NEWS --The Little Falls Fire Department responded to three incidents since Friday. Around 6:35pm Sunday 27-firefighters worked for two hours battling a detached garage fire at the Jeff Tschida and Deb Boelz residence located at 303 5th Street NW in Little Falls. The garage was fully engulfed in flames by the time authorities arrived. The garage was a total loss. The homeowners did catch a break that Sunday's windy conditions were coming from the south because if it would have been a northwesterly wind it may have caused the house to catch fire too. The official cause of the garage fire is still under investigation, but there are early indicators it may have been caused by a deep fryer. The Little Falls Fire Department also responded to a grass fire Friday around 2:30pm on Sleepy Hollow Road in Fort Ripley Township. There were nearby structures threatened, but none were damaged. Around 9:20pm Friday 18-firefighters battled a vehicle fire near the ethanol plant on the north side of Little Falls. There were no injuries in any of the three incidents.
--Minnesota’s legislative session ended with a pile of unfinished work early Monday morning, as a last-ditch effort to fund both public works projects and road and bridge repairs failed in a blur of parliamentary procedures. After the midnight deadline to pass bills went by, lawmakers had finalized some pieces of their plans to use a $900 million budget surplus. That includes a package of $260 million of tax credits and cuts to help farmers, parents, businesses and college students. They also passed extra spending on a statewide voluntary preschool program and broadband internet infrastructure development. Despite working until the last minute, legislators could not pass the biggest piece, a bonding bill to fund construction projects and transportation projects. That unfinished business hung over the session’s conclusion, immediately sparking talk that the legislature could return for a special session. Governor Mark Dayton still has to sign the bills that were passed through the House and Senate. The Democratic governor insisted he would not sign a bill with tax cuts unless it was paired with spending he deemed essential, including $100 million to boost broadband internet, another $100 million to tackle racial economic disparities and $25 million for a new preschool program. Only the preschool program was fully funded.
--Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a bill into law replacing the state's caucus system with a presidential primary. Dayton's office announced Sunday the governor had signed the bill that would establish a primary in the state beginning in 2020. The vast majority of states use a presidential primary system. Lawmakers brought up the measure this year after voters and party officials were frustrated by overcrowded polling sites with long lines across the state. Opponents of the caucus system have long argued that its insider nature discourages the average citizen from voting and that in years of high turnout, volunteers and facilities can become overwhelmed. The governor signed the bill along with several others, including one that slashes drug sentencing guidelines for many offenders.
--The 8th annual Live Better Longer Rock 'n Run was held Saturday in Little Falls. The top finisher in different categories included: Men's 5K Hunter Zupko; Women’s 5K Nicole Maslowski; Men’s 10K Brandon O’Hara; Women’s 10K Carolyne Poepping; Boys 3K Nathan Becker; Girls 3K Kendal Svoboda; Mens 3K Luke Kasella; Women’s 3K Carla Gerads; Boys 1K Cobi Cameron; Girls 1K Lily Laubauch.
--One person was injured Saturday night in a car vs. motorcycle collision in St. Cloud. Emergency response was dispatched at 6:20pm to the intersection of Wilson Avenue Northeast and Fourth Street Northeast for a collision involving a motorcycle. A motorcycle driven by Oscar Ernesto Deleon, of St. Cloud, was northbound on Wilson Avenue Northeast when he collided with a vehicle heading eastbound on Fourth Street Northeast driven by Mulki Mohamud Dahiya of St. Cloud. Deleon was taken to the hospital for non life threatening injuries. Dahiya was cited with failure to yield right of way.
--State public safety officials say 57 people died in fires last year in Minnesota which is the highest number of fatalities in 13 years. The Department of Public Safety’s State Fire Marshal Division released the numbers Monday along with the cause of the fatal fires. Nine deaths are attributed to careless smoking. Unattended cooking was cited in four fatalities. The fire’s cause was undetermined in 24 deaths. The remaining were due to arson or suicide. The 57 deaths in 2015 represent a nearly 30 percent increase over fire fatalities in both 2014 and 2013. Sixty-four people died in fires in Minnesota in 2002.
--Residents of the Sartell-St. Stephen school district will vote today on a $105.8 million referendum that would build a new high school and renovate and remodel other district buildings. Three polling places will be open from 7:00am until 8:00pm. Sartell precincts 1-4 and LeSauk Township voters will vote at LeSauk Township Hall, 220 Fourth Ave. S in Sartell. Precincts 5-7 will vote at Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road, and St. Stephen, St. Wendel and Brockway Township voters will vote at St. Stephen City Hall, 2 Sixth Ave. SE in St. Stephen. The school district has said space concerns are prompting the referendum question. If voters approve the ballot question Tuesday, it would lead to construction of an $89.5 million high school for up to 1,350 students. If voters approve the 25-year levy, groundbreaking would be in the spring of 2017, and the new high school would open for the 2019-2020 school year.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Simon and Jennifer Popp of Royalton, a boy born May 19th
DEATH NOTICES --Gregory Woitalla, age 51 of Harding.
WEATHER TODAY= mostly sunny, high 83, slight chance of late day storm. TONIGHT= partly cloudy, low 57. WEDNESDAY= showers & storms likely, strong in afternoon, high 71 WED NITE= storms likely in evening, mostly cloudy, low 57. THURSDAY= partly sunny, warmer, high 81, slight chance of storms.
SPORTS TWINS= Salvador Perez and Paulo Orlando combine for 8 hits, four runs scored and 3 RBIs as Royals beat up Twins 10-4 on Monday. The Twins and Royals have game 2 tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. HS SB= Pierz vs. Albany in Waite Park today at 5pm on FM94 KFML
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1830= Mary had a Little Lamb is written by Sarah Hale. IN 1951= Willie Mays played first MLB game with New York Giants. IN 1989= Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade opens in theaters.