Former Duluth Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard Lands A Job With MPR

Former Duluth Meteorologist For KBJR Sven Sundgaard has landed a new job, not one that you would expect.

Patch is reporting that Minnesota Public Radio announced the hiring of local meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. He has already begun writing weather and news blogs for MPR and was welcomed on the internet by Morning Host Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition. Sven will do some shortcuts for MPR with Cathy in the morning too.

Sven got to be very well known for doing weather on KBJR, or channel 6 if you aren't good at the call letters. Sven liked to get out and be in the community, which is what made him a big fan favorite in the Northland. He was good at the weather and filed some reports as well.

Sven eventually was hired at KARE-11 in St. Paul and was a fan favorite there too. He had a larger-than-life personality and wasn't afraid to do his reports live and did some reports for the station.

Star Tribune chronicled the firing and lawsuit that followed the exit of Sven Sundgaard from KARE-11 in May of 2020. Sven had come out and was on the cover of LGBTQ magazine Lavender. He was openly criticized for that and other things he was taking part in. In Sven's lawsuit, he claimed he complained about the treatment he received from co-workers. He reported it to HR but said nothing was followed upon.

Star Tribune reports that KARE let Sven go and then followed up with a Facebook post “Due to continued violations of KARE 11’s news ethics and other policies, we have made the decision to part ways with Sven Sundgaard.” Sundgaard is suing for back pay since the day he was fired and up to $25,000 in punitive damages, it is still pending, according to federal court records.

Sven Sundgaard’s departure made national headlines, and local media supported him as he began doing his own thing online including producing his own forecasts and news for Bring Me The News.

According to the hire, he will contribute to MPR (which he has already started) and continue posting for Bring me The News and his own YouTube channel.