Recent content from Christa Lawler
'Murder at the Lighthouse' brings northern Minnesota vistas and intrigue to Lifetime
The new thriller, compared to "Misery" and "Sleeping with the Enemy," was filmed in and around Duluth in fall.
St. Louis County OKs funding to combat aquatic invasive species in lakes
Walz wants decreases to this fund, but the board will fight for the full amount in the future.
St. Louis County received $54.5M in pandemic-relief aid. Here's where it went.
More than 100 projects received funding, including road improvements, expanded broadband access, upgraded water systems and a high-tech landfill.
Tall ships festival will return to Duluth in July
Festival of Sail Duluth is July 10-13 and will include old-timey replicas.
Duluth police investigating ID of week-old baby left with staff at local shelter
The baby was dropped off with diapers and formula, and the woman told staff she couldn't care for it.
Vikings' Ham for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year? His hometown of Duluth is rooting for him.
Fullback C.J. Ham has stayed connected to his roots, supporting the organizations he frequented as a kid, including the Denfeld High School football program.
Duluth's Team Dropkin wins USA Curling men's national title; Eagan sisters' rink takes women's championship
Team Casper, based in Minneapolis, finished second in the men's competition, and Team Cousins, out of New Hampshire, was the women's runner-up.
Family of 12 makes cross-country ski racing a lifestyle and winning a hallmark
From the middle of the birth order comes Della Bettendorf, who hasn't lost a race this season for Proctor/Hermantown's high school team.
Iron Range man found guilty, again, of raping and murdering a Chisholm woman in 1986
Michael Allan Carbo collapsed to his chair when the verdict was read Friday night at the St. Louis County Courthouse.
Iron Range man on trial a second time for cold-case murder finally testifies
"I'm not capable of murdering nobody," Michael Allan Carbo Jr. testified, breaking his silence after being arrested five years ago.
'Nosy' neighbors tell of Iron Range woman's call for help in rape, murder case
Defendent Michael Carbo Jr.'s trial extended into its third day at the St. Louis County Courthouse.
Witness in Iron Range woman's 1986 rape, murder faces heat during cross-examination
Lawyers for the man convicted in her death question her friend about the time he spent with the victim and his interest in the investigation, in a retrial of the case.
Key witness in Iron Range murder trial emphatic he did not kill Nancy Daugherty
Brian Evenson, who is the alternate perpetrator at the center of Michael Carbo's defense, provided hours of detailed testimony.
What's the story behind Hermantown's little brick houses?
The 1930s Jackson Project built dozens, aiming to ease urban crowding and give families a way to grow food and keep animals.
Iron Range cold case trial redux begins this week with defense pointing to different suspect
Michael Allan Carbo will be back in court this week after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that he should have been allowed an alternate perpetrator defense.
ATV riders shell out millions riding northern Minnesota trails, study finds
University of Minnesota Extension researchers found an economic impact of $36 million in St. Louis, Lake and Koochiching counties in 2023.
Hermantown lands $2 million grant for developing industrial park at former Superfund site
The Hawkline Business Park is expected to cost $5 million, with the rest of funding coming from the city and private investments.
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon postponed to early March
The annual 300-mile race up the North Shore, which was canceled in 2024, was scheduled to begin later this month.
Mary Murphy, longest-serving woman in the Minnesota House, has died at 85
Murphy, of Hermantown, took office in 1977 and served until she lost to Natalie Zeleznikar in a close general election in 2022.
Bob Dylan's hometown fans get an early look at 'A Complete Unknown' in Hibbing
The Dylan biopic had a pre-screening Friday night at a theater in his boyhood home.
James Ulland, a former Duluth-area Republican lawmaker turned investment adviser, has died at 82
Ulland was an economist and tree farmer when he entered the political arena.
Police ID man, woman found dead in car at Duluth airport
Lawrence and Ann Roscoe, of Duluth's Lakeside neighborhood, were found in the top level of the parking ramp on Thursday evening.
St. Louis County Board OKs largest budget yet, at over $500 million
The budgeted $504,403,199 goes toward public safety, roads and bridges, public health and human services, employee wages, community programming, infrastructure and more.
Duluth bike group asks for safer roads after cyclist dies crossing Mesaba Avenue at rush hour
Vibrant Streets Duluth wants right-of-way enforcement and a transportation commission, among other safeguards for those using roads.
Man, woman found dead in car parked in ramp at Duluth airport
Duluth police found the two people while trying to track down the man, who reportedly had been struggling with his mental health.
