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National Scouting Combine underway; AF1's Jeff Fisher to address attendees Wednesday
Howie Hanson is editor & publisher of 50-Yard Football, which covers arena/indoor football leagues. NAPLES, Fla. — Arena Football One officials opened a pivotal week of player evaluation here Tuesday at the National Scouting Combine, a prestigious event that has become one of the nation’s most reliable pathways for
St. Louis County selects Mike Jugovich as board chair for 2026
"This is going to be a challenging year, but I am confident we will be able to work together and with our state and federal partners to best serve our residents. We will be actively working to deliver needed services but know we must do our best to minimize cost impacts to taxpayers." -- Jugovich
Howie: Minnesota didn’t just lose Tim Walz. It lost a political skill set.
Walz connected emotionally with parts of the Democratic base in a way Klobuchar never has. Progressive activists tolerated him because he felt authentic, grounded, unpretentious. Klobuchar does not inspire that same patience. Her politics are transactional, not aspirational.
Howie: McCarthy's toughness question isn't going away
McCarthy didn’t just remove himself from a game. He removed himself from a moment. And moments like that don’t come back. Not in January. Not in training camp. Not with a clean injury report.
Howie: AF1 leadership attends National Scouting Combine as league evaluates talent pipeline
For players attending this week’s event, the National Scouting Combine offers exposure to multiple professional pathways. For leagues such as AF1, it provides a centralized environment to identify talent, verify performance metrics and begin roster planning well ahead of training camps.
Howie: This is what drift looks like
We are attempting to run a full-service, high-touch, progressive city on a tax base that isn’t keeping up — and hasn’t been for a long time. We talk about growth like it’s just around the corner. We budget like it already arrived. And we tax like it never left.
Hermantown Sports Notebook
Beau Christy and Ford Skytta each scored twice to lead Hermantown to a 7-2 victory over Mahtomedi on Friday night at the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center. Hermantown scored three goals in both the second and third periods. Kole Lendzyk and Bode Madill each contributed a goal and an assist
Hermantown Police and St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office introduce new K-9s, honor retiring K-9s
Three new law enforcement K-9 teams have graduated from training and are ready to begin working patrol shifts. The teams were introduced to the community on Monday during a special event at Hermantown City Hall. They include: . K-9 Bruno is partnered with Hermantown Police Officer Olivia Gottschald . K-9 Kylo is
Hawks showed grit in a season-opening loss at Princeton
“The most encouraging thing, in my eyes, was the fact that no matter which five guys we had on the floor, no matter the score, they were playing their hearts out.” -- Hermantown boys basketball coach Andy Fenske
Prep Sports Preview: Hermantown boy's basketball
“We only graduated two players from last year and had a fantastic summer with our players.” -- Hawks coach Andy Fenske
Obit: Rolland Neal Mammenga
Rolland N. Mammenga, 91, of Hermantown, MN passed away on Monday November 17. 2025 in Essentia Health, St. Mary’s Medical Center. He was born on the family farm in Waterbury Township, MN on February 19, 1934, to William and Ida Mammenga. Rolland graduated from Mahnomen High School Class of
Howie: Hermantown sports in the news
Martin Sleen named All-Minnesota, Hawks expected to battle Hibbing-Chisholm in 7A hockey
Take a bow, Hermantown football team
Hermantown’s 2025 football season came full circle Friday night — ending against the same team that handed the Hawks their first loss of the fall. Grand Rapids, physical and efficient from the start, again proved too much, defeating Hermantown 41-0 in the Section 7, Class 4A championship game to end
Hawks advance to Section 7AAAA football final
Hermantown led 14-8 at halftime and 28-16 after three quarters before Sleen’s third touchdown in the fourth extended the margin to 35-20.
Howie: We’ve seen this movie before. Same script, different salesman.
The old fellas at the café won’t need a study to understand it. They’ve seen this dance too many times before. They’ll sip their burnt coffee, shake their heads, and say what they always say when the next “big thing” blows through town: “Should’ve just built another rink.”
Howie: The Minnesota Star Tribune sues Minneapolis Police Department over public records access
Public records aren’t optional. They’re not favors. And they’re not something a police department gets to release once the inconvenience wears off. The law is clear — even if compliance apparently isn’t.
