News

Round 1 of severe storms, flash flooding, gusty winds went through last night, the Little Falls Airport reported wind gusts of 48mph, and .85 inches of rain in a little over 1 hour between 9:45pm and 11pm. Many branches and debris on roadways and alleys this morning. Cass, Crow Wing, Kanabec and Aitkin were some of the hardest hit areas before midnight last night. That was just the start as again today sunny and warm during the day, and tonight heavy thunderstorms in the evening and overnight with gusty winds and heavy rains, more heavy rains off an on during the day Wednesday ending tomorrow night with rain totals over 2+ inches or more by then in areas. Drier days Thursday through Sunday. 

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that on 7-4-2026 at approximately 5:17 pm, their
office received a report of a man lying on the road unconscious on 168th Street in the City of
Hillman. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 69-year-old Duane Britz of Hillman was a passenger
hanging on the side of a side-by-side ATV driven by 18-year-old Rubin Herrera of Litchfield. Herrera was giving Britz a ride to his vehicle which was parked on 168th Street when he fell off the ATV. Britz was transported to Onamia Hospital by Mayo Clinic Ambulance and then transferred to North Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Hillman Area First Response Team, Onamia Ambulance and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that on 7-4-2026 at approximately 1:47am, their office received a report of a fireworks accident at a residence off Emerald Road, approximately three miles north of Randall in Cushing Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 37-year-old Colton Husen of Breckenridge, Colorado was lighting off a mortar style firework while holding it in the air. The firework blew up from the bottom and launched a projectile into Husen’s side. Husen was transported to St. Gabriel’s Hospital by Mayo Clinic Ambulance with unknown injuries.

The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the name of the victim involved in the fatal UTV crash that occurred on July 3, 2026. On July 3, 2026, at approximately 2:32p.m., the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office responded to a UTV crash on County Road 22, approximately one-half mile east of Highway 25 in Long Lake Township. The victim has been identified as 70-year-old Darrel Cronquist of Brainerd. Cronquist was transported by air ambulance to North Memorial Hospital in the metro area, where he later died
as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

Morrison County Administrator Matt LeBlanc spoke on KLTF Monday and said this is a busy time for public works as they continue to shoulder County Roads 1 south of Pillager, County Roads 2, 16, 18 and 4 and do culvert work on County Roads 34, 19 and 6 through July. Contracted construction crews will be working on the following activities: CR 258/8th Avenue SE at the BNSF RR crossing is scheduled to be paved on Tuesday while railroad work is being done by Burlington Northern on the train tracks on Highway 27, the 27 project goes onto Friday, Matt said the county project should be finished in one day. The crossing will be closed for this work. Please follow the signed detour in both areas. Crews will begin pavement reclamation on CSAH 46 at isolated locations. Construction on CSAH 76 continues. The road will remain open during construction but will have lane shifting to facilitate the rehabilitation of the road. Please drive with caution and remain patient during delays. Project is expected to be complete by the end of August. Belle Prairie Park River Access project began in May. The park will be closed to vehicles and will be open to foot traffic only while under construction. Additionally, the boat ramp will be closed for the duration of the construction. Project is expected to continue into September. Questions can be directed to Morrison County Public Works or contact Matt himself at 320-632-0193.

A 27-year-old Brainerd man died early Sunday morning after being struck by a vehicle on County Road 16 in Crosslake, according to a news release from Crosslake police. At approximately 2:06 a.m. Sunday, Crosslake police were dispatched to a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian on the 13000 block of County Road 16. Officers arrived on scene and located Devin Calin Richard Sawvel deceased in the roadway. The driver of the vehicle, Leslie Frances Mahowald, 63, of Crosslake, remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation,

No injuries were reported when an airplane carrying six people had an issue with landing gear Sunday at the Pine River Regional Airport. Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk said in a news release that at 2:58 p.m. Sunday, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a plane crash on the runway at the Pine River airport. Responders arrived and learned that a 1984 Beechcraft Bonanza was landing when an issue was discovered with the landing gear. The plane landed and skidded along the runway for a distance until coming to a stop. The plane was piloted by a man, age 71, of Pella, Iowa, and had five passengers, including three juveniles. The plane was removed from the runway and debris was cleaned up. The airport was closed for a short period of time and the incident remains under investigation with the assistance of the Pine River Police Department, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

More accidents were reported on Monday morning in Minnesota one person had minor injuries on Highway 169 and Highway 27 near Onamia in Mille Lacs County around 7:15am. A New Brighton woman was treated at the Onamia hospital from the accident. Then another accident around the same time in Crow Wing County in the unorganized territory. A couple from Edina were taken to the Brainerd hospital for their injuries where the other driver was not hurt. A third accident happened around 7:25am in Stearns County in Lake Henry Township. Two women collided at the intersection at Highway 4 and County Road 32. One from St. Martin was taken to the Paynesville hospital and the other from Cold Spring to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of their injuries. One more accident around 5pm yesterday when a vehicle collided with a semi-truck on Highway 24 near Clearwater in Wright County. A 32 year old South Haven was hospitalized for injuries at the Buffalo Hospital while the semi-driver was not hurt. 

A 20-year-old man died Sunday after being pulled from the St. Croix River at Lake St. Croix Beach. A statement from the Washington County Sheriff's Office said deputies joined multiple bystanders to search for the man, who was located sometime after 6:30 p.m. and brought to shore. Despite lifesaving efforts, the man was later pronounced dead at the hospital. His identity has not yet been released.

Weather: Sunny skies Tuesday high 84, storms develop before 10pm tonight some strong with heavy rains and gusty winds, low near 60. Showers and storms likely Wednesday mainly in the morning until early afternoon with heavy rains, then cloudy skies, high 75, clearing late Wednesday night few showers early, low around 56. Sunny skies Thursday, high 81, clear Thursday night low 57. Sunny skies Friday, high 82, clear Friday night low around 60. Sunny and warm Saturday high 87, clear and muggy Saturday night, low 65. Sunday and Monday hot and humid again highs in the 90s, lows in the upper 60s.  

Sports: Brittney Griner had 29 points and hit her free throws late as Connecticut beat the Minnesota Lynx last night 90-89 at Target Center. Olivia Miles did not play last night, Kayla McBride had 28 points and Courtney Williams 23 in the loss, Lynx now travel to Connecticut on Wednesday night. Twins host Cleveland tonight at 6:40pm at Target Field. Team USA run at the World Cup is over as they were defeated 4-1 last night by Belgium in Seattle, Washington. Team USA did make it to the round 16 but Belgium moves on in the round of 8. Spain advanced over Portugal also on Monday in round of 16. Little Falls VFW beat Brainerd in a double header yesterday 10-0 in Game 1 and 14-9 in Game 2, they are now 15-2 on the season and host Sartell on Wednesday in their regular season finale for VFW Baseball then on to the playoffs. 

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