NEWS
--A woman from North Dakota is charged with burning down a Stearns County man's home. 40-year-old Jamie Morin of Wahpeton is charged with the 1st-degree arson of a dwelling. Sheriff's deputies were called to a home along 248th Avenue in Krain Township just after 2pm Thursday afternoon for a house fire. A deputy arrived to find the home fully engulfed with flames and black smoke coming from the attic. The deputy made contact with Morin who, court records show, admitted she had started the fire and that no one was inside. When the deputy asked her why and how she had started the fire, she allegedly made comments about being kidnapped and using a propane torch. The homeowner arrived on the scene and told deputies he had met the woman in North Dakota and brought her back to Minnesota to live with him. They had been together for approximately one month. The owner said he went to work on Thursday and left Morin at the house. He wasn't aware the house was on fire until a neighbor called to alert him. Evidence found at the scene found by the State Fire Marshal matched the woman's story about how the fire started.
--A teenager was hurt in a collision with a semi. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened at about 3:00pm Thursday on Highway 169 near Zimmerman in Sherburne County. Both vehicles were going north on the highway when the teen stopped in the right lane while other traffic moved to the left lane to get around. The teen then turned left to also get into the left lane and crashed into the right rear axle of the semi's trailer as it was passing. The 16-year-old girl was taken to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. Her name and condition have not been released. The semi driver was not hurt.
--A Waite Park woman was hurt when the car she was riding in was struck by a tire. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just after midnight Friday morning on Interstate 94 near St. Augusta. A car driven by 52-year-old Paul Habstritt of Waite Park was going west while another vehicle driven by 22-year-old Hunter Hurd of St. Cloud was going east. A tire came off Hurd's vehicle and Struck Habstritt's vehicle. The two drivers were not hurt, but 45-year-old Aleesha Zins-Habstritt of Waite Park was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--A Waite Park man is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl and impregnating her. According to the criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court, 22-year-old Roderick Hollins and the girl had sex in August and September of last year. A man called the police on Tuesday to report the girl was not at home, was pregnant, and was likely with Hollins. The two were found at a residence in Waite Park. The girl admitted to police that they had intercourse and she found out she was pregnant about eight weeks later. Hollins also allegedly admitted to the sex and said the unborn child is "100% his". Hollins is charged with 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim 14-15 years-old.
--Little Falls Community Schools and Morrison County Social Services invite all to an event on Social Media & Youth on April 18th at the High School in Little Falls from 6-8pm. This is for all Middle and High School students, parents, youth advocates and any others concerned about social media and the youth of the school district. There will be refreshments served and door prizes. This is a free event. Questions can be directed to Logan Swendsrud at 320-632-0246.
--Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--The Stearns County Attorney's Office has charged a man with murder in the death of a Waite Park woman last February. Twenty-eight-year-old Jarquez Bedford has been charged with one count of 2nd-degree intentional murder for the killing of 52-year-old Andrea Cottew. Police were conducting a welfare check at 320 Park Meadows Drive on February 6th, 2023, and found Cottew dead inside her home. Court records show officers arrived to find the apartment door locked and no forced entry. There was blood throughout the apartment and Cottew's body was found with cuts to her neck. Surveillance video shows Cottew entering the apartment building the day before. Moments later, Bedford is seen knocking on the locked entry door with Cottew responding and letting him in. Bedford is currently being held in the Ramsey County Jail on unrelated charges. The charges allege officers interviewed Bedford who gave police multiple details about the case that were not public, but he denied killing Cottew. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension conducted DNA testing at the crime scene and matched what they say is Bedford's DNA to the handle of the knife.
--The American Legion National Commander Vincent James “Jim” Troiola of New York state will be visiting several area American Legion posts to speak on issues of importance to Minnesota veterans. Troiola will address the issue of veterans suicide and The American Legion’s “Be The One” campaign. Members of the public are invited to attend Troiola’s visits to the American Legion posts. April 19th Aitkin Post at 8:30am, 11:30am at Hackensack and 5:30pm in Ironton. Then on April 20th at 8:30am in Underwood, 11:45am in Long Prairie and there will be a visit at 4:30pm at Camp Ripley north of Little Falls. Prior to the visits in north central Minnesota Troiola also will be visiting several Duluth-area American Legion posts April 17th-18th. For more information visit www.mnlegion.org.
DEATH NOTICES
--Mary Jean Filippi, age 83 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, high near 60.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, patchy drizzle overnight, low 33.
TUESDAY= mostly cloudy breezy, high 69, low near 41.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and mild, high 71, low around 36.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins win 3-2 in 10 innings over Houston in the home opener on Friday with key at bats in the 10th to get the win. Kyle Farmer had 3 hits on Saturday for the Twins to win 9-6 over Houston. Houston did take 1 of the games Sunday beating the Twins 5-1. The Twins open a series with the Chicago White Soc today, just like the last 2 games, 12:30pm pregame today on Q92 WYRQ.
COL HK= Quinnipiac wins their first National Championship by beating the Gophers 3-2 in overtime Saturday in Florida.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1849= Walter Hunt patents the safety pin.
IN 1872= Arbor Day is first celebrated in the United States.
IN 1912= The RMS Titanic starts maiden and would be last voyage.
IN 1953= House of Wax (first 3-D) movie opens in theaters.
IN 1974= Magicians Penn and Teller perform first time together.