News and Current Affairs
Duluth 2020 General Election Results
With all 4,110 of 4,110 Minnesota precincts reporting, below are the statewide numbers for races relevant to Duluth.
FEDERAL OFFICES
United States President and Vice President
Joseph R. Biden and Kamala Harris | 1,714,327
Donald J. Trump and Michael R. Pence | 1,483,157
Jo Jorgensen and Jeremy “Spike” Cohen | 34,967
Write in | 10,009
Howie Hawkins and Angela Walker | 10,043
Kanye West and Michelle Tidball | 7,956
Brock Pierce and Karla Ballard | 5,687
Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente and Darcy Richardson | 5,620
Gloria La Riva and Leonard Peltier | 1,258
Alyson Kennedy and Malcolm Jarrett | 700 (more…)
Duluth reference in Sarah Cooper’s “Everything’s Fine”
Fourteen minutes into the Netflix comedy special, Aubrey Plaza, playing a shopping channel host, takes a call from a QAnon follower in Duluth who wants to know what her naan order really means.
PDD Quiz: October 2020 in Review
Test your memory of October 2020 headlines with this edition of the PDD Quiz.
The next PDD quiz will focus on Superior’s Central High School; it will be published on Nov. 15. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at aklawite@d.umn.edu by Nov. 11. (more…)
Golden Bulldog owner still struggling to open pub near UMD
Imran Khan’s longtime vision of a drinking establishment in Duluth’s Endion neighborhood briefly came to fruition in February. Then the COVID-19 shutdown happened.
Since late August, Khan has described the status of his business as “partially open,” though the doors have generally been locked. Those hoping to try out the Golden Bulldog will need to wait while the search for a bar manager continues. (more…)
Hoops Brewing wins gold, Earth Rider two silvers at GABF
Duluth’s Hoops Brewing won its first Great American Beer Festival medal at the 2020 awards ceremony held Oct. 16. Hoops’ 325 Pineapple Chili was awarded the gold medal in the Chili Beer category. It’s the fourth year in a row that a Duluth or Superior brewery has won a gold medal at the festival.
Earth Rider Brewery in Superior took home two silver medals this year — Royal Bohemian Pilsner in the Kellerbier or Zwickelbier category and North Tower Stout in the Oatmeal Stout category. (more…)
Lake Superior Brewing gets new owners, will move to Lakeside
Seth and Sarah Maxim have purchased Lake Superior Brewing Company and plan to move operations into the former Xcel Xercise fitness center at 5423 E. Superior St. (Photo by Mark Nicklawske)
An iconic craft brewery, the first of its kind in Minnesota, has been sold and new owners plan to move operations from Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood to Lakeside. (more…)
Weekend Update: Dateline Duluth
Duluth made a brief appearance in Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update this week. The appearance is at the 2:54 mark.
R.I.P. Mike’s Western Cafe
In an Oct. 7 Facebook post, Mike and Deb Pracher announced the closing of their family restaurant at 2803 W. Superior St. in Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District.
“With heavy hearts, we will be closing the doors of Mike’s Western Cafe after 38 years of business,” they wrote. “Thank you so much for your support over the years. We have met so many people, made lots of great friendships and made MANY lasting memories. We appreciate all of you more than you know. Thank you for everything.”
Mike Pracher told Fox-21 he was 23 years old when he bought the restaurant. He said the COVID-19 pandemic led to its demise. “I thought it was going to be a week, two, or three,” Pracher said. “It’s already been six months and I just can’t wait it out.”
Pracher also told Fox 21 he might someday open a restaurant in Carlton County.
Witherspoon brothers plan revival of soul food restaurant
Solomon, left, and Stephan Witherspoon plan to open a new soul food restaurant in Duluth next year. The brothers will use their father’s time-tested recipes. (Photo by Mark Nicklawske)
Inspired by their father’s long-gone West Duluth restaurant, two brothers have announced plans to open a new eatery that will feature time-tested fried chicken recipes taken directly from the family cookbook.
Stephan and Solomon Witherspoon said last week they are actively searching for a location to house a new restaurant to be named Doc Witherspoon’s Soul Food Kitchen. The Witherspoons will launch a series of fundraisers this week and plan to open their new establishment and catering business in 2021. (more…)
Global art dealer Arne Glimcher grew up in Duluth
Pace Gallery founder Arne Glimcher was recently profiled in WSJ Magazine, the news and lifestyle monthly published by the Wall Street Journal. The article notes: “Glimcher grew up on a ranch in Duluth, Minnesota, until his artistic talent led his mother to move the family to Boston.”
