Monday, October 5, 2026
The National Weather Service reported that September has gone down as one of the wettest on records. After a summer of drought, the Little Falls Airport between September 10th through the 30th recorded over 4 inches of rain (3.89 inches) while some areas had even more rain in that same three week pattern. That does not include the .73 inches of rain that fell Saturday at the airport. The Twin Cities recorded the 2nd wettest September on records this year. The current weather forecast calls for drier conditions over the next two weeks.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported a fatal accident on Friday just after 7pm. 55-year-old James Lonn Davis of Baxter was driving a Ford F150 traveling eastbound on Highway 210 in Brainerd when he crossed into the westbound lanes at 7th St NW, and made contact with some light poles and parked vehicles. Davis reportedly was not wearing a seatbelt and was dead at the scene.
Three people were hurt Saturday around 5:30pm on Highway 10 in Watab Township near Rice. 74-year-old Sylvia Elsola of Henning and 46-year-old Nicholas Feldman of Faribault were on Highway 10 reportedly collided at the intersection of Highway 10 and 110th Street. Both drivers and Feldman's passenger were all treated for injuries and Elsola and the passenger were taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment.
A 16-year-old Motley girl was injured Friday around 7:50am when she turned from a Driveway in Staples and collided with a vehicle on Highway 10 in Todd County. The girl was treated for injuries at the Staples Hospital. Her 14 year old passenger and the other driver a 66-year-old from Verndale was not hurt.
A 42-year-old from Morris was injured around 7am on Highway 23 in Munson Township of Stearns County. A vehicle had slowed to turn when Christina Peck reared ended the GMC vehicle. Peck was treated at the Paynesville Hospital for her injuries. The other driver a 20-year-old from Pillager was not hurt.
The Little Falls Police Department announced that Special Vehicle permits are now available to apply for in the city of Little Falls. Apply at the Little Falls Police Department 8am-4pm Monday through Friday. Pick up the application at the police station or on the City of Little Falls website. You will need to bring a valid driver's license, proof of insurance, a completed application and the $30 fee for the permit. Questions can be directed to City Hall 320-616-5500, or the Police Department at 320-616-5570 on Monday.
On Wednesday September 30, 2026, at approximately 9:44pm, the Little Falls Police Department responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a train near 9th Avenue and Lindbergh Drive Northwest. Emergency personnel responded to the scene, where the individual was pronounced deceased. The deceased was identified as Thomas Balaski, 45, of Little Falls. Balaski was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for examination. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. The Little Falls Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Minnesota State Patrol, Morrison County Sheriff's Office and Little Falls Fire Department.
Police are investigating at Eden Prairie High School after a shooting in the parking lot left two people hurt, a school play and homecoming football game postponed and property evacuated. Eden Prairie