Monday, November 2, 2026
Minnesotans are bracing for another wet week as the calendar has turned to November as another round of soaking rains started this morning in parts of the state already and will continue today, tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday. The National Weather Service is forecasting 1-3 inches of rainfall Monday through Wednesday with some areas around the Twins Cities east and southeast receiving close to 4 inches of rain. Between October 24th through 28th almost 3 inches of rain fell at the Little Falls Airport with some areas receiving more. The NWS is confident that Monday will be a washout for most of Minnesota. Tuesday and Wednesday are less certain, but there will definitely be periods of rain to contend with. Drier and cooler conditions are expected Thursday through Saturday before another warm up and another chance of rainfall the second week of November.
A teenage driver was sent to the hospital after a crash in Browerville Saturday night. The crash happened a little before 10pm on Highway 71. Authorities say an SUV being driven by a 16-year-old girl from Osakis was going south on the highway while a second SUV being driven by 34-year-old Jose Parra of Browerville was going north when they crashed. The 16-year-old girl was taken to the CentraCare Long Prairie Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Parra was not hurt in the crash. A teenage passenger in the 16-year-old girl's vehicle was also uninjured in the crash.
One person was injured Friday afternoon around 1:15pm on Highway 64 in Cass County north of Motley in May Township. A vehicle slowed to turn, causing one vehicle to strike a slowing vehicle and then that vehicle striking the first. 53-year-old Brian Hanson of Centerville was taken to the Staples Hospital for treatment of injuries. Of the two other drivers and their passengers, no one else was injured in the accident.
Authorities say alcohol is suspected to be a factor in a crash that sent four people to the hospital near New London on Saturday night. The incident happened about 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of County Road 31 and Highway 23. The Minnesota State Patrol says a car being driven by 26-year-old Aden Kassim of Willmar was going south on Highway 23, and an SUV being driven by 56-year-old Traci Dengerud of Spicer was going east on County Road 31 when they crashed at the intersection. Kassim and Dengerud were both taken to CentraCare Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar with non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in Kassim's car, 56-year-old Hasilo Ibrahim of Willmar, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to Rice Memorial Hospital. A passenger in Dengerud's vehicle, 73-year-old Patricia Gislason of New London, was also taken to Rice Memorial with non-life-threatening injuries. A second passenger in Dengerud's SUV, 57-year-old Scott Dengerud of Spicer, was not hurt in the crash. The state patrol says alcohol was a factor in the crash for Dengerud and both passengers in her vehicle.
One person was hurt Thursday morning around 6:45am on Highway 55 in Paynesville of Stearns County. 21-year-old Joshua Severson of Paynesville was on Highway 55 when the vehicle collided at the intersection with a pickup truck driven by 42-year-old Bret Bergs of Hutchinson. This caused the Severson vehicle to roll over and collided with a stopped vehicle driven by a 25-year-old woman from Richmond. Severson was taken to the Paynesville Hospital for his injuries. The State Patrol stated no one was injured in the accident.
Three people were injured Thursday around 9:30am in Wadena County. 34-year-old Louis Schaefer of Cold Spring was traveling north on Highway 71 in a semi-truck and collided with a southbound vehicle driven by 57-year-old Joann Norris of Long Prairie. Schaefer was reportedly treated at the scene for injuries and refused to be hospitalized. Norris reportedly sustained serious injuries and was taken to St. Cloud while her passenger 37-year-old Eric Denny of Mahnomen had non life threatening injuries and treated at Wadena Hospital.
A 28-year-old St. Cloud man is in the Stearns County Jail and faces two felony drug charges after a raid on the city’s south side. Hunter Jay Haugeto is charged with first-degree drug possession for allegedly having 100 grams or more of cocaine, and second-degree drug possession for allegedly having 50 grams or more of hallucinogenic mushrooms. According to a release from the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, agents executed a search warrant on October 26th at a home in the 2100 block of 7th Avenue South after agents with Stearns County Community Corrections reported finding controlled substances inside the house, which led to the warrant. Investigators say they recovered 2.93 pounds of cocaine, including 1,012.65 grams in brick form, 268.34 grams shaped like the corner of a larger brick, and 51.10 grams in a sandwich bag. The cocaine has an approximate wholesale value of $44,966. They also seized 34.55 pounds of marijuana concentrate products, 147.45 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, equipment for packaging and distributing marijuana, four firearms and $13,820 in cash. Investigators say Haugeto lived at the home and was on pre-trial court supervision. The complaint says he had two phones when he was arrested and admitted the bedroom where the drugs were found was his. Stearns County Probation and the St. Cloud Police Department helped at the scene.
