A warm, and relatively snowless winter meant disappointment for many across the Northland as the calendar turned over to 2024.

Beargrease, a yearly tradition, was cancelled, and lots of Northland businesses that rely on our more typical winter weather felt the pinch.

January kicked things off with a visit from President Biden – in town to commemorate the impact of the infrastructure bill on a local landmark. At this time – the president was still eyeing a second term.

In February, the North Shore would lose an icon – the 80 year old Lutsen lodge.

Spring would see protests in Duluth as it would all across the country. Many turning to the streets to voice opposition the still on-going war being fought between Israel and Hamas.

Protestors set up camp in Priley circle downtown – eventually sparking a debate over the city’s unhoused population.

Turning to the lake – the coast guard announced in early June that the Michipicoten was taking on water after an underwater collision. Eventually, she’d be head to Superior for repairs.

Though Beargrease might not have made it this year – another tradition certainly did – Grandma’s Marathon – seeing runners brave the rain.

The Summer would turn to tragedy for several communities in northern Minnesota – flash flooding affected numerous counties, with the president declaring those areas a federal disaster.

2024 saw Minnesota in the spotlight as Governor Tim Walz ran for vice president.

The campaign would see Trump in St. Cloud trying to flip Minnesota red, and Walz in Superior hoping to keep Wisconsin blue. Neither would get their wish.

Back in Duluth – the summer would see the debate over homelessness move from outside city hall to it’s council chambers. Mayor Reinert, along with the police and fire departments put together a package of proposed ordinance changes – including one that would make sleeping in public a misdemeanor, though that offense would be capped at a $200 fine.

September would see some Anishinaabe returning to their spiritual homeland – Madeline Island to commemorate 170 years of the signing of the 1854 treaty – which established the some of their reservations.

As the school year began, we’d see bus accidents – including one in Cherry, which fortunately resulted in no fatalities.

Fatalities would mount in the southeast – after a costly hurricane season – we met northlanders who responded to those who were impacted.

Closer to home, the Northland also felt the impact of the death of park ranger Kevin Grossheim, who died in the line of duty rescuing visitors in Voyaguers National Park

While the presidential election saw much of the spotlight in 2024 – we at WDIO worked to keep you up to date on some of the local races and faces on the ballot in 2024.

Then – a community in shock over the senseless shootings that took the lives of a family of five. A shaken community then came together to remember a family lost.

WDIO continued it’s commitment to helping the community by partnering with several non-profits in the region to help raise money for our annual trees of hope campaign. All told – the efforts raised several thousand dollars.

December brought two big Duluth stories when it comes to crime and punishment. Federal authorities announced the shuttering of the Duluth Federal Prison camp – a facility holding hundreds of inmates and employing nearly 90.

A massive a list of pardons and clemencies was announced in the waning days of the Biden administration,. On that list was Duluth’s Jim Carlson, who’d served a decade behind bars for federal drug charges. Those who helped put him away expressed shock.

And as the year wound down, we got into the holiday spirit – Bentleyville – Christmas markets – even the running of the Santas.