NEWS
--The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up the appeal of a Little Falls man serving two life sentences for killing two teenage burglars. Attorneys for Byron Smith, of Little Falls, said in a release Monday that their petition to have the high court hear the case was denied following four conferences by justices. Smith's lawyers have argued through the appeal process that the courtroom was improperly closed to discuss the admissibility of witnesses, depriving Smith of his right to a public trial. Smith was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder in the Thanksgiving Day 2012 shootings of 18-year-old Haile Kifer and her 17-year-old cousin, Nick Brady.
--A 3-year-old boy was killed in a farm accident Thursday near Aldrich. The Todd County Sheriff's Office responded at 3:42 p.m. to a call of a farm accident at a residence on County Road 11 in Bartlett Township. Elliot Jares, 3, had been run over by a skid-loader working on the property, Hewitt Rescue and Bertha Ambulance arrived and treated Jares at the scene. Jares was taken by ambulance to Tri-County Health Care in Wadena where he was pronounced dead. The operator of the skid-loader was a family member.
--The Wright County Sheriff's Office is investigating an apparent murder-suicide. On Friday around 8:30pm deputies responded to a home in the 4000 block of Woodhill Court in Rockford after neighbors reported seeing an unoccupied vehicle running in the driveway for over an hour. They found a woman and a man inside, both dead from apparent gunshot wounds. While this is an ongoing investigation it is believed the man found inside the home shot and killed the woman before turning the gun on himself. They knew each other and Sheriff's Office is not looking for any additional suspects. The names will be released after all next of kin have been notified.
--Authorities in Meeker County responded to a possible explosion Sunday night. The Sheriff's office says at around 5:45pm they received two reports from callers who heard an explosion and then saw smoke and fire coming from the west side of Big Swan Lake, north of Dassel. Authorities responded to the 73000 block of 280th Street, where they found there was a controlled fire happening on the property. The property owner said the explosion did not happen on their property, but they also heard an explosion that came from the west of them. Deputies checked out the area but were not able to determine where the explosion occurred or a cause.
--A Sauk Rapids man who pleaded guilty back in December to aiding an offender has received a stayed sentence of four years. 28-year-old JB Zimmer was charged with one count of aiding an offender for his role in a 2019 shooting near University Avenue and 15th Avenue South. Zimmer will be on supervised probation for up to five years. He won't have to serve his prison sentence unless he breaks the terms of his probation. According to the criminal complaint, police found a 42-year old woman shot multiple times near University Avenue and 15th Avenue South. 27-year-old pooG DaBleed DevilDrugChristLord and Zimmer were found a short time later in a vehicle in Becker. Court records stated the woman was riding with the two men when DevilDrugChristLord started shooting at her.
--Pastor Keith Thompson stated yesterday the next free grocery giveaway is today 3-5 at Living Hope Church, listen to Little Falls Radio if there is a time change in the truck delivery today. They are planning more free events for the 2nd and 4th Tuesday in April but they still have to get approval for the truck delivery for future events.
--A two-vehicle accident with injuries occurred around 6:15am Monday morning on Highway 371 at County Road 77 in Nisswa of Crow Wing County. 46-year-old Andrew Behr of Pequot Lakes was south on 371 when a vehicle driven by 83-year-old Patricia Swanson of Nisswa turned from the northbound lane and collided with the Behr vehicle in the intersection. Behr was treated at the scene and not taken to the hospital while Swanson was taken to the Brainerd hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--A Dassel man was seriously injured in a crash near Forest City Saturday morning. The incident happened around 7:30am on Highway 24 at County Road 17. The Minnesota State Patrol says a car was going north on Highway 24 when it ran off the road to the left. Authorities say the car rolled end over end multiple times before coming to a stop on its roof on County Road 17. The driver, 26-year-old Austin Hammerstad, was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the car. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with injuries considered to be life-threatening.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Monday that effective immediately no outdoor burning in northwestern and far northern Minnesota. Starting tomorrow, burning restrictions will begin in northern and north-central Minnesota including Wadena and Cass Counties. Burning permits are being required for all other counties in the state including Morrison at this time for any outdoor burning requested to your local DNR officer.
--Another boost in numbers in Morrison County on the website Monday now showing 190 active cases, Pierz has 90 active cases, Little Falls is up to 43 cases, Hillman at 26 and Royalton at 13. There were 15 new cases on the state report in Morrison County Monday also for the first time since last April, no new deaths linked to virus.
--The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will close its campsites at Sandy Lake Recreation Area near McGregor in Aitkin County through the 2021 recreation season due to construction activities related to the Sandy Lake Dam rehabilitation. The north entrance will be closed until construction is completed. The recreation area will remain accessible via the south entrance for day use.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy with rain showers likely this afternoon, high 46.
TONIGHT= rain likely, changing to wet snow late night, low 34.
WEDNESDAY= rain/snow mix possible early, then rain and very gusty winds into the afternoon, high 38, clearing after dark, low 25.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy skies, high 45, clear night, low 28.
SPORTS
HS BHK= Little Falls boys hockey playoffs at home tonight with Sartell at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.
HS GBB= Pierz at Albany in girls basketball playoffs tonight at 7pm, listen the action live on FM94 KFML and fallsradio.com.
HS GBB= Hinckley-Finlayson at Swanville tonight in girls basketball playoffs live at 7pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
COL BB= The University of Minnesota reportedly has offered the head coaching job to Ben Johnson. Johnson was an assistant coach to Richard Pitino with the Gophers for the past five years. The Minneapolis native also played with the Gophers and Northwestern.
MLB= Twins continue spring training play this week with the regular season to start April 1 against Milwaukee, live on Q92 WYRQ.
WRE= Listen to local state wrestling matches this week on Q92.