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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 and Jeannie Seglem of Brainerd were both treated for non life threatening injuries. Two vehicles collided head on, on Highway 371 at Jenkins in Crow Wing County. The 17-year-old driver from Pine River and the driver and passenger in the second vehicle both from Nisswa were taken to the hospital for non serious injuries. Four vehicles got into a chain reaction accident on Highway 15 near Sartell at the lights at County Road 1. Three people, including a 13 year old girl were taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of injuries. Shortly before that another accident on Highway 10 at Sauk Rapids sent one to the hospital. Another accident around 2:30pm in Oak Lawn Township in Crow Wing County on Highway 25 sent one of the drivers to Crosby hospital for injuries the other driver was not hurt. There was reported of dozens of spinout and minor accidents reported from Sartell to Little Falls to Cushing on Highway 10, Highway 238 from Upsala to Albany and Highway 27 east Lastrup to Onamia on Monday morning from slippery roads. 

Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck has decided not to seek re-election this November. Heck said "It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of Benton County as a member of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office over the last 32 years. The last 11 years serving as your sheriff has been the highlight of my law enforcement career. As your sheriff, I have been blessed to work with a fantastic team assembled here at the sheriff’s office, a wonderful group of public safety partners, and so many of the great citizens of Benton County. Working together as a community, we have made remarkable strides in our goals of reducing crime in Benton County and keeping Benton County safe. After much reflection, I have concluded that the end of my current term in January of 2027 will be the proper time for me to move on to the next chapter of life. I am confident that I leave this office well-positioned to continue providing high quality public safety services under the guidance of the next sheriff. Personally, I am looking forward to having more free time to spend with my family and more opportunity to pursue my hobbies. I would like to say thank you to all those public safety professionals who have both mentored me along my professional journey and partnered with our office to work for the greater good of Benton County and the entire Central Minnesota area. I would like to thank all the people of Benton County who have been steadfast in their support of our office and all public safety agencies in Benton County. Your support and partnership in crime prevention have been vital to our work. I would like to offer a sincere thank you to all those who have been a part of our team here, giving of their time and talents to keep Benton County safe. Their efforts are the reason we can all feel safe and secure in our communities. I wish to say thank you as well to my friends and especially my family for their constant support through the ups and downs of a law enforcement career. Their support has been my foundation throughout the years, and I could not have done this without them. I look forward to this final year of service as your sheriff and to what the future will hold for me and Benton County". Again that is from Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck not running for reelection later this year.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers descended on a mostly Somali-owned business district in St. Cloud on Monday, prompting a large community response and intervention by local officials. St. Cloud City Council Member Hudda Ibrahim arrived around noon, after she was alerted that approximately 80 ICE agents were in the area. Local law enforcement was called to de-escalate the situation as tensions rose between ICE agents and community members. Ibrahim, along with Council Member Karen Larson and Senator Aric Putnam, observed the situation as St. Cloud police worked to maintain peace. According to a press release, police had no advance notice of the federal operation and focused on ensuring public safety while allowing peaceful their First Amendment expression. Officers remained on scene until ICE concluded its business and departed. Witnesses reportedly said agents detained one to four people, but it was unclear if any were taken into custody. The event in St. Cloud was one of eight separate incidents reported by ICE Raids on Monday where most were in the Twin Cities Metro Area. On Monday Afternoon, Attorney General Keith Ellison and other Minnesota lawmakers announced that Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul have filed a lawsuit against Homeland Security to end the ICE crackdown. 

The Waite Park Police Department are reporting a stolen Cub Cadet lawnmower. It was removed from a shed on the 200 block of 34th Avenue South. The Sartell Police Department are reporting numerous incidents of tampering with motor vehicles. One victim says they noticed their steering column and ignition was damaged. Another victim had camera footage of a kid going through their vehicle and a 3rd victim complaints that their catalytic converter had been bent. If you have information on any unsolved crimes call Crimestoppers at 1-800-255-1301, online at tricountycrimestoppers.org or use the P3 mobile app and submit your information that way or in Morrison County call the sheriff's office 320-632-9233. 

Another thin ice issue, as a 22-year-old Paynesville man is safe, but his Sunday evening was ruined when his sport utility vehicle went through the ice on Green Lake. The man was driving his 2001 Chevrolet TrailBlazer about 100 yards in from the Rush Brown Landing when the front end broke through the ice. Thanks to some quick reactions, the man was able to avoid plunging into the frigid water by scampering through the window to safety. No one else was inside. By the time everything was said and through, the entire SUV was fully submerged in about eight feet of water. Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and checked on the man’s condition. They then took measurements, noting the ice was only three to five inches thick in that spot. They say it had been driven across several times in recent days, and are warning the public about the thin ice. The general recommendation is for ice to be 12-15 inches thick for a light truck or SUV to drive on. Three to five inches is on the verge of being unsafe even for snowmobiles.

The Todd Becker Foundation, a nationally recognized high school assembly group, announced that they are bringing their presentation, “Hear the Story. Be Moved.” to Upsala High School on January 21st, 2026. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the gymnasium. Doors open at 6:40PM, with the event starting at 7:00PM CST. The night will feature a live concert from the band “All the Noise”, followed by an impactful and life-changing message from Keith Becker. About the Todd Becker Foundation: Started in Kearney, NE, the Todd Becker  Foundation was created in the spring of 2005 following the tragic death of 18- year-old high school student, Todd Becker, in an alcohol-related car accident. Keith, who was the older brother of Todd Becker, unfolds the true, and life- changing story of his younger brother’s untimely death and the events shortly thereafter that changed his own life. Since 2005, the Todd Becker Foundation’s assembly and outreach program has reached close to 100,000 students in over 500 high schools across the nation.

Death Notices: Robert "Bob" Kuchinski, age 86 of Swanville. Alfred Paul Herman, age 80 of Royalton. 

Weather: cloudy skies, misty rain early, high near 40 before noon, then temps falling later in the day with strong Northwest winds. Gradual clearing tonight, low of 12 with wind chills below zero. Wednesday partly cloudy and colder, high 14 with wind chills near 0, low of 0 Wednesday night lighter winds. Thursday cloudy and mild, high 33, snow develops later in afternoon into Thursday night. Snow likely Thursday night 1-3 inches, low 27, snow likely Friday another inch by 10am then falling temps and gusty winds through the afternoon and evening, low of -5 below zero Friday with wind chills near -22 by Saturday morning. 

Sports: Houston dominates the Pittsburgh Steelers last night winning 30-6 to advance in the playoffs and will take on New England this weekend in the Divisional Playoffs. The playoffs for this week will have Buffalo at Denver at 3:30pm Saturday followed by San Francisco at Seattle at 7:15pm. Sunday at 2pm will be Houston at New England followed by the LA Rams at Chicago at 5:30pm with winners moving on to the Championship games on January 25th. High School Boys Hockey tonight Little Falls at Northern Lakes in Breezy Point at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ and High Schools Boys Basketball Pequot Lakes at Pierz tonight at 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML. Last night Pequot Lakes beat Pierz 61-41 in Girls Basketball.

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...

Icy conditions led to dozens of spinouts, jack knifed semi-trucks, accidents and falls on Tuesday around the state. The State Patrol reported two fatal accidents one in McLeod County that...