NATIONAL NEWS
--On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he is dropping out of the 2024 Election and will not face former President Donald Trump this November. A letter by the President stated that he was withdrawing from the race after many Democrats and supporters had asked President Biden to not run following poor performances at recent interviews and the debate against Donald Trump. President Biden did endorse his Vice President Kamala Harris in the letter for President. President Biden stated it is in the best interests of all involved for him to step down, he will finish his term as President and address the Nation on this matter later this week. Vice President Harris last night announced she has accepted President Biden's endorsement for President. The Democratic National Convention will take place August 19th through the 22nd in Chicago and then it will be decided who the nominee will be to face Republican endorsed candidate former President Donald Trump.
LOCAL NEWS
--A soldier was airlifted Thursday, July 18, out of Camp Ripley after suffering an injury during a training event. About 11pm Thursday, Camp Ripley’s Range Control dispatched Camp Ripley Fire Rescue to respond to a report of an active-duty Army soldier who was injured, Army Col. Troy Fink, Camp Ripley Training Center’s post commander, said in a news release. The soldier was attempting to clear and change the barrel on an M240 automatic rifle when a blank round was ejected, causing injury to their hand. Trained medics were located at the training site and began immediate care. Camp Ripley Fire Rescue determined the injury required further attention, and requested Life Link to transport the service member to CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital at about 11:45pm. Fink stated Friday that the soldier did have surgery on his hand and is in stable condition.
--Motorists can expect periodic lane closures and short-term delays as Minnesota Department of Transportation maintenance crews begin to make repairs to the Highway 27 road surface between CentraCare Drive, Long Prairie and Highway 28, north of Swanville starting today. Work will occur Monday through Thursday 7am to 5pm until early August weather permitting. Motorists will encounter single-lane closures, lane shifts and flaggers on both directions of Highway 27. The work will be done in segments, so expect the work zone to change and move each day. Watch for heavy equipment and workers.
MnDOT advises travelers to always slow down when approaching every work zone, never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones and they ask all drivers to please stay alert as work zones constantly change. More information is at 511mn.org.
--The Randall community is invited to learn about the upcoming J-turn accesses on Highway 10 at a project open house on Wednesday. The open house will take place from 5 to 7pm at Bingo Park, Randall. Guests will learn how the new Highway 10 accesses will work together and how to navigate the future J-turns. They will also learn what to expect during construction and have the chance to visit with project staff and ask questions. To better fit individual schedules, the event is drop-in-style, guests may stop by and leave at their convenience. MnDOT will improve access and safety along both directions of Highway 10 through Randall, which includes two J-turn intersections at Morrison County Road 14 and Highway 115. J-turns, have proven to reduce serious and fatal crashes caused by T-bone crashes at intersections like the ones in Randall to be discussed.
--A 79-year-old Frazee man died Thursday, July 18, after the front-end loader tractor he was driving rolled over and he was pinned underneath. The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 6:13pm Thursday about a farm equipment rollover accident along Wadena County Highway 30 east of Wahoo Valley and north of Staples. Law enforcement, fire and rescue and medical personnel responded and located the front-end tractor upside down in the ditch along County Highway 30 with the operator, John Berger, pinned under it. Berger was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
--An Annandale man was hurt after crashing his motorcycle Thursday evening. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene in the 15000 block of Caldron Road at around 6:20pm. The sheriff's office says the crash location is about two miles north of Kimball. Authorities say 75-year-old James Neises was with a group of motorcycles when he lost control on a curve and went off the road.
Neises was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The sheriff's office says he was not wearing a helmet. The Minnesota State Patrol reported dozens of injury accidents over the weekend in Stearns, Mille Lacs, Douglas and Otter Tail Counties.
--Fire destroyed a home Thursday in Lake Edward Township. Nisswa Fire Chief Shawn Bailey said crews responded to the fire around 12:49pm on the 11000 block of County Road 118. He said the homeowner was working outside when they noticed the building on fire and called 911. When crews arrived on scene, fire could be seen coming out of the doorways of the building. The home was totally destroyed and no assistance was requested by the homeowner. The state fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire. No one was injured in the fire on Thursday.
--A Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Deputy was injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash Thursday near Atwater. Authorities say an on-duty deputy was driving a squad car when the deputy left the road and overturned. The deputy was pulled from the squad car and air-lifted to the hospital. According to law enforcement, the deputy suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is in stable condition. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the crash.
DEATH NOTICES
--Daniel C. Gerads Sr., age 93 of Upsala.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, PM storms possible, high 83.
TONIGHT= evening storms, humid night, low 66.
TUESDAY= AM storms, then sunny, high 78, low around 53.
WEDNESDAY= partly cloudy, less humid, high 75, low near 51.
SPORTS
TWINS= A wild ending to the Twins game on Saturday after 9 innings the game was 1-1 then 2 each in the 11th and Brewers get five more in the 12th to win 8-4 in 12 innings over Twins. Byron Buxton homers twice Sunday but the Brewers hold on to win 8-7 and sweep the 2 game series. The Twins open a series at home against the Philadelphia Phillies tonight, pregame at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
WNBA= Team WNBA 117, Team USA 109 in the All Star Game.