NEWS
--A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until noon today. Heavy snow last night from 8.5 to 16 inches across Morrison and Crow Wing County has lead to stalling vehicles, plows even getting stuck this morning in spots. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office stated that unnecessary travel is not advised this morning and also advised that no traveling on unplowed roads due to vehicle stalling until the plows can get to them with the heavy snow. This is only the beginning of a tough travel week due to the weather, snow, blowing snow and strong winds today, more snow another 1-3 inches tomorrow and then another round Thursday with cold temperatures below zero most of Wednesday and then again by the weekend. If you have to travel expect delays and stoppages. Schools luckily are off this week for the winter break and so barely any buses are out today.
--A Stearns County Grand Jury has indicted a St. Cloud woman on 1st-degree premeditated murder and 2nd-degree intentional murder in the death of her three-month-old baby. According to the Stearns County charging complaint, 26-year-old Fardoussa Abdillahi cut her son's throat and threw the infant in the dumpster. However, the criminal proceedings are on hold until a mental competency exam can be completed. A man called the police on November 28th to request a welfare check. Officers responded to the 2900 Block of Maine Prairie Road where the man said a baby was missing and the mother was saying she threw the dead child in a dumpster.
--Kim Potter, the former Minnesota police officer who mistakenly drew her handgun instead of her Taser during a traffic stop in April in which she fatally shot Daunte Wright, has been found guilty. Jurors had been deliberating since Monday before finding Potter, who had served as an officer in Brooklyn Center for 26 years, guilty of first- and second-degree manslaughter charges in the death of Wright. Whether Potter had intended to draw her Taser or handgun was not at issue in the trial. Lawyers for both sides agreed she mistakenly drew the wrong weapon. Instead, the trial centered on questions of whether she should have recognized she was holding the heavier, metal gun, or whether she should have drawn any weapon at all. Potter is scheduled to be sentenced on February 18th. State guidelines recommended around 11 years total in prison on the two charges though prosecution has asked for a longer sentence in this case.
--Minnesota was *not* among the states losing population in 2021, but mirrors national numbers showing the U-S population grew at its slowest rate (0.1 percent) since the country was founded. State Demographer Susan Brower says "the state grew by 225 people this past year. That's the estimate the Census Bureau has just released. And in a typical year during the past decade, the average annual growth would be about 35 thousand people." Brower says Minnesota had 63 thousand births, somewhat less than a typical year. There were 54 thousand deaths, about 25 percent more than normal. Brower says because the average age is increasing, but also due to COVID. Net migration coming to Minnesota from other countries was about one-third of normal at four thousand. And 13-thousand, about four times the usual number left Minnesota for other states.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--The Morrison County Commissioners will meet Thursday at 9am at the government center boardroom to handle end of the year items.
Due to the wintery weather today Rural Minnesota CEP announced they will open 2 hours later then usual time. Continue to listen to Little Falls Radio for weather info.
--Slippery roads with a few inches of snow Christmas Day led to a number of spinout and accidents along Highway 10 around Little Falls and west of town. The State Patrol and local law enforcement are reminding motorists with the Winter Storm Warning in effect last night through today, more snow, some freezing mix and strong winds will make slow going today. Please slow down for conditions.
--You will no longer be fined for overdue library materials. Starting January 3rd, The Great River Regional Library system will eliminate all overdue fines on checked out materials. This initiative began back in 2019 with the elimination of overdue fines on children and teen materials. Johnson says the goal of the expansion is to reduce the financial barriers that may prevent residents from accessing library materials, and to increase the amount of time our staff spend assisting library users in a positive way. If late fines never prevent you from using your local library, you're asked to continue to consider paying it forward with the library's Year-End Campaign. The Great River Regional Library provides library services at 32 public libraries and one to-go system in Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright Counties. Including the Carnegie Library in Little Falls.
--The Royalton School District announced thye they are hosting monthly Senior Citizens meet ups at the school to discuss what the school is doing. The school opens their doors to the senior citizens to come in on the third Wednesday of the month at the Royalton School Board Meeting Room at 9am. The meetings for the year so far go as followed on January 19th winter sports to be discussed, February 16th will be Knowledge Bowl and Student Council, March 16th Drama and Clay Target, April 20th will be Speech and BPA, and May 18th spring sports. Any questions on attending these meetings call the school.
--Two people were taken to the hospital after they were hit by a semi while changing a tire on the side of the road. The incident happened around 2:30pm Monday on I-94 near Fergus Falls. The Minnesota State Patrol said one vehicle was stopped on the westbound shoulder of I-94. The driver, 23-year-old Jacob Carlson of Lindstrom, and passenger, 23-year-old Alexander Sagendorf of Chisago City, were attempting to change the driver's side tire on the trailer when they were hit by a semi heading west. Carlson and Sagendorf were taken to Fergus Falls Hospital with injuries. The other driver was not hurt.
DEATH NOTICES
--Anthony “Tony” Krusel, age 85 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY.
TODAY= snow, blowing snow, strong winds and falling temperatures.
TONIGHT= clearing early, low -4, clouds increase toward morning.
TUESDAY= snow likely, 1-3 inches by nightfall, high 20, low -8.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cold, high -4, low around -16.
SPORTS
VIKINGS= Vikings Justin Jefferson breaks the record for most receiving yards in first two years in the league by a player at 2,851 yards with two more games still to play. However, the Los Angeles Rams beat the Vikings 30-23 yesterday. Vikings fall to 7-8 and would need to to win both of their final games to have a chance at the playoffs. Vikings are at Green Bay on Sunday Night Football.
NFL= Aaron Rodgers tosses his 443rd TD pass and surpasses Brett Favre on the all time TD tossing list for Green Bay to win 24-22 over Cleveland, at 12-3 Packers holding the #1 seed in NFC playoffs.