Monday, May 4, 2026
Little Falls Radio has learned of the passing of former KLTF News Director Lee Ann Doucette. Lee Ann started in 1970s at KLTF and did the news daily into the 1990s. Lee Ann later was instrumental for handling the Minnesota Fishing Museum and a member of St Mary's Catholic Church, She died Friday at age 79.
Timothy Kummet spoke on KLTF Friday about creating a 4-1/2” double sided firefighter silhouette. It is LED lit from inside to show off the twin towers that are cut out of the firefighter. This project started when I was am stationed in Iraq with the 851st Vertical Engineers out of Camp Ripley. The Fire Chiefs of NY sent us a box of misallanious patches from the fire departments called to fight fires or rescue those caught in the 9/11 World Trade Center fires. The patches led to a flag which led to how to display. The fire fighter monument became too cool to mount a flag to, so the flag and the monument are displayed separately. The display will be in the front window of the Pierz Fire Department from 5/1 - 5/8 and the date may extend another week after that depending on the public perception. He intend on displaying this in multiple fire stations around Minnesota. I was raised in Pierz by Jim and Jan Kummet (former owners of Kummet Electric). I wanted to start this story off in Pierz, my roots. Kummet is hoping others will see this and want to view it at Fire Stations across the state and beyond marking the 25th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks this year.
Police in Brainerd, Minnesota, are investigating after a car fatally struck a pedestrian Friday night. Brainerd Police say they received a report of a car versus pedestrian near South 10th Street and Industrial Park Road around 10 p.m. When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive adult male. Police attempted life-saving measures but were not successful. The victim was a 48-year-old man from Baxter, Minnesota. Police have identified the driver of the car as an 18-year-old from Brainerd. They have not released any details on what may have caused the crash. Officials are asking for anyone with information to contact the Brainerd Police Department at 218-829-2805.
A 19-year-old from Brainerd was injured Saturday around 1:10pm on Highway 18 of Crow Wing County. Savanna Beusgens reported was traveling on Highway 18 when she attempted to turn into a residence, but was going too fast and missed the driveway striking some trees. She was taken to the Brainerd Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries.
Saturday the DFL Congressional District 8 held its congressional district convention. CD 8 stretches across the Northeastern part of Minnesota. Trina Swanson won the Congressional District 8 DFL endorsement. “I’m thrilled that the DFL recognized the power of my grassroots campaign,” said Trina Swanson. “This campaign started with my family around a campfire and has taken me through all 21 counties of the district, to the MN8 convention, with hundreds of volunteers and donors believing in my message to bring opportunity home to MN-8. We know we can win in November and bring the change Minnesota wants and needs.” Swanson will face GOP endorsed candidate and incumbent Congressman Pete Stauber this November.
Nearly 300 law enforcement agencies across the state are joining forces to crack down on speeding, with a high-visibility enforcement and awareness campaign running May 1st through September 7th. According to the Department of Public Safety, preliminary figures show speed-related crashes claimed 102 lives and seriously injured 388 people in Minnesota last year. About 65% of speed-related deaths involved at least one driver going ten miles an hour or more over the limit. “For people who think speeding is no big deal, emergency responders will tell you a far different story of what they see at a crash scene,” said Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson. “If you like to speed, think of this enforcement as a life-saving intervention. Now is your chance to stop this dangerous behavior before someone gets hurt.” The campaign targets what officials call the 100 Deadliest Days, or Memorial Day through Labor Day, when increased travel raises crash risk statewide. Officers will focus on four behaviors behind most crashes which are distracted driving, failure to wear a seat belt, speeding, and impaired driving. Speeding citations typically cost $100 or more. The campaign is coordinated by the Office of Traffic Safety using federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Multiple people suffered injuries after a vehicle carrying three people T-boned a squad car on Friday in South Minneapolis. Ramsey County Sheriff's Office said that the driver of a stolen Hyundai sedan was driving 80 miles per hour when the car ran a stop sign and crashed into the side of a Minnesota State Patrol squad car. According to authorities, a deputy first located the stolen vehicle in the Highland Park neighborhood around 10:30 p.m. During an attempted traffic stop, the driver fled and crossed the Ford Parkway Bridge into Minneapolis. Officials note that a brief pursuit ensued but was terminated after the deputy lost sight of the vehicle. Authorities say the driver was then observed to drive recklessly in South Minneapolis with the vehicle's lights off, while a State Patrol helicopter monitored the situation. That's when officials say the driver ran a stop sign at West 46th Street and Aldrich Avenue South, hitting the State Patrol squad car. According to a press release, the 19-year-old driver attempted to flee on foot from the scene but was arrested. The Sheriff's Office says that a state trooper was freed from the squad car and transported to a hospital. Officials say the trooper and the passengers of the stolen vehicle suffered significant injuries. The driver of the sedan was booked into Ramsey County Jail and faces charges for fleeing police and criminal vehicular operation. Authorities say that the driver had two prior arrests for fleeing police. According to officials, the same vehicle was also involved in a pursuit on Thursday night in the West Metro, when authorities say the vehicle swerved at an emergency transport but did not hit it.
Minnesota state Rep. Kristin Robbins has ended her campaign for Governor. The 58-year-old Robbins is in her fourth term in the state House and was one of several candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the governor’s race. Robbins represents District 37A in Maple Grove and serves as chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee. Others still in the race on the Republican side include House Speaker Lisa Demuth, healthcare tech executive Kendall Qualls, and Mike Lindell, who is the founder of MyPillow. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is expected to get the DFL nomination for governor.
Authorities were at the scene of a train derailment in Le Sueur County on Saturday morning. The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office says that the derailment involving a Union Pacific train was reported at 2:39 a.m. near Highway 19 and Henderson Station Road. There are tanker cars on their side too, which the sheriff’s office says were carrying methane propane. Union Pacific reportedly told authorities that no methane or propane is leaking as a result of the derailment. In total, eight rail cars derailed. “Union Pacific advised their response team would be responding to handle the situation,” the sheriff’s office said. “No response from Fire or Emergency Medical Services was needed. There were no injuries associated with this derailment.
Death Notices: Charles Williams, age 72 of Little Falls. LeeAnn Doucette, age 79 of Little Falls.
Weather: Monday partly cloudy skies and breezy, few isolated showers possible, high 56, clearing skies Monday and colder, low 28. Sunny and breezy Tuesday colder, high 47, clear Tuesday night low 27. Sunny and less windy Wednesday still cool, high 49, low around 30. Thursday sunny in the morning, showers develop in the afternoon, high 55, and low around 32.
Sports: Wild opened Round 2 series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Colorado Avalanche Sunday at 8pm, game 2 will be Tuesday night scheduled at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ game 3 will be Saturday in St. Paul with game 4 scheduled for May 11th in St. Paul. Toronto beat the Twins 7-3 Friday and Blue Jays won again 11-4 on Saturday, Twins split the series winning 4-3 on Sunday. Twins are off Monday and at Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Minnesota Timberwolves will open their Round 2 series at San Antonio Spurs Monday at 8:30pm. It was reported that Anthony Edwards could return mid-series. Golden Tempo a long shot won the Kentucky Derby going from last to 1st at the finish line making Cherie Devaux the first woman trainer/owner to win the Kentucky Derby in history. Yesterday Sobieski scored 3 in the 9th to beat Pierz Lakers 7-6 in Victory League Game of the Week. Pierz Brewers at Freeport will be the Game of the Week Sunday May 10th at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com. Softball: Tuesday Pierz at Little Falls at 5pm also live on AM960 KLTF.