NEWS
--The Minnesota State Patrol reported that they will have extra enforcement out beginning at 12pm Sunday through 6:00am Monday morning. With the Super Bowl football game on Sunday late afternoon and establishments throwing parties for the big game, the state patrol is reminding motorists if you plan on drinking, don't drive. Last year on Super Bowl Sunday over 300 DWI arrests were made in Minnesota. Authorities hope for as few arrests as possible for the big game. They are hoping no one drinks and drives.
--Crow Wing County 4-H will have its Project Day 8:30-to noon Saturday in the Crow Wing County Land Services Building, 322 Laurel St., Brainerd. Youths in kindergarten through a year past high school are invited to attend the annual event. They do not need to be enrolled in 4-H to participate. The morning consists of three classes in which attendees will learn and create fun projects to take home. The cost is $5 per child with a maximum of $15 per family. For more information about how to join 4-H or how to become a volunteer, call 4-H Program Coordinator Sarah Ukkelberg at 218-824-1069.
--A 53-year old St. Cloud man faces five felony counts, including two first degree criminal sexual conduct charges, accused of raping a woman while she was unconscious. Richard Roman Coenen also faces one count of third-degree assault and two counts of domestic assault. The complaint said a woman reported being physically and sexually assaulted by Coenen late Saturday and early Sunday at a northeast St. Cloud residence. Coenen was convicted in 2012 for domestic assault and for violating a domestic abuse order for protection, both in Sherburne County.
--A phishing scheme targeted at the Minnesota Department of Human Services led to the release of personal information of more than 3,000 people, Department Commissioner Tony Lourey said. In a letter to state lawmakers, Lourey on Tuesday, said a county worker's email had been hacked and used to send an official-looking email to a Department of Human Services employee in September of 2018. The state employee who received the email clicked on a link in that correspondence, which allowed a hacker to send spam messages from the state employee's account and to access information in that employee's account. It wasn't immediately clear which information the hacker was able to access. But private information about as many as 3,000 people including names, birth dates, phone numbers, email addresses and information about child protection cases could have been compromised. And additional information about 30 people who were in the account at the time could have had their social security numbers, driver's license numbers and some financial information accessed. A day after the alleged hack is believed to have happened, Minnesota IT Services secured the email and began investigating the breach. Those people whose information may have been accessed by the hacker will be notified in a letter. MNIT had set up a tool for department employees to block similar phishing or hacking emails in the future, Lowrey said. Employees were also undergoing additional training to identify and report potential phishing schemes.
--The Franciscan Sisters will host a fundraiser soup supper this Saturday from 4:30-7pm at the St. Francis Convent with proceeds going to the health and wellness center and music center.
--There will be a blood drive Friday from 12-6 at Fellowship Bible Church south of Pierz. If you can, please give blood.
--With the very cold temperature still this morning and a Wind Chill Warning in effect until noon. Schools like Little Falls, Pierz, Swanville, Royalton, Upsala, Staples-Motley, Brainerd, Pillager, Central Lakes College in Brainerd and Staples are all closed today. Other schools at this time were delayed and could change like Holdingford schools announced they will be 3 hours late today. These may change so keep listening to Little Falls Radio for the latest information. Tri-Cap buses will not be running today, Social Security Offices will not open until 10am and some colleges announced they will not start until 10am or even noon around the state so that the warning can expire.
--Many state records for low temperatures were reported Wednesday morning including Melrose at -38 which also recorded wind chill factors at -62, Paynesville, Rice and Alexandria all dropped to -35 and Princeton to -34 either tied or broke a record low. There were others in southern Minnesota in the 20s below zero that broke records. Little Falls was at -34 but that was not a record as temperatures reached -40 and colder back in 2004 and also back in 1996. One more really cold start this morning then temps reach the 30s on Saturday and close to 40 with rain on Sunday. More cold returns next week.
--Morrison County Public Works stated that snowplows and tree trimming crews will again be out today and Friday working removing snow from bridges in the county and trimming trees along right of ways. Please use caution around work crews.
--A Freightliner semi was traveling westbound on Highway 10 in Bellevue Township near Royalton when the wind blew the semi to the shoulder around 10:45am Wednesday. 31-year old Said Aideed, stated he may have hit ice on the shoulder and lost control, forcing the semi off the road and into trees. Aideed of Georgia tried to steer away from the trees but was unable to due to snow depth. He was treated for non serious injuries at the hospital in Little Falls.
--Xcel Energy is urgently asking all customers to reduce their natural gas usage after our severe cold snap placed what the company calls "a significant strain" on its natural gas system. The utility provider asked Minnesota customers to temporarily reduce their thermostat settings to 63 degrees, if possible, through tonight.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY.
TODAY= snow in afternoon, high -6 ending early, clearing, low -13.
FRIDAY= partly sunny, warmer, high 17, low around 10.
SATURDAY= sunny and mild, high near 30, low around 23.
SUNDAY= freezing drizzle and rain early, changing to snow by late in the afternoon, high 37 early with falling temps.
SUN NITE/MONDAY= a potential now for heavy snow to return.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Little Falls at Sauk Rapids Friday 6pm on FM94 KFML
HS BBB= Little Falls at Sauk Rapids Friday 7:45pm on FM94.
HS BHK= Little Falls at Alexandria Friday at 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1928= 3M puts scotch tape on the market for general public.
IN 1949= first TV soap opera debuts “These are my Children”.
IN 1969= The Beatles last live appearance by the four at once occurred on top of the Apple Building in London.