NEWS
--This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week. Today focuses on tornadoes. There will be two statewide Tornado Drills today to test sirens including in Morrison County. Because of the recent State of Emergency in Minnesota by Governor Tim Walz on COVID-19, the National Weather Service and NOAA Weather Radio have decided NOT to send out the tornado drills messages over the Emergency Alert System, NOAA Waeather Radios and Cell phones today at 1:45 and 6:45pm. Instead they have asked cities and counties, local radio stations and television stations if they desire to do so to send out the messages and test the sirens on their own accord. The tests will be at 1:45pm and 6:45pm today, again only a drill today to gear up for the upcoming severe weather season in Minnesota. Little Falls Radio will do a live tornado drill test at 1:45pm when the sirens go off in Morrison County, they will also be tested in Todd and Benton County. Some counties like Crow Wing and portions of Cass have decided to not take the drill this afternoon. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated that the tornado drills are important for those to be prepared in case of a torando, have a plan in place at home, at work or if you are on the road when the sirens go off. Listen to your local radio stations for the latest weather information, find the lowest point of your home to protect yourself if a tornado is in your area. Again statewide tornado drills today and tonight at 1:45pm and 6:45pm.
--The latest numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health show that there are 87 deaths related to COVID-19. 1,809 positive tests in Minnesota out of the 40,242 tests that have been completed. There are 940 patients no longer in isolation. 197 remained hospitalized as of Tuesday and there are 93 in the ICU. No changes to central Minnesota as Morrison, Mille Lacs, Aitkin and Wadena Counties still have no positive test cases of COVID-19.
--Little Falls Activities Office will not be charging an activity fee for spring activities that have been suspended. If there is a shortened season in May, they will not be collecting fees. Flyer students who have previously paid their activity fee will have three choices regarding their payments: Receive a full refund, Donate it to their activities scholarship fund or apply it as credit to their skyward account. Contact Gloria Kofoed with your decision at your earliest convenience. Little Falls Community High School did announce their boy and girl for the month (even though no school now for students until at least May 4th), The girl is Sadie Sue Houdek and the boy of the month is Joey Blair for Little Falls.
--The nation's two largest rivers top a new listing of the most endangered waterways. The Washington, D.C.-based conservation organization American Rivers on Tuesday released its list of the 10 most endangered waterways in the United States. The Upper Mississippi River was cited as the most endangered, followed by the lower Missouri River. For both rivers, American Rivers cited increasingly severe flooding driven by climate change. Extreme flooding has become increasingly common on the Upper Mississippi. Meanwhile, parts of the Missouri River saw record and near-record flooding last spring in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.
--A St. Cloud man was hurt after a five vehicle crash in Wright County Tuesday morning. The incident happened just before 11:30am on Eastbound I-94 in Silver Creek Township. 56-year-old Gary Olson of St. Cloud, stopped on the right shoulder area and was hit by a semi that had been struck by another vehicle. This caused Olson's vehicle to end up in a small lake. No one else was injured in the crashes.
--District 9B State Representative Ron Kresha spoke on KLTF Wednesday and said that the biggest thing right now is uncertainity right now, why some businesses are open and some not, many questions in the district about why this is being done instead of what is being done. He said that because we don't know how many will be affected in the state this year, precautions are likely to continue and be careful for the elderly, hospitals need to staff for prevention along with taking care of day to day operations. He said health care, education and job security will be talked quite frequently in the days ahead as the stay at home order continued through at least May 3rd and could be longer, he feels distance learning also has to work forward in the likelyhood that schools do not return this year and what can be done for safety and prevention when schools return in the fall when another round of COVID-19 could occur again. Representative Kresha stated that he continues to do what he feels is the best for the district even with many staff members and legislators working remotly right now due to the guidelines and restrictions. You can call or email his office in St. Paul with questions and concerns.
--In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Morrison County Public Health is requesting donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Morrison County Public Health is coordinating donations of the following items: N95 Respirator masks, Surgical masks, Clear plastic face shields, Safety goggles/glasses, Food-grade gloves, Non-medical grade gloves, Medical grade disposable gloves, Disposable or re-usable isolation gowns, Unopened/sealed hand sanitizer products and Surface cleaning wipes (Clorox wipes). Items accepted by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call Morrison County Public Health at 320-632-6664.
--A St. Cloud man is charged with leading police on a chase and then fleeing on foot after officers were called to the scene of an aggressive driver. Stearns County Chief Deputy Sheriff Dan Miller first responded to the area of 17th Avenue North and 3rd Street North just after 11pm Monday. Court records show Miller saw a red car bumping the rear bumper of a white SUV. Two women in the SUV were upset and crying. Chief Deputy Miller activated his lights and siren before the driver of the car sped from the scene. The driver, identified as 20-year-old Christian Guzman-Camacho, continued making several turns at a high rate of speed and without signaling. Ultimately, records show Guzman-Camacho stopped in the wrong lane of Cooper Avenue, got out and fled on foot. He was found walking on 20th Avenue near Division Street and arrested.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, high 42.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 20.
FRIDAY= sunny and warmer, high near 50, low near 30.
SATURDAY= sunny and warmer, high 62, low around 38.
SUNDAY= sunny and windy, colder, high near 50, low around 30.
SPORTS
BAB= Once the high school baseball season is over, many players transition into American Legion and VFW baseball for the summer. The COVID-19 outbreak is delaying the beginning of that season as Minnesota American Legion Baseball state director Randy Schaub said Tuesday the board decided to allow no practices, tryouts, games or any type of activity until May 9th. The decision is based on Gov. Tim Walz's stay-at-home order being extended to May 4th.