Through the advanced technology of consumer-level analog video we take a look back 20 years to KBJR-TV’s 10 p.m. news telecast from April 13, 2004.

At the time, KBJR’s news products were branded as the “Northland’s NewsCenter.” That marketing distinction was eventually dropped, but in 2022 it was replaced with the current brand, “Northern News Now.”

This particular newscast is in Perfect Duluth Day’s archive because the brain trust at PDD was also behind the then-annual Geek Prom event and staged a publicity stunt at the Great Lakes Aquarium to illustrate how many geeks fit into a Kia Rio. A segment on that is at the end of the newscast.

Video Timeline
00:05 – President Bush holds press conference on Iraq war
02:55 – Janet Reno testifies before 9/11 Commission
03:35 – Moy Langhorst funeral service announcement
04:00 – Search continues for Dru Sjodin
05:45 – Stronger stalking laws in Wisconsin
06:25 – Wisconsin Gov. Doyle signs 16 bills
06:55 – Patty Rantala’s deer baiting and feeding bill
08:45 – Duluth’s Ten Commandments monument case headed to court
09:30 – Mining Meeting at the DECC
10:10 – Pipe break causes leak at Murphy Oil
11:00 – Commercials: Lake of Torches Resort Casino, Northwest Outlet / Carhart, 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment, Explore Minnesota, Northland Ford Dealers
13:50 – Tax deadline approaching
14:05 – Getting out of upside-down loans
16:20 – Two arsons at Duluth firefighting training station
16:40 – Grassfire in Solway Township
17:00 – Nice weather at Silver Lake in Virginia
17:15 – Commercials: Dodge Ram, Hom Furniture, Target, Subway, Lakewalk Surgery Center
19:50 – Weather forecast with Sven Sundgaard
23:45 – Commercials: American Family Insurance, Luther Eggebrecht Chevrolet, St. Luke’s Cancer Care Center, CellularOne, Arrowhead Window and Door
26:20 – Sports with Tom Hansen
30:10 – Commercials: Chrysler Pacifica, Medica, Qwest, McDonald’s, PawnAmerica
32:50 – How many geeks can you fit into a Kia Rio?
33:40 – Final weather with Sven