News

National News: after early reports that Democrats and the White House struck a deal to avert a partial government shutdown and temporarily fund the Department of Homeland Security as they consider new restrictions for President Donald Trump’s surge of immigration enforcement. But passage was delayed late Thursday as leaders scrambled to win enough support for the agreement before the midnight Friday deadline. But early this morning, a snag was reported that the House will not pass the bill and therefore meaning a shutdown could still occur late tonight. The White House agreed to separate homeland security funding from a larger spending bill and fund the department for two weeks while they debate Democratic demands for curbs on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. 

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is officially running for governor. The four-term Democratic U.S. Senator announced her candidacy on Thursday morning with a video message posted on X. "These times call for leaders who can stand up and not be rubber stamps of this administration, but who are also willing to find common ground and fix things in our state," Klobuchar said in the video. "These times call for grit and resilience. I've learned resilience from you. Through it all, you do not give up, you put on those winter boots in the freezing cold and bring your kids to school and bring food to your neighbors." Klobuchar enters the race following the exit of incumbent DFL Gov. Tim Walz, who dropped his bid for a historic third consecutive term amid mounting pressure surrounding his administration's handling of widespread fraud in the state. Klobuchar's announcement was widely speculated following Walz's departure from the race, and further confirmed when the senator filed preliminary paperwork to run for governor last week.

A home in St. Cloud was damaged by fire on Wednesday morning. St. Cloud fire crews were dispatched to 1710 Clearer Road just before Noon. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the basement windows.  Fire crews entered the home to attack the fire while simultaneously searching for anyone inside. Once the house was cleared, firefighters were able to extinguish the flames before they extended to other parts of the home. Crews ventilated the affected area and went into salvage and overhaul operations to minimize any further damage. There is no damage estimate, and the cause of the fire is being investigated by the St. Cloud Fire Marshal's Office.

St. Cloud police have released more information about a crash that involved a driver who fled on foot. On Thursday, just before 11:00 a.m., officers were called to the area of the 4100 block of Division Street. Pope County was requesting St. Cloud police to check the area for a vehicle that was used in a burglary in that county earlier.  An officer found the vehicle as it was leaving the parking lot. The officer attempted to perform a traffic stop, but the vehicle sped off. The officer chased the vehicle for a short distance before stopping the pursuit. A short time later, the St. Cloud Police Department received information of a crash involving the suspect vehicle at 13th Street North and 10th Avenue North in St. Cloud. The driver of the vehicle ran from the scene of the crash. The driver was described as a white man with tattoos on his neck. The suspect was also wearing a tan Carhartt-type jacket and a hat. There were minor injuries to the other people involved in the crash. There was a large police presence in the area due to officers trying to locate the suspect. The suspect was not located in the area. This case remains under active investigation by the St. Cloud Police Department’s Community Response Team. Anyone with information on the investigation is asked to call the St. Cloud Police Department at 320-251-1200.

A South Carolina man faces criminal sexual conduct charges in Stearns County after meeting a 14-year-old girl online. Prosecutors have charged 22-year-old Nicholas Daniels of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, with two counts of 3rd-degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, three counts of distributing sexual conduct to a child through electronic communications, and one count of describing sexual conduct to a child through electronic communication. All six counts are felonies. The relationship came to light when a condom was found in the girl's room in late June. The girl told a staff member at the Child Advocacy Center in July about how the two met, how they communicated, and how he drove to Minnesota to meet her. According to the criminal complaint, the girl met Daniels on Roblox in March or April 2025. Court records show they moved their conversation to Snapchat and talked multiple times per day until Daniels traveled to Minnesota in May. The girl said they had intercourse and performed other sex acts. Court records show Daniels returned in June and met three times, near a church, in a park, and at her residence in north St. Cloud. Authorities performed a forensic extraction on the girl's phone and allegedly found multiple conversations where Daniels sent nude photos of himself and described having sex with the victim.

Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang and Brainerd and Baxter Police are reminding motorists of extra traffic and delays Saturday as hundreds will be flocking to Hole in the Day Bay in Brainerd for the large ice fishing tournament, large amounts of vehicles are expected between 10-12pm and then after 3-4pm when the event ends coming and going around the 371 area, please use caution if heading to the Brainerd Jaycees event or any others in the Brainerd Lakes area this weekend. 

There are other events, Upsala Upstage Players present Death by Chocolate Friday and Saturday at 7pm at St. Mary's Church in Upsala (tickets sold out for the dinner theatre those nights), but still available for the Sunday at 2pm show for dessert and performance for $10 at the door of the church. Knight of Columbus Buffalo Feed and Raffle is Saturday feed 4-8pm and raffle at 8:15pm at Pierz Ballroom. St. Joseph's Church Quilt Bingo is Sunday at 1pm at Holy Trinity School in Pierz. Details on those at fallsradio.com. 

Death Notices: Roy N. Boser, age 75 of Lastrup. Pamela Theimer, age 74 of Little Falls. 

Weather: sunny and chilly today high 6 above, clear and cold again Friday night low -13. Saturday sunny a bit warmer, high 15, snow after 9pm through the overnight into late Sunday morning, snow could accumulate around 1 inch late Saturday and up to another inch possible by noon Sunday. Sunday afternoon clearing skies, high near 28 before 3pm then dropping to 3 above by Sunday night. Monday sunny and cooler, high near 20, low around 4 above. Light snow Tuesday high near 21, low around 7 above. Temps are expected to reach the 30s by Thursday and Friday of next week. 

Sports: Winter in Minnesota means spring training is about to start for Major League Baseball teams as early as February 10th in Arizona and Florida. Saturday Morning Sports Wrap is 9:05am Saturdays on AM960 KLTF Minnesota Sport Saturday with Alex is 1pm on Saturday on AM960 KLTF. Wild Hockey at Edmonton 9pm Saturday on Q92 WYRQ and all steamed online at fallsradio.com. The Super Bowl is next Sunday February 8th at 5:30pm between New England and Seattle on AM960 KLTF.