NEWS --8th District Congressman Rick Nolan stated in phone interviews this week he is pondering a possible run for governor in 2018. Congressman Nolan said that a number of people have asked him to run in 2018 when Governor Mark Dayton leaves office and he said he will definitely take time to consider the option. Right now he said his duties are to the 8th Congressional District and those that elected him in November to a 3rd straight term in office. Nolan did not give a time frame on when he would make his official announcement but said he will have to consider all options before deciding on it.
--The Minnesota State Patrol has released official crash reports of the crash that killed St. Cloud State University President Earl H. Potter III in June on Interstate Highway 94 when his vehicle swerved back onto the road then over corrected, causing his truck to roll several times. It was reported that on June 13th, Potter was driving 62-68 mph in a 60-mph hour zone and that there was alcohol in his system after blood alcohol reports reported his level at .04-.08 at time of death near or at the legal limit. Potter was university president since 2007.
--Nearly 1,000 households and about 75 businesses around Central Minnesota will soon have access to high-speed broadband internet thanks in part to statewide funding through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Announced Wednesday, five area broadband projects totaling around $1.9 million are part of the statewide grant to increase internet access to thousands of households and businesses across outstate Minnesota. One of the five projects will improve access at St. Cloud Regional Airport. In total, $34 million is being allocated from the state's general fund resources to fund 42 projects statewide. This funding is expected to bring high speed internet access to 16,627 households, 2,240 business and 71 community institutions. Since 2014, 31 projects have been supported by about $66 million of grant funding.
--A man has been hospitalized after rolling his pickup. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just before 4:00pm Wednesday on I-94 near Freeport. Nineteen-year-old Hayden Roehl of Corcoran was going east when his pickup veered off the road into the right ditch and struck a tree. Roehl was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
--The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) on Wednesday presented Minnesota Power with the association’s “Emergency Recovery Award” for its outstanding power restoration efforts after severe thunderstorms hit Minnesota in July 2016. The award is presented twice annually to EEI member companies to recognize their efforts to restore power to customers after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions or other natural events. The July 21st, 2016, storms with wind gusts of up to 100 mph were the most damaging to hit Minnesota Power’s transmission and distribution system in half a century. About 57,000 customers across Minnesota Power’s service territory—more than one-third of the company’s customers—were without power in the immediate aftermath of the storms. Half of those had electricity restored within 24 hours. Others experienced multiday outages of varying degree as numerous uprooted trees and other storm debris made assessing damage and gaining access to complete repairs difficult. Minnesota Power crews and mutual aid responders worked more than 31,000 hours to restore power all customers within a week.
--Triple A nominees have been selected at our area schools and we now have a complete list from all Morrison County schools. Congratulations to nominees from Upsala Parker Barth and Katlin Welinski. Royalton nominees are Jordan Malikowski and Ally Moga. Holdingford high school nominated Joseph Meier and Cassandra Schwantz. Earlier this week we learned nominees from Little Falls are Christy Masog and Tyler Moore. Pierz selected Kacy Broschofsky and Lucas Otte. Swanville chose Sophie Larson and Jarick Rieffer. The Triple A award recognizes top high school seniors who have excelled in academics, arts and athletics.
--An Albany man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison after being convicted of killing his infant son. 32-year old Robert John Kaiser was convicted in October by a Stearns County jury of two counts of second-degree murder. The jury decided that Kaiser committed unintentional murder by causing brain damage to his son, William John Polreis-Kaiser. The jury found Kaiser not guilty of first-degree murder. Kaiser, at his sentencing Thursday, again denied harming his son, saying he's not sure what happened to cause William's death. Kaiser gets credit for the more than two years he's spent in custody since his arrest in the case.
--A reminder that Monday is a federal holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Most government agencies will be closed Monday for the holiday including city halls and government centers. Many banks are closed on Monday, some businesses are closed though many will be open on Monday. There is no regular mail delivery on Monday as post offices are closed though special delivery and priority mail services will be ongoing. Some schools like Little Falls and others will be off on Monday and others like Pierz have classes so it is best to call ahead.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS --Michael and Hope Platz of Royalton, a born born January 10th
DEATH NOTICES --Doreen Mohler, age 83 of Princeton.
WEATHER TODAY= increasing clouds, high 4 above, calm winds. TONIGHT= clearing late, low -3, wind chills near -15. SATURDAY= sunny and warmer, high 18, low around 0. SUNDAY= sunny, high 25, low around 8 above. MONDAY= partly sunny, high 32, mix precip late night.
SPORTS BHK= Sartell and Little Falls will make up their game from Tuesday on Saturday afternoon. Face off scheduled around 1:45pm and you can hear the action live Saturday on Q92 WYRQ. NFL= the Divisional Playoffs begin tomorrow with Seattle at Atlanta at 3pm followed by Houston at New England at 7:15pm, Sunday at noon its Pittsburgh at Kansas City followed at 3:40pm by Green Bay at Dallas. Hear all the action this weekend on AM960 KLTF. TWINS= The Twins announced that Torii Hunter and LaTroy Hawkins will join the broadcast team of Fox Sport North in 2018 during Twins games as dugout and pregame, post game analysts. The team announced the two were also hired to help out at spring training and be consultants for manager Paul Molitor this season. --Check out local sports scores and schedules at fallsradio.com.