News and Current Affairs
This Week in LakeVoice
This week, LakeVoice releases its fifth spring issue, featuring stories on Mentor Duluth and its search for volunteers, the Re-Leaf Duluth program and its plan to replenish the city’s landscape, the Duluth Transit Authority’s plans for a new station and the changes that are coming to next year’s Bentleyville season.
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Be careful out there
DTA buses are sliding all over the place and bus service might be stopped before the end of the work day.
The Duluth Police Dept. reports that slippery conditions and poor visibility have contributed to over 20 crashes within the past two hours. The department is asking that residents stay home and only travel if necessary.
The zoo is closed. Goodwill is closed. Open skating at the Heritage Center is cancelled. The Duluth Parks and Rec clean up event at Chambers Grove Park is cancelled. Assume most things aren’t happening.
This Week in LakeVoice News
LakeVoice News’ sixth issue of the spring features stories on Native American housing in Duluth, Renegade Improvisation at the Teatro Zuccone and Pak’s Green Corner’s innovative culinary creations. Also, listen to an audio piece about Meghan, who works for the Incline Bowling Station, and a take a look at a photo story of Lake Superior Zoo’s EGG-Stravaganza.
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Jim Carlson: “The Nazis got me again.”
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
This afternoon Duluth police arrested Last Place on Earth owner Jim Carlson and his son, Joseph Gellerman, on probable cause based on prior sales of illegal controlled substances to undercover police officers.
Both Carlson and Gellerman were transported to the St. Louis County Jail and booked for three counts of fourth-degree sale of controlled substance.
Is the Duluth News Tribune taking potshots at special education?
The DNT has run two recent articles on special education in our public schools. Both articles seem to be to be blaming the current overcrowding and school budget crisis on special education costs. (more…)
Eight places to enroll in the nationwide cancer prevention study
First Covenant Church
St. Michael’s Catholic Church
US Bank Building
Superior Public Library
Peace in Christ Church
Asbury United Methodist Church
First United Methodist Church
Mariner Mall
There is one week left to enroll in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3. For dates and details visit cps3twinports.org
Not-So-Perfect Duluth Comet
Finally. Clear skies after sunset allowing my first, eagerly anticipated view of Comet PANSTARRS over Duluth. Sigh. Unfortunately, PANSTARRS isn’t really delivering the goods. I took these pictures Saturday night about 45 minutes after sunset, looking due west over the UMD campus, and trust me, even though the comet was visible to the naked eye, the photos are better than what I could see, even with binoculars. Still, if you get a chance (and the weather Gods permit) I recommend checking this underachieving celestial visitor out. (more…)
Looking for grant applicants
The Duluth Legacy Endowment Fund Committee is looking for grant applicants.
The Neighborhood Grant program awards grants up to $5,000 for projects and programs improving Duluth’s neighborhood parks and services. The deadline is April 1. Applications and other details are at
dsacommunityfoundation.com.
Please apply. Or please pass this along to anyone you think may be interested.
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LakeVoice publishes second issue of spring
After several weeks of preparation, LakeVoice News published its first issue of the semester Feb. 28. The issue features the kickoff of LakeVoice’s Photo-A-Day project, video and audio pieces, and local issues stories produced by UMD journalism students. Since its launch, LakeVoice has published a second issue that includes a “Duluth on Ice” section, which features the history behind area hockey rinks.
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Has anyone recently looked at the Unfair Campaign?
There are a bunch of posts promoting radical leaders who advocate racial genocide on the Un-fair Campaign’s Facebook page! Yipes! Is this what Duluth has come to?
Why are we not?
I just headed down to Goodwill to pick up a suitcase. I’m heading to Scotland to work on an organic vegetable farm for a couple of months. As I was coming back up the hill, I happened to look at the freeway and the thought came to me: Why is it that there are no solar photovoltaics on the south-facing sides of the freeway? What a perfect spot. Out of the way, not doing anything. Some places 20 to 30 feet from the ground to the road bed. South facing. Don’t have to take anything down. We own the right away. Why don’t we do something like that in Duluth? Apathy, ignorance, afraid of change, sold out to power companies, scared, need the money for hockey rinks … what’s the reason? I just don’t get it.
This is a revolution that is sweeping the world. The cost of solarvoltaics is cheaper then fossil fuels in some places. We can’t even try something so small as one solar street light. For 15 years I’ve been going on this rant. Is it going to be another 15 years? Is Duluth going to be that far behind the rest of the world? I just don’t get it.
Well aren’t you Mr. Popularity, Mayor Ness?
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
And to think that only yesterday you were a hate monger.
