The southbound direction of the 40th Avenue West bridge over I-35 in Duluth has reopened.
One 11’ lane is accessible across the bridge for traffic heading from the hillside towards the lake. Traffic will be able to access the ramp northbound to I-35 and Oneota St. Motorists exiting from northbound I-35 will continue to be detoured on Oneota St. to 37 ½ Ave. W. and then follow W. Michigan St. and W. Superior St. back to 40th Ave W.
Local Government Aid alone covers nearly $35 million, about one-third of the budget. It’s the difference between black ink and red. Lose even 5 percent of that aid, and Duluth’s “balanced” budget implodes by millions. That’s not financial strength — that’s dependence disguised as stability.
Duluth’s short-term goal is tactical — keep Inland’s exclusivity alive, hit the paperwork milestones, and convince the Legislature to fund the $10.85 million in site-prep money the city calls the key that unlocks $250 million in private investment.
In 2025, for instance, they raised the levy by 1.85 percent but declared it a “0 percent” year for current taxpayers because new development supposedly absorbed the increase. But that’s a shell game. The levy still grew by nearly $800,000.
The city expects test results over the weekend and will share updates when available.
The initiative represents a full-circle investment in justice — turning criminal proceeds into treatment for our veterans to help them rebuild their lives. These veterans have faced accountability through prosecution and the justice system. Now, we have the opportunity to support their recovery.
That’s the tragedy of this season — it’s not the losing, it’s the lying. Every move is sold as “strategic.” Every mistake is “part of the process.” Every loss is “valuable learning.” It’s a corporate PowerPoint in shoulder pads. This isn’t football anymore. It’s asset management in cleats.
There’s something quietly magnetic about Jason Watt on a Bulldogs hockey broadcast. He’s not trying to sound like anyone else. He doesn’t force energy or jargon. He just explains the game — clearly, comfortably, and with the kind of authenticity that comes only from having lived it.
The likeliest play is a polite handshake extension — one year, maybe two, at something closer to $2 million per. A team-friendly, locker-room-cred deal.