Pace Gallery has locations in New York, Palo Alto, London, Geneva, Hong Kong and Seoul.
Glimcher has also produced and directed films such as The Mambo Kings and Just Cause.
PDD Quiz: September 2020 in Review
Step right up to another PDD current events quiz and see how much you remember about this month’s headlines!
The next PDD quiz will look back at Halloween high jinks; it will be published on Oct. 11. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at aklawite@d.umn.edu by Oct. 8. (more…)
Reservoir ruins sale offers cliff views, odd history
The ruins of the 1884 Duluth Gas and Water Company reservoir can be seen from West First Street, just west of Point of Rocks. (Photos by Mark Nicklawske)
The sprawling and mysterious stand of stone and brick ruins that occupies perhaps the best clifftop view over Duluth’s harbor is for sale. (more…)
PDD Quiz: August 2020 in Review
Another month is nearly over, which means it’s time for the PDD current events quiz!
The next PDD quiz, on train and railroad trivia, will be published on Sept. 13. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at aklawite@d.umn.edu by Sept. 10. (more…)
Selective Focus: Signs
This week, Portia Johnson and Cheryl Reitan provide thoughts and images regarding the often homemade signs around town supporting Black Lives Matter.
PJ CR: In Duluth, many of the signs arrived soon after George Floyd was murdered but new ones crop up from time to time. They appear on residential streets and throughfares. Most of them say, “Black Lives Matter,” but there are other words too, “No peace, no justice,” the chilling, “I Can’t Breathe,” and others.
The message appears, often hand painted and imperfect but always betraying a fierce determination. The signs make people look. They say, “this is important, Black lives matter.”
(more…)
AP: Lake Superior Bull Shark Eradicated by Duluth Autonomous Navy
DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – On August 10, 2020, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson commissioned the Duluth Autonomous Navy to eradicate the bull shark terrorizing Duluth’s beaches. Only four days later, the DAN co-Admirals have announced “mission accomplished.” (more…)
Duluth 2020 Primary Election Results
Absentee ballots will continue to be accepted after election day, but below are the statewide numbers for races relevant to Duluth with all precincts reporting. (more…)
Boathouse vintage market opens Aug. 8 in Lincoln Park
Boathouse Treats and Treasures vintage market, 2009 W. Superior St., will open its doors Saturday, Aug. 8. It is located in the former Carr’s Hobby Shop building. (Photo by Mark Nicklawske).
Owners of a new jam-packed vintage market located in a former Lincoln Park hobby shop have announced a grand opening date. (more…)
RiverWest project near Spirit Mountain wins road approval
The site of the planned RiverWest development is at the foot of Spirit Mountain, between Grand Avenue and the BNSF Railroad tracks. (Photo by Liftoff Aerials)
An ambitious but long-dormant redevelopment project designed for outdoor enthusiasts received a jumpstart last week when city officials authorized new road construction below Spirit Mountain Recreation Area. (more…)
Jade Fountain tiki bar opens Aug. 7
The new Jade Fountain tiki bar has its grand opening scheduled for Friday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. The space will be limited to 50 patrons at a time due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Drinks will be pre-made for additional safety. (more…)
PDD Quiz: July 2020 in Review
The fleeting summer continues to fly by. How closely did you pay attention to local headlines? Quiz on to test your memory!
The next PDD quiz, on the topic of street namesakes, will be published on Aug. 16. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at aklawite@d.umn.edu by Aug. 12. (more…)
Duluth Cross City Trail 2020 Update: Segment 2 nearly complete
The River Route segment of Duluth’s Cross City Trail has been under construction this summer in West Duluth. It should be paved and ready for bicyclists in a matter of weeks. (more…)
Bear with cheeseballs container stuck on head rescued
KARE-TV out of Minneapolis reports a family fishing on Marshmiller Lake near Bloomer, Wis. — about 100 miles south of Duluth — pulled “a cheesy ball container” off the head of a black bear swimming on the lake.
The rescue was captured on video. The raw footage is below. (more…)
PDD Quiz: June 2020 in Review
See how much you remember about the events that made headlines this month!
The next PDD quiz will explore area swimming spots; it will be published on July 12. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at aklawite@d.umn.edu by July 8. (more…)