NEWS --58 people were cited over St. Cloud State University's move-in weekend this year, down from 74 last year. The numbers were released by the St. Cloud Police Department Wednesday. The number is an even larger drop from two years ago when 107 people were cited for various offenses on campus during move in weekend. Police say of the 58 cited this year, only 19 were current SCSU students. Police say the partnership between them, city officials, SCSU and St. Cloud Technical and Community College is one of the largest factors in the decline in offenses committed during move in weekend.
--Brainerd Public Schools are pleased to present the 2018 employee Above and Beyond Awards. Recipients of this award serve as inspirations not only to the school district community but also to the broader community because they are role models who strive to have a positive impact every day with our young people. The 2018 Above and Beyond awards went to Connie Christensen, Nicole Harmer, and Sandy Loney. The awards were presented on Monday at the Brainerd Public Schools all staff meeting. Connie Christensen has worked for Brainerd Public Schools for 20 years, most recently as the building secretary at Brainerd Learning Center. Nicole Harmer is a science teacher at Brainerd High School. Harmer was previously selected as the 2017 Brainerd Teacher of the Year. Sandy Loney is a science teacher at Forestview Middle School. The Above and Beyond Awards annually recognize employees who demonstrate a positive attitude that inspires others and consistently go above and beyond what is expected so that students can be successful. All school district employees are eligible for this award and anyone can nominate. Nominations are gathered every spring.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl is notifying Crow Wing County residents of the release of a Level 3 Predatory Offender into the community. 24-year old Joel Evan Greenough has moved into a residence located on the 22000 block of Mollie Lake Road in Nisswa. Greenough was recently released from prison, but has been previously registered in the City of Brainerd. There is no Community Notification meeting scheduled.
--A St. Joseph man is facing first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges in connection with accusations that a girl was sexually assaulted over a span of three years, according to a Stearns County criminal complaint. 35-year old Joseph Paul Langner is facing two counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct. He is accused in a criminal complaint of sexually assaulting a child younger than 16 over an extended period of time. According to the court document, Langner had a significant relationship with the child, which has legal ramifications under Minnesota sexual assault law. If convicted, the maximum sentence for each first-degree criminal sexual conduct count is 30 years in prison and a $40,000 fine. Langner is next scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 10, according to court records.
--A Paynesville man is facing felony charges in connection with the sexual assault of a woman in May, according to a Benton County criminal complaint. 32-year old Jonathan Pineda Gutierrez has been charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The maximum sentence for first-degree criminal sexual conduct is 30 years and a $40,000 fine. The maximum sentence for third degree criminal sexual conduct is 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.
--Automotive Parts Headquarters Inc. (APH) raised more than $200,000 for WACOSA during its annual chili cook off. This is the largest amount raised at the annual event hosted by APH in partnership with more than 50 manufacturers’ representatives. A total of $203,000 was raised for WACOSA, a non-profit day program for adults with disabilities in Central Minnesota. The organization provides meaningful work for more than 650 people and connects that workforce to local businesses.
--Minnesota will receive an estimated $85 million in additional funding for MinnesotaCare in 2018 as a result of a lawsuit filed against the federal government. MinnesotaCare, Minnesota’s basic health program, was expanded under the Affordable Care Act to provide insurance to people whose incomes are just above requirements for Medicaid eligibility. Minnesota and New York filed the lawsuit after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reduced payments to basic health plans. The reduction was related to President Trump’s decision to eliminate cost-sharing subsides for insurance purchased in the individual market. After the lawsuit was filed, CMS consulted with Minnesota and New York on a new formula for basic health plans. The revised payment rate returns approximately 72 percent of the federal funding that was taken away in December 2017. It is not yet clear whether CMS will make similar adjustments for 2019.
--The Minnesota State Fair runs through Labor Day. FFA will take over the barn today through Sunday, as the 4H organization had the first weekend of the fair. Princess Kay of the Milky Way Rebecca Paskowitz from Browerville joined Little Falls Radio last Friday. This Friday, finalists for Princess Kay, Megan Hollermann and Ashley Maus will be on the Central Minnesota Farm Report. Hollermann is from Burtrum near the Todd/Morrison County line and Maus is from Freeport in Stearns County. The report is Friday at 12:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high 76, winds pick up in afternoon. TONIGHT= storms overnight, heavy rains possible, low 62. FRIDAY= storms early, cloudy, high 74, more storms late in day. SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 76, clear night low near 54. SUNDAY= sunny skies, high 77, chance of storms late, low 60.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins hold off Cleveland 4-3 Wednesday. The Twins wrap up a series with Clevleand today pregame at 11:30am on Q92. HS FB= Sauk Centre at Royalton tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ. HS FB= Pierz at Milaca tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML COL FB= New Mexico State travels to TCF Bank Stadium to take on the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, 5pm pregame on KLTF. NFL= Vikings at Tennessee tonight 7pm.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1905= Ty Cobb made major league debut with Detroit Tigers. IN 1968= The Beatles released Hey Jude. IN 1974= the final episode of the Brady Bunch aired on ABC. IN 1990= first time father and son bat back to back on the same team in Major League Baseball as Ken Griffey Jr. followed by Ken Griffey Sr. both singled in the first inning of a game for Seattle. IN 1993= David Letterman left NBC to host his show on CBS. IN 1997= Houston Comets win first WNBA Championship.