NEWS
--A Hillman man was taken to the hospital after crashing his vehicle Monday. The incident happened just after 6:30am at the intersection of Nature Road and 335th Avenue in Morrill Township, about 10 miles southeast of Buckman. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office says 42-year-old Craig Melby was heading east on Nature Road when his vehicle left the roadway, hit an approach, and struck a ground line to a power pole. Melby was taken to Little Falls Hospital for his injuries.
--The State of Minnesota Tuesday announced a nearly $17 billion tax surplus. The Minnesota Office of Budget and Management says strong tax collections and lower-than-projected spending are adding to the fiscal year 2022-2023 surplus. House Minority Leader Republican Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring has released a statement on the surplus, she says, "Minnesotans are being massively overtaxed, and we should spend most of the next session working to give as much of it back to Minnesotans as possible. Tax hikes of any kind should be a complete non-starter." The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities President and Thief River Falls Mayor Brian Holmer says Tuesday's announcement: “This is terrific news for Minnesota. The budget surplus, coupled with millions of federal dollars waiting to be matched, means state leaders have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make investments that will have a lasting impact on improving our communities." Questions on the how the surplus will be spent will be discussed frequently by the state legislature when they convene in 2023. Governor Walz is requesting rebate checks.
--Authorities are investigating a fall that left a worker seriously hurt in Kandiyohi County Monday night. The Atwater Police Department says around 7:30pm officers responded to a report of an employee having leg pain after a fall at a business in the 500 block of Pleasant Avenue East. Authorities say when they arrived, they found the worker on the roof of the building, about 120 feet off the ground. Police say the employee had fallen four feet off of a platform. Authorities got the employee safely to the ground. The person was then airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The employee has not been identified. The investigation continues into it.
--The owner of a construction company has been accused of accepting payment but not doing the work. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says 33-year-old Derek Fischer has been charged with Felony Theft by Swindle and Felony Theft by False Representation. They say Fischer and his business partner are owners of RockSolid Construction and Snow Removal LLC in Douglas County and Otter Tail County. He is charged for an alleged incident near Alexandria where he entered into a contract to build a house and shed and accepted nearly $114,000 from the victim. However, he allegedly never started the project and blocked contact with the victim. Investigators say they have found another alleged victim in Crow Wing County and there could be others. The Sheriff's Office says Fischer actively uses Facebook Market Place type sites to solicit business. Others who reached out or worked with Fischer could contact law enforcement.
--The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) has reached a tentative agreement with Minnesota's major health systems, averting a strike that was slated to begin on December 11th. According to the MNA, the three-year contracts for nurses in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports include language to address understaffing, one of the union's main negotiation points. The tentative agreements also include 18% pay raises for Twin Cities nurses and 17% raises for nurses. The deal was agreed upon on Tuesday to avoid a strike next week by nurses.
--Congratulations to Bob Stuckmayer the latest Ho Ho Dough winner of $100 in ho ho dough bucks to be spent back the area businesses. Stuckmayer registered at Pierz Foods/Pierz Floral. Remember to get out and register again at the area sponsors for next Tuesday's $100 ho ho dough drawing and then the grand prize on December 20th where you can win $500 ho ho dough and $500 cash from the sponsors at fallsradio.com on the home page and Little Falls Radio.
--Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed today as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in the state. He has ordered all Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset tonight in honor and remembrance of those who died during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and those who sacrificed their lives during World War II. Individuals, businesses, and other organizations are also encouraged to join in lowering their flags.
--The Pierz St. Nick Night Celebration is today from 4-7:30pm, come and see the fun things and the lights too in the city of Pierz tonight.
--Join AM960 KLTF Partyline for a fun show today as ukelele players are coming in from St. Francis Music Center to perform some music and talk about their class they take. 10:05am today on KLTF.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Emmy Award winning actress Kirstie Alley died Monday. Alley is remembered for her role as Rebecca on TV's Cheers and also in movies like Look's Who Talking. Alley died of cancer at age 71.
--It's official Harrison Ford will once again become Indiana Jones for a fifth time in the movies. The 80 year old Ford will reprise the role for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The movie is set for a theater debut June 20th, 2023.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow likely 2-4 inches in areas, PM clearing, high 10.
TONIGHT= clear skies, cold night, low around 0.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 25, snow overnight, low 16.
FRIDAY= AM flurries, then cloudy, high near 30, low around 25.
SPORTS
MLB= The Twins are making talks in the winter meetings with some possible big moves before next season. The Twins want 1 to 2 big name starting pitchers and have stated they are willing to trade even American League Batting Champion Luis Arreaz to get those pitchers.
NFL= The Vikings (10-2) are at Detroit (5-7) at noon on Sunday. After Sunday the Vikings will have two Saturday games first on December 17th against the Colts at 11:30am on AM960 KLTF then the following Saturday at noon against the New York Giants which has a noon kickoff on Christmas Eve also live on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1787= Delaware first to ratify the U.S. Constitution by states. On December 7th, 1941 a surprise military strike by the Japanese occurred in the early morning of Sunday, December 7th at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In all 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 were injured. More than 180 U.S. Aircraft was destroyed which made the United States enter officially into World War II against the Axis Powers before ending with Victory in Japan in 1945.
IN 1945= The microwave oven is first put on the public market.
IN 1967= Otis Redding released Sittin' on the Dock of Bay just 3 days before Redding in killed in a plane crash. The song later hit #1.
IN 2003= WWE has first Tribute to the Troops wrestling in Iraq.