Kenny Johnson

Duluth

Multimedia Journalist at WDIO-TV (Duluth, MN)

The Lift Reporter✨. Minnesota raised Anchor/Producer/ Multimedia Journalist at WDIO (@wdiowirt) | Proud UTVS Alumn 🎥

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Articles

Learning encaustic painting with Natalie Salminen

1 week ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

In her studio in the Duluth harbor area, Natalie Salminen creates gorgeous masterpieces with her encaustic technique. Encaustic painting is painting with melted and dyed beeswax. Natalie says this painting style incorporates a lot of techniques used in ceramics which she says makes it better. She says she’s inspired by the things around her, but she starts her projects in a totally different way. “I don’t necessarily have a visual idea of what I’m doing, but the images just emerge,” says Natalie.
Blacksmithing with Forging Communities in Duluth

2 weeks ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

Located right next to the Duluth Armory, the blacksmithing school Forging Community has been working to keep the art of blacksmithing alive. “We take folks at any and all experience level. A lot of them have no experience whatsoever,” says instructor Warren Bettencourt. Forging community helps people learn the basics of blacksmithing so then students can move on to make the things they want to make. “So we start out with simple things, S hooks, steak flippers.
What are the artesian wells in Ashland?

2 weeks ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

There is a mighty popular Artesian well at Maslowski Beach in Ashland. When you drive to Ashland on Highway 2 you’ll see the gorgeous shore of Lake Superior, but on Maslowski Beach did you know there’s an artesian well? Yes in a nicely decorated hut are two spickets that have running artesian well water which is totally safe to drink out of. Water comes deep from underground in what’s known as a confined aquifer.
Learning glass etching with Dissociated Arts Studio

2 weeks ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

Based in Superior, Wisconsin, Dissociated Arts Studio works hard to keep creativity thriving in the Twin Ports. Self declared Head Muse Calliope Kilpelainen runs dissociated and is very crafty with almost every art medium. She travels to spaces in the Twin ports to teach different art classes including one of her more recent classes, glass etching. This was a class Calliope brought to Duluth’s Best Bread in Superior and she says that even the workers were interested in hoping in on the lesson.
Training with the Duluth Huskies

3 weeks ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

The Duluth Huskies put in a lot of hard work before their big games at Wade Stadium. A typical training day starts at 12;30pm and goes until 10:30, with Head Coach Marcus Pointer leading the charge. “We talk about approach. You know… what is the pitch you’re trying to do? What are your strengths?
Concerts are coming back to Wade Stadium

3 weeks ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

The Duluth Huskies Baseball Club is getting ready to host a wide variety of events other than baseball at Wade Stadium this year, including concerts. Overall there are 7 concerts booked for the stadium this year, which the stadium says they are happy to host. June 20 – Mason-Dixon Line A powerhouse blend of country and classic rock. June 28 – Mallrats Your favorite 90s alt-rock tribute band brings nostalgia.
Learning to paint with Northern Exposure Art

3 weeks ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

The new Northern Exposure Art is helping people tap into their artistic side with painting classes. This Saturday, Northern Exposure Art will host its grand opening from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Lincoln Park Enger Lofts building. Northern Exposure Art is a painting studio owned by Carly Jandl, who also teaches painting classes for all levels of all experience. “I guide you through the whole thing,” says Carly, “…if you’re just feeling stuck or frozen, we can walk you through it.
Air quality alert issued for all of Northern Minnesota Thursday and Friday

3 weeks ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for all of northern Minnesota, it’s expected to reach the red AQI category which is unhealthy for everyone. This air quality alert is issued due to wildfire smoke for Thursday June 5th and Friday June 6th. The agency says the citys most impacted would be: Bemidji, East Grand Forks, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Red Lake, Leech Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac.
Denfeld's Reagan Kern to attend the Jimmy Awards in New York City

3 weeks ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

Denfeld High School senior Reagan Kern has become the first student chosen from Northern Minnesota to represent the state at the Broadway League’s Jimmy Awards in New York City. The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®), otherwise known as the Jimmy Awards®, was established in 2009 to elevate the importance of theatre arts education in schools and reward excellence in student performance.
Wednesday update: No progress on containing northern wildfires

3 weeks ago | wdio.com | Kenny Johnson

The Jenkin’s Creek Fire and Horse River Fire remain at the same acreage and containment level as they were on Tuesday. Jenkin’s Creek is currently at 16,091 acres and 94% contained and Horse River is at 13 acres and 0% contained. According to the National Incident Organization Team, A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is now in place to assist Superior National Forest land managers in the assessment of potential impacts to watersheds affected by the Jenkins Creek Fire.

Journalists covering the same region

Hayley Raatsi

Digital Content Manager at KBJR-TV (Duluth, MN)

Hayley Raatsi primarily covers news in the Northwoods region of Minnesota, United States, including areas around Lake Vermilion and the Boundary Waters.