The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the November 2026 Employee of the Month is Jennifer Smude, from RP and Associates. “I have had my taxes done at RP and Associates for the last few years. Jennifer is the first person I see when dropping off and picking up my paperwork. She is always so nice, very friendly, and so easy to talk to. She also answers the phone in a very courteous manner and answers all of my questions. If she can’t answer them, she will get them answered and call me back promptly. These are some of the real reasons why she deserves to be the Employee of the Month.” Congratulations to Jennifer Smude the November Chamber Employee of the Month.
Death Notices: Jean "Jeanie" (Schlichting) Cottew, age 85 of Dayton formerly of Little Falls. Lois Erickson, age 71 of Little Falls.
Weather: rain and thunderstorms, some locally heavy rains are possible today, southeast winds gusting to 30mph, high 59. Rain and wind continues tonight wind gusts to 25mph, low 53. Rain heavy at times Tuesday, high 55 early then falling into the 40s with strong North winds in the afternoon. Rain totals could be 2-3 inches by Tuesday night. Tuesday night rain likely, low around 40. Wednesday more rain is likely still in lighter quantities high near 50. Rain will eventually end Wednesday night low near 40. Thursday mostly cloudy, high 47, clear Thursday night low near 34. Partly sunny Friday, high 45, clear Friday night low near 30. Saturday partly sunny, high near 50, low around 35.
Sports: NFL: The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 19-15 on Sunday with a late touchdown. The Vikings lose for the 1st time and now 6-1 with no undefeated teams in the NFL this year. Lions are 5-2. The Vikings will host Buffalo next Monday (11-9) night at 6pm on KLTF. Chicago at Seattle on Monday Night Football tonight at 6pm on AM960 KLTF. NHL: Wild win 5-1 Sunday over Washington as Kaprizov gets his 15th goal of the season and 500th career point in win. NBA: Timberwolves beat LA Clippers Friday, lost by 10 to San Antonio Saturday and host Milwaukee tonight at Target Center. COL FB: Indiana and Gophers both hit 60 yard field goals to tie the game and go to overtime, Indiana wins 23-16 in overtime over the Gophers Saturday, Gophers fall to 5-3. WNBA: Golden State is the WNBA Champions 68-63 win last night Atlanta, Gabby Williams MVP. State Tennis: Little Falls Community High School tennis player Myla Ballou lost both her matches at state tournament on Thursday. Cross Country: congratulations to Wyatt Bettsinger and Quinn Gruber of Pierz, Chloe Reedy of Royalton, Bryce Lewellyn, Rose Jarnot and Haddlie Dobis of Little Falls, Quinn Guthrie of Holdingford-Upsala, advancing to state tournament on Saturday in Ham Lake/Blaine area. Volleyball: Section 5A semi-finals are tonight with Long Prairie-Grey Eagle vs. Browerville followed by Upsala vs. Pine River Backus, both are at Crosby Ironton High School.
High School Football Scores Saturday: Becker 55-0 over Little Falls. Pierz 57-0 over Esko. Royalton beat Holdingford 20-7. Osakis beat Staples-Motley 30-17. Upsala-Swanville 54-6 over Ashby Brandon-Evansville. Foley 34-6 over Mora. Brainerd 49-35 over Bemidji. Sartell 8-6 over Alexandria. Winners move on to section championships later this week, as Royalton, Osakis and Upsala Swanville playing in Fargo, Foley at St. Cloud vs. Annandale, Brainerd at home, Becker going to Fergus Falls.
It was reported Sunday that the Pierz vs. Pequot Lakes football game for Section 7AAA Championship will be Thursday night at 7:30pm at Brainerd High School. Hear the game on 94ROCKS KFML.