Note: KARE 11’s approval rating drops after failing to correctly spell the names of Jason Wussow and Peter Passi.
Karen Diver discusses another court decision against Duluth
At risk of setting off an avalanche of flaming comments here on PDD I am going to post this interview that I worked on today. (more…)
Rocket Bar Renovation
The ragged building at 208 E. First St. in Downtown Duluth is being gutted of debris in preparation for renovation. Bob Monahan and his father, Robert H. R. Monahan, plan to open an “artist friendly” cafe/lounge on the main floor later this year, with a recording studio in the basement level. They have already replaced the roof on the 127-year-old building, which they are in the process of acquiring from Jack Arnold through a contract-for-deed agreement.
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Is Duluth the Beer Capital of Minnesota?
In light of The Growler magazine beginning distribution to Duluth on Feb. 8, I have to ask if we’re becoming the brewing capital of Minnesota. By my count, we’ve got ten microbreweries open or nearly open: (more…)
Holiday Signs: Public Enemy #1
It has been mentioned on this site before how awful that Holiday sign is on I-35 at 27th Avenue West, but it bears repeating since it is pretty much the worst thing about Duluth, coming in just ahead of the Honking House and the fact that liquor stores can’t sell on Sundays (which is statewide, but so are the Holiday signs).
Well, I just noticed that the agenda for the Jan. 14 Duluth City Council meeting mentions that Councilor Jim Stauber will be introducing an ordinance regarding sign regulations that would seem, if I’m reading it right, to ban the Holiday sign.
[UPDATE: A closer reading of the resolution reveals that “legal, non-conforming signs are allowed to continue.” So Holiday couldn’t put up more signs with bright outlines at its stores in Duluth that don’t have them, but the ones that do have them could keep them.]
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“Emeriti” or “’emeritus,'” not “emeritus”
from today’s DNT:
“Other retired UMD faculty members have been identified as emeritus when writing opinion pieces in the pages of the News Tribune. . .”
“emeriti” = referring to the people in question
“’emeritus'” = implying a quote from the opinion pieces in question
“emeritus” = cognitive dissonance
Can’t see it any other way. Sticks in my craw.
The Lowertown Line – Trampled by Turtles, hosted by Dessa
Perfect Duluth Day was invited to shoot photos for the pilot of the MN Original program The Lowertown Line at Twins Cities Public Television. The Lowertown Line is a music special hosted by hip-hop artist Dessa and featuring bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles and their special guest, fellow Duluth native Alan Sparhawk of Low. The Lowertown Line’s five-song set and insightful conversation was recorded with a live studio audience. (more…)
I think I got a Boy Scout in trouble
I was at Super One in Kenwood last week, and a local Boy Scout troupe was bagging groceries. I didn’t want to give them a hard time, but I am opposed to the organization’s stand on gay rights, and so I finally said to the Scout Master adult, “Look, I’m not going to give you any money because of your stand on gay rights,” and offered to bag my own groceries (nicely, I hope). The Boy Scouts both proceeded to bag my groceries. I thanked them and said, “When your organization’s stand on gay rights changes, I’ll give you all the money I have.” Whereupon one of the young Scouts told me, “Well, actually, there is a movement at Minnesota State Scout Headquarters to change the State Scout charter in support of gay rights,” etc., and this kid looked totally excited about it! Then his Scout Master comes up and starts running his hand under the young man’s uniform collar, as if to shut him up, in a vaguely threatening manner.
Anyway, I profusely thanked this (very brave for incurring his Scout Master’s wrath) young man for the information, and I told him I certainly hope Minnesota Scouts does change its position.
I haven’t researched this yet, as I then went home and got extremely sick, so if anyone knows about it, please let me know. And thank you, brave Boy Scout, for the information!
Medium Control Renovation in Canal Park
The Medium Control has an Indiegogo Campaign to help fund the renovation of a new store.
We made an old-school Super8 video so you can learn who and what the Medium Control is and more about the new store renovation in the second floor of a Canal Park building that sat empty for 20 years. We’re so excited to share this with Duluth.
Tommy+Kristy
The Medium Control
From DNT: Bentleyville days may be numbered?
Someone always has to try to ruin a good thing…
Berlin’s Bon Voyage
At the Lake Superior Zoo, we know that the news of Berlin’s move to Kansas City is undoubtedly a shock to our friends and supporters. We understand that this development is difficult, concerning and confusing. We know that you all love and cherish Berlin as a symbol of our community and our zoo, and we know that you want her back. Trust us; we do too. But we hope that you also understand that the decision to move Berlin is completely and totally in her best interest. (more…)






