NEWS
--The Republican presidential ticket is coming to St. Cloud. Fresh off his endorsement at the Republican National Convention, former President Donald J. Trump and his pick for Vice President J.D. Vance will hold a campaign rally at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on Saturday. The event starts at 7pm. Poll experts have recently downgraded Minnesota to “leans Democratic” from “likely Democratic,” after recent surveys put the state in play for Republicans. The GOP has not won a presidential election in Minnesota since Richard Nixon in 1972. The rink will open at 3pm. The event is free, but registration is required beforehand. You can register on the Donald J. Trump events website.
--A high-profile murder trial began Monday in Benton County. Michael Carpenter is accused of shooting a coworker on October 24th, 2022, in the parking lot of a St. Cloud textile factory before their shift started. Witnesses say that they saw Carpenter get out of his vehicle and walk toward the south end of the lot, where he allegedly fired a pistol at 28-year-old Nicole Hammond, killing her. St. Cloud Police say they found the pistol in Carpenter’s car when he was arrested. Investigators believe Hammond had spurned Carpenter’s repeated advances. The night before the shooting, Hammond had texted Carpenter, saying she didn’t want him to touch or manipulate her and that he should not make things weird at work. Charges against Carpenter have been upgraded to first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
--A California woman died at the scene of a multi-vehicle crash in Elk River Friday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol says a 32-year-old Utah man was driving a Kia Soul and attempting to make a left turn from Highway 10 onto Gary Street when a BMW sport utility vehicle hit the car. Officials say 36-year-old Ashley Cheyenne Jones died. She was a passenger in the Kia. The Kia driver and all three occupants of the SUV were taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor.
--The St. Cloud Police Department says a Level Three Predatory Offender has moved into the city. James Stamps Junior told authorities he arrived in town on July 22nd and listed his address as homeless, but said he is working on securing more permanent housing soon. Offenders listed as homeless are required to check in once a week with police. Stamps has a history of physically assaulting and engaging in sexual contact with unknown adult females. Contact included penetration. Force and a weapon have been used to gain compliance. Stamps gained access by approaching them in a public setting. Level Three Predatory Offenders are considered the most likely to reoffend. He is described as black, 5’5″, 189 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. His photo from the Department of Corrections shows his head is shaved bald. Stamps has served the sentence imposed upon him by the courts and was released from custody in 2020. Stamps is not wanted by authorities.
--A Veterans town hall meeting is scheduled on August 13th at 2pm at the VA Clinic in Montevideo, located at 814 North 11th Street, in Montevideo. The meeting is open to all Veterans served by the St. Cloud VA and provides Veterans the chance to hear from and have concerns addressed by St. Cloud VA officials. For more information contact your local VA if you wish to attend of by on via their Zoom.
--Kris from the Crow Wing County Fair spoke on KLTF yesterday. The Fairgrounds gets going with events next Tuesday for Military Day where they will have a ceremony at 5pm and showing off the new Military Garden created at the fairgrounds for the public to see. Monster Trucks at 2pm and 7pm at the grandstand with pit parties for those to see the truck and drivers 90 minutes before the shows. Wednesday in senior day with rodeo at the grandstands, another group of rodeo starts Thursday night also for Ag day, Friday is Teen Day and Saturday is Kids Day with events for kids starting at 10am, and the Baja Races Friday and Saturday night the grandstand. Lots of exhibits, bingo, foods, midway with rides, historical items, FFA and 4H items, live music and freebies galore to grab up at the Crow Wing County Fair south of Brainerd on 13th Street next Tuesday through Saturday, more details on the Crow Wing County Fair website. Also joined AM960 KLTF Party Line at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds next Wednesday, July 31st at 10:05am.
--A Sartell teenager died in a Monday afternoon crash in Avon Township. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened at about 2:15 at the intersection of County Road 9 and County Road 52, also known as Two Rivers Road. A 62-year-old Avon man was behind the wheel of a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country minivan headed south on CR 9 when he entered the intersection going at least 55 miles per hour. There are no stop signs regulating traffic for that road. The man says a red 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 18-year-old Ellie Wittstruck tried to cross in front of him and he did not have time to brake. The minivan t-boned the car on the driver’s side. Vehicles on 52 are controlled using stop signs in both directions. Wittstruck died at the scene. Her passenger, an 18-year-old from St. Cloud, was airlifted to the hospital for injuries.
NATIONAL NEWS
--The director of the Secret Service announced she will step down from her job Tuesday following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that unleashed intensifying outcry about how the agency tasked with protecting current and former presidents could fail in its core mission. Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022.
DEATH NOTICES
--Dr. Oliver E. Wiger, age 92 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 78, clear night, low around 54.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 82, low around 60.
FRIDAY= sunny and warmer, high 88, clear night, low around 63.
SPORTS
TWINS= Phillies score 3 in the top of the 9th to beat the Twins last night 3-0 at Target Field. The Twins and Philadelphia wrap up their series today, with pregame at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
BAB= Pierz beat Foley 4-2 last night in American Legion baseball stays in winners bracket tonight against St. Cloud Chutes. Little Falls was eliminated from Legion ball Tuesday. Little Falls VFW wins 2-1 over Monticello, now in the final 4 game tonight for a chance at state.