NEWS
--82-year-old, Thomas Steele was identified as the Bemidji man who died after his all-terrain vehicle broke through the ice on Pike Bay near Cass Lake Friday morning. Life-saving efforts occurred on the scene, as an airboat transported Steele to shore, and at the Cass Lake Indian Services Hospital, but he was later pronounced dead. The ATV passenger Mark Jacobson, 56, of Bemidji, was also in the water and was treated at the scene.
--Two people were hurt in an apartment fire in St. Cloud. The Fire Department was called at about 10am Monday at 1405 12th Avenue North. There was a fire on the second floor of the building. Residents evacuated and Metro Bus provided a temporary shelter as crews put out the fire. Two apartment units were determined to be uninhabitable, the remaining residents were eventually able to return to their apartments after several hours. Two people were taken to St. Cloud Hospital with injuries. The cause is under investigation.
--Two people were hurt in a crash near St. Joseph Monday afternoon. The incident happened around 1pm at the intersection of Highway 23 and Bel Clare Drive. The Minnesota State Patrol says a flatbed truck going north on Highway 23 and a car going west on Bel Clare Drive collided in the intersection. The driver of the car, 60-year-old Aden Abdi Nur of St. Cloud, and his passenger, 69-year-old Abdullahi Mohamed Samatar of Waite Park, were taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the truck, 55-year-old William Fuchs of Paynesville, was not hurt.
--A Paynesville woman who pleaded guilty to murdering her disabled daughter is now trying to withdraw her guilty plea. Thirty-eight-year-old Elise Nelson pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree intentional murder in October. In a motion filed in Stearns County District Court, Nelson's new lawyer is claiming Nelson was coerced into signing the plea petition and didn't have adequate time to review the document. They also argue that she had ineffective counsel, was fully expecting to go to trial, and was too shocked to speak up. The child had chronic respiratory failure and severe developmental delay from the loss of oxygen at birth. The judge presiding over the case has 90 days to rule on the motion to withdraw the plea.
--A man charged with murdering a Waite Park woman last February has been found competent to face the charges against him. Twenty-nine-year-old Jarquez Bedford is charged with three counts of murder, including a charge of 1st-degree premeditated murder for the death of 52-year-old Andrea Cottew. Waite Park Police were conducting a welfare check at 320 Park Meadows Drive last February and found Cottew dead inside her apartment. Surveillance video shows Cottew entering the apartment building the day before. Moments later, Bedford is seen knocking on the locked entry door with Cottew responding and letting him in. The charges allege officers interviewed Bedford who gave police multiple details about the case that were not public, but he denied killing Cottew. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension also conducted DNA testing at the crime scene and matched what they say was Bedford's DNA to the handle of the knife. Bedford is being held in the Stearns County Jail on $4-million unconditional bail.
--"Purple Rain," Prince's famous movie, is headed for Broadway. The 1984 film is being adapted for the stage as a musical, according to broadway.com. No word yet on when it will debut but more details are expected to be announced in the coming months.
--The week of January 22nd-26th, The Little Falls Community High School Student Council is sponsoring Wish Week to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation. This is part of a statewide Student Council project to support Make A Wish Minnesota in providing wishes for over 300 kids with critical illnesses. More information is available by contacting the Little Falls High School 616-2200.
--A registered nurse pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining prescription opioid pain medications from a hospice clinic. According to court documents, between Nov. 17, 2020, and November 25, 2022, Cambie Elizabeth Broker, 33, was a registered nurse case manager at a hospice clinic in Baxter. Broker used her position to fraudulently obtain controlled substances from the clinic. Broker entered false prescription requests into the clinic’s e-prescribing software to fraudulently obtain oxycodone, hydromorphone, and fentanyl for illegal sale and personal use. In total, Broker wrongfully acquired at least 19,500 oxycodone pills, 230 hydromorphone pills, and 51 fentanyl patches. Broker pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel to one count of fraudulently obtaining oxycodone, hydromorphone and fentanyl. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
--A St. Cloud man faces a felony assault charge after allegedly chasing a woman with a tactical axe. St. Cloud Police were called to the 800 block of 8th Street South at around 8:20pm Friday for an assault in progress. Officers arrived and found 32-year-old Christopher Kenne walking from the area. The victim told police that Kenne confronted her outside her home about her and her sister "bad-mouthing" him. Kenne is accused of pushing the victim and grabbing her clothes. Court records show the victim hit Kenne in an attempt to get away. Kenne then allegedly pulled out the hatchet and chased the victim into the residence where a roommate threw a small safe at him to help the victim. Eventually, Kenne walked away and was then detained by responding officers. He faces a charge of 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
--The American Red Cross Blood Drive continues at the St. Francis Convent today from 12-6pm and Thursday from 8:30am-2:30pm, you must make an appointment as they are not allowing walk ins again so you can please make appointments and help give blood by calling Sister Julien at 320-632-0663 today.
--The Haven of Mercy Area Catholic Community reminds those that their State of the Haven of Mercy Area Catholic Community address will be Thursday at 7pm at the Falls Ballroom. All are welcome to come and learn what is the latest and in store for this year.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow develops before afternoon, high 21.
TONIGHT= snow ending, up to 1 inch, low 7 above.
THURSDAY= some sun and colder, high 11, low near -2.
FRIDAY= mostly cloudy, high near 13, cold night, low near -10.
SPORTS
TWINS= Catch Inside Twins “Hot Stove” show tonight at 6pm to get a preview on the season live on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.
NFL= usually called Black Monday by the NFL after the season ends on coach firings. So far, Atlanta, Washington and Tennessee have fired their coaches and will look for new ones for the next season.
WRAP= Saturday Morning Sports Wrap 9am Saturday on KLTF.