Physician – Internal Medicine

Duluth teen, mom sue Essentia Health over cutoff of gender care. Published on October 31, 2026 E. 2nd St. - Duluth Street Scene Google Street View A transgender teen and his mother have filed a discrimination lawsuit against Duluth-based Essentia Health, alleging the health system illegally cut off his gender-affirming care after years of treatment that the family says kept him alive. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the 16-year-old boy and his mother, claims Essentia's actions violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act by depriving him of essential medical care because of his gender identity, sex and disability status. According to the lawsuit, as reported by the Star Tribune, an Essentia medical provider diagnosed the boy with gender dysphoria in 2020, when he was 11 years old. The health system began providing puberty-delaying medication after that diagnosis and later prescribed hormone therapy when he turned 14. The complaint states that he had attempted suicide twice before starting the medication, and that suicidal ideation decreased significantly once treatment began. Per the lawsuit, an Essentia provider told the boy's mother that the system would stop his gender-affirming care that month, without directly notifying patients and families of the change. The suit alleges Essentia made the decision to discontinue certain gender health services for minors in response to threats from the Trump administration to cut federal funding to health systems providing such care, the same report notes. Essentia declines to discuss the case. Essentia Health told WCCO that it cannot comment on pending or active litigation out of respect for patient privacy, according to Bring Me The News. The family is seeking a permanent injunction against the care stoppage along with monetary damages, according to Erin in the Morning. Essentia's own website still describes gender-affirming care it offers, stating that such treatment may mean prescribing hormones, voice training, adult and pediatric endocrinology consultation, and mental health counseling, per Essentia Health's website. A pattern of pullback under federal pressure. This is not the first time Essentia has faced legal action over transgender care. A 2016 lawsuit against Essentia and its insurer over coverage for gender-reassignment treatment was settled out of court, according to the Duluth News Tribune. That settlement required Essentia and HealthPartners to continue providing and covering appropriate gender-confirming health care under World Professional Association for Transgender Health standards. Essentia later changed its plan to make gender-affirming care available to covered employees, while HealthPartners reimbursed Tovar for Androderm. The current case follows a broader wave of disruption in pediatric gender-affirming care across Minnesota. A Minnesota hospital paused some pediatric gender-affirming care amid federal funding threats from the Trump administration, according to MPR News. Children's Minnesota paused, then resumed, similar care. Children's Minnesota announced in February it would temporarily pause prescribing puberty-suppressing medications and pubertal hormones to patients under 18 in its Gender Health Program. The hospital system resumed those services in April after a federal court ruling blocked the Trump administration from limiting access to such care, MPR News reported in a separate story. Twenty-seven states have now enacted laws restricting access to gender-affirming care for youth, per the same outlet's reporting. Not every Minnesota provider has pulled back. Multiple Minnesota hospitals confirmed they were still offering gender-affirming care, with no publicly announced cuts or pauses affecting transgender-specific medical services, according to a separate Duluth News Tribune report. Minnesota law also offers specific protections in this area: the Minnesota Human Rights Act bars discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation in public services, and a hospital cannot legally provide worse care to transgender patients than to cisgender patients, according to the Minnesota Attorney General's office. State law also requires most health insurance plans sold or renewed in Minnesota since January 1, 2025 to cover medically necessary gender-affirming care, and a 2023 state law is intended to prevent other states from interfering with gender-affirming care provided within Minnesota, the Attorney General's office notes.

9 major projects set to reshape Duluth, minnesota. Duluth's next wave of change includes a replacement interstate bridge, new housing, and the restoration of a historic landmark. Other projects are rebuilding commercial corridors or preparing waterfront land for redevelopment. This countdown ranks nine major projects underway or planned in Duluth by scale, lasting impact, and readiness. Status reflects information available in October 2026. Discover more Explore History Look Up Facts 9. Chum shelter expansion. Address: 102 West Second Street, Duluth, MN Chum is expanding its downtown facility through renovation and a two-story addition. Plans increase the building to approximately 23,780 square feet, with capacity for 168 beds. The project also provides improved accessibility and dedicated space for support services. Summer 2026 updates documented the new structure rising above ground. Chum's evolving service model includes transitional and family shelter functions, connecting the expanded building with broader homelessness-response changes. Discover more Book Local Tours Read Travel Guides 8. Brae View. Brae View would bring 72 affordable senior apartments and a ground-floor child care center to Duluth's Central Hillside neighborhood. One Roof Community Housing is developing the project with partners including Essentia Health and the Duluth YMCA. The development has an approved agreement and state housing funding. Construction was anticipated to begin in 2026, but a confirmed start date and opening schedule remain unavailable. 7. London Road / highway 61 improvements. Along Duluth's eastern shoreline corridor, MnDOT is improving London Road through a two-season construction project. Work includes roundabouts, resurfacing, drainage improvements, and intersection changes. Sidewalk replacements and enhanced pedestrian crossings are also part of the scope. Construction began in April 2026, with additional work scheduled for 2027. The improvements address travel conditions along an established corridor serving residential neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and visitors heading toward the North Shore. Discover more Browse Reference Learn a Language Order Calendars 6. The Legacy apartments. A wooded site near Lake Superior College is becoming the location of The Legacy, a five-story apartment development. Titanium Partners and T2 are building 148 apartments, including 30 income-restricted units through a partnership with Duluth's housing authority. Construction began in October 2026. The development includes underground and surface parking, with housing available to students and the general public. The developer anticipates approximately eighteen months of construction. 5. Historic Duluth Armory restoration. The historic Duluth Armory is being restored as an arts, music, and community destination. The Armory Arts and Music Center is working with Sherman Associates on the redevelopment. Planned uses include performance and event spaces, artist studios, and food and marketplace offerings. Construction updates document roof rehabilitation, elevator installation work, and restoration of the drill hall. The organization targets a 2027 reopening, returning the landmark to a broader public role. 4. Lot D / The Wharf redevelopment. Approximately 12 acres of former industrial waterfront could become a new mixed-use district near Bayfront Festival Park. Known as Lot D or The Wharf, the site lies between Pier B and Compass Minerals. Redevelopment concepts include housing, commercial activity, and public waterfront access. However, seawall repairs, contaminated-soil treatment, demolition, and utility improvements must support future construction. The site's potential is substantial, but individual buildings and completion dates remain subject to further development decisions. 3. West Superior Street reconstruction. Lincoln Park's commercial corridor is undergoing a reconstruction that reaches well below the pavement. The city's project covers approximately 1.65 miles of West Superior Street and replaces aging underground utilities. Work is divided into three construction seasons, beginning in 2026 and continuing through 2028. Beyond roadway renewal, the project aims to improve safety and connections along the corridor. Its reach makes it one of Duluth's most consequential neighborhood infrastructure projects. 2. Duluth International Airport control tower. A new air traffic control tower is replacing one of the country's oldest operating towers at Duluth International Airport. Construction began in May 2026, with completion expected in 2028. The project includes supporting facilities and associated site improvements. Controllers will continue using the existing tower during construction. The replacement supports an airport handling airline, military, manufacturing, and general aviation activity, giving the investment significance beyond passenger travel alone. 1. Blatnik Bridge replacement. Replacing the Blatnik Bridge is the largest undertaking in this countdown, rebuilding a critical connection between Duluth and Superior. The project includes a new bridge, approach improvements, and a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. Construction entered its initial phase in 2026. Full bridge closure is planned for 2027, with traffic diverted across the Bong Bridge. Work is scheduled to continue through 2032, reshaping a major route for commuters and freight. Last Updated on October 30, 2026 by F.E.M Get the scoop on the latest developments and attractions - subscribe today!