NEWS --A Sauk Centre school bus driver has been arrested for allegedly driving drunk. The Sauk Centre police department says they received a call from school district officials at about 5pm Monday. Officers met with 63-year old Thomas Bromen of Sauk Centre who had just finished his after school route dropping off about 40 to 50 students. During the course of the bus route, the school got three calls about the bus driver. It was determined that Bromen drove his personal truck to the bus garage impaired, and then got into a school bus. Bromen did submit to a breath test at the Sauk Centre Police Department with a reported blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit. He's being held in the Stearns County Jail on possible numerous charges.
--Living along the interstate in Avon is about to get a lot quieter for one neighborhood in town. MnDOT is building a 3,400-foot long noise barrier within the state's right-of-way along the north side of Interstate 94. Ninety-percent of the cost will be paid for with money from MnDOT’s Greater Minnesota Stand-Alone Noise Barrier Program. Zachary Whitley is the Construction Project Supervisor for the barrier. He says it should be done by late summer.
--Critics of how the state estimates the walleye population of Lake Mille Lacs aren't entirely satisfied with the results of an outside review of how the Department of Natural Resources comes up with its numbers. Those results were presented Monday night to the Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee by Dr. Chris Vandergoot, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey on Lake Erie in Michigan. As the state has tightened fishing regulations on Mille Lacs in recent years, resort owners and others have increasingly voiced skepticism over the low estimates the state has provided to justify lower walleye harvests. They say the dramatic decline suggested by the state doesn't reflect the abundance of fish they see every day. A key question behind much of the skepticism is how to account for hooking mortality, the death of fish that die after they're caught and released. What's causing the decline cited by the state isn't clear. Scientists believe it's probably caused by a combination of factors, including warmer lake temperatures and greater transparency, invasive species like zebra mussels and a lack of forage fish for the walleye to eat. Last summer, walleye fishing on Mille Lacs was catch and release only. It was off limits entirely for about four weeks in July. This winter, ice anglers have been able to keep one walleye. DNR officials hope using peer review will help increase transparency and rebuild trust with the Mille Lacs business owners who chafe at those regulations.
--Minnesota Caucus straw polls Tuesday showed that Jeff Johnson for Republicans and Tim Walz for Democrats were top picks for Governor in 2018 by the whole state. Though Johnson did best in central Minnesota it was State Auditor Rebecca Otto that did better in central Minnesota for Democrats compared to Walz in other parts of the state. A question mark for Republicans is if former Governor Tim Pawlenty decides to put his hat in the ring for a third term.
--Congratulations to Staples Motley Junior Scout Strickland who was one of the 36 winners to receive the Minnesota State High School League ExCel Award. Each recipient will be recognized during broadcasts of the winter tournaments in March.
--U.S. Postal Workers are asking the public to remember to clear snow from mailboxes, steps and sidewalks so that letter carriers can get your mail to you. Also if you receive roadside delivery of your mail, keep the approach to, and exit from the mailbox clear of snow and other obstacle, like trash and other vehicles. Customers with questions can call 800-ASK-USPS.
--A St. Cloud man was involved in a single-vehicle crash Wednesday morning. 35-year old Mohamed Abdi Isse was driving east on Minnesota Highway 23 near Rockville when he lost control and drove into the ditch. He was sent to St. Cloud Hospital with injuries believed to be non life-threatening. The crash happened approximately 8:45am Wednesday. Isse was wearing a seatbelt.
--A man who stole a seat from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis after the Super Bowl has agreed to pay for its replacement. Stadium manager SMG said it plans no further action against the Philadelphia Eagles fan. That seat and two other damaged seats were replaced Tuesday. Video of the man with a purple seat in the stadium’s coat check generated more than 190,000 views on Facebook as of Wednesday afternoon. A traveler later snapped a photo of him at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, with the seat strapped to his carry-on suitcase, and that was also posted online. The stadium keeps extra seats, so the estimated cost to replace it, including labor, is $125. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority said its use agreement with the NFL stipulates that the league is responsible for any damage to the stadium.
--The community of North Mankato has banned the sale of tobacco to people under the age of 21. The community is the fifth in Minnesota to do so, and the first outside the Twin Cities. North Mankato joins the Twin Cities communities of Edina, St. Louis Park, Bloomington and Plymouth with its ban. The city of Mankato is holding a public hearing on a proposed ban next week.
WEATHER TODAY= increasing clouds, high 10 above. TONIGHT= snow after midnight, half inch, low -7. FRIDAY= sunny and cold, high 9 above, low around -10. SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 14, clear night, low -6. SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high 21, low around -3.
SPORTS HS BBB= Detroit Lakes at Little Falls tonight 7:15pm on Q92. HS BBB= Pierz at Holdingford tonight 7:15pm on FM94 KFML also both games are streamed online at fallsradio.com. NBA= LeBron James had a big block and a bucket at the buzzer to beat the Timberwolves last night- Cleveland wins 140-138 in OT. FLYERS= Little Falls Community High School is proud to announce Seniors Aria Kapsner and Austin Erdmann signing letters of intent to University of Minnesota-Crookston. Aria in soccer and Austin in football. Also senior Michael Gross signed a letter of intent to play football at Crown College. Best of luck to the students. GHK= Section Girls Hockey playoffs begin on Saturday. Brainerd/Little Falls will host Buffalo Saturday at 2pm and you can hear the action live on Q92 WYRQ and at fallsradio.com.
FM94, Q92 & AM960 are now all streamed at fallsradio.com