NEWS
--Police have a dire warning about a disturbing new chat bot on SnapChat. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was among several law enforcement agencies that posted warnings about a new chatbot within the popular social media platform that cannot be gotten rid of. The department’s message included a screenshot of a conversation with My AI where it says it does not know the person’s location but then tells the user the nearest McDonald’s restaurant is about 1.5 miles away and gives an address. Another screenshot shows an exchange between the bot and a user where My AI says unsettling things about owning a golden retriever and being a real person named Sarah. The user says it has advised kids to cover up bruises from domestic violence when prompted, among other things. The bot can’t be removed unless a user pays. The posting read, “We are raising our next generation of leaders. They look to us for guidance and direction. Please take the time to research this, have conversations and understand the influence, dangers and impact this could have on our vulnerable young children and teens.” They also urged parents to talk to their kids about being careful about who they talk to and the information they give out online.
--A Brainerd woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash on snow-covered roads Thursday in Aitkin County. The Minnesota State Patrol reported the crash just before 2pm Thursday. Alan Duane Bohlman, a 55-year-old Isanti man, was reportedly driving a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 north on Highway 169 east of Aitkin in Spencer Township, when he lost control and collided with a southbound Toyota Camry.
The driver of the Camry, 26-year-old Brainerd woman Kelsey Winter Rousch, was transported to Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin for non-life-threatening injuries. Her passenger, 3-year-old Jaxsen Chase Martin, was not injured, nor was Bohlman. All parties were wearing seat belts, according to the state patrol.
--One person was injured and three people were arrested following a drive-by shooting early Sunday near Cass Lake. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Leech lake Tribal Police Department received several 911 calls about 5:57am Sunday reporting weapon fire and a drive-by shooting at a residence, with one person possibly shot, in the area of 164th Street Northwest in Pike Bay Township. Sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Leech Lake Tribal Police Department responded and found two residences had been hit by weapon fire and an adult male victim had been taken to Cass Lake Indian Health Services for treatment of a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. While officers were on scene, Cass County Sheriff’s Dispatch received additional 911 calls reporting weapon fire and a possible shooting incident at a multi-unit housing facility in the city of Cass Lake. Through the investigation and the 911 caller’s information, a suspect vehicle was identified. The vehicle was located leaving the area and a short pursuit ensued. The vehicle left the roadway on Morning Star Lane Northwest and came to a stop. Three occupants fled from the vehicle. With the assistance of a Beltrami County K-9 Unit, all three occupants, two adult males and a juvenile male were taken into custody and firearms were recovered. At the second reported shooting incident, the investigation found no shots were fired but entry was attempted on a housing unit causing property damage.
--St. Cloud State University announced they will be making more than $18-million dollars in budget cuts before the next school year this will include the loss of faculty, athletic teams and organizations which are expected to be cut or eliminated at the College by the fall.
--At the recent Morrison County Commissioners meeting last Tuesday, Administrator Matt LeBlanc told the Board that current Interim Auditor/Treasurer Debbie Symanietz, who has held that position since September 2022 asked to be allowed to step down. She will resume her role as deputy auditor/treasurer. In February, the Board voted to make the previously elected position one that it will appoint. However, a petition among county voters received enough signatures to reverse that decision and put the matter to a vote via referendum on the November 2024 ballot. As such, LeBlanc asked for approval from the Board to post the job description for an interim auditor/treasurer as a position that will potentially be termed through 2026, depending on the results of the 2024 referendum. If county residents vote to leave it as an elected position, the auditor/treasurer will be on the November 2026 ballot. If they vote to make it appointed by the County Board, the person hired as the interim would, in all likelihood, have the option to stay on as the full-time auditor/treasurer. The interim employee could also run for election in 2026, if that is how it plays out.
--A Crookston man was seriously hurt after rolling his car on an interstate exit ramp near Clearwater Saturday night. Around 5:15pm, 47-year-old Steven Doak was going east on Interstate 94 took the exit ramp for Highway 52 in Lynden Township, left the road, and rolled. Doak was taken to a hospital in the Twin Cities with life-threatening injuries. Authorities say he was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. Alcohol is believed to have played a factor.
--It has been a deadly weekend for underaged drivers of all-terrain vehicles, with two fatalities resulting from a Washington County accident, and a third due to a Chisago County accident. The most recent death involved a 13-year-old boy who was injured when the ATV he was driving rolled over and crashed in Lent Township in Chicago County on Saturday. The accident, on Kale Avenue off Ivywood Trail, was reported at 12:20pm. The victim was wearing a helmet at the time. There were no crash witnesses, authorities said the boy was flown to St. Paul’s Regions Hospital, where he died later Sunday morning. Authorities identified the victim as Mason Lee Demenge of Chisago City.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Joseph and Dana Janson of St. Cloud, a baby boy on April 20th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Mary Kokett, age 90 of rural Little Falls.
--Joshua J. Olson, age 45 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, light winds, high 47.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 25.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy skies, rain after 4pm, high 53, low 38.
THURSDAY= rain early and late day, cloudy, breezy, high near 60.
SPORTS
TWINS= Sonny Gray pitches a 3 hitter as the Twins beat the Yankees last night 6-1. Next game tonight 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NBA= Timberwolves at Denver in Game 5 tonight of playoffs.
NHL= Wild at Dallas in Game 5 of Stanley Cup playoffs tonight.
HS BAB= Pierz at Little Falls today at 4:30pm on AM960 KLTF.