Gilbert woman charged with murder after man ODs; she then wrote about it in a private Facebook message
Ashley Rose Cook wrote, "I gave [the victim a] perc 30 and he died," according to the criminal complaint.
Ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in 'Oz,' stolen and missing for years, are sold at auction for $28M
The famous shoes, owned by collector Michael Shaw, were stolen from Grand Rapids' Judy Garland Museum in 2005 and recovered in an FBI sting in 2018.
Virginia adds floating bridge to Silver Lake, also known for largest floating loon
The city held a ribbon-cutting last month.
Duluth man takes last-minute plea deal in criminal sexual conduct case
Clint Franklin Massie, 49, pleaded guilty to four counts of assaulting children he knew through church, family, instead of facing jury.
Bids for ruby slippers stolen from Grand Rapids museum surpass $1 million in online auction
The live auction for the shoes, worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz," starts at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Duluth airport sets flight record in September, and makes push for funding
The airport's air traffic control tower is the third-oldest in the country and no longer meets a key FAA requirement.
St. Louis County approves 'conservative' cannabis ordinance, allowing room to adjust in the future
Only Commissioner Ashley Grimm voted against the ordinance during Tuesday's meeting at the St. Louis County courthouse.
Fired Duluth church youth leader sentenced in 3 more sex assault cases
Jackson Gatlin was sentenced Tuesday for sexually assaulting three more victims, but it doesn't add to his prison time.
Former Duluth youth leader sentenced to 13 years in prison for sexual abuse of young girls
Jackson Gatlin, his parents and Duluth Vineyard church are also facing civil lawsuits from at least nine victims.
Landfill in Virginia, Minn., will turn heat from garbage into energy used to treat wastewater
The 10-acre cell at the St. Louis County landfill is the first of its kind in the state.
NTSB announces cause of fatal plane crash that destroyed Hermantown house
The National Transportation Safety Board cited the pilot's likely "spatial disorientation" in its report on a single-engine plane crash that killed all three on board — but not those in the house the plane hit.
Gophers complete women's hockey sweep of Minnesota Duluth
Minnesota, ranked third, rolled past the No. 4 Bulldogs two days in a row and hasn't lost to them since March 2022.
No. 3 Gophers pound out women's hockey win over No. 4 Minnesota Duluth
The Gophers gave UMD goalie Eve Gascon a 48-save workout in the first of back-to-back meetings.
Police: Duluth man suspected of killing family, himself got gun permit in September
Anthony Nephew got the gun despite a violent incident two months earlier. He told officers that voices had been telling him President-elect Donald Trump was going to take control and he needed to kill his family to protect them.
In Duluth, hundreds walk in candlelight vigil to honor slain family
Hundreds of people turned out to walk from the Nephews' home to the Abramson house, nearly a mile through the West Duluth neighborhood.
St. Louis County marks the end of project that brought fixes to 21 bridges and culverts
Dubbed the "bridge bundling project," it was a three-year, $25 million collaboration between the northern Minnesota county and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Man charged in burglaries, assaults on elderly in their Duluth homes
Jeffrey Scott Montana faces five felony charges from last week's spree.
Police: Duluth man fatally shot two sons, wife, ex-wife and himself
Anthony Nephew, whose sons were ages 7 and 15, had written about his struggles with mental illness.
What are Lake Superior's most famous shipwrecks?
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank nearly half a century ago in "the gales of November." But the lake has taken hundreds of other ships, too.
Police find five dead, including two juveniles, from shootings in two Duluth homes
It's unclear how the incident unfolded, but police said more information would be released at a news conference Friday.
Former church youth leader in Duluth pleads guilty in sexual assault case
Jackson Gatlin, whose father, Michael Gatlin, was the pastor at Duluth Vineyard Church, will likely serve 13 years in prison after five women came forward with allegations of abuse, grooming.
Shawn Reed tops Duluth's former city attorney in 'unusual opportunity' judicial race
Reed, who says he's been involved with more than 11,000 cases in 27 years, outlasted the other three candidates, including Gunnar Johnson, on the primary ballot.
Northern Minnesota woman charged with voter fraud in forgery of dead mom's name
Danielle Christine Miller of Nashwauk told a deputy that her mother was an avid supporter of presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Duluth's Haunted Ship plays on its lore in last gasps of tourist season — and Forbes likes it
The made-over William A. Irvin got a shoutout on a Top 7 list of "Scariest Haunted Houses."
