News

A Sartell woman who struck and killed a pedestrian with her car and then fled the scene has been sentenced. A Stearns County judge has sentenced 22-year-old Cadee Campbell to a stayed sentence of one year in prison and three years of probation. She must serve 16 days in the county jail. Campbell pleaded guilty to a felony charge of failing to stop for a traffic collision causing injury or death in October. The incident happened last February near the intersection of Highway 15 and Highway 23 in St. Cloud. According to the criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court, Campbell was heading south on Highway 15 and had just crossed through the intersection at Highway 23. Witnesses told police that a man was crossing the southbound lanes outside of the crosswalk and was struck by the car. Court records show Campbell fled the scene, but called police to report she was the driver involved in the crash. The man, whose name is not listed in the complaint, died as a result of his injuries. Police officers interviewed Campbell at her residence, and according to the complaint, she admitted to knowing she hit a person but left because she didn't want to exit her car with her child inside.

On Monday Governor Tim Walz made his announcement he's ending his 2026 reelection bid which now turns to speculation over who the DFL could run to replace him. An early DFL candidate emerged in U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who's reportedly considering running now that Walz has dropped out of the race.  Republicans running for governor include House Speaker Lisa Demuth, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, attorney Chris Madel, 2022 GOP nominee Scott Jensen, and businessman Kendall Qualls. Major names on the DFL that could make a run for governor include Attorney General Keith Ellison, Secretary of State Steve Simon, Senator Majority Leader Erin Murphy and one name that said he would not run for Governor is former U.S. Representative Dean Phillips who reportedly Monday took to social media and said he has no interest in either the U.S. Senate or Governor position in Minnesota. 

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has awarded more than $72-million to more than two dozen projects statewide. The grants will be used to improve freight options, travel time reliability, and economic development. Among the recipients is Meeker County, which will use $2.7-million through the Transportation Economic Development Program for a Highway 12 and Meeker County Road 34 intersection improvement project. The St. Cloud Area Planning Organization is receiving $1.5-million through the Corridors of Commerce Readiness Advancement program for planning and project development to improve Highway 15 from Highway 23 to Highway 10.

National News: President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday that it is withholding funding for programs that support needy families with children in five Democratic-led states over concerns about fraud.  The administration has not laid out details of either the fraud claims or the widening plan to withhold funds, which was first reported by the New York Post. An official in the White House budget office who has knowledge of the plan but was not authorized to speak about it publicly said that it was due to states “pouring money out” to people in the U.S. illegally. Five states; California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York are targeted. The Associated Press has asked all of them, and by Tuesday afternoon, none had received notice of a broader funding pause. Many governors from those states including New York, Illinois and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have stated they are planning to take this to court. President Trump only stated that investigations into the 5 states has already begun. 

Weather: Wednesday morning fog, then partly cloudy skies, high 36, cloudy skies at night low 18. Thursday mostly cloudy skies, high 36, clear night low around 19. Friday cloudy skies, high 31, snow develops Friday night low 15. Snow likely Saturday around 1 inch, gusty winds 20-35mph with blowing snow, temps stay steady around 20 degrees dropping to near 0 with chills near -15 below zero on Saturday night.

Sports: Baltimore Ravens have fired longtime head coach John Harbaugh after their loss Sunday to the Steelers missing the playoffs. Harbaugh won the Super Bowl with them in 2012 and had 193 career wins for the Ravens in 18 seasons. College Football Semi-Finals Thursday Miami vs. Ole Miss then Friday night is Oregon vs. Indiana winners play January 19th for the National Title. Listen to high school sports this week, girls basketball Thursday, boys and girls basketball double header on Friday of Little Falls and Pierz and boys hockey Friday and Saturday this coming weekend. Get the details on games, times and stations by going to fallsradio.com and click on sports.