A look back at the region's top news and arts stories of 2023.

Earlier this month, Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail and the state’s portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail were officially designated as parks under the National Park Service. If that inspires you to hit one or both of them for a winter hike, you might take a page from Emily Ford. The Duluth hiker and […]

Superior Police Chief Nicholas Alexander remembers his first call 25 years ago: An underaged drinking complaint that interrupted breakfast with his training officer at Perkins. He’s still in contact with the then-youthful former offender who’s long been on the straight and narrow — perhaps a testament to the community policing initiatives Alexander championed after taking […]

Superior Police Chief Nicholas Alexander Retires After 25 years On The Force, Ans The University of Wisconsin-Superior's 'Season of Song' Concert

In November 2022, voters in greater Superior flipped the longtime Democratic-held 73rd Assembly seat to Republican with the election of Angie Sapik of Lake Nebagamon. Sapik joins WPR’s Kate Archer Kent to talk about her first year in office, discussing issues including taxes, habitat management and gender ahead of the 2024 legislative season. Also, Ian […]

State Rep. Angie Sapik of Lake Nebagamon reviews her first year with WPR's Kate Archer Kent, and Ian Alexy shares his music.

The greater Twin Ports is growing more racially and ethnically diverse, yet barriers to opportunity for people of color still persist. The cities of Superior and Duluth are addressing those challenges through commissions that directly advise the mayors about the communities’ concerns. Ephraim Nikoi, chair of Superior’s Mayor’s Commission on Communities of Color, and Phoebe […]

A primer on the city commissions on communities of color in Superior and Duluth, and Teague Alexy shares his music

Residents of the greater Twin Ports are well-acquainted with the controversies surrounding sulfide mining, particularly with proposed mineral extraction projects in Minnesota’s Iron Range and on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Now, the debate spreads to Wisconsin with plans by Canada’s Green Light Metals to begin exploratory drilling for copper and gold […]

Kimberly Mitchell’s life would be far different if not for an American serviceman, and she’s dedicated much of her career to helping veterans. Adopted from an orphanage in Da Nang, Vietnam, by an Airman and raised in Solon Springs, she is now a senior advisor in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs after a career […]