Monday, July 20, 2026
A 33-year-old Pillager man was arrested Friday, July 10, after he allegedly stalked and assaulted a woman in Brainerd. Tyler Joe McDonald was charged Monday in Crow Wing County District Court with felony stalking, third-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm and domestic assault. According to court documents, at 2 p.m. on April 28, 2026, Brainerd officers were dispatched to a residence for a third-party report of an assault. The reporting party said her daughter was assaulted by McDonald. Law enforcement contacted the reporter by phone and was told her daughter called the police on McDonald the week prior, but did not report the assault. The daughter went to a doctor a few days later, as her head was hurting, and was diagnosed with a concussion stemming from the incident. McDonald has prior convictions for assault in previous years and was on probation at the time of the most recent assault occurring.
Numerous accidents in central Minnesota on Sunday. Two vehicles collided in Little Sauk Township Sunday around 1:15pm including a semi-truck. Both drivers not injured, a passenger in the smaller vehicle was treated for injuries in Long Prairie. Around 3:40pm a vehicle veered off Highway 6 near Deerwood in Crow Wing County and struck a number of cable barriers and then a tree. Both the 44 year old driver and 7 year old passenger were treated at the Crosby hospital. A third accident happened on Highway 6 in Bay Lake Township of Crow Wing County when two vehicles collided at Highway 18 and 6 causing a 24 and 25 year old from Brainerd to sustain injuries and treated at a local hospital the other driver, which had 4 others in his Jeep all had no apparent injuries from the State Patrol.
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 missing woman was rescued from the Le Sueur River near Mankato Saturday morning. According to the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office, the 50-year-old woman was reported missing just before 7 p.m. on Friday. Authorities say deputies were dispatched to her last known location at the Le Sueur River Access near County Road 90 and 195th Lane. Upon arrival, deputies reportedly found the woman's vehicle, personal belongings, and her dog on the riverbank. Authorities say they began a search of the area, requesting assistance from a drone team, a helicopter, and a K-9 unit. The efforts to locate the woman continued until 1:30 a.m., with a small number of personnel remaining overnight. Officials say the search resumed early Saturday morning. Around 7:15 a.m., rescuers responded to a report from a person walking in the area who reported hearing someone in the river calling for help. Officials confirm that the missing woman was then located and safely rescued from the water.
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.
The Little Falls City Council meets Monday night 7:30pm at City Hall. The Little Falls School Board is holding a closed board meeting at 5pm at the District Office on Monday.
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: patchy smoke at times, warm and humid, high 91, isolated chance of thunderstorms before 3pm today, with gusty winds 15-30mph. Tonight breezy, clearing skies, low 62. Tuesday sunny and cooler, high 78 and breezy conditions, Tuesday night clear and 54, Wednesday sunny and high near 80 less windy, clear Wednesday night low 57. Sunny and warmer Thursday, high 84, showers Thursday night low 61. Friday sunny and warm, high 85, low around 65. Saturday sunny and warm, high near 90, low around 63. Sunny and warm Sunday high near 91, low around 66.
Sports: Ryan Jeffers homered Friday as the Twins beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2. Chicago wins Saturday 6-2 over the Twins though Kody Clemens had 2 solo homers for the Twins. Chicago Cubs rock the Twins on Sunday 10-1 to take the series. Twins (49-51), are at Cleveland on tonight at 5:40pm. The Lynx beat Toronto Saturday night 101-93 as Kayla McBride scored 24 points in the win which was their 20th game of the season, Lynx at Seattle tonight at 9pm. The Little Falls American Legion will open the playoffs today at 5pm against Sauk Rapids in Cold Spring, win or lose they will play again on Tuesday. Spain won their 2nd World Cup in Soccer 1-0 over Argentina in a long extra time affair for that only goal in the win Sunday. England beat France 6-4 for 3rd place Saturday in World Cup. Ryan Fox birdied the 18th hole to win The Open in England by one stroke over Cameron Young Sunday. Victory League had Buckman 11-1 over Avon on Friday night, Royalton gets a 1-0 win over Opole in a quick pitcher's duel on Sunday as the Game of the Week on KLTF. The Region 9C play in games begin on Saturday for the teams vying to get into the Region tournament the following week. KLTF will pick a play in matchup as their game of the week this week later this week stay tuned for details on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.