Good morning, Duluth.

Chum, a nonprofit in Duluth, is asking churches and community groups to donate food boxes for families in need this Thanksgiving.

The drive started with 100 boxes and now plans to include over 415 turkeys, 700 potatoes, and 700 servings of stuffing to help families have a complete meal.

Duluth Public Schools announced that students outperformed state averages in reading and science, with 54.7% meeting reading standards versus 48.6% statewide and 33.6% proficient in science against 25.5%.

The district ranked second in reading and first in science among local schools and seeks support for a November funding referendum.

The Fond du Lac Band released over 600 tagged lake sturgeon into the upper St. Louis River as part of a 30-year restoration project.

The event, held on Treaty Day, strengthens ties with the Grand Portage Band (a 1854 treaty signatory) and involved state and federal agencies.

HealthPartners and Essentia Health boards have approved a merger plan that will form a combined health system keeping the HealthPartners name; if approved by regulators, it will complete by early next year and serve 45,000 employees across hospitals and clinics in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.