NEWS
--This week, April 13th through the 17th is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota. This week is provided to give information to be prepared for the severe weather season that can occur at anytime (including last week in some counties already). Today focuses on weather alerts and warnings, Tuesday is severe storms, lightning and hail, Wednesday is floods, Thursday is tornadoes and Friday is extreme heat. The National Weather Service, the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and other state, county and local agencies have come together to host Severe Weather Awareness Week activities. On Thursday, is the day for tornado drills and working on your safety plans. The schedule for Thursday is as follows: 1:45pm most Minnesota counties (including Morrison, Todd, Benton and Stearns) will activate outdoor warning siren systems and other notification systems. The choice to activate sirens is a decision made by the counties and cities. Radio stations (including Little Falls Radio) will break in with the statewide drill, then again at 6:45pm the same counties in Minnesota will activate outdoor warning siren systems and other notification systems. Again Little Falls Radio will participate with the state tornado drill. Find more information on Severe Weather Awarness Week and the activies planned at the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website.
--Little Falls Schools Superintendent spoke on KLTF Friday and stated that distance learning contines starting again tomorrow. Back on Thursday buses dropped off meals for 5 days, as there were scheduled day off Friday and Monday for Easter break. Schools tomorrow will also be dropping the week's criteria for students and many materials can also be delivered via email. Jones said the community support, bus drivers, food volunteers have been great and very appreciated for their hard work at this trying time. He also stated that the track was closed to the public over the weekend but will reopen again on Tuesday morning at 6am as today was a scheduled day off.
--Fatal crashes in Minnesota have doubled since the beginning of the coronavirus social distancing protocols, compared to the same days in 2019. Meanwhile, tickets for DWIs have decreased. There were 24 fatal crashes in Minnesota since March 16, compared to 12 in 2019. More than half of those were speed-related or caused by careless driving. According to Mike Hanson, director of the Office of Communication, data show Minnesota is bucking trends elsewhere that show less reckless driving during stay-at-home orders. Now is the time for drivers to make sure they are not putting themselves in a position to take up medical resources that might be needed to deal with emergencies related to COVID-19. The office has seen roughly one-third of the weekend DWIs that they normally would, from March 16th when bars and restaurants were closed through April 5, there were 752 DWIs reported in Minnesota, according to preliminary data. During the same time in 2019, there were 1,676.
--Four people were hurt just before 7am on Friday on Highway 23 in Munson Townhip of Stearns County. Jarrod Schmidt, age 45 of New London was on 23 when a vehicle driven by Miguel Ramirezortiz crossed the center-line nad struck Schmidt head on. Both drivers and two passengers in the Ramirezortiz vehicle were all taken to St. Cloud Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries.
--All Little Falls City Facilities, including City Hall and the Police Station will be closed to the public through May 3rd. Staff will have access to their facilities, and staff that can work from home will be allowed to do so. Until further notice, all City Council and committee meetings will be held remotely or postponed. They are working on the means to host a teleconferenced Council Meetings and will publish their process when that is available. Emergency personnel will be working, and you are encouraged to call those departments if you have non-emergency concerns. If you have an emergency, please dial 911. Prescription medication collection will be suspended until further notice. The city will be waiving late fees on utility bills due May 5th. Building, zoning and other permit forms are available online, and can be dropped off at City Hall. There will be a designated area to drop off plans, permits or other forms in the breezeway at the East entrance of City Hall. The North entrance will be locked.
--The Department of Health's latest numbers on Sunday stated there are now 1,627 positive cases in Minnesota from 37,421 tests. Of those 842 are no longer in isolation from the virus. There have been 70 deaths as of Sunday related to the virus, 157 hospitalized and 74 are in the ICU. The Department of Health stated that average age of the deaths was 87 and all but 2 of the reported deaths were over the age of 65 in Minnesota. Todd County has their first two reports of the COVID-19 virus, Crow Wing is at 16 cases, Cass is at 4 cases. As of Sunday there are still no positive cases in Morrison, Mille Lacs, Aitkin or Wadena Counties. The Stay at Home order by Governor Walz continues until 11:59pm May 3rd, that continues for bars, restaurants, and many other businesses. Distance Learning in the schools continues also until the morning of May 4th at this time.
--The committee that oversees the Legionville School Patrol Camp for the American Legion Department of Minnesota has decided to cancel for the 2020 season. “It is with a heavy heart that this decision is made,” said Legionville President Eugene Leifeld, in a news release. “Legionville is central to what it means to be a Legionnaire in Minnesota. We hope to return to full strength in 2021.” “The safety and health of our campers is our No. 1 priority,” said Department Commander Mark Dvorak, in the news release. “The decision to cancel was a difficult one, but it had to be made.” The camp teaches school-safety patrol procedures, guidelines for intersections and bus patrols and emergency bus safety to boys and girls all across Minnesota. Typically, the patrollers are entering fourth, fifth or sixth grade. The camp is a function of the Department of Minnesota (state level) but receives support from American Legion Posts and Auxiliary Units all across the state. The first session was planned to begin June 14. The last would have ended August 7th but all has been cancelled.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, snow showers in afteroon, high 36.
TONIGHT= snow shower early, clearing and colder, low 17.
TUESDAY= partly sunny, high 37, clear night, low 16.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, lighter winds, high 40, low near 22.
SPORTS
MLB= Major League Baseball is looking into playing games in Florida and Arizona later this spring with Cactus and Grapefruit Divisions meaning the Twins would be in the Grapefruit South with Atlanta, Boston, Tampa Bay and Baltimore if this happens. Reportedly the games would be played with no fans in the stands also.