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Beginning today, HowieHanson.com will publish all obituaries free of charge, restoring a longstanding tradition once central to community newspapers and local news websites.
For generations, obituaries were considered a core part of the public record — a simple, dignified way for families to share the lives, accomplishments and legacies of loved ones.
Small-town newspapers treated them as essential community service, not as revenue generators. Readers relied on them, communities rallied around them, and newsrooms understood that recording a life’s passing was as important as reporting a council vote or a high school sports score.
In recent years, some news organizations shifted to fee-based submissions, citing business pressures. But the practice placed a financial burden on families during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Returning to no-cost publication is both the right step for the community and a reaffirmation of what local journalism should stand for.
“Obituaries have always belonged to the community,” said editor & publisher Howie Hanson. “Charging families to share the passing of a loved one isn’t consistent with the mission of public-service journalism. This is a chance to restore something that should never have disappeared.”
All obituary submissions will be published online, outside any paywall, ensuring full public access. Families may submit notices by emailing Duluth@aol.com.