NEWS
--Royalton is one of four cities receiving grants from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development totaling $5.24 million. The city will use the more than $225,000 grant to help extend water and sewer services to a new industrial park, DEED announced Wednesday. Governor Mark Dayton said in the release these grants show how the government and private sector can work together to create more opportunities. These cities, through the support of this program, will add jobs, attract business, and increase tax bases, according to the release. The Royalton project is estimated to cost a total of approximately $450,000. Brooten in Stearns County along with Marshall and Luverne were the other cities included. Brooten's project grant was $1.03 million to support a sewer improvement project and roadway in an existing industrial park. The total estimated project cost in Brooten is $2.78 million.
--A man who lost his wife in a fatal car crash on Highway 23 one year ago, was in Foley pitching safety improvements to state lawmakers Tuesday. Matt Cardinal's wife Lindsay Cardinal was killed January 31st, 2017 when her vehicle was hit head-on on Highway 23 on the east side of Foley. It's one of a number of serious crashes in the area in recent years. Foley city officials hosted members of the Senate's Capital Investment Committee to ask for state bonding money to pay for the city's share of a multi-million dollar safety improvement project on Highway 23. The city is asking for just over $1.3 million in bonding money to pay for their share. The improvements include a roundabout at Highway 23 and 8th Avenue, added lighting, turn lanes and improved pedestrian pathways and crossings. The 13-mile project between Foley and Milaca is estimated to cost up to $12-million and is planned for the year 2022. It comes as the result of a MnDOT Highway 23 Road Safety Audit.
--In the next step to determine what information should be considered public in the Jacob Wetterling investigation files, a hearing Friday afternoon will examine arguments made by Stearns County, the Wetterlings, and the U.S. Attorney. The Alexandria-based hearing will explore questions surrounding government data practices, a constitutional right to privacy, and property rights of FBI files. Patty and Jerry Wetterling filed the lawsuit in June in an attempt to prevent Stearns County from releasing certain investigative files about the disappearance and death of their son Jacob in 1989.
--A Howard Lake woman is hurt after crashing her car in Wright County Tuesday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol says 88-year old Ardella Ostgulen was westbound on Highway 12 near Montrose when she drifted off the road to the right, entered the ditch and struck a tree. Ostgulen was taken to North Memorial in Robbinsdale with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
--A World War II era aircraft restored to its original condition in Bemidji will have the eyes of the world on it this Sunday when it soars over U.S. Bank Stadium for Super Bowl LII. The airplane, a P-51 Mustang, is named Sierra Sue II and will lead the U.S. Air Force Heritage flyover of the Super Bowl on Sunday evening. The aircraft was restored in 2014 by AirCorps Aviation of Bemidji and now resides at the Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. The airplane belongs to the Wings of the North Air Museum. The nonprofit organization promotes education of all ages by restoring and showcasing aircraft, along with honoring Minnesota's aviation pathfinders and veterans.
--Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County will be dedicating their latest home to the Stacy Anderson Family on Thursday, February 8th at 5:30pm at the location of 1101 7th Avenue Southwest in Little Falls. For more information call Habitat at 616-2084.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce their February Employee of the Month is Anthony Kula of Little Falls Community Schools. Anthony Kula has been a High School Math Teacher for the past 25 years. Congratulations to Anthony Kula, Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce February employee of the month.
--A primary election for the Morrison County Commissioner District 5 seat will be on Tuesday, February 13th. Three candidates have filed and that will be narrowed down to two candidates during the primary for the final election on Tuesday, April 10th. The three candidates include Greg Blaine, K. H. “Charlie” Gunderson and Ken Primus. The seat was left vacant when Duane Johnson unexpectedly passed away last fall. For more information on the election call Morrison County Auditor Treasurer Deb Lowe at 632-0132.
--Minnesota officials overseeing the rollout of the state's new license plate and tab registration system said Wednesday they need another $43 million to make critical fixes, potentially ballooning the project's cost to nearly triple its original estimate. Dubbed MNLARS, the new platform was meant to replace a nearly 40-year-old mainframe, from renewing license plates and tabs to processing title transactions and more. It launched in July, years late and with a budget that had almost doubled to $93 million. Top project managers laid out their roadmap Wednesday to get MNLARS on track. It comes with a hefty price tag: $37 million for tech fixes, with another $6 million devoted to call centers to field customer questions and complaints. That money would need to come from the Legislature.
NATIONAL NEWS
--President Donald J. Trump emphasized infrastructure and immigration reform in his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. The President continued to state we need to rebuild the nation and put U.S. citizens first.
DEATH NOTICE
--Erma Blonigen, age 89 of Elmdale
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY.
TODAY= sunny and cold, high 4 above, wind chills -25.
TONIGHT= clear, -10, wind chills near -20.
FRIDAY= snow develops in afternoon, high 12, low around 0.
SATURDAY= snow likely, 1-2 inches, high 10, low around -15.
SUNDAY= sunny and cold, high 6 above, low around -12.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Foley at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on FM94 KFML.
HS BHK= Alexandria at Little Falls Friday 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ
HS GHK= Moorhead at Brainerd/LF Saturday 1pm on Q92 WYRQ
NFL= the media frenzy continues this week in Minneapolis leading up to Super Bowl 52 on Sunday between Philadelphia and New England. A number of events are planned starting today and running through the weekend for the big game in the Twin Cities.
WEB= check out fallsradio.com for the local broadcast schedule.