Larissa Hubbartt, RN, and Sierra Dyer, RN, Minnesota Nurses Association chairs at St. Luke’s Duluth on St. Luke's new affiliation with Wisconsin-based Aspirus Health – “We are hopeful about this affiliation between St. Luke’s and Aspirus. Their commitment to preserving local decision-making reflects a shared dedication to community-centered care, and to the mission of St. Luke’s nurses to put the Patient Above All Else. Thus far, this new partner has held true to these commitments to our community members and the nurses that care for them. As MNA co-chairs, we look forward to representing the nurses in our bargaining unit as we navigate and build upon this new affiliation, and we hope to see operational decisions continue to be made locally.”
Quote Me, Howie
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Local response to the political violence in the Twin Cities
"Melissa and John are both personal friends. Melissa was the mentor for my freshman class when I was elected to the House. John and I served in the Senate together and quickly became friends." -- Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert
Quote Me, Howie: Mike Zagelmeyer; The Minnesota Legislature convenes today
"I think we have some real playmakers this year who are excited for the challenge ahead. We graduated only eight seniors, although several were major contributors. For the first time in a long time, I like our depth." -- Hermantown Hawks football coach Mike Zagelmeyer
QUOTE ME, HOWIE: Thomas Pazo, Dan Hartman, Frank Yetka, Paul McDonald, Fred Friedman, etc.
"I’m loving my time in Duluth and getting to work with this fantastic group of young men. We’ve improved tremendously as a team (tactically, technically, physically, and mentally), and we have a lot of room for growth, which is super exciting for the staff and I." -- Thomas Pazo
Latest
Obit: Marlene Mellesmoen
Marlene J. Mellesmoen, age 92, passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2025. Born in Duluth, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Doyle A. Tyson, Sr., and Lillian G.P. (Nystrom) Tyson, and had one sibling, a brother, Doyle A. Tyson, Jr. (Buzz). Marlene was a proud alum of Duluth Central
Howie: If the Duluth mayoral election were held today, would Roger Reinert win?
Reinert enters 2026 with two failed endorsements hanging around his neck, a lost council majority, a newly emboldened progressive bloc, a budget minefield, and a downtown recovery that needs more than slogans and cheerleading.
Prep Scoreboard, Friday night
Hermantown opened its hockey season with a 6-3 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall on Friday night. Ford Skytta scored 24 seconds after the opening faceoff, and the Hawks — ranked No. 2 in Class A — maintained control throughout against the No. 10 Raiders in St. Paul. Beau Christy led Hermantown with two
Obit: Kristine Johnson
Kristine Ann Johnson, age 54, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2025, surrounded by her family. Kris was preceded in death by her father, Clifton Harold Johnson, and her mother, Carolyn Ann Johnson. She is survived by her siblings: GerriLynn Mueller, Bo Johnson, Dale (Tonya) Johnson, Tracy Johnson, Jason (Paul