[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Friday, January 22nd 2016[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–The Firefighters Union Local 4725 is suing the city of Brainerd after their recent decision to restructure the Brainerd Fire Department into a paid on-call department. The lawsuit filed in district court contains four counts claiming the city participated in unfair labor practices and violated various laws when it did the restructuring of the department. It also claims the city improperly amended the city charter when it passed a resolution to change the fire department and violated the First Amendment by elimination of the full time firefighters before many could speak out on it. The move made by the city was to have three full time positions, a fire chief, Tim Holmes, Administrative specialist and a fire marshal/deputy chief which passed unanimously by the Brainerd city council late last year.
–A 22-year-old was seriously injured Wednesday night on Highway 210 east of Deerwood in Crow Wing County. The State Patrol stated that a pickup was westbound and turning off the highway as it lost control on a slippery patch and collided with another vehicle. 48-year-old Chad Larson of Aitkin collided with 47-old Heidi Larson of Aitkin. Both drivers had non-life threatening injuries. Heidi’s passenger 22-year-old Kaitlin Larson was taken to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries sustained from the accident.
–On Tuesday the Child Foster Care Work Group presented preliminary recommendations to the Legislative Child Protection Task Force. Recommendations ranged from updating recruiting strategies and reforming foster parent training, to modernizing a foster child’s education and healthcare opportunities. District 9B State Representative Ron Kresha said “A good number of the suggestions from the Foster Care Work Group are already in the works for the 2016 legislative session. This year, I will be offering improvements to the foster care system to help children in out-of-home placement, as well as attracting and fairly compensating foster care parents.” A national study of youth aging out of foster care found that 52 percent did not graduate high school, and 25 percent were involved in the legal system. The Child Protection Task Force has taken the lead on this issue heading into the 2016 session.
–The State Patrol reported a fatal accident on Highway 71 in Hubbard County Wednesday around 6:30pm. 16-year-old Jacob Bruns of Laporte was on Highway 71 when the vehicle crossed the center line and struck a truck driven by 53-year-old Shannon Jay of Park Rapids. Bruns and his 16-year-old passenger, Kiara Renollette of Bemidji were both dead when the state patrol arrived on scene. Jay sustained serious injuries in the accident.
–Minnesota employers added 9,100 jobs in December, boosting the state’s job gains for 2015 to over 42,000. The Department of Employment and Economic Development reported Thursday that the state’s unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 3.5 percent in December from a revised rate of 3.6 percent in November. That’s better than the nationwide rate in December of 5 percent.
–The State Patrol responded to over a dozen accidents on Interstate 94 Thursday morning due to freeze fog and slippery conditions. At least seven vehicle accidents were reported between St. Augusta and Avon alone. Two crashes on I-94 west near the Opportunity Drive exit in St. Cloud, a vehicle spun out at Roosevelt Road in St. Cloud, separate crashes reported on Highway 15 near Waite Park, a crash was reported near a Stearns County Road 9 exit between Collegeville and Avon. In all cases there was no reports of any serious injuries.
–Today marks the 43rd Anniversary of the 1973 ruling legalizing abortion in America known as the Roe vs. Wade decision. Pro-Life rallies and events are planned throughout the state today including a Pro-life march in St. Paul today at the capitol at noon, with Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul at 10:30am.
–The Pierz City Council meets Monday at 7:00pm at City Hall. Agenda items include 2016 revised employment personnel policy, update on the comprehensive plan and tourism information request.
–The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) is seeking a level 3 predatory offender who is no longer complying with the conditions of his release from prison. 66-year old Douglas Lynn Peterson has been on fugitive status since Sunday when he absconded from his supervision while residing in Minneapolis. Peterson is caucasian, has brown hair, blue eyes, is 6 feet tall and weighs 182 pounds. It is believed Peterson was wearing a black coat with a gray hood, and was carrying a backpack. In Minnesota, Peterson has ties to Milaca, Blaine, Blooming Prairie, Golden Valley, Hayfield, Minneapolis and Zimmerman. He also has ties to Arcadia, Florida and Phoenix, Arizona. Citizens should not attempt to confront Peterson. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the DOC’s 24-hour tipline at 651-603-0026.
–Join Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge for a candlelight ski and snowshoe event Saturday 5:30-8:30pm at the refuge located south of Little Falls on County Road 35. Snowshoes will be provided but not skis for the free event. There will also be a bonfire and refreshments on Saturday at the refuge south of Little Falls.
NATIONAL NEWS
–If you thought 2015 was warmer than usual you were right. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced this week that 2015 was the warmest year on record since records were kept starting in 1880 and December was the warmest on record nationally since records started 136 years ago. NOAA said the average temperature for 2015 was 58.62 degrees up .23 degrees than last year and 1.6 degrees warmer than the average for the warmest year on records. The National Average was up but not Minnesota’s which had 2015 average the 7th warmest all time.
DEATH NOTICES
–Jean Martinson, age 91 of Upsala.
WEATHER
TODAY= flurries early, partly sunny, high 18.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, low around 7.
SATURDAY= mostly cloudy, high 25, low around 20.
SUNDAY= cloudy, high 32, snow develops at night, low 22.
MONDAY= snow likely, heavy at times, high near 30.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Pierz at Long Prairie Grey Eagle Saturday 12:30 on FM94.
HS BHK= Fergus Falls at Little Falls Saturday 7:15pm Q92 WYRQ
COL HK= Gophers at Wisconsin Saturday 6:30pm on KLTF.
NFL= AFC and NFC Championships Sunday with AFC New England at Denver at 2pm followed by NFC title game Carolina hosting Arizona, coverage begins at 12:30pm Sunday on AM960 KLTF.
PRO= Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers reported Thursday that he will not compete at the Pro Bowl on January 31st resting an injury. Oakland’s Derek Carr will replace Rodgers in the game.
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