NEWS
--Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development launched a new effort to support and grow small businesses in Minnesota. The $10 million program will provide low-interest loans to small businesses, promoting the growth and success of Minnesota’s small business economy. “Small businesses are foundational to Minnesota’s economic ecosystem they’re at the heart of our communities, our workforce, and our state’s economy,” said Governor Walz. “This program will make it easier for small businesses to access loans that are critical for their growth and long-term success and help us build a thriving state economy.” DEED’s $10 million Expanding Opportunity Fund will support entrepreneurs who have struggled to access capital through traditional bank loans. The fund is designed to support historically under-funded small businesses operated by women, people of color, or in Greater Minnesota. DEED is now accepting applications from non-profit lenders interested in participating in the Expanding Opportunity Fund. Lenders can receive up to $600,000 at one time to provide low-interest loans to the small business owners they serve. The Expanding Opportunity Fund builds on recent DEED efforts to support small businesses by easing access to borrowing. DEED’s Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program provides funding through nonprofit partners for businesses owned and operated by people living with disabilities, people experiencing low income, people of color, women, and veterans. Last fiscal year, the program saw record lending numbers, including 61 new loans for over $2.6 million, leveraging over $14.8 million in private funding and creating an estimated 202 new jobs for new and expanding businesses. Last fall, DEED launched the State Small Business Credit Initiative, a slate of six federally-funded programs to provide more capital to small businesses statewide. The programs have facilitated $14.7 million in loans to businesses and have 47 enrolled nonprofit or CDFI lenders.
--A 37-year-old man convicted for criminal sexual conduct in 2012 is moving to a residence in the vicinity of Quince Street in Brainerd. The Brainerd Police Department on Monday sent a public notice that Joshua Chad Tromblay, a Level 3 predatory offender who has served his sentence on the criminal sexual conduct conviction, will be moving to the 1400 block of Quince Street on November 14th. A Level 3 predatory offender is the highest risk level who is most likely to reoffend. Tromblay was convicted after he engaged in sexual contact with a known adult female. Tromblay gained access to the victim by exploiting his established relationship of trust to enter her home. He used the victim's sleeping state in an effort to maintain control. Due to Tromblay previously residing in Brainerd, a community notification meeting about Tromblay will not be held. The Brainerd Police Department reminded residents Tromblay is not wanted by police and the notification was not intended to increase fear in the community but to keep the public informed.
--Nearly one million chickens will be slaughtered at a Wright County egg farm due to an outbreak of the highly-contagious avian influenza, federal officials have announced. The United States Department of Agriculture said some 940,000 birds are affected by the outbreak discovered this month at the commercial farm. The bird flu outbreak in Minnesota has been the worst in the country over the last 30 days, affecting over 1.3 million birds in the state, according to the USDA.
--Camp Ripley, the Minnesota DNR, and Central Lakes College hosted the annual 3-day Public Archery Hunt on Camp Ripley Training Center October 27th through October 29th. This year 202 deer were harvested by 1,846 hunters for a success rate of 10.5%, this is above the average of 9% with 1,953 hunters last year harvesting 221 deer. “We have long standing partnerships with Central Lakes College and the MNDNR. These partnerships are incredibly valuable to Camp Ripley and without the support from these groups and a long list of other Federal, State, local, and non-government organizations, it wouldn’t be possible for us to achieve our conservation goals or provide this huge recreational opportunity for the public," said Jake Kitzman Camp Ripley’s Natural Resource Manager. Also Camp Ripley had the opportunity to host a second joint training event with the Air Force 26th Special Tactics Squadron earlier this fall season as they performed day and night rope and rappel operations with the 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion. You can find out more items going on at the military base on Facebook for Camp Ripley.
--A 59-year-old man who was released from federal custody in October is moving to a residence in rural Hackensack. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office notified the public that Ronald Emil Borchert, a Level 3 predatory offender had moved back to Hackensack on October 27th. A Level 3 predatory offender is the highest risk level who is most likely to reoffend. Borchert was convicted after he engaged in sexual conduct with an undercover officer posing as a female teenager. Conduct included engaging in sexual conversation, soliciting the victim to engage in sexual contact and exposing himself over video chat online. Borchert used bribes to gain compliance and gained access by meeting victim online and attempting to meet in person. In a community notification, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office reminded residents Borchert is not wanted by police and the notification was not intended to increase fear in the community but to keep the public informed.
--A 40-year-old Minneapolis man suffered an accidental, non-life-threatening gunshot wound while hunting in a wooded area of Forest Township in Becker County on Sunday. Around 11:30am the sheriff’s office received a 911 call about the accidental shooting. Jeremy Nicholos Sailor was shot in the hip/leg when his hunting partner’s firearm discharged while the hunting partner was attempting to ensure the firearm was unloaded. Sailor was transported by a private vehicle, but the vehicle eventually broke down. First responders located Sailor and then transferred him to the Bemidji hospital.
DEATH NOTICES
--Clara J. Mallak, age 72 of Royalton.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy high near 51 then falling temps late day.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, low near 30 and breezy.
THURSDAY= partly sunny and breezy, high 41, low near 27.
FRIDAY= sunny and cool, high 35, clear night, low near 23.
SPORTS
NFL= no surprise that the Vikings have named Josh Dobbs their starting quarterback going forward this season after Dobbs helped the Vikings beat Atlanta last Sunday. They host New Orleans Sunday.
VB= State Volleyball Tournament begins today in St. Paul.
REGISTER TODAY FOR HO HO DOUGH, DETAILS ON THE HOMEPAGE AT FALLSRADIO.COM