NEWS
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen is asking for the public's assistance in finding a suspicious white male in the area of Hilton Road and 133rd Street south of Little Falls. The man around 4:30pm yesterday reportedly driving a red moped with a tool box on the back came to a yard of a juvenile female and asked her if he could go inside the residence and use a phone book to find another male acquaintance. The juvenile was baby sitting two younger children. The male is described around 50-60 years old, short grey hair, glasses and a thin build. No facial hair and wearing a pink and blue shirt. The male left the area southbound on Hilton Road on his moped. The sheriff's office is asking the public's help in identifying the individual to speak with him about the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact 320-632-9233.
--A list of new laws take effect today August 1. Minnesota motorists will be required to use hands-free devices if they want to talk on the phone while driving. Slower drivers must move over to let faster drivers pass. Groping a person's clothed buttocks without consent will become a crime. Vaping in public indoor spaces and workplaces will become as illegal as cigarette smoking in them. State safety officials have been working hard to make sure that all motorists know by Thursday that they can't talk on the phone while driving unless they're using a hands-free device. They say the experience of other states shows that the crackdown on distracted driving will save lives. A first offense will cost $130 with the fine jumping over $300 for subsequent violations. It will still be OK to operate a cellphone by voice commands or single-touch activation while driving — as long as you're not holding the phone. Built-in Bluetooth systems on newer cars already solve the problem. Slowpoke drivers will need to stay out of the left lane. If a road has more than one lane in each direction, a driver must now get out of the leftmost lane to let faster drivers pass assuming that's practical. The new requirement does not apply when preparing for a left turn at an intersection, or into a private road or driveway, or preparing to leave a highway where the exit is on the left side. Intentionally touching someone's clothed buttocks with sexual or aggressive intent without their consent will now count as 5th degree criminal sexual conduct, a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine. Minnesota's Clean Indoor Air Act will expand to cover e-cigarettes, making them subject to the same prohibitions as tobacco smoking in restaurants and bars, as well as almost all other indoor workplaces and public places. Residents of assisted living homes and their families will now have the right to install hidden monitoring cameras for two weeks before being required to notify the facilities. The "granny cams" provision is part of a package of safeguards for seniors and vulnerable adults. It also includes protections against retaliation against residents and employees of care facilities — and relatives of residents — who file good faith complaints about maltreatment, assert legal rights, report crimes or file lawsuits. Certain parents who have lost their parental rights will have a little easier time trying to get them back. Parents who've lost their children due to "non-egregious harm," typically meaning mental illness or chemical dependency, will be allowed to directly petition a judge to have their rights restored. The change does not apply to parents who lost their rights because of physical, sexual or psychological abuse.
--Join AM960 KLTF Party Line today at the Crow Wing County Fair in Brainerd for Ag Day at 10:05 on KLTF and fallsradio.com.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has announced their August Employee of the Month is Heidi Pyka. Heidi is the OTC Department Manager and has worked for Walmart of 22 years. Congratulations Heidi Pyka, Little Fallls Area Chamber of Commerce August Employee of the Month.
--This Saturday is the 25th Platte River Day event in Royalton. The day starts with a 5K run at 8:30am, then a parade at 11am, auction at 12:30 duck races, turtle races, polka mass at 4pm, grand raffle at 5:30pm and a great street-dance with the Fabulous Armadillos on Saturday night in Royalton starting at 8pm. Details at fallsradio.com.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Scott Goddard would like to make the public aware that the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2019 is now accepting applications. The Minnesota Sheriff’s Association is awarding up to 15 $600 scholarships for 2019. The scholarships will be announced by December 28th, 2019. Students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories are eligible: 1. Mandated post-secondary education skills program; 2. The second year of a two-year law enforcement program; or 3. The third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program. Applications for the scholarship are available at the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office or online at: www.mnsheriffs.org.
--A reminder to boaters as the planned draw down of the Mississippi River and Little Rock Lake is set to begin. The Sheriff's Offices in Benton and Stearns Counties are making a request for voluntary compliance with a no wake zone. Signs will be posted at various locations. You should also avoid walking in areas that are newly exposed, especially where new vegetation has been planted. The public is allowed to clean up ordinary debris or garbage exposed by the lower lake levels, however, if you find something large, hazardous, or unusual your first contact should be the Sheriff's Office. Dumpsters will be placed at several locations in both Stearns and Benton counties. The draw down will start today and will take about 36 hours to drop the water level three to five feet. It is scheduled through September 15th.
--An extremely busy night in Morrison County, Cone Zone Summer Block Party tonight at 6pm by Great River Arts with Brothers Tone, Linden Hill has Raise the Roof event pork roast and dance tonight at the Linden Hill Conference and Retreat Center, Rock-Roll and Stoll tonight from 5-8pm in Pierz with classic cars and a poker walk, Oasis Central Minnesota Share a Meal tonight at 6pm at First Lutheran Church where they will have items for the upcoming Church Ladies event August 21st and 22nd at the Falls Ballroom. There are many more events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at fallsradio.com.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, high 83.
TONIGHT= increasing clouds, low 62.
FRIDAY= mostly cloudy, midday storm possible, high 84, low 62.
SATURDAY= sunny and warm, high 85, storms late night, low 63.
SUNDAY= early and late storms, sunny and hot, high 88, low 58.
SPORTS
TWINS= Jose Berrios struck out 11 and the Twins hit another 3 homers last night in a 7-4 win over the Marlins in Miami. Indians win so Twins still keep the 3 game lead in the Central Division. The Twins and Marlins play early today to wrap up the series in Miami, pregame is at 10:30am on Q92 WYRQ.