Swim Creative wins 2025 w3 Award for website
Swim Creative delivered a fully custom site featuring rich visuals, storytelling rooted in Minnesota’s folklore, and an interface designed for both exploration and ease of use. The project also emphasized mobile-first design, search optimization, and user accessibility.
Longtime WDIO 10/13 news anchor Danielson to retire
“We are so happy for Darren and his wife Vicki to be embarking on their great adventure of retirement.” -- WDIO General Manager Deb Messer
The Minnesota Star Tribune announces return of The Wrap
MINNEAPOLIS — The Star Tribune will host the second annual edition of The Wrap on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the newspaper’s Heritage printing facility in Minneapolis’ North Loop. The immersive year-in-review event offers a look back at Minnesota’s most defining stories of 2025 through interactive exhibits, live music, food,
Howie: Laura Lee the next television anchor voice of the Northland
You can sense Lee's broadcast discipline the moment the red light clicks on. Her voice carries polish without pretense, her cadence deliberate but not cold. She has that calm, centered presence that suggests she’s not there to perform — she’s there to communicate.
Howie: Darren Danielson, WDIO's statesman
That perfectionism has made WDIO what it is — the region’s dominant newscast for years running. Viewers know exactly what they’ll get: no chaos, no stunts, just clean, confident journalism. Danielson’s the face of that brand, but also its conscience.
Howie: Dan Hanger’s quiet reign over the Twin Ports airwaves
If you watch Hanger closely, you’ll notice he occasionally glances at the prompter with a smirk, like he’s reminding himself not to take any of it too seriously. That’s a healthy instinct in an industry where self-importance runs rampant.
Howie: The Gold Seal of Trust
“We are so fortunate and proud to have not one but two AMS-certified meteorologists. Justin and Sabrina have the passion and dedication needed to provide incredible forecasting to our community.” -- Debra Messer, WDIO's Vice President and General Manager
Minnesota Star Tribune introduces MN Rising – sharing stories of community good
The Star Tribune, founded 158 years ago, is Minnesota’s largest news organization and has earned seven Pulitzer Prizes. Its parent company describes its mission as “building the leading model for local news in America.”
National Scouting Combine roster announced
National Scouting Combine has released its player roster for 2026. Draft-eligible athletes and free agents from across the country will compete Tuesday through Friday at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Florida. The world-class event will provide players the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of professional football
Hermantown girls riding a 7-game winning streak
The Hermantown girls basketball team has found its rhythm — and its confidence — heading into January. After navigating an early stretch that tested the Hawks against quality competition, Hermantown has posted seven straight victories and enters the week at 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the Lake Superior Conference. “After a tough
Howie: McCarthy's toughness question isn't going away
McCarthy didn’t just remove himself from a game. He removed himself from a moment. And moments like that don’t come back. Not in January. Not in training camp. Not with a clean injury report.
Howie: Bulldogs, Prep Hockey Notebook
UMD men's hockey is surrounding its future core with the kind of balance you rarely see in a single signing haul: scoring up front, size and skating on the back end, and a top-flight goaltender to anchor the whole operation.
Howie: Northstar Ford Arena opens January 3
For the broader community, Northstar Ford Arena is a gathering place — the kind that small towns understand better than anyone. Rinks aren’t just buildings here. They’re living rooms. Story banks. Time machines. They hold memories whether they’re supposed to or not.
Howie: Let's support our hometown Monsters, the best team in the prestigious AF1
“The city of Duluth embraced this team when they were the Duluth Harbor Monsters. Going to all these games — for me to take that away from them would have been selfish.” -- New Minnesota Monsters owner Jacob Lambert
Hermantown Sports Notebook
Hermantown delivered a three-sport statement Friday night, with the Hawks’ boys hockey, boys basketball and girls basketball teams all turning in convincing wins. The Class A top-ranked Hawks hockey team knocked off host Maple Grove 7-4. Defenseman Gabe Swenson had five assists. Bryce Francisco stopped 25 shots in goal for
Howie: Monsters to move to Amsoil
Duluth has always supported teams that show up honestly and invest consistently. The formula hasn’t changed. Don’t overpromise. Don’t disappear when things get hard. Build something people can recognize as theirs. When that happens, this city responds — not with blind loyalty, but with earned trust.
Howie: Hermantown girls hoopsters keeping pedal to the floor
Leadership has mattered during the uneven stretches. Senior captains Bailey Hermanson and Aurora Decker have been the stabilizers — not just when the Hawks are rolling, but when they’re searching.