News and Current Affairs Posts

WLSSD flipped its switch 40 years ago

Sep 25, 2018 No Comments

It was 40 years ago today — Sept. 25, 1978 — when the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District began operating its sewage treatment plant in Duluth.

“The network of pipes and pumps and tanks and treatment pools and chemistry all contributed as designed to clean harmful bacteria and other pollution out of the sewage — from not just Duluth homes, but also homes from surrounding areas and industry as far away as Cloquet,” writes Duluth News Tribune reporter John Myers.

Duluth News Tribune: “WLSSD marks 40 years of cleaner St. Louis River”


News and Current Affairs ,

Found: “Scandinavian-style boat”

Sep 23, 2018 No Comments

At 8:20 a.m. police responded to the 1900 block of Minnesota Avenue to a report of a Scandinavian-style boat that washed ashore.

Update: The owner of the boat contacted police a few hours later. The boat did not wash ashore; it was purposely beached by the owner after sailing.


News and Current Affairs

Bent Paddle nabs Great American Beer Festival gold again

Sep 22, 2018 No Comments

Bent Paddle Brewing won its second Great American Beer Festival gold medal this weekend in Denver, Colo. The Duluth brewery’s saison took the top honor in the Classic Saison category.

Read More


News and Current Affairs , ,

Dovetail Cafe to open in October

Sep 20, 2018 No Comments
Bryan French - Photo by Lissa Maki

Duluth Folk School Director & Co-Founder Bryan French outside Dovetail Cafe – Photo by Lissa Maki

If all goes as planned, Dovetail Cafe and Marketplace will open in the second week of October. The unique eatery, housed within the Duluth Folk School at 1917 W. Superior St., will serve up meals made from scratch, products from local vendors and a side of education for those inclined to learn.

Read More


News and Current Affairs, Restaurants , , , , ,

Hannah Johnson Fabrics working toward expansion

Sep 17, 2018 No Comments

Janet Anelli, owner of Hannah Johnson Fabrics, preparing cut fabric.

A fabric store in Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood is expanding into space where baked goods were the longtime order of the day.

Read More


News and Current Affairs

UMD faculty union and senate denounce outgoing U of M president’s compensation package

Sep 14, 2018 No Comments

In a letter to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, leaders of two faculty organizations on the Duluth campus call the compensation package of the outgoing system president “excessive” and a “golden parachute.”

University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler announced in July his intention to step down from his position in 2019, saying in a statement that his seven years as president exceeds the national average and the university will benefit from a fresh perspective.

“Quite simply, it is time,” he said, noting he intends to work as president emeritus for one year to continue momentum on the university’s $4 billion “Driven” campaign. The fundraising effort is seeking to raise $1 billion for students, $2 billion for faculty and research, and $1 billion for university initiatives and outreach.

Read More


News and Current Affairs ,

West Theater renovation adds second theater property

Sep 13, 2018 No Comments

Duluth Reader publisher and West Theater owner Robert Boone has purchased 321 N. Central Ave., next to his West Theater renovation project. The building, constructed in 1913, is the former Alhambra Theater and most recently housed Interior Tomato, a hydroponic gardening store.

An alternative weekly newspaper publisher currently renovating a West Duluth movie theater has purchased a second historic but mostly forgotten theater adjacent to his current project.

Read More


News and Current Affairs ,

Ursa Minor Brewing opening Sept. 26

Sep 12, 2018 2 Comments
Ben Hugus, Mark Hugus and Andrew Scrignoli - Photo by Lissa Maki

Ben Hugus, Mark Hugus and Andrew Scrignoli – Photo by Lissa Maki

Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District will gain a third brewery by the month’s end. Ursa Minor Brewing, a five-barrel brewery that will also serve wood-fired pizzas, has announced it’s opening Sept. 26.

Read More


News and Current Affairs, Restaurants , , ,

Crashing into 2332 W. Third St.

Sep 12, 2018 3 Comments

Left: 2018 crash at 2332 W. Third St. (Duluth News Tribune photo by Steve Kuchera)
Right: 1965 crash at same location. (Duluth News Tribune staff photo)

It happens at least once every 53 years or so. A motor vehicle smashes into the storefront on the corner of 24th Avenue West and Third Street.

Sept. 11, 2018 | Bus crashes into runaway SUV in Lincoln Park

Aug. 12, 1965 | Freak crash sends auto inside store


History, News and Current Affairs

BusinessNorth owners purchase Lake Superior Magazine

Sep 04, 2018 No Comments

Left to right above: New Lake Superior Magazine owners Beth Bily and Ron Brochu, former owners Cindy Hayden and Paul Hayden

Two longtime, Duluth-based media organizations with a combined 66 years in existence are now under the same ownership following the Aug. 31 sale of Lake Superior Magazine and its associated books and merchandising operations to the publishers of BusinessNorth and Scenic Range News Forum. The entities announced the sale in a news release today.

Read More


News and Current Affairs , ,

Congdon Pumphouse highlights historic home tour

Sep 01, 2018 1 Comment

A 19th Century Duluth pump house was converted into living space by Elisabeth Congdon in 1937. The property will be open during the Duluth Preservation Alliance Historic Property Tour Sept. 16.

Duluth has dozens of spectacular waterfront properties with amazing Lake Superior views but only one home has a front porch featuring metal wave deflectors and living room windows equipped with hurricane shutters.

Read More


News and Current Affairs ,

Thirsty Pagan Brewing moving to Soo Line Depot

Aug 31, 2018 3 Comments

The Superior Telegram reports Thirsty Pagan Brewing will move to the Soo Line Depot at 1615 Winter St. in January.

“The move marks a step into the brick-and-mortar phase — owning a building instead of leasing,” the story notes. “The depot also offers more private seating options for meetings, events and parties, although the total number of seats will remain roughly the same. … Groups already meet regularly at Thirsty Pagan, but the current configuration isn’t ideal for privacy. At about 7,500 square feet, the depot will provide more space to spread into.”


News and Current Affairs ,

Funding agreement in place for St. Louis River cleanup

Aug 30, 2018 2 Comments

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Steel Corp. announced an agreement yesterday to undertake a $75 million cleanup and restoration project at the former Duluth Works site on the St. Louis River at Spirit Lake in Duluth. This is part of a larger effort to restore the St. Louis River Area of Concern through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Read More


News and Current Affairs , ,

Craft cider coming soon to Duluth

Aug 29, 2018 1 Comment

Duluth will soon have its first, and second, hard cideries. Duluth Cider is planning for a mid-to-late September opening date, while Wild State Cider expects to open before the year’s end.

Read More


News and Current Affairs , , , ,

Duluth planning for passenger cruise ship stops

Aug 28, 2018 1 Comment

The Duluth City Council and Duluth Economic Development Authority have approved funding to help establish a temporary customs facility to allow Great Lakes cruise ship passengers to disembark in Duluth.

As Minnesota Public Radio reports, “Duluth is not expecting massive oceangoing cruise ships the size of small cities to drop anchor in its harbor,” but instead is looking for smaller adventure cruises “that can accommodate up to about 200 passengers, plus another 100-plus crewmembers.”

MPR: Duluth as a cruise stop? With City Council vote, it’s one step closer


News and Current Affairs , ,