NEWS
--A 57-year old bridge over the Mississippi River between Clearwater and Clear Lake officially has a replacement. A public ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday welcomed the new, $17.4 million, two-lane Minnesota Highway 24 bridge in Clearwater. The bridge, which features wide shoulders and a multipurpose trail, opens today to the public, ahead of schedule from an expected fall opening. Construction of the bridge began in August 2015, and took more than 5,000 cubic yards of concrete to complete. The bridge, which is 1,235 feet long, was constructed with more than 517,000 tons of reinforcement steel. State officials said the new bridge will have a 100-year lifespan. The old Highway 24 bridge is expected to be torn down next summer.
--The Rocori school board unanimously approved Monday a ballot question that will ask school district residents for $2.5 million over 10 years. The levy, if approved, would be used to support technology efforts and improvements in the district. Election Day is November 7th. In the coming months, more information will be distributed by the district and posted on the district website at www.rocori.k12.mn.us.
--Motorists should plan for heavy traffic volumes on Highway 371 and other Brainerd Lakes Area highways today through Sunday due to the 100,000 visitors expected to attend the 32nd annual Lucas Oil National Hot Rod Association Nationals race at the Brainerd International Raceway. Motorists planning to travel in the Brainerd/Baxter area should be patient, expect delays and watch for slow traffic on Highway 371 and other area roadways. Recurring congestion and occasional stop and go traffic is expected on Highway 371 between Brainerd and Nisswa. Motorists are advised to take alternative routes and avoid the area, if possible. For real time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org.
--A teenager is hurt after he was hit by a car while riding his bike in Monticello Tuesday. The Minnesota State Patrol reported the accident happened around 3:25pm at the intersection of Highway 25 and Chelsea Road. Authorities say 16-year old Josh Velez was riding his bike and attempted to cross Highway 25, at the same time a car driven by 49-year old Jeffrey Kramer of Buffalo was driving west on Chelsea Road when Velez cut across Chelsea Road and was struck by Kramer. Kramer was not hurt in the incident while Velez was taken to Monticello Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--One man is hurt after a crash involving two cars and a motorcycle in Elk River. The Minnesota State Patrol said around 3:00pm Tuesday afternoon, a car driven by 46-year old John Arden of Zimmerman was on Highway 169 traveling north of a motorcycle driven by 51-year-old Mark Nedoroscik of Browerville while at the same time a vehicle driven by 84-year old Anna Stoutenburg of Elk River was traveling south on 169. Authorities say Stoutenburg attempted to turn east onto Elk Hills Drive, when she struck Arden’s vehicle and caused him to spin out. Nedoroscik laid down his motorcycle to avoid hitting the other vehicles and slid into Stoutenburg’s car. Nedoroscik was taken to Princeton Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Stoutenburg and Arden were not hurt.
--A St. Cloud woman is hurt after crashing her car in Stearns County Tuesday. It happened around 9:30pm in Lynden Township near Clearwater. The Minnesota State Patrol says 25-year old Raho Rage was heading west on I-94 when she left the roadway and struck the guard rail. Rage was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--A Waite Park man was taken to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle Tuesday afternoon. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says 72-year old Marvin Anderson was northbound on County Road 4 just before 2:00pm near St. Wendel when he came upon a sweeping curve, failed to negotiate the curve and went off the road. Anderson was taken to St. Cloud Hospital where his condition is unknown.
--A major search for an invasive aquatic weed that is new to Minnesota has led to the weed being found in one more lake. The Department of Natural Resources says a search of 178 lakes in 20 counties by 200 trained volunteers found starry stonewort in Grand Lake of Stearns County. Starry stonewort has been found in nine state lakes, starting with Lake Koronis in Stearns County in 2015.
--A reminder that Benton County will be testing their civil air sirens today at 1:00pm. Residents in Foley, Rice, Watab Township, Gilman and Sauk Rapids should hear the sirens at that time. This is weather permitting but scheduled for 1:00pm today.
--A federal grant of almost $200,000 will help the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe identify walleye habitat in Mille Lacs Lake. The Tribal Wildlife Grant of $199,075 comes from the U.S. Department of the Interior. The department also announced Tuesday that it allocated $993,310 to Minnesota state wildlife agencies through the TWG and State Wildlife Grants programs. Nationwide, $48 million is being distributed through SWG to protect species in greatest conservation need. The fragile walleye population in Mille Lacs Lake has been the subject of studies, disputes and special regulations for a number of years. The Minnesota DNR regularly studies the fish population.
--A 25-year old St. Cloud man was arrested Tuesday after failing to make a June court appearance related to second-degree assault charges. Abdi Ahmed Mohamud was charged in April following a March 17th incident in St. Cloud in which authorities believe he attacked a man with a pocket knife. At the time of the incident, a warrant was issued for Mohamud's arrest. He was arrested and made his first court appearance on the charges May 30th. However, when he failed to appear for a June 29th court date, a second warrant was issued. Mohamud is charged with one count of assault in the second degree. His next scheduled court appearance is an omnibus hearing set for August 31st.
–A reminder that today is the final day of registration for the Little Falls School District to register students for High School, Community Middle School, Lindbergh, Lincoln and Dr. Knight Elementary schools at the Falls Ballroom (due to contruction at the school) from 1-7pm.
--Join Little Falls Radio's Corey Fink for a Shop Local Live on Location from area businesses from 10a-3p today on Q92 and FM94.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain continues, clearing in afternoon, breezy, high near 70.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low 54.
FRIDAY= sunny start, high 76, storms develop in PM, low near 60.
SATURDAY= sunny and warmer, high 82, low 63.
SUNDAY= sunny early, evening storms possible, high near 80, low 60
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins and Indians rained out last night. They will try and play two today. First game 11:30am and the second game at 5:30pm today on Q92 WYRQ. Twins host Arizona on Friday night.
LYNX= Seattle beat Lynx last night 62-61, Lynx fall to 21-5.