NEWS
--Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Stephen Jones spoke on KLTF Monday to say yesterday some summer youth programs began in the district including their weightlifting program and community services activities and if you want to sign up there are limited space available for those call 632-7938. Jones stated that the school is to plan for the three types of learning this fall, 1-all students returning, 2-no kids in school all distance learning and the one that Jones feels is the one being worked by most districts is a hybrid system where some students in the building during the day and others doing distance learning and the liklihood of rotating days for the students. The week of July 27th is when the Department of Education will send out for the fall schedule, Jones feels that a plan needs to be in place earlier and will have their released before or by July 15th. Jones addressed that about 90% of families in the district that received the survey/listing by the school to address questions and concerns on students returning to school this fall and heard a number of parents/guardians who have anxiety for the district and that means that some students may not return while others stated they trusted the school board/superintendent's decisions to make the call and get the kids back to school. Superintendent Jones said that the school district has questions call his office at 632-2001.
--A Waite Park man was hurt in a crash in Foley. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 4:20pm Sunday at the intersection of Highway 23 and Highway 25. Twenty-eight-year-old Abdiwahid Rage was turning onto Highway 23 from Highway 25 when his vehicle collided with a pickup. Rage was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The pickup driver was not hurt.
--Brainerd firefighters responded to a small fire in the kitchen at Sakura Express Sunday, June 21, after a neighbor reported smoke coming from the business. The fire was reported at 3:43am Sunday in the Washington Street restaurant in Brainerd. Law enforcement arrived and reported the inside of the restaurant was full of smoke. Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes reported fire crews entered the restaurant and found several bowls on the stove top burning, but the fires were too small to activate the hood fire suppression in the kitchen. Fire crews used fans to clear the smoke from the restaurant. No injuries were reported. The restaurant sustained smoke damage. Firefighters were on scene for an hour.
--Five people were hurt in a two-vehicle crash near Big Lake Sunday afternoon. The incident happened shortly after 1pm on Highway 10. The Minnesota State Patrol says an SUV was going north on 147th Street NW and a car was going east on Highway 10. Authorities say the SUV pulled out in front of the car to cross Highway 10 and the vehicles collided in the intersection. The driver of the SUV, 33-year-old Lacy Graditi of Elk River, and her three passengers, 62-year-old Michael Graditi, 5-year-old Joseph Graditi, and 3-year-old London Graditi, were taken to Mercy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The passenger in the car, Logan Hopkins of Elk River, was taken to the hospital by a private party with injuries ruled not serious. The driver of the car, 18-year-old Seth Hopkins, was not hurt.
--The Lone Eagle Car Club will be doing more car shows in the coming weeks, this Wednesday at Boomerang Bar north of Little Falls, July 15th in Flensburg, August 12th in Cushing and September 16th in Sobieski along with being part of the car shows in Pierz. Details on the community calendar at fallsradio.com.
--Senator Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, has filed for his fourth term for the District 9 Senate seat. Gazelka is the Republican-endorsed candidate. He currently represents the areas of Cass, Wadena, Todd, and Morrison counties and is also the Minnesota Senate Majority Leader. He has served in the Senate for almost ten years. He is married with five children and five grandchildren. He is a strong advocate for small businesses and allowing Minnesotans to make the decisions that are best for them. Gazelka has worked hard to ensure police accountability. He continues to work for his constituents, but also for all of Minnesota. Gazelka’s leadership is a strong calm voice in these troubled times. He is often the voice of reason in negotiations. Gazelka is prepared to meet whatever new challenges the state faces with his experience and leadership.
--A missing 15 year old female who was last seen Sunday afternoon around 4:00pm has been found after the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office asked the public for help in locating her. 15 year old Janae Petersen, was last seen Sunday but has since been found. Thank you to everyone who helped look for her.
--The latest numbers of COVID-19 continue to show a decrease in new cases with only 308 new cases and 4 deaths Monday added to the list of the deaths in the state linked to COVID-19. Overall there have been 1,384 deaths total. Morrison County had 1 new case and is now at 56 positive cases of COVID 19 with the one confirmed death.
--When students and staff return to the St. Cloud State University campus this fall, they’ll be wearing masks. SCSU says face coverings will be required for all students, faculty, staff and visitors inside all St. Cloud State buildings, including classrooms and labs, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “We believe that Huskies need to take care of each other and this is one way we will do this during the pandemic.” Campus officials plan to send additional information about the new policy as it is finalized. St. Cloud State University, along with all Minnesota State colleges and universities, will offer a mix of on-campus and online courses for the fall semester with enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols. Last week, the system announced it will freeze fall semester tuition rates for undergraduate students in advance of a three-percent increase in the spring.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, PM showers and storms, high 73.
TONIGHT= isolated showers early, clearing skies, low 52.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 77, partly cloudy night, low 58.
THURSDAY= sunny and warmer, high 84, storms late night, low 62.
SPORTS
ALI= Minnesota Twins slugger Nelson Cruz was honored with the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award Sunday night at the Espy Awards on ESPN. Cruz was given the award for his work in this home country of the Dominican Republic donating fire engines, ambluances, building a police station and bringing in doctors, dentists and others to bring health care to the the country he was born in.
MLB= Major League Baseball Monday stated that the last offer for this year is a 60 game season starting July 24th with teams arriving on July 1st for training before the season. The players must sign off on a health and safety protocol guidelines before the season can restart which must be signed by 4pm today. Players Union officials stated Monday they feel this will be done. Still a chance for baseball for this year and Twins Baseball on Q92 WYRQ.