Barrett Chase
@barrettchase.duluthnewstribune.com
Digital editor at Duluth News Tribune. (That's in Minnesota, not Georgia.) Frequenter of the public library's local history center. Lover of data. Anti-dis/misinformation.
Pinned
Prolific serial killer confessed to Duluth slaying
Henry Lee Lucas said he committed 600 murders, but nearly all his claims were unfounded.
www.duluthnewstribune.com
ICYMI: Here's my take on "Confession Killer" Henry Lee Lucas' brief brush with Duluth.
If AI were alcohol, someone would say, “This stuff can disinfect wounds. It’s not the best way, but it gets the job done,” and someone else would respond, “Totally! I drink two quarts a day and it’s changed my life!”
Then tech bros would contemplate adding it to the water supply.
Then tech bros would contemplate adding it to the water supply.
October 3, 2026 at 4:38 PM
If AI were alcohol, someone would say, “This stuff can disinfect wounds. It’s not the best way, but it gets the job done,” and someone else would respond, “Totally! I drink two quarts a day and it’s changed my life!”
Then tech bros would contemplate adding it to the water supply.
Then tech bros would contemplate adding it to the water supply.
I remember when Walgreens employees had to tell customers to “Be well.” It was especially funny when the customer was buying cigarettes.
Cashier Forced To Incorporate Humiliating New Phrase Into Every Customer Interaction https://theonion.com/cashier-forced-to-incorporate-humiliating-new-phrase-in-1827865691/
October 2, 2026 at 7:30 PM
I remember when Walgreens employees had to tell customers to “Be well.” It was especially funny when the customer was buying cigarettes.
We’re very happy with this new hire!
Hailing from the Sunshine State, Delia Rose Sauer is ready to dive into Duluth’s arts and entertainment beat.
Features reporter joins News Tribune team
www.duluthnewstribune.com
September 30, 2026 at 6:44 PM
We’re very happy with this new hire!
It's that time of year when we start hearing one of my most-hated phrases: "leaf peeping." Shudder, gag.
September 22, 2026 at 3:16 PM
It's that time of year when we start hearing one of my most-hated phrases: "leaf peeping." Shudder, gag.
You own a grocery store and 95% of your traffic fills up on free samples and proudly announces that they will never buy anything.
You can’t afford to give away food, so you stop. People complain, claiming food is essential and your greed starves people.
This post is about online journalism.
You can’t afford to give away food, so you stop. People complain, claiming food is essential and your greed starves people.
This post is about online journalism.
September 21, 2026 at 2:53 PM
You own a grocery store and 95% of your traffic fills up on free samples and proudly announces that they will never buy anything.
You can’t afford to give away food, so you stop. People complain, claiming food is essential and your greed starves people.
This post is about online journalism.
You can’t afford to give away food, so you stop. People complain, claiming food is essential and your greed starves people.
This post is about online journalism.
Listen if you’re running for local office and want people to take you seriously, you need a decent photo of yourself. If you can’t arrange that simple task, you can’t expect voters to believe you can manage the position.
September 16, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Listen if you’re running for local office and want people to take you seriously, you need a decent photo of yourself. If you can’t arrange that simple task, you can’t expect voters to believe you can manage the position.
A few things that didn't make it into my short blurb:
1) Deputies said the first words the boys said when they came out were, "We don't like cops."
2) The mom who attacked photographer Karl Jaros had to be restrained.
1) Deputies said the first words the boys said when they came out were, "We don't like cops."
2) The mom who attacked photographer Karl Jaros had to be restrained.
Seventy years ago, two boys were arrested after a shootout with deputies.
Bygones: Duluth teens surrendered after 'swamp siege' in 1956
www.duluthnewstribune.com
September 15, 2026 at 1:28 PM
A few things that didn't make it into my short blurb:
1) Deputies said the first words the boys said when they came out were, "We don't like cops."
2) The mom who attacked photographer Karl Jaros had to be restrained.
1) Deputies said the first words the boys said when they came out were, "We don't like cops."
2) The mom who attacked photographer Karl Jaros had to be restrained.
This is the kind of hard-hitting journalism you find in 1950s newspapers.
September 13, 2026 at 5:39 PM
This is the kind of hard-hitting journalism you find in 1950s newspapers.
Reposted by Barrett Chase
I see people griping here all the time, asking WHERE ARE THE REPORTERS? Why aren't they covering Mitch McConnell, Epstein probe, etc. etc. They are being laid off, that's where they are. If you don't subscribe to at least 2 papers you have no right to ask that question. The Miami Herald just 1/2
September 13, 2026 at 11:46 AM
I see people griping here all the time, asking WHERE ARE THE REPORTERS? Why aren't they covering Mitch McConnell, Epstein probe, etc. etc. They are being laid off, that's where they are. If you don't subscribe to at least 2 papers you have no right to ask that question. The Miami Herald just 1/2
I hate the word “snagged.”
September 9, 2026 at 3:27 PM
I hate the word “snagged.”
The front page of the Sept. 14, 1976, News-Tribune has a funny story about someone calling 911 to report a bear, and a police inspector saying that's fine because "This isn't New York City."
Then, on page 2: two murders, one grand larceny and five people dead in area car crashes.
Then, on page 2: two murders, one grand larceny and five people dead in area car crashes.
September 7, 2026 at 11:50 PM
The front page of the Sept. 14, 1976, News-Tribune has a funny story about someone calling 911 to report a bear, and a police inspector saying that's fine because "This isn't New York City."
