NEWS --A 21-year old Pine River man is in custody after two people were killed at a home near Perham in western Minnesota early Tuesday. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the deaths as homicides. Sheriff’s deputies responded at 5:17am to a call of an assault at the home. When deputies arrived, they found two people dead. 21-year old William Hillman was found and taken into custody. Hillman was arrested on two charges of second-degree homicide. Names of the victims have not been released. The victims' identities will be disclosed by the medical examiner after they are positively identified. Hillman was being held in the Otter Tail County jail. The investigation is ongoing.
--According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Morrison County had 7.6% unemployment in February, which is down from 8.5% in January and also down from 8.4% in February of last year. Here is how our other area counties fared for unemployment rates in February: Aitken 8.5%, Benton 5.2%, Cass, 7.3%, Crow Wing 5.8%, Mille Lacs 7.7%, Stearns 4%, Sherburne 4.5%, Todd 5.4% and Wadena 8.1%. The city of Brainerd had 6.2% and St. Cloud had 3.9% unemployment in February. The statewide unemployment rate in February not seasonally adjusted was 3.9% and the national average was 4.4%.
--Police say a 35-year old man pushed and head-butted an officer in Sauk Rapids late Saturday night. Kent Harvey Schleif faces two charges of fourth degree assault in Benton County for allegedly assaulting a peace officer. One charge is a felony while the other charge is a misdemeanor. Around 11:00pm Saturday, police responded to a call about a man screaming at cars near Second Street North and Stearns Drive. Two officers found Schleif "hunched over between gas pumps" at a Holiday Station store on Second Street North. The defendant was very agitated and immediately began yelling profanities at the officers. They intended to escort him to the squad car to warm up when Schleif pushed one officer in the chest. The officers handcuffed him. Once he returned to his feet Schleif head butted an officer in the left cheekbone.
--A 38-year-old St. Cloud man is accused of hitting and choking a woman, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Stearns County District Court. Joseph Lashawn Brown was charged with one felony count of domestic assault by strangulation and two felony counts of domestic assault. The maximum sentence for felony domestic assault by strangulation is three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The maximum sentence for each of the two counts of felony domestic assault is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
--A man who left Benton Station Bar and allegedly drove away in a car early Friday morning led police on a 4½-mile chase when they attempted to pull him over. Sauk Rapids police then pursued 45-year old Jason Clifford Kraklau of St. Cloud on North Benton Drive. Sartell police officers joined in the pursuit and attempted a PIT maneuver [a controlled collision intended to push the fleeing vehicle into turning and stopping] three separate times with the last maneuver being successful. Officers noticed the smell of alcohol, watery eyes, poor balance and slurred speech from Kraklau. He refused a sobriety and a breath test. He's charged with fleeing a peace officer — a felony — and a misdemeanor DWI. He is also accused of a gross misdemeanor for failing to submit to a sobriety test and another for violating a restricted driving license.
--Governor Mark Dayton Tuesday announced that former House Speaker- Representative Paul Thissen will become a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice. Thissen was in the state house for 16 years and also has been a lawyer for 25 years. Thissen will resign from the House effective this Friday and the Governor said there will be no special election for Thissen's seat as the legislature will adjourn on May 21st and the seat will then be filled in the November election.
--The driver of a car was brought to the hospital after colliding with a snowplow. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 10:40pm Monday on eastbound Interstate 94 at County Road 39 in Monticello. 29-year old Britney Harris was going east when the snowplow was merging into traffic and the two collided. Harris' car went across both lanes of traffic and was caught on the median cables. Harris was taken to CentraCare Hospital in Monticello with non-life threatening injuries. The report does not list where she is from. Her passenger was not hurt.
--The Republican candidates running for Minnesota Governor will be in St. Cloud tonight. The Governor's Forum will be held at 6:30pm at the Tuscan Center in Midtown Square in St. Cloud. Jeff Johnson, Keith Downey, Mary Guiliani-Stevens, and Phil Parrish have all confirmed that they will be there. Tim Pawlenty has also been invited to the event. It will showcase the candidates' viewpoints on local and statewide issues. It is free and open to everyone.
NATIONAL NEWS --Former U.S. First Lady Barbara Bush has died at age 92. Bush was first lady from 1989-1993 for husband George H.W. Bush. She was also the mother of President George W. Bush elected in 2000. Barbara Bush's funeral will be on Saturday.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS --Actor Harry Anderson, best known as the lead characters on Night Court and Dave's World was found dead Monday of an apparent heart attack in his home in North Carolina. He was 65.
DEATH NOTICE --Harold J. Benusa, age 79 of Rice
WEATHER TODAY= cloudy, brief sprinkles in PM hours, high near 40. TONIGHT= clearing skies, low 25. THURSDAY= sunny skies, high near 50, low around 25. FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 51, low around 30.
SPORTS TWINS= Indians beat up Twins 6-1 last night in Puerto Rico. The Twins wrap up with Cleveland, pregame at 5:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. WILD= Devin Dubnyk saved 26 of 28 shots on goal last night, but Winnipeg shut out the Wild 2-0 to go up 3-1 on the series. The Jets could wrap up the series Friday night in Winnipeg. If the Wild win Friday, then Game 6 in St. Paul would be on Sunday. NBA= Timberwolves are at Houston for game 2 of their playoff series tonight at 8:30pm. Rockets lead the series 1-0. LOCAL= with the warmer temps ahead the hope is to be playing baseball and softball next week for area teams, some indoor track meets continue. See the latest schedules at fallsradio.com.