News

Around 2:25pm yesterday afternoon the Minnesota State Patrol, Morrison County Sheriff's Office, Pierz Police Department and Fire Department were called to a SUV vs. pedestrian accident at the Pierz Post Office exit area on Highway 25 and Park Avenue. The State Patrol stated that a 64-year-old driver from Royalton was exiting the Post Office in Pierz when a Pedestrian was crossing Highway 25 eastbound and was struck by the vehicle. The driver of the SUV was not injured. The State Patrol has not released the name or condition of the victim only that it was an 85 year old woman from Pierz. More information is expected to be released later today. 

A Waite Park man has been arrested during a search warrant investigation. The St. Cloud Police Department's Community Response Team went to an apartment in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue South in Waite Park at about 5:30am Tuesday. The search warrant was for a current firearms investigation.  Officers allegedly found five guns, one of which was reported as stolen, and a switch for a handgun.  A switch is used to convert a handgun to a fully automatic handgun. Twenty-year-old Jarien Guillory of Waite Park was taken to the Stearns County Jail, where he's expected to be charged with possession of a stolen handgun and possession of a machine gun. The St. Cloud Police Department Community Response Team was assisted by the St. Cloud SWAT team, the St. Cloud Police Department Criminal Investigation Unit, and the Waite Park Police. No suspects or officers were hurt during the execution of the search warrant.

In the wake of Immigration and Customs Enforcement action across St. Cloud, Mayor Jake Anderson expressed frustration Monday over a lack of communication from federal immigration officials following ongoing ICE activity in the city. City staff say the reports surfaced a couple of weeks ago and have ramped up in the last few days, but they have been largely kept in the dark. “The biggest piece is just the lack of information we’re receiving from our federal officials like ICE. We’re not sure the actions that they’re taking. We find out after the fact,” said Anderson. The mayor referenced an operation that took place at 33rd Avenue North and 3rd Street North Monday, saying city officials learned about it only after it happened. Anderson said the information vacuum has made it “really hard for us to do our job. It builds a lot of distrust amongst the community.” The mayor confirmed that the city has received no direct communication from ICE, aside from a brief conversation between the police chief and the operation leader at the scene. The chief provided his business card and requested future coordination. Anderson wants the feds to meet them halfway. “Give us a call. We need to know more. We’re flying in the dark here, and it puts us in a really bad situation. Because again, we have no authority over what they do and what they can’t do.” Anderson also pushed back against calls for more confrontational responses, noting that aggressive stances by other mayors have sometimes resulted in increased ICE activity. Anderson acknowledged the situation remains fluid, saying he has revised his official statement multiple times over the past several days as circumstances changed. He pledged the city would continue adapting its strategies to keep the community safe while maintaining dialogue with residents. 

With an immigration enforcement surge currently underway in the Twin Cities, officials in northern Minnesota say rumors of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the area have been unsubstantiated. Bemidji Police Chief Mike Mastin issued a release today that said he has not been informed by anyone in the federal government about ICE action currently happening or being planned to happen in Bemidji. He emphasized that the Bemidji Police Department enforces state and local laws, not federal immigration law, and that the department will not take a proactive part in operations with federal agents if ICE activity occurs in the city. Meanwhile, the Mahnomen school district posted a notice on social media this afternoon saying rumors of ICE activity at Mahnomen Public Schools are untrue and that nothing has occurred at their school related to recent immigration news. The district adds that they does not collect immigration status information and that outside agencies are not allowed in their schools without proper legal authorization.

A 3-year-old boy from the New York Mills area has died following a dog attack there on Sunday afternoon. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office says the boy climbed into an outside enclosed area where an American Bulldog was being kept just west of New York Mills. The 3-year-old was attacked by the dog, and his grandmother suffered significant injuries while trying to stop the attack. The boy died from injuries sustained in the attack, and the grandmother was transported to a Fargo hospital for her injuries. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office says the dog has been destroyed and that there are no ongoing safety concerns.

A 25 year old was injured Tuesday morning at 7:30am on Highway 27 near Isle in Mille Lacs County. Harmony Steffen-Powell of Isle was on 27 went off the road and struck a snowbank. The State Patrol said roads were slick at the time. She was taken to a hospital with non life threatening injuries. 

A 37-year-old from Aitkin was injured Monday afternoon in a two-vehicle accident in Oak Lawn Township of Crow Wing County. Brett Shaffer slid into another vehicle on a icy patch on Highway 25. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The other driver from Brainerd was not injured. 

Radon is a public health concern in Minnesota, that can cause health impacts. The colorless, odorless gas occurs naturally in Minnesota soils that can seep through cracks and floor-wall joints in your home. Winter home heating systems tend to draw in radon gas from the soil, increasing radon levels inside the home during this time of year. Pick up a free radon test kit, during the month of January or until supplies last. A test kit can be picked up at Morrison County Health and Human Services Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm.  A test is the only way to find out what the radon level is in your home. (Free kits for Morrison County residents, limit one per household)

Entertainment News: Another round of celebrity deaths in the past days. "Dilbert" cartoon creator Scott Adams died Tuesday at age 68 from prostate cancer. Musician Bob Weir of "The Grateful Dead" died January 10th from cancer. Actor T K Carter from Punky Brewster, Saved by the Bell in the first season and "The Thing" died January 9th at 69 and one of original Little Rascals Stanley Kibrick died at age 97.

Weather: sunny and colder today, high 16, cloudy skies tonight, flurries at times, low 4. Thursday cloudy skies snow possible by afternoon, high 33, snow around 1 inch by evening, snow Thursday night low 17 with another 1-2 inches by Friday afternoon. Snow and wind Friday with gusty winds up to 35mph at times temps drop from near 21 early to -3 by Friday night with cold wind chills. Saturday sunny and very cold, high 2 above low around -10 with wind chills near -25 into Sunday. Sunday sunny and chilly, high 8 above low near -4 with rising temps into Monday with cloudy skies, light snow showers, high near 19. 

Sports: Mike Tomlin has stepped down as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, ending a 19-year run during which he never had a losing season. The Steelers announced Tomlin's decision Tuesday afternoon, saying his track record "will likely never be duplicated. Tomlin said in a statement that he decided to step down "after much thought and reflection." "This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team," he said. "I am deeply grateful to Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and support. I am also thankful to the players who gave everything they had every day, and to the coaches and staff whose commitment and dedication made this journey so meaningful. "I want to also thank Steelers Nation. Your passion, loyalty, and high expectations represent what makes this franchise truly special. Coaching in Pittsburgh is unlike anywhere else, and I will always take great pride in having been a steward of this team. Tomlin had 2 years left on his current contract. With Tomlin stepping down, that makes 9 coaching vacancies in the NFL into next season. Also in NFL news Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison was arrested early Monday morning and charged with misdemeanor trespassing in Tampa, Florida, according to police records. It is his third brush with law enforcement since the Vikings made him the No. 23 selection in the 2023 draft. This week's arrest became public Tuesday morning, shortly before Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O'Connell were set to give their annual end-of-season news conferences. Both said they had only recently learned of the incident and declined to speculate on the organization's response.

Slippery roads led to a number of accidents Monday around central Minnesota. Two people were hurt when their vehicle went off Highway 371 in Ripley Township of Morrison County. Patrick...

The Minnesota Department of Transportation was informed of icy roadways on Highway 27 between Little Falls and Pierz and also Highway 25 from Pierz to Buckman this morning. Plows and...

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed today, Friday January 9th, 2026 a Day of Unity in Minnesota following the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE Agent earlier this week...

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed a Minneapolis driver on Wednesday. The woman was shot in a residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis, just a few...