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Monday, July 20, 2026
As Minnesota battles over a dozen wildfires in the Arrowhead, Governor Tim Walz announced fresh emergency assistance for those areas affected in May. Crow Wing and Lake counties will receive extra funding. Areas of Stevens and Grant Counties are getting emergency assistance for damage caused by severe storms in June. Governor Walz said, “Minnesota’s emergency management team has my deepest gratitude as they work closely with affected counties to assess damage and help these communities recover and rebuild.” Funding and public assistance will aid in rebuilding public infrastructure damaged by the fires and storms. Earlier this week, the governor and Executive Council approved an extension of the peacetime emergency, allowing the Minnesota National Guard to stay in Northern Minnesota. The Guard will help suppress ongoing wildfires and support local efforts to save lives and prevent damage.
Minnesota officials shared an update Friday afternoon on the wildfires burning in northern parts of the state and in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Sixteen wildfires were active on Friday, with three in the BWCAW. About 70,000 acres of land have burned in the fires. The BWCAW remains closed to visitors due to the wildfires. U.S. Forest Service officials made the call Monday. In St. Louis County, 17 zones are currently under evacuation orders on Friday. Lake County officials ordered residents to evacuate Friday from an area in the Highway 16/Fernberg Corridor. National Weather Service meteorologist Phil Manuel said many of the wildfires started due to lightning strikes in hot and dry conditions. Manuel said the wildfires will likely continue to burn until the first snow falls. Even managing the fire won't be easy. "We have never seen anything like this. This is unprecedented," said Jason Loomis, Incident Commander for the National Incident Management Organization. "With 104 degree temperatures... I don't think I need to tell you all that that is unprecedented. That's the kind of stuff we see in Arizona and dry, arid climates, not up here in upstate Minnesota." Loomis says a bigger incident command team will take over on Saturday, and he said that hotshot firefighting crews from Mississippi and New Mexico are on the highly-skilled teams will be available to help dig critical fire lines. Still, he says Minnesota is one of many states in need to help during this very active wildfire season.
The Initiative Foundation has awarded $85,200 in Joy & Connection grants to 18 organizations across Central Minnesota in 2026, including five in the St. Cloud area. The grants support community-led projects designed to bring people together and create opportunities for belonging, healing and shared purpose. The funded work ranges from festivals and art workshops to mentoring, senior programs and youth leadership. Locally, five organizations in St. Cloud and Avon received a combined $27,500. The Avon Hills Folks School received $4,000 to host a community celebration that brings together Latino families, volunteers and community supporters for a day focused on healing, appreciation and connection. The event is intended to strengthen cross-cultural relationships while celebrating the contributions of Latino residents in Central Minnesota. In St. Cloud, the Fahan Organization received $4,000 to offer culturally rooted wellness circles for Somali women that incorporate tea, storytelling, poetry and dance. The First United Methodist Church of the St. Cloud Region received $7,000 for arts- and nature-based experiences that bring people together through creativity, cultural appreciation and outdoor exploration. Heijeu, based in St. Cloud, received $5,000 to launch a mobile art program that brings creative experiences to seniors and residents in Royalton and Bowlus, encouraging self-expression in rural areas. The Recovery Community Network received $7,500 to enhance an existing storytelling program, creating additional opportunities for celebration and peer support within the recovery community.
St. Cloud police have arrested one of two suspects in a July assault that left a Sauk Rapids woman with serious injuries. Officers took a 21-year-old St. Cloud woman into custody at her home around 7:45 on Thursday night. She was booked into the Stearns County Jail on suspicion of simple robbery and third-degree assault. The arrest stems from an assault reported at 3:19 a.m. on July 11th in the 1000 block of 9th Avenue South. Officers who responded learned that a 23-year-old Sauk Rapids woman had been attacked by two acquaintances in a parking lot. Police said the attack was not random. The victim suffered substantial but non-life-threatening injuries and was later treated at CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital.
A reminder that city and school board filings continue through July 28th for those races that do not have primary election. Those with primary elections, Governor, Senator, U.S. House, State House and Senate and some county elections will have their Primary Election on August 11th. Those that file through the 28th for non primary races will have all their names on the November general election. Question contact your local county official or city hall for information.
Federal News: Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations across five U.S. states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Thursday warned consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. A record number of cyclospora cases have been reported in more than 30 states, and experts have said not every recent U.S. illness might be caused by a single source. A Food and Drug Administration investigation identified a single supplier of the lettuce. The federal warnings to consumers did not identify the company, but a federal official who was briefed on the investigation and not authorized to discuss it told The Associated Press it was Taylor Farms of Salinas, California. Taylor Farms, which has been tied to foodborne outbreaks in the past, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement, federal health officials stressed that other “brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels” could be identified as the investigation continues. More than 30 states have reported infections this year, and current data from them shows the number of infections surpassing the record U.S. mark of about 4,700 set in 2019. The illness is not usually life threatening and is typically treated with antibiotics. The illness, called cyclosporiasis, is less common than foodborne illnesses caused by other germs, including salmonella and E. coli. Many cases are never linked to a specific food or other source and, for years, few U.S. cyclospora outbreaks were reported. But the number started rising about a decade ago, with a particularly notable spike in 2018 and 2019. Taylor Farms also was tied to a 2013 cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to salad mix and a 2024 E. coli outbreak tied to onions served at McDonald’s.
Death Notices: Douglas James Hale, age 54 of Chanhassen.
Weather: Saturday afternoon sunny skies, high 87, clear skies Saturday low around 63. Sunny and humid Sunday highs near 90, storms Sunday night before midnight, heavier overnight into Monday, low 68. Monday morning storms, then sunny and humid, breezy, high 91, isolated storms may develop after 1pm Monday then clearing and cooler Monday night low near 60. Tuesday partly cloudy and breezy, high 78, clear Tuesday night low 54. Wednesday sunny skies, high near 80, clear Wednesday night low 57. Thursday sunny and a bit warmer, high 85, storms possible Thursday night low around 63.
Sports: Ryan Jeffers homered Friday as the Twins beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2. Twins continue series with the Cubs Saturday and Sunday at 1:20pm. The Little Falls American Legion will open the playoffs Monday at 5pm against Sauk Rapids in Cold Spring, win or lose they will play again on Tuesday. Victory League Game of the Week Opole at Royalton Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
Friday, July 17, 2026
An Air Quality Alert remains in effect until 11am this morning for most of Minnesota, Air Quality Alerts have been posted from Minnesota east and southeast to the far East Coast...
Thursday, July 16, 2026
An Air Quality Alert remains in effect until 11am Friday morning. Heavy smoke from wildfires in northern Minnesota and Canada is expected through the day and nighttime hours causing breathing...
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Wildfires burning across the northern part of the state have prompted the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to issue an air quality alert for unsafe air across much of the region,...
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
The Pierz Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 11:45pm Sunday, July 12, at Barrett Petfood, 1348 Highway 25, in southern Crow Wing County. Pierz Assistant Fire Chief Scott Saehr...
