News

A fatal accident was reported by the Minnesota State Patrol around 10:30pm last night on Highway 71 in Bertha Township of Todd County. A 26-year-old from Hewitt collided with a 20-year-old also from Hewitt. The State Patrol only reported that at least one person was killed in the accident. No other information has been released by the State Patrol this morning. 

A Foley man is facing felony charges after a cyber tip led investigators to his uploads of child sexual abuse material. According to the criminal complaint, the tip from MediaLab/Kik said a user had uploaded five explicit videos to the messaging app. A subpoena identified the account owner as 43-year-old Jon Rasmussen Jr. The videos depicted young girls, one believed to be as young as seven, engaged in sex acts. Investigators say the internet provider confirmed only one phone number was linked to the account — and it matched Rasmussen’s. Rasmussen provided a statement to police admitting to viewing child pornography through the app and friending users to share images via direct message. He faces five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, each count carries a maximum of five years in prison.

Now that most central Minnesota have the ice off and open water fishing underway, the Department of Natural Resources is reminding boaters and anglers that cold water still poses serious risks. The DNR says that any water temperature under 70 degrees is still considered cold water, and current lake temperatures are well below that threshold. This makes wearing a life jacket especially important this time of year. The DNR recommends a full check of your boat before heading out, including making sure you have enough life jackets on board, working navigation lights, and a fire extinguisher in good condition. The most common way people end up in the water is through trips and falls overboard, exposing them to the cold conditions. Hypothermia is going to take a little bit of time to set in, but it’s that cold shock response that you have to worry about. When you initially hit the water, your body automatically gasps, and having a life jacket on at that moment is crucial to keep your head above water. Just a reminder to use caution if hitting the water. 

A former NFL linebacker is among the 38 new troopers being added Thursday to the ranks of the Minnesota State Patrol. Nate Evans Jr. is originally from Louisiana and played college football at the University of Central Florida before being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks and the LA Chargers before retiring in February 2023. His grandmother, a retired commander with the Jefferson Parish Police Department, recommended a career in law enforcement as a way for him to continue the camaraderie and brotherhood he missed from playing on a team. The graduates completed the 71st State Patrol Academy at Camp Ripley over 14 weeks of training, including motor vehicle crash investigation, traffic law, emergency vehicle operations, scenario-based de-escalation, mental health crisis response, and defensive tactics. The class includes traditional applicants and graduates of the Law Enforcement Training Opportunity (LETO) program, which provides law enforcement training to candidates who hold two- or four-year degrees in unrelated fields. Following graduation, the new troopers will complete additional training at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension before beginning field training with a veteran trooper. Upon completing field training, they will begin solo patrols.

A damaged natural gas line forced the evacuation of an area in the city of Walker on Wednesday. According to a press release from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, at around 2 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a report that a utility company working in the city of Walker near Michigan Avenue W and 7th Street S struck a three-inch natural gas line. The immediate area, which included businesses and residents, was evacuated. At 8:45 p.m., officials on scene reported the damaged natural gas line has been mitigated and that the area that was evacuated is now back open. Residents are being allowed to return, and businesses would either open that evening or Thursday. Law enforcement officials say contractors would continue to work on-site that evening or Thursday but that impacts should be minimal.

Two people were hurt when a car and a motorcycle collided. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident occurred on Wednesday at about 6:20 p.m. on Highway 55 in Rockford, Wright County. The car was westbound on the highway when it collided with the motorcycle. The motorcycle rider, 55-year-old Sloss Bryant of Wayzata, was taken to Allina Health in Buffalo with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the car, 24-year-old Derek Bursch of Maple Lake, was taken to North Memorial with non-life-threatening injuries.

Little Falls Community Schools School Referendum Failed Tuesday. The school reported that totals are unofficial at this time but as of last night Question 1, 2770 no votes to 1536 yes,...

A Message from Little Falls Community Schools late on Tuesday: The unofficial results for the 2026 Referendum have been tallied, and neither question has passed (again both failed, the unofficial...

Today (Tuesday April 14th) is the Little Falls Community Schools Referendum Vote. Polling places will be open from 7am to 8pm. They are Bethel Lutheran Church Combined Polling Place located...

The Storm Prediction Center reported a slight risk of severe thunderstorms over central Minnesota this afternoon into tonight mainly between 3-9pm with potential of strong winds and hail. An elevated...