NEWS
--A man wanted by St. Cloud police has been found and arrested in Chicago. Police say 29-year old Robert Dawson of St. Cloud was arrested about 8:00pm Tuesday and is in the Cook County Jail pending extradition back to St. Cloud. Police have identified Dawson as a person of interest in a shooting that happened on November 26th in the 400 block of 9th Avenue North. In that incident, a 50-year old man was shot in the back when an acquaintance and three other men came into his apartment and fired several rounds.
--The U.S. government is asking a state court judge to order that FBI documents related to the Jacob Wetterling investigation be returned to the federal agency. Officials in Stearns County had planned to release the investigative case file after Danny Heinrich confessed to the 1989 abduction and killing of 11-year old Jacob. But Patty and Jerry Wetterling sued in June to keep 168 pages sealed because they contained personal information. A judge temporarily blocked the file's release. The U.S. Attorney's Office joined the Wetterlings' litigation Tuesday, saying the FBI wants its records back and the documents must be released under federal, not state law. Attorneys say more than half of the thousands of pages in the case file are federal.
--On Monday, Brainerd City Council approved the authorization of the county's multi-agency bomb squad to assist security at U.S. Bank Stadium. Four members of the bomb team were requested to assist in what Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston called a more than week-long assignment. Officers will assist with security for the Super Bowl on February 4th and all the festivities leading up to it. Crow Wing County's squad will join similar units from Minneapolis, Bloomington and St. Paul. They are the only bomb squad from greater Minnesota.
--Minnesota US Senator Al Franken's support among his fellow Democrats appeared to collapse Wednesday as a group of female Democratic senators called upon him to resign amid sexual misconduct allegations. His office said he would make an announcement Thursday, but did not specify the subject.
--A St. Cloud man was arrested this weekend and has been charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct after he was accused of sexual contact with two 20-year old women who are autistic and non-verbal. 58-year old Patrick Arthur Jansen is charged with four counts of criminal sexual conduct. Jansen is charged in Benton County Court with two counts of third degree sexual assault. Each charge has a maximum sentence of 15 years and/or $30,000. Jansen is also charged with two counts of fourth degree sexual assault for sexual contact. Each charge has a maximum sentence of 10 years and/or $20,000. Jansen next court appearance is December 26th.
--There will be Parent Teacher Conferences for Little Falls High School this Monday (postponed from this past Monday) from 3:45-6:45pm at the high school commons. There is also conferences at the Little Falls Community Middle School from 4-7pm this Monday, December 11th.
--The Randall Holly-Day event is tonight in Randall. Events include Santa Claus at the VFW, taste of the season at Gosch's, Trolley Rides, Santa's workshop and much more tonight 4-7pm in Randall. Also the Lights of Love Tree will be lit tonight at Bingo Park in Randall.
--There are a number of other events tonight including a fundraiser at Falls Ballroom for Jessi Block and Chicks for Bricks chicken and ham dinner tonight at Zion Lutheran Church for their fellowship hall. Get details on events at fallsradio.com then click on community calendar.
--Today is the 76th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which led to the United States entering World War II against Japan and also Germany. The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service on the morning of December 7th, 1941 attacked the Naval base. When all was done, all eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four sunk. They sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded. Japanese losses were light. On a related note today at noon at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, Todd Kosovich will be the guest speaker for the Little Falls Kiwanis Club. Kosovich, will give a history background of December 7th, 1941 with interesting facts and stories around it. If you wish to attend, contact Chris Grams at Little Falls Radio this morning at 632-2992 to RSVP for the noon program.
--After months of studying the youth homelessness problem, Rotary clubs in the St. Cloud area are joining forces to create a daytime resource center for youth. In partnership with an Anoka nonprofit called HOPE 4 Youth, the Rotary clubs expect to open a center called Pathways 4 Youth, or P4Y, in February. The center will be in the Youth for Christ building on Cooper Avenue in St. Cloud. It will serve 16-23 year olds experiencing homelessness. They will be able to use computers, lockers, showers and laundry facilities. P4Y will offer a mailing address, food, clothing and an evening meal. Youth can connect through social services and medical professionals there. The resource center will be open from 2:00-7:00pm weekdays. The Rotary Club of St. Cloud will be joined by Granite Rotary Club, Great River Rotary Club and the St. Cloud Rotaract Club in sponsoring P4Y.
--Longtime WCCO sportscaster Ralph Jon Fritz has died after a long battle with stomach cancer. Fritz began his 40-year run at WCCO-TV in 1968. Ralph Jon Fritz was 78.
NATIONAL NEWS
--Today is the deadline for Medicare open enrollment which expires tonight at midnight. Questions or concern on your medicare enrollment, contact your health insurance provider.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Justin and Jessie Eisenlohr of Little Falls, a girl born December 4th
DEATH NOTICES
--Edward L. Welinski, age 86 of Little Falls.
--Virginia M. Wenzel, age 78 of Cambridge.
--John Albaugh, age 79 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, less windy, high near 20.
TONIGHT= flurries after midnight, low 16 early then rising.
FRIDAY= snow showers at times, cloudy, windy, high 27, low 14.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, high 22, low 10 above.
SUNDAY= partly cloudy, warmer, high 36, rain/snow mix late.
SPORTS
HS BHK= Little Falls at Wadena tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BB= Girls and Boys Basketball double header tomorrow night with Little Falls at Pierz, girls at 6pm, boys to follow on FM94 KFML
NFL= New Orleans at Atlanta tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF.