Northland Meteorologist Makes Surprise Minnesota TV Return

Ranked #138 among television markets in the United States, the Duluth TV market has long been a proving ground for young broadcast talent. It is often a place where reporters and anchors sharpen their skills, learn the pace of daily news, and prepare for a jump to a larger market.

Duluth’s Role as a TV Training Ground

In many cases, those who pass through Duluth eventually move on to bigger cities across the country. Occasionally, some return to Minnesota after time away, and even more rarely, a broadcaster makes a direct move between Duluth and the Twin Cities. Every once in a while, though, a career takes a far more winding and personal route.

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From WDIO to Ohio and Beyond

Dana Oleksuk, known on air as Dana Zimmer during her time at WDIO in Duluth, spent two and a half years working in the Northland before leaving the station in 2017. After her departure, she moved overseas to support her husband's hockey career, and left the TV business all together.

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Oleksuk married professional hockey player Travis Oleksuk, a former University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog who played a role in the team’s first national championship run in 2011. The connection to Duluth and Minnesota never fully faded.

A Career Pivot and a Return to Minnesota TV

After stepping away from television, Oleksuk became a certified personal trainer and launched her own personal training business. The shift marked an extended break from broadcasting, one that lasted nearly eight years.

Now, Oleksuk is officially back on Minnesota television. She made her on air return during the Sunday night newscast on KSTP-TV in the Twin Cities. KSTP is owned by the same company as WDIO, creating a full circle moment that ties her career back to where many Minnesota viewers first came to know her. On her recently reactivated Facebook page, Oleksuk acknowledged the moment simply, writing, “Guess Who’s Back?! 8 years later.”