424 POSTS

John Ramos

Planning commissioners grant front-yard parking variance, urge discussion

In June of 2017, the city of Duluth cracked down on certain people who were parking in their front yards. The city’s notice read: “The concerns that have been...

Mysterious RFP revealed

“I can’t be responding to seven different people with seven different requests,” School District 709 Human Resources Director Tim Sworsky complained to the School Board on Sept. 10, 2019,...

Zoo Director Simonson hires lobbyist to lobby Senator Simonson

Erik Simonson was hired as director of the Lake Superior Zoo in September of 2017. Seventeen days after he started his new position, Simonson announced that the zoo was broke and...

School district stonewalls board’s request for information, again

The Duluth School District has recently come under fire for hiring an assistant superintendent with a criminal record, without informing the School Board of that fact. The new hire...

Flag-raising scheduled for Sept. 18. Or maybe not.

Within the next week, the city will be inviting the public to a flag-raising ceremony for Duluth’s new flag. Though the flags have not yet been ordered in bulk,...

Tourism tax talk

Duluth’s first tourism tax was established on March 17, 1969, by a vote of the City Council. The new tax attached a three percent surcharge to hotel and motel...

Subscribe to our magazine

━ popular

Proposal to eliminate 4th Street parking spaces stirs concern

At the June 5, 2026 meeting of the Duluth Parking Commission, Senior City Engineer Alex Popp presented the city’s proposed plan to reconstruct ten...

Remaining two residents ordered to leave beleaguered Hermantown trailer park

In December of 2024, due to ongoing building code violations at Hermantown’s Maple Field Trailer Park, the owner, Steven Schneeberger, was charged with six...

Five companies file mechanics liens against Urbane 218 as building nears completion

On Dec. 18, 2025, Duluth Economic Development Authority Director Tricia Hobbs issued a Notice of Breach to Urbane 218 LLC, the developer of the...

Two wrongful death lawsuits against Cirrus Aircraft moved to St. Louis County

Within the past year, two active lawsuits against Cirrus Design Corporation have been transferred to the St. Louis County District Court. Both lawsuits allege...

Firefighting airplane struck multiple times by gunfire, alleged sovereign citizen arrested

On May 20, 2026, St. Louis County deputies arrested Portage Township resident Daniel Pettit on suspicion of shooting at a firefighting airplane as it...