With a familiar name, DFL tries to win back long-held Minnesota House seat it lost last election
A retired judge and political newcomer is challenging one-term Republican Natalie Zeleznikar in the northern Minnesota district.
St. Louis County OKs $1.4M for upgrades to Damiano Center, a makeshift shelter, while Chum expands
Churches United in Ministry, with its $10 million in state and federal grants, is expected to break ground on a project that will double its size.
Gophers pour it on, complete weekend men's hockey sweep of Minnesota Duluth
An overnight stay in Duluth, uncommon recently but about to become the norm, produced two comfortable victories for sixth-ranked Minnesota.
Gophers roll early, start series with victory over Minnesota Duluth
The Gophers scored the first four goals, including two in the first five minutes. In a change from the norm, the series will remain in Duluth for a Saturday game.
Rick Nolan, former northern Minnesota congressman, has died
The former U.S. representative won the northeastern Minnesota seat in 2012 and followed with two tricky re-election campaigns. He had served earlier in Congress and the Minnesota House.
Two sentenced for distributing meth that led to two fatal overdoses in northern Minnesota
The men each received more than 13 years after two men died and a women was critically injured in 2022.
Bong Bridge will get upgrades next summer in time for Blatnik construction reroutes
Spot painting, concrete surface repairs and more are expected in 2025 on the lesser-traveled bridge between Duluth and Superior.
Duluth man who says he can't remember killing girlfriend sentenced to 20 years
Dale John Howard killed Allisa Marie Vollan in March, days after she had gotten a no-contact order.
Longtime owner of Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters dies at 85
Bruce Kerfoot was a local force and champion for Cook County businesses.
Memorial set for fallen northern Minnesota park ranger; service will stream online
Kevin Grossheim died while attempting to rescue a stranded family on a windy, wavy day on Namakan Lake.
Duluth mayor picks new city attorney as former one becomes a judge
Terri Lehr, who has been deputy city attorney for four years, replaces Jessica Fralich, who was appointed to the bench by Gov. Tim Walz earlier this week.
Duluth man involved in chaotic aftermath of fatal stabbing turns himself in 6 months later
Trayvon Joseph Walters fired at least two shots in downtown Duluth the night a young mother died of a stab wound.
Ranger who died attempting Voyageurs National Park rescue, a 'true public servant,' is identified
Kevin Grossheim had spent decades as a ranger and on the volunteer EMS crew in Northern Minnesota.
Walz appoints Duluth's City Attorney to Sixth District judge
Jessica Fralich will replace retiring Judge David M. Johnson.
Wisconsin man sentenced to 11 years for his role in mutilating the body of a St. Paul man
Robert Thomas West is already serving prison time in Minnesota for charges tied to the murder and dismemberment of Ricky Balsimo Jr.
Final report on 2023 fatal plane crash near Duluth offers few answers
The NTSB reports no evidence of mechanical malfunction.
Duluth's Grandma's Marathon 2025 races filling at record pace
Some entrants reported more than a 90-minute wait as they tried to register.
Duluth teen sentenced for fatally shooting childhood friend in 2022
Corey Devon Young, 19, was sentenced to over 27 years in prison in St. Louis County Court for killing Xzavier "Zane" Aubid-St. Clair.
Duluth manuscript museum has old, obscure documents. Then there is the historical loot tucked into the walls.
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum turns 30 this year, just in time to unveil the contents of a time capsule left behind by former church's keepers.
St. Louis County OKs a 7.23% max tax levy increase; new development will blunt that
The tax base in Minnesota's geographically largest county grew about $265 million in mostly residential construction last year.
Edina man killed, woman injured in North Shore crash
Douglas Paul Junker died Tuesday night at the scene along Hwy. 61.
Inmate at Moose Lake prison found dead in cell
The death of the 39-year-old man is under investigation.
Duluth man pleads guilty to killing girlfriend who had a no-contact order against him
Dale John Howard, 25, said he doesn't remember killing Allisa Marie Vollan, 27.
Walz makes appeal for hard work from Wisconsin voters at Superior rally
The governor, making his fourth appearance in the battleground state as the Democratic vice presidential candidate, asked voters for 'All gas, no brakes.'
Northern Minnesota school bus driver faces charges of drunken driving with students on board
The 44-year-old man was arrested Sept. 4 after a concerned bystander saw him, seemingly intoxicated, at the bar the night before his morning route.
School bus driver, believed to be 'highly intoxicated' at a bar, arrested on Iron Range route the next morning
There were 17 students on board the bus when the driver was arrested, with a preliminary BAC of 0.16%.
