Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge informed Little Falls Radio that the trail at the refuge will be closed TODAY August 11th for park maintenance. They plan on reopening the trail on Wednesday.
Morrison County Public Works sent out their weekly maintenance report and said they will be working on Culvert Work on CSAH 27, CSAH 17 and CSAH 37. This culvert work will include road closures and detours. Please follow detour signs. Contracted construction crews will be working on the following activities: On CSAH 76, new pavement will be placed on the west lanes from 13th Ave NE to Edmund Street and mill and overlay operations will be taking place between Edmund and CSAH 48. Please drive with caution and remain patient during delays. Project is expected to be complete by the end of August. County Road 225 is closed for bridge replacement south of CSAH 12. Traffic should follow the signed detour route. CSAH 21 (30th Street) west of 120th Street will be closed starting next week for bridge replacement. Traffic should follow the signed detour route. Belle Prairie Park River Access project is still underway. The park will be closed to vehicles and will be open to foot traffic only while under construction. Additionally, the boat ramp will be closed for the duration of the construction. Project is expected to continue into September. Please use caution around flaggers, work crews and flashing lights.
Today is Primary Election Day in Minnesota with many highly contested races around the state. U.S. Senator have 9 Republicans and 6 Democrats on the ballot including Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Congresswoman Angie Craig on the DFL side. U.S. Representative District 7 incumbent Michelle Fischbach is unopposed on the Republican side, two on DFL side Steve Carlson and Erik Osberg. State Senator District 10 for the Republican side Senator Nathan Wesenberg is challenged by Deb Holthaus, while on the DFL side Tara Killen is the lone candidate. State House District 10A there are two on the Republican side Mark Striemer and Brian Lindquist. Melissa Maertens is the lone DFL candidate. Governor of Minnesota has 7 Republican candidates on the ballot and another 7 DFL candidates also on the ballot the Governor seat. Secretary of State as 2 GOP candidates running, incumbent Steve Simon only one on DFL side, State Auditor as three Republicans running against the one DFL candidate and Attorney General has two on the DFL Side as Attorney General Keith Ellison is challenged David J.S. Madgett while only one is running on the Republican side Ronald J. Schutz. There are other State House, State Senate races, some Counties have primary election if contested races of more than two for a seat. For a sample ballot go to https://myballotmn.sos.mn.gov. Then you put your address in for a sample ballot in your area. If you live in the city of Little Falls Ward 1 (southeast side, and to 4th Avenue NE) vote at Initiative Foundation. Ward 2 is north of 4th Avenue NE, all Northeast Little Falls to Belle Prairie annexed area vote at City Hall. Ward 3 is the entire West Side of Little Falls and also southern Little Falls in the Golf Course Area vote now at Bethel Lutheran Church. Questions call City Hall at 320-616-5500.
One person was hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Kandiyohi County. The Minnesota State Patrol reports that the incident occurred on Sunday at approximately 4:00 p.m. at the intersection of Highways 55 and 4 near Belgrade. Sixty-nine-year-old Jody Kalk of Hewitt was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Twenty-two-year-old Kelly Kieffer of Cushing and her two passengers, ages 10 and 7, were not hurt.
Two people were taken to the hospital and a third suffered minor injuries in a Benton County crash Monday morning. The incident happened at the intersection of Highway 95 and 75th Avenue NE east of St. Cloud at around 5:45am. The Minnesota State Patrol says a pickup driven by 25-year-old Robert Nies of Princeton was westbound on Highway 95 while a second pickup driven by 18-year-old Preston Philippi of St. Cloud was southbound on 75th Avenue when the two collided. Philippi and his passenger, 25-year-old Austin Philippi of Foley, were brought to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Nies suffered minor injuries and did not go to the hospital.
Five people were hurt in a two-vehicle crash in western Stearns County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 2:00 p.m. on Sunday on Interstate 94 near Sauk Centre. Both vehicles were westbound when they collided, and one of the vehicles left the road and rolled. Forty-year-old Ryan Morrell of Coon Rapids and his two passengers, ages 11 and 7, were all taken to Sauk Centre Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Fifty-seven-year-old Wendi Rothfork of Elk River and her passenger, 82-year-old Janice Semear of Big Lake, were also taken to Sauk Centre Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Flags in Minnesota will be at half-staff on Tuesday to honor former Justice Esther M. Tomljanovich. Tomljanovich, also known as Justice T, was appointed a judge in Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District in 1977 and served eight years as associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. “Justice T was more than just a talented jurist; she was a trailblazer for women, lawyers, and students throughout her life,” said Governor Tim Walz in a press release. “She led with kindness, warmth, and generosity, serving the state and Minnesota Supreme Court with pride. Gwen and I extend our thoughts to her family, friends, and all whose lives she touched.” After her time on the Supreme Court, Tomljanovich created the Minnesota Women Lawyers group and helped make women a protected class under the Minnesota Human Rights Act. She died on July 26 after a brief illness.
National Deaths: longtime NBA coach Don Nelson has died at age 86. Nelson coached for 5 NBA teams starting in 1976 until 2010 and was 3x coach of the year. Nelson also coached the USA Dream Team II in 1994 to a gold medal. Actress Tedde Moore has died age 79. Moore appeared as the school teacher in A Christmas Story in 1983, also appearing in a Friday the 13th and Robocop movie in her career. Actor Ben Jones died at 84, he was "Crazy Cooter" the mechanic and friends of the Duke family on the "The Dukes of Hazzard", Jones was also a U.S. Congressman for the state of Georgia in the late 80s and early 90s.
Death Notices: Olive "Pinky" Manlick, age 84 of Little Falls.
Weather: sunny skies today, high 86. Thunderstorms late overnight into Wednesday morning, low 61. Morning thunderstorms Wednesday then partly sunny, high 81, clear skies Wednesday night low 54. Partly cloudy Thursday, high 79, clear Thursday night low 55. Friday few showers at times, also sunny, high 78, clear Friday night low 55. Showers likely Saturday high near 73, low around 56, showers possible on Sunday, high 76, low 57.
Sports: Twins pound Baltimore relievers last night for 7 runs with Josh Bell, Austin Martin and Ryan Jeffers with the big hits to win 9-5 over the Orioles at Target Field. Twins (59-61) continue series with Baltimore at home tonight at 6:40pm. More Region Baseball coverage this weekend starting Friday night in Avon at 6pm Nisswa vs. Avon, then 8:30pm Foley vs. Pierz Lakers (the 8:30pm game will be on KLTF), winners go for 3rd place Saturday, losers for 5th and final spot at state in 4B. In Pierz Friday night the 9C Championship game is the Pierz Brewers vs. Aitkin at 6pm on KLTF. Then 8:30pm elimination game will be Randall vs. Opole also in Pierz. Saturday at 10:30am in Pierz is the 4B Championship game Buckman vs. Sobieski on KLTF. Then after that will be the 3rd place game for 4B, then 5th place for 4B, and the final game will be the 2nd place game in 9C between the winner of 8:30pm game and loser of 6pm game on Friday night in Pierz. After Saturday 5 go to state for 4B, 2 for 9C. Listen in for the details and the action this weekend again on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.