee and Penny Anderson supplied the $75 million lead gift. St. Thomas described it as the largest monetary donation ever received by a Minnesota university and one of the 10 largest known gifts to a college athletic program in the country.
Opinion
The bill comes due: Inside Duluth’s 2027 budget reckoning
Early-term labor agreements, sluggish revenue growth and familiar levy politics have left City Hall confronting a projected $5.5 million deficit.
Sports
NCHC’s new 10-team race starts with Denver on top — but barely
The defending national champion Pioneers have the deepest talent pool, Minnesota Duluth returns college hockey’s best player in forward Max Plante and Miami is positioned to make the league’s biggest jump.
Sports
Eau Claire forward Mack Diggins commits to Bulldogs
Diggins to play major-junior next season with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League before enrolling at UMD.
Howie
City of Duluth labor deals collide with 1% growth, squeezing the 2027 budget
All seven city employee labor agreements were approved after Mayor Roger Reinert took office in January 2024.
Howie Sports
Cloquet football brings experienced core into 2026 after late-season improvement
There is little mystery surrounding Cloquet’s path to improvement. The Lumberjacks must replace more than half of last season’s rushing production, develop a more productive passing game and avoid another slow start.
Downtown Duluth
Man arrested on fentanyl, methamphetamine sale allegations
A 54-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after investigators said they observed him selling drugs in the
Sports
Hazardous air quality cancels Park Point 5-Miler
The 55th annual Park Point 5-Miler and 2-Mile Walk scheduled for tonight has been canceled because
Legal
Hanft Fride attorneys named to 2026 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, selects attorneys annually through peer nominations, evaluations and independent research. No more than 5% of attorneys in each state are selected.
Opinion
Duluth hired a mayor, not a campaign
Roger Reinert's winning pitch against incumbent Emily Larson was simple and effective: Duluth, he argued, needed a mayor focused on basics — core services, discipline and execution. However, Reinert’s mayoralty remains heavy on messaging and light on visible results.
Howie Sports
Monsters to host Beaumont with final AF1 playoff berth at stake
The Minnesota Monsters will host the Beaumont Renegades in the Arena Football One regular-season finale at 6
Sports
Minnesota Monsters name new general manager
DULUTH — The Minnesota Monsters have named Willie Howard general manager after signing him to a two-year contract
Books
My latest book: Minnesota 2050
Minnesota will not stumble into the future by accident. The forces shaping the state’s next 25 years
Opinion
Duluth needs a budget surgeon, not another video stream
The city estimates its recently negotiated labor agreements will increase personnel costs by approximately $9.9 million over three years, according to the 2026 city budget. There is your deficit, dressed in a collective bargaining agreement and scheduled to arrive on time.
Hermantown News
Hermantown SummerFest opens Wednesday with five days of community events
The Fran Hubert SummerFest Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday. An APS-Mesaba customer appreciation event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a Bullyan RV summer barbecue and music by GB Leighton from noon to 3 p.m.
Howie Sports
Hermantown star Senst attacks rehabilitation, targets football opener
Senst is the athlete younger Hawks can watch and emulate, the teammate coaches can trust and the quarterback willing to accept responsibility. He is already one of Hermantown High School’s finest athletes. His senior year could add another memorable chapter, but it will not define him.
Howie Sports
Minnesota Monsters move Lemon to operations director, AF1 advisory role
The Minnesota Monsters announced Tuesday that Meadow Lemon will move from general manager to operations director while also