Monday, March 31, 2025
Very slippery conditions across central Minnesota Saturday night into Sunday with rain around 4 tenths at the Little Falls Airport then changing to freezing rain, leading to very icy conditions into Sunday morning. Sleet and then snow Sunday leading to a coating of icy mix that led to many spinouts, those sliding to cars in parking lots and driveways. The ice and snow melted away Sunday afternoon with some late day sun and temps rising into the upper 30s. Today will be dry but then another spring storm will bring rain, freezing rain and snow to central Minnesota starting Tuesday afternoon. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect starting tomorrow through Wednesday with the potential of heavy snow Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon if the system is all snow could be 5-10 inches of wet heavy snow, again like Saturday and Sunday that system could be less accumulation if the system is more rain and ice Tuesday into Wednesday. Stay tuned to Little Falls Radio for weather related announcements later this week.
The Brooklyn Park Fire Department said that only the pilot was on the plane, that crashed in Brooklyn Park Saturday afternoon. Officials have not confirmed the number of passengers on the plane. The fire department initially responded to an aircraft incident at 12:22 p.m., said Chief Shaun Conway. "There are no survivors from the aircraft that struck the home," added the chief. The FAA stated the plane departed from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa and was headed to Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis. The plane crashed at 10792 Kyle Avenue, according to a release from the city. "As a city, we’re grateful there were no casualties within the residence itself. Our heart goes out to the families and folks that were in the plane," said Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston. The crash also took out power in parts of the neighborhood. The city is working with Xcel Energy to restore power with an estimated target of having it back on by midnight, according to a release. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.
A St. Cloud woman who is a convicted sex trafficker has again pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution. Thirty-four-year-old Ashley Pick pleaded guilty to one count of promoting prostitution earlier this week. She was immediately sentenced to 10 years in prison. Pick was accused of trafficking the first woman from February 2024 to April 2024 and the second woman between April 2024 and May 2024. According to the criminal complaint, an officer with the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force began investigating Pick after she responded to an ad for sex. Pick and another woman went to a location the undercover officer set up for a meeting and were confronted by police. Police discovered the two victims through text messages on Pick's phone. Court records alleged several encounters were negotiated between Pick and sex buyers where both women were hired for sex acts and Pick took part of the profits. Pick was convicted of aiding and abetting prostitution back in 2018 and sentenced then to 7 years in prison.
A 20 year old from Brainerd was injured Sunday around 3pm on Highway 71 at Highway 210 in Hewitt of Todd County. Emma Reeder collided with a vehicle in the intersection driven by 59 year old Patrick Hegerty of Staples. Reeder was treated for injuries at the Wadena Hospital. Hegerty was not injured.
Congratulations to the 2025 Morrison County Dairy Princesses crowned Saturday night at the Falls Ballroom. Daizy Dickman and Josie Smude as Dairy Princesses will go on to the state convention later this spring to see if they can vie for Princess Kay of the Milky Way in August. The other 3 candidates being underclassmen are ruled as Junior Dairy Princesses for the next year they are Kayla Virnig who also was named Miss Congeniality along with Isabelle Dulude and Breanna Houdek. They will represent Morrison County as Dairy Ambassadors over the next year at parades and many events. The Crow Wing County Dairy Princess Coronation and Dinner is scheduled for this Saturday April 5th at 7pm at the Pierz Ballroom. LF Radio was informed there are 13 young ladies vying for Princess and Junior honors at that event on Saturday with tickets available at the door.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS- A unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts was announced on Saturday by Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, which coordinates the popular struggle against the ruling military. The country's death toll from the disaster soared to 1,644. The figure was a sharp rise compared to the 1,002 announced just hours earlier, highlighting the difficulty of confirming casualties over a widespread region and the likelihood that the numbers will continue to grow from Friday's 7.7 magnitude quake. The number of injured increased to 3,408, while the missing figure rose to 139. In neighboring Thailand, the death toll rose to 17. The quake rocked the greater Bangkok area, home to around 17 million people, and other parts of the country. Many places in the north reported damage, but the only casualties were reported in Bangkok. Of the death toll, 10 were killed in the high rise building near famous Chatuchak market that collapsed, while the rest were killed in seven other sites. Authorities in Bangkok said 83 people were unaccounted for. On Saturday, more heavy equipment was brought in to move the tons of rubble, but hope was fading among friends and relatives. Many countries around the world are bringing aid to help those affected by the earthquake included the United States.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS- Actor Richard Chamberlain has died at age 90. Chamberlain got his big break in the 1960s in Dr. Kildare on TV, later starred in The Thorn Birds and Allan Quartermain Movies in the 1980s.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT- Sam and Amanda Danek of Little Falls, a baby girl born March 26th.
DEATH NOTICES- Helen A. Oberton, age 93 of Little Falls. Ronda Rickman, age 79 of Randall.
WEATHER- today sunny skies, high 42, clouds increase at night low around 27. Tuesday cloudy with afternoon rain, sleet and snow developing after 1pm, Winter Storm Watch from 1pm Tuesday through 7pm Wednesday night, snow heavy at night and into Wednesday morning, rain and snow possible at times with lows around 25, then high of 35 on Wednesday with gusty winds. If all snow 3-5 inches Tuesday and then another 1-3 inches on Wednesday, but lesser amounts if temps stay warmer for rain before snow.
SPORTS- Twins lose 5-1 to Cardinals on Saturday then fall 9-2 on Sunday as Cardinals sweep the series. The Twins are scheduled to play in Chicago today against the White Sox if the weather allows it, pregame at 12:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. Duke, Auburn, Florida and Houston are the Final Four teams in the NCAA Tournament heading into the final weekend. The softball game on Friday between Little Fall and Pierz was canceled. Right now Little Falls baseball to open season on Thursday against Hutchinson at Flyer Baseball Field, if they play hear the game at 5pm on AM960 KLTF.