News

A notice from Little Falls Township that 180th Avenue will be closed to traffic between the intersection of State Highway 27, south to the intersection County Road 256,  starting today May 14th and continuing until at least the 17th or until final completion of a road construction project. The intent of this project is to improve road safety and complete bituminous overlays to create a 9-Ton paved road between State Highway 27 and County Road 256. Any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact George at 320-630-5595, Chuck at 320-232-9554, or John at 320-980-5352.

The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the names of the individuals involved in the Little Emily Lake incident that occurred on May 12, 2026. The deceased male has been identified as Cameron Walker, age 19, who was residing in Morris, Minnesota while attending college. The two adult females involved in the incident have been identified as Katelynn Davids, age 20, and Paris Redthunder, age 22, both of whom were residing in Morris while attending college. One of the females was treated for injuries related to cold exposure. The incident remains under investigation by the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

An 87-year-old man is the victim of a deadly fire Tuesday evening near Nisswa in the Brainerd lakes area. Crow Wing County sheriff's deputies and firefighters were called to the fire on County Road 18 in Lake Edward Township. Crews located the body of the victim inside the residence during a search.  The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office is assisting local authorities with the investigation. The victim hasn't been identified.

Thanks to overwhelming support and votes from travelers and fans across the country, the Great River Road which runs through Morrison County has officially been named the Best Scenic Drive in America in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It’s the second consecutive year that the Great River Road has taken the top honor in the category. A panel of travel experts nominated 20 routes for the Best Scenic Drive distinction, including the Great River Road, as well as other highways and byways like the Natchez Trace Parkway (which starts in Natchez, Mississippi—one of the cities on the Great River Road), the Florida Keys Scenic Highway, the Road to Hana, and the Pacific Coast Highway. Online voting ran in April and early May, and thanks to an incredible effort from fans, the Great River Road took the top spot. “We’re incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm and support we continue to see from both our loyal fans and the thousands of travelers who experience the Great River Road each year, whether they’re exploring a short stretch on a weekend drive or making the full journey,” said Susanne Thiede-Barnet, Managing Director of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission. “For anyone who hasn’t discovered the Great River Road yet, there’s never been a better time to visit. From breathtaking scenic overlooks and beautiful parks to our network of nearly 100 Interpretive Centers and the many vibrant river towns and cities along the Mississippi, there’s truly something unforgettable waiting around every bend.” Summer is the perfect time to explore the scenic beauty of the Great River Road, which follows the Mississippi River through 10 states from Minnesota to Louisiana.

Crow Wing Power’s Operation Round-Up ® program is proud to announce that Labor of Love MN in Little Falls has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 IMPACT Grant, receiving $20,000 to advance its mission of providing affordable essentials and supporting the basic needs of individuals and families throughout the region. On Thursday, April 30, 2026, the Operation Round-Up ® Board of Trustees gathered to hear presentations from three finalists, each sharing how their organization impacts the community and how the IMPACT Grant would help further their mission. Following deliberation, the nine-member board unanimously selected Labor of Love MN as this year's grant recipient. About Labor of Love MN Labor of Love MN is a faith-based ministry founded by Julie Leikvoll, who felt called to serve those in need within her community. The organization is committed to ensuring that no one is turned away for inability to pay. If someone is in need, Labor of Love MN finds a way to serve them. The organization provides a wide range of essential items, including clothing, shoes, bedding, furniture, kitchenware, bathroom necessities, and other household goods. Central to its operations is The Chapel Thrift Store, which accepts community donations, sells affordable items to the public, and uses the proceeds to fund the ministry’s outreach efforts. Donations that cannot be used locally are repurposed and redistributed to partner missions that can put them to use. Labor of Love MN’s services reach people at their most vulnerable moments, from furnishing apartments for individuals transitioning out of homelessness to supporting families recovering from house fires. The grant funding will allow the organization to hire dedicated staff to assist with warehouse donation processing and retail store management, strengthening its capacity to serve more people effectively.

One person is dead, and three others are hurt after a boating accident on Lake Vermillion Tuesday evening. The St. Louis County Sheriff's office and numerous rescue personnel responded to Black Bay Road on Lake Vermillion for a crash involving numerous people. The sheriff's office says the call indicated that a number of people had been thrown from boats into the water. It happened near Manbeck Island on the northern portion of the lake at about 6:20pm. Authorities say three people were taken from the scene by ambulance. One of the three was then airlifted to a Duluth hospital for treatment. Emergency personnel performed life-saving measures on a fourth person, but those efforts were unsuccessful, and they were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The names of the people involved have not been released at this time. 

A reminder from Camp Ripley, the military base is conducting controlled burns this week, when the weather cooperates, such as Wednesday, you may notice and smell smoke around the military base at times while these burns are going on which are expected to take place at times through the rest of May. 

Entertainment News: Film Critic Rex Reed has died, Reed started in 1978 on his movie criticism and continued in papers and online up to his death on May 12th at age 87. Actor Michael Pennington died on May 7th at age 82 he was in "The Iron Lady" and an Imperial Commander in "Return of the Jedi". Actor Donald Gibb has died May 12th at age 71 appeared in Conan the Barbarian, Bloodsport but remembered as the college hulk "Ogre" in the Revenge of the Nerds movies of the 1980s.

Weather: Thursday partly sunny start, then increasing clouds, rain after 3pm, high 76 and turning breezy. Showers before 10pm Thursday night then clearing skies, windy, low near 50. Friday a Fire Weather Watch has been issued, sunny, warm and breezy, high near 80, wind gusts up to 30mph with high fire danger. Friday night clear and 47. Saturday sunny and 74, Saturday night clear and 44. Sunday possible showers before 10am, then storms possible after 1pm, high near 70 and breezy, some storms on Sunday could be on the strong side. Showers and storms likely with some heavy downpours Sunday night low 55, Showers and storms possible again on Monday, windy and cooler, high near 66. Sunny, cooler Tuesday, high 58. 

Sports: Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Game 6 Friday 8:30pm at Target Center. Minnesota Lynx are at Dallas Thursday night at 7pm. Minnesota Twins wrap up series with Miami Marlins at 12:40pm Thursday. The Minnesota Vikings announced that one of the regular season games this year will be in Mexico against the San Francisco 49ers on November 22nd at 7:20pm the rest of the NFL season schedule is expected to be released Thursday night by ESPN. High School Baseball Thursday 5pm Pierz at Little Falls live coverage on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com due to the game the 5pm news will be at 4:30pm on KLTF.

The Pierz Fire Department responded to a golf cart fire at about 4:15pm on Monday, May 11 on Park Avenue over the Skunk River near the Pierz Golf Course. Firefighters...

One person was killed Monday morning in an accident in South Harbor Township of Mille Lacs County. Just after 8am, 74-year-old Lynn Stalker of Wahkon was westbound on Stevens Roads...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding those that burning restrictions are still in place for Morrison, Benton, Stearns, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs and other counties in central Minnesota....

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Wednesday at approximately 6:56 pm, their office received a report of a man trapped in a trench at a residence off 70th...