NEWS
--Purva Watten, the President and CEO of the newly merged Little Falls Area Chamber and Tourism spoke yesterday on KLTF and said after a year and a half they have completely moved the Convention and Visitors Bureau into the chamber building at the Cass Gilbert Depot on the west side of Little Falls. The Rosenmeier House that Visit Little Falls was using was given back to the City of Little Falls. Watten said their mission into 2024 will be to increase tourism and revenue to the City of Little Falls with events like Arts and Crafts in September and others that are in the works by late spring and summer. They want new businesses to inform them of their site and what they plan on doing in the city so that he chamber and tourism and help and get the traffic too and from them. For more information contact Purva Watten at 320-632-5155.
--A pilot and passenger are safe after their single-engine airplane broke through the ice Tuesday morning on Upper Red Lake in northern Minnesota. The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office says the two people flew from Grand Rapids to the lake to ice fish. Deputies say the pilot found what was thought to be a safe landing spot but had difficulty slowing the plane down. It slid into an area of shallow ice and the nose broke through. Other people ice fishing helped the pilot and passenger to shore.
--With the new year start a week from Monday, this will come with new laws in Minnesota. One of them is the passage of the “red flag law,” which allows police, family members, or legal guardians to file an emergency petition to a court to take away someone’s right to own and keep firearms for up to a year. It must demonstrate the person is a clear and present danger to themselves or others. If granted, the person must turn over any guns within 24 hours, either to police or a licensed dealer. The firearms must be returned once the petition expires. Get ready to pay more for gas and your vehicle. When the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, the state’s gas tax will increase by no more than 3%. That price hike is linked to inflation. Motor vehicle registrations and sales tax will go from 6.5% to 6.85%. Starting January 1st, employees, including full time, part time and temporary workers, are entitled to earned sick and safe time. Employees bank one hour of sick time for each 30 hours worked up to 48 hours unless an employer agrees to allow more time off. That means a person can take a leave of absence that will be paid at the same hourly rate the employee earns as if they were there. The minimum wage will increase to $10.85 an hour for large employers whose gross annual income is at least $500,000. It moves to $8.85 for small employers. The Department of Labor and Industry says the adjustment is due to inflation. A new law also prohibits wage discrimination by addressing the pay gap. The Department of Human Rights says women and the BIPOC community are paid less than their male counterparts for the same job. This new law encourages employers to rely on skills and education, certifications and licenses and the job market to set wages. All employers must comply with the law and are prohibited from asking about current or past pay history during the hiring process and wage negotiations.
--One casualty from the warmer weather this year. The Minnesota Ice Festival in Eagan scheduled to begin January 5th has been canceled due to the warmer than average December. Temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 40s and lower 50s on Saturday and Sunday across the state. Rain is also likely Sunday and Monday.
--A 33-year-old from Sauk Centre had life threatening injuries from an accident Wednesday at 6:45am in Stearns County. Kyle Lieser was southbound on Highway 71 in Getty Township when he collided with an eastbound vehicle driven by 51-year-old Lisa Swenson of Brooten. Lieser was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with critical injuries. Swenson sustained less serious injuries and was taken to Sauk Centre hospital.
--Three people were injured Monday after a driver crossed the center line on County Highway 3 in Crow Wing County. The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash, reported at 1:36pm in Unorganized Territory, north of Brainerd. According to the sheriff’s office, Samuel Wenz, 20, of Milaca, was traveling northbound on the highway when he suffered a medical emergency, crossed over the centerline and struck a vehicle head on near Tamarack Lake Road. Wenz, the other driver, Lonnie Hedges, 50, of Brainerd, and her passenger Jennifer Marr, 21, of Brainerd, were all transported to a Brainerd hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--Today is considered the shortest day of the year meaning the longest night though Winter officially begins at 9:27pm tonight central standard time with the Winter Solstice. Because of the longest night, First United Church is hosting their longest night service tonight at 7pm at the church on the south end of Little Falls across from the Convent and Hospital. The service will be light music, reflection and prayer for those who need a break from the holiday or a time to reflect on the year of loss or a need to slow down. That is tonight online at firstunitedlf.org, on Zoom through the church or in person at the church tonight at 7pm.
--Leonice Prokott of the Upstage Players announced their winter dinner theater event is Bingo Spells Murder at St. Mary's Church in Upsala, January 12th and 13th with doors opening at 6pm, dinner which is chicken or roast beef with all the fixings at 6:30pm and show at 7pm. Sunday, January 14th there is a dessert only show at 2pm with doors opening at 1:30pm. Dinner and show tickets for the first two nights are $30 and must be purchased by December 28th by calling Lisa Hansen at 320-250-2676. The dessert only show will have tickets sold at the door for $10. More information is available on their Facebook page or details at fallsradio.com on community calendar.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy, high 40, drizzle and fog overnight, low 35.
FRIDAY= cloudy skies, highs near 40, lows near 35.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, high around 42, rain late night, low 35.
SUNDAY= rain with a few flakes early, more rain late day, high 44.
CHRISTMAS EVE NIGHT, rain likely, low around 38.
CHRISTMAS DAY= rain during the day, high 38 then falling turning windy and colder, rain to ice and snow overnight, low near 22.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Pierz at Holdingford tonight 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1620= the Mayflower lands in what is now Plymouth Rock.
IN 1913= first publication to have a crossword puzzle, NY World.
IN 1932= Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appear in their first movie together, Flying Down to Rio. This would start many more movies.
IN 1937= Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs premieres in theaters.
IN 1946= It's a Wonderful Life premieres in theaters.