News and Current Affairs
Any Upset Duluth folks dislike Hobby Lobby?
I’m tired of reading blogs and Facebook posts about the most recent court ruling won by Hobby Lobby to refuse its female employees basic women’s health care and discriminate against decisions that should be made with a medical provider. I’ve organized a local protest to create awareness to the local store’s shoppers. We will be there the next three mornings at 9 a.m. until about noon with signs. We hope you will join us or help spread the word. E-mail or send your positive energy to me at cletarose @ gmail.com. Thanks!
Jack Campbell releases new video and Fundrazr
Local musician Jack Campbell just released a new free single “Drive” with a video by Lakefront Films and he’s doing a crowd funding campaign through Fundrazr to make a full length record.
Fines for boozing in public to double
With no discussion, the Duluth City Council on Monday unanimously doubled the fine for “consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places.” The likely meaning of this is that if you are sipping a jug of wine on the Lakewalk you could be fined $200 instead of $100. If you are guzzling a fine locally brewed beer, however, all officers will look the other way.
Duluth School Board members acting like … high school kids
Our tax dollars hard at work.
Duluth News Tribune: Tempers flare at Duluth School Board meeting as Johnston’s supporters strike back
Duluth Lighthouses being updated
My family went down to the ship canal in Duluth on Monday and noticed that the north pier light was being worked on. The light itself was wrapped up, and all the glass had been removed. The entire black upper portion of the light had been painted with grey primer. Three men in hard hats, one up on top, were at work. (more…)
What else is Duluth the best at?
Duluth won Outside magazine’s online poll for “Best Place to Live,” — also referred to frequently as “Best Outside City” or “Best Outdoors Town.” Whatever it’s called, Duluth won it.
What else is Duluth the best at?
2014 Duluth Primary Election Primer
There are plenty of federal, state, judicial and county offices up for grabs this year, but no Duluth City Council or Duluth School Board races. Sifting in which of the active races apply to Duluthians and sifting out which are uncontested until the General Election is a bit of a chore, but the info below might be as simple as it can be laid out while remaining thorough.
Remember: Aug. 12 is one of those Primary Elections in which you have to choose a party. You can’t, for example, vote for a Republican governor and a DFL congressman. On the partisan portion of the ballot you have to vote for the same party in all races. Below are the contests that will be on that ballot, and some notes about what will be part of the Nov. 4 General Election.
FEDERAL OFFICES
United States Senator, Independence Party
Tom Books
Steve Carlson
Jack Shepard
Kevin Terrell
Stephen Williams
United States Senator, Republican Party
Jim Abeler
David Carlson
Mike McFadden
Patrick D. Munro
Ole Savior
United States Senator, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Al Franken
Sandra Henningsgard
United States Senator, Libertarian Party
Heather Johnson is unopposed in her party and will be on the General Election ballot.
United States Representative, Minnesota District 8
There will be no primary in this race. Green Party candidate Ray “Skip” Sandman, Republican Stewart Mills and Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Rick Nolan are unopposed in their parties and will be on the General Election ballot.
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Work underway on 63rd & Bristol
The precious connector between Grand Avenue and Cody Street has been blocked off since the Historic Summer Solstice Flood Disaster of 2012, but work is now underway to reconstruct 63rd Avenue West and Bristol Street at Keene Creek.
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Local Landmark Nomination for CJM Memorial
The CJM Memorial Local Landmark Nomination will have its second reading at the Duluth City Council Meeting on June 9 at 7 p.m. The meeting is at City Hall on the third floor in City Council Chambers. The CJM Board ask that you please come and show your support. (more…)
Duluth vs. Minneapolis
Duluth is nearing the finals, and as of right now (9:25 a.m.), we’re leading against Minneapolis! Vote for us at VoteDuluth.com.
Camera crews, form a semi-circle. It’s time to remove the Last Place on Earth sign.
Among the throng of photographers and videographers, Lane Ellis captured this 17-minute don’t-miss-a-moment-of-the-action version of the Last Place on Earth sign being removed by city workers.
Super Bowl 52 is coming to Minnesota
The National Football League announced today that Minnesota will host Super Bowl 52 in 2018. The Vikings, Saints and Colts gave 15-minute presentations to team owners in Atlanta, Ga. and after the voting the Vikings won the bid. Full details and video at nfl.com.
Minnesota paves moral high path on bill designed to compete with other leading drug companies
In a move sure to stun future generations while staying true to his Lutheran and Epsilon roots, the Minnesota house and senate led by Governor Mark Dayton, winning the big one for his home team, finally signed into law a bill sponsored by Hibbing’s very own Carly Melin, a fine example of Range woman herself, attractive and learned, also with probable Scandinavian and German heritage, with neither of them having ever had any actual experiences or contact with the Cannabis plant themselves, on their persons or with any of their families or friends therein … (more…)
Funding secured for Wade Stadium, Spirit Mountain and NorShor
The state bonding bill that passed the Minnesota Senate today includes funding for Wade Stadium and NorShor Theatre renovation, and construction of a water-delivery system for Spirit Mountain.