Then, on page 2: two murders, one grand larceny and five people dead in area car crashes.
Then, on page 2: two murders, one grand larceny and five people dead in area car crashes.
I'm always amazed by how the words "rock concert" struck fear into people's hearts in the 70s. But then I see repeated stories about the aftermath of local concerts, and I realize young people at that time (*cough, boomers*) were often chaotic, violent and destructive.
Fifty years ago, an overflow crowd at the Twig Town Hall barely kept order while chiding a concert promoter.
Bygones: Twig railed against rock concert in 1976
www.duluthnewstribune.com
August 26, 2026 at 12:57 PM
I'm always amazed by how the words "rock concert" struck fear into people's hearts in the 70s. But then I see repeated stories about the aftermath of local concerts, and I realize young people at that time (*cough, boomers*) were often chaotic, violent and destructive.
Imagine being 12 and crying in the dugout, and then a photographer snaps a pic of you, and it goes out on the AP wire.
August 19, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Imagine being 12 and crying in the dugout, and then a photographer snaps a pic of you, and it goes out on the AP wire.
So far, close to half the readers who responded to our poll said they prefer to “just watch whatever is on” TV rather than actively choose something from a streaming service.
I’m not surprised, but …
I’m not surprised, but …
August 18, 2026 at 5:08 PM
So far, close to half the readers who responded to our poll said they prefer to “just watch whatever is on” TV rather than actively choose something from a streaming service.
I’m not surprised, but …
I’m not surprised, but …
It’s really hard to find a married woman’s actual first name in old newspapers. Even the birth listings would show just the father’s name.
Fifty years ago, the paper vowed to stop referring to grown women as girls and refrain from using other problematic language.
Bygones: News Tribune ditched sexist language in 1976
www.duluthnewstribune.com
August 15, 2026 at 2:04 PM
It’s really hard to find a married woman’s actual first name in old newspapers. Even the birth listings would show just the father’s name.
THREAD:
I was curious whether lake freighters still go under the Bong Bridge, so I took to Google. The Gemini AI gave a vague answer and for some reason I decided to engage. The result was even worse than I expected.
1/9
I was curious whether lake freighters still go under the Bong Bridge, so I took to Google. The Gemini AI gave a vague answer and for some reason I decided to engage. The result was even worse than I expected.
1/9
August 10, 2026 at 2:23 PM
THREAD:
I was curious whether lake freighters still go under the Bong Bridge, so I took to Google. The Gemini AI gave a vague answer and for some reason I decided to engage. The result was even worse than I expected.
1/9
I was curious whether lake freighters still go under the Bong Bridge, so I took to Google. The Gemini AI gave a vague answer and for some reason I decided to engage. The result was even worse than I expected.
1/9
What should we call this person? A hog farmer? A pork producer? Wait! I've got it!
August 9, 2026 at 5:49 PM
What should we call this person? A hog farmer? A pork producer? Wait! I've got it!
Journalists should welcome good-faith criticism. Whether the critics are ultimately right or wrong, they care about the reporting and the subject, and that’s something we should value.
When people stop caring, we have a problem.
When people stop caring, we have a problem.
August 7, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Journalists should welcome good-faith criticism. Whether the critics are ultimately right or wrong, they care about the reporting and the subject, and that’s something we should value.
When people stop caring, we have a problem.
When people stop caring, we have a problem.
Reposted by Barrett Chase
The northern half of the state is the only region in the country that has an elevated potential of significant wildfires into November.
Nearly all of Northeastern Minnesota in severe drought
www.duluthnewstribune.com
August 6, 2026 at 10:05 PM
The northern half of the state is the only region in the country that has an elevated potential of significant wildfires into November.
I am deeply sad because I’ll never live in the house full of secret rooms I dreamed about during my nap.
August 6, 2026 at 10:20 PM
I am deeply sad because I’ll never live in the house full of secret rooms I dreamed about during my nap.
Reading old newspapers, I get the sense that in the 50s kindergarteners routinely said, "See ya, Mom. I'm going to play in a pile of industrial rubbish three miles from home."
And Mom would be like, "Take your 3-year-old brother along."
The result, predictably, was news. Sad news.
And Mom would be like, "Take your 3-year-old brother along."
The result, predictably, was news. Sad news.
August 5, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Reading old newspapers, I get the sense that in the 50s kindergarteners routinely said, "See ya, Mom. I'm going to play in a pile of industrial rubbish three miles from home."
And Mom would be like, "Take your 3-year-old brother along."
The result, predictably, was news. Sad news.
And Mom would be like, "Take your 3-year-old brother along."
The result, predictably, was news. Sad news.
This was crazy. The match didn't happen because the attorney showed up late, claiming he didn't even know about the match. The pastor said, "I scared him out — that's all there is to it."
#duluth #duluthmn #history #boxing
#duluth #duluthmn #history #boxing
Physicians were notified, as the church announced both fighters would try for a knockout.
Bygones: 100 years ago, a Duluth pastor challenged an attorney to a boxing match
www.duluthnewstribune.com
August 4, 2026 at 1:32 PM
I get frustrated when people claim that crime now is so much worse than in the past. This little story ran on page 9B — the comics page — in 1976.
#duluth #duluthmn #crime #minnesota
#duluth #duluthmn #crime #minnesota
August 2, 2026 at 7:59 PM
I get frustrated when people claim that crime now is so much worse than in the past. This little story ran on page 9B — the comics page — in 1976.
#duluth #duluthmn #crime #minnesota
#duluth #duluthmn #crime #minnesota