PDD News Sieve
Chris Monroe Interview
Cartoonist Chris Monroe discusses the flooding in Duluth, her 848 comics and the upcoming show at the Duluth Art Institute in this MinnPost article:
Park Point among USA Today’s “51 great American beaches”
USA Today took recommendations from “local experts” across the country to select one great beach in each state and the District of Columbia. Greg Breining, author of Paddle North: Canoeing the Boundary Waters-Quetico Wilderness, was Minnesota’s expert. He recommended Park Point.
Minnesota’s best beach lies on 6-mile-long Park Point, which shields Duluth’s harbor from the furious storms of Lake Superior. Though the water is rarely warm enough for swimming without a wetsuit, the beach is a great spot to watch incoming waves, giant saltwater freighters and Great Lakes ore carriers passing under Duluth’s signature Aerial Lift Bridge, and to spot birds that rest on the point during spring and fall migrations. The Park Point Nature Trail follows the beach and occasionally passes old-growth pine and tamarack.
Lake Avenue Café named “Best Restaurant Worth the Drive” by City Pages
City Pages‘ “Best of the Twin Cities” issue came out on Wednesday. Lake Avenue Café in Duluth took honors for “Best Restaurant Worth the Drive.”
(more…)
Retribution Gospel Choir gets Revenge
Duluth band Retribution Gospel Choir will have its song “Feel it, Superior” featured in tonight’s episode of the ABC-TV drama series Revenge. It airs locally at 9 p.m. on WDIO-TV channel 10.1.
Jeno Paulucci dead at 93
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
Duluth 2011 General Election Results
Congratulations to new city councilors Jennifer Julsrud (pending recount), Garry Krause (returning to the council after time off), Linda Krug and Emily Larson.
For the School Board, the winners are incumbent Judy Seliga Punyko and newcomers Michael Miernicki and Bill Westholm.
As for the various questions on the ballot, it’s good for parks and bad for schools. (more…)
Last Place on Earth raided
At 1:02 p.m. today Duluth Police executed a search warrant at the Last Place On Earth, a head shop at 120 E. Superior St.
According to police, the search warrant is part of an ongoing investigation into the sale of “illegal synthetic marijuana,” and Last Place will remain closed until investigators have cleared the scene.
No arrests have been made, so whether illegal products were being sold along with legal ones is yet to be determined.
Designer drugs were the subject of cover stories in the Duluth News Tribune and Star Tribune on Sunday.
DNT: Synthetic drugs bring new rush hour to downtown Duluth
Strib: Bath salts hit U.S. ‘like a freight train’
Rep. Milroy tackled at the Capitol
Rep. Nick Milroy of Superior was tackled to the ground as he entered the Capitol building in Madison to retrieve some clothing from his office. Apparently he showed his ID to an officer, but the officer didn’t give him clearance to get in.
(This post originally contained an embedded video that was later removed from YouTube.)
UMD professor on Nova Science Now
University of Minnesota Duluth Biology Professor Matt Andrews appeared in the “Hibernating Humans” segment on last week’s episode of Nova Science Now.
Dr. Andrews has been active in the field of hibernation since 1995 and has used his background in molecular biology and protein-DNA interactions to identify genes that regulate mammalian hibernation.
Duluth 2010 General Election Results
With all precincts reporting, here are the statewide numbers for Minnesota races related to Duluth and St. Louis County. (more…)
Duluth’s Lingering Shame: Clayton, Jackson, McGhie Lynching
Below is the complete text of a story from the June 7, 2000 issue of Duluth’s Ripsaw newspaper.
Duluth’s Lingering Shame
Eighty years ago Duluthians carried out one of the most horrific acts this region has ever seen. How did it happen? Have we changed?
By Heidi Bakk-Hansen
They’re selling postcards of the hanging
They’re painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner
They’ve got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other is in his pants
And the riot squad they’re restless
They need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight
— From Bob Dylan’s “Desolation Row”
On June 15, 1920, a mob of 10,000 lynched Isaac McGhie, Elias Clayton and Elmer Jackson at the corner of First Street and Second Avenue East in Duluth. (more…)
Low reaches for ‘Heaven’ with dance

Duluth indie band Low is trying something very new about a very old subject as band members are collaborating with Minneapolis choreographer Morgan Thorson on “Heaven,” a dance exploring religious ritual. (more…)
Duluth antique dealer sick of appraising Smurf collections
Antique dealer sick of appraising Smurf collections.
The Onion just republished this 2002 story, which many of you may have missed eight years ago.
News Tribune dumps Karwath, McLoughlin
Two more high-ranking executives in local media are out of work. Duluth News Tribune Executive Editor Rob Karwath and Circulation Manager Tim McLoughlin were laid off today. This follows the firing on Monday of Julie Moravchik, who was news director at Fox 21 News.
Duluth News Tribune Publisher Ken Browell released this statement:
Effective today the company has restructured management within the Editorial and Circulation Departments, resulting in the elimination of two management positions at the News Tribune. Executive Editor Rob Karwath and Circulation Manager Tim McLoughlin have been laid off. Both of these individuals have made significant contributions to the News Tribune during their careers. These were difficult business decisions. I will miss Rob and Tim both personally and professionally.
State of Minnesota too polite to ask for federal funding
Although many of its highways and bridges are in severe disrepair, the traditionally undemanding state of Minnesota isn’t comfortable asking for more interstate funding, sources reported Monday.
“Duluth said it has some scrap metal we might be able to melt down to make some lamp poles.”