“Restoring Wade Stadium will ensure the iconic ball field will continue to be enjoyed by players and fans for decades to come,” Duluth Mayor Don Ness said in a news release. “The Spirit Mountain water project will allow the ski hill to get off of the city’s treated water, saving money and opening up other potential development in the western part of town. The NorShor Theatre & Arts Center will serve as a catalyst for new development in old downtown.”
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Duluth Appreciation Week = cheap to do
Before the summer tourist season officially begins, a number of the Duluth Attractions partner up to create discounts for US — the locals.
Coupon sheet available for download at duluthweek.com.
It’s I Stand with Kids Day in Duluth
You may have noticed some blue kids hanging out along the Lakewalk if you were brave enough to go outdoors today.
April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and First Witness spends each day engaging the community in efforts to make our community a safe place for children to grow and thrive. This is our third year for individuals and businesses to come together and show that We Stand with Kids. Over 300+ blue kids were sponsored this year. The donations go directly to services to child abuse victims and their families for supportive services after a disclosure has been made.
The blue kids are figurines cut out from wood, the size of a typical lawn sign. The color is blue because blue is the color of Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention month. The display is along the Lake Walk today (May 5) beginning at Leif Erickson from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m..
We hope you will consider stopping by to check it out and show your support. Rumor is Starbucks donated some coffee to help keep you warm!
An open letter to Mayor Ness and the Duluth City Council
Home sweet home? photo: Deb Holman
April 27, 2014
TO: Duluth Mayor Don Ness
Duluth City Council
FROM: Concerned people of Duluth
At its first meeting of the year, the Duluth City Council, with the support of Mayor Ness, unanimously passed a resolution supporting a Homeless Bill of Rights and committing the City to take bold action to end homelessness.
Three months later, the city has not appointed a single person to the Human Rights Commission, the body tasked with implementing the resolution. In recent days, Mayor Ness has been quoted by the Duluth News-Tribune calling housing projects for the chronically homeless a “distraction,” and urging Duluth to “stay focused on market-rate housing.”
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Net neutrality under attack
The Federal Communications Commission is once again planning to put an end to net neutrality. I can’t weigh in on the geek end of this issue, but it is surely a bad idea, considering that print and broadcast media are so tightly controlled, with six corporations owning 90 percent of U.S. media. Big Money should not be able to control internet traffic. What to do?
Duluth Community Needs Survey
The public is encouraged to participate in the 2014 Community Needs Survey conducted by the city of Duluth. It takes five minutes and will help develop an understanding of the needs of Duluth neighborhoods and identify potential improvements in services for low-income residents. The survey will be open through May 7.
Paper surveys will also be available at all three Duluth Public Library branches or copies can be requested from:
Michael Palermo
mpalermo @ duluthmn.gov
Community Development
City Hall, Room 407
Duluth, MN 55802
The streak is over! A level III predatory offender has been released to a Duluth neighborhood that isn’t the West End
The Duluth Police Dept. announced on Tuesday a level III predatory offender has been released and is living on the 700 block of Boundary Avenue in Duluth’s Bayview Heights neighborhood, on the Duluth/Proctor border. It marks the end of a streak in which eight consecutive sex offenders released in Duluth chose to live in the West End neighborhood. This was over a span of exactly one year, going by the dates of DPD news releases — April 8, 2013 to April 8, 2014.
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Three from LakeVoice: Crayon artist Tiona Marco, Mayor Don Ness and Giant Panda
A trio of highlights from the past week in Lake Voice News:
- Whatever happened to Tiona Marco?
- Duluth’s mayor in the eyes of friends and family
- Duluth Giant Panda ground for the rootless
Lake Voice News is a student-run publication focused on bridging the gap between UMD students and the Duluth community.
Candy Done Here: Sweeden Sweets
The Agen Block at 601 Tower Avenue — better known as the Tyomies building — is now home to a candy store. Sweeden Sweets opened on Jan. 24, serving up home-made chocolates, fudge and candy. An ice cream “jerk bar” is under construction in the other half of the ground floor, and is expected to open this summer. (more…)
Does Mayor Ness realize that the tourism tax is taxing the residents of Duluth?
Today in the Duluth News Tribune there is an article about our mayor wanting to bring back a .5 percent tax on our restaurants, hotels, and other amenities. My question is how do we as citizens of Duluth then get exempted from that tax? Should we not go to our local restaurants? Should we not go to Canal Park and support our local businesses?
This just seems unfair to those who live here to have us pay an extra tax to use our own local amenities. I’ve read that we pay very high taxes in our community compared to others, which made me wonder why we don’t get cards to exempt us from “tourist” taxes. This tax would go for the next 15 years and fund development of West Duluth. Well, that’s great, but what about us here in the Endion area? I can see taxing the hotels to get the tourists, but taxing restaurants makes me want to take my local money elsewhere.
I don’t think it is fair to those of us who live here, and if this is a push by our mayor there should be a way to exempt anyone who has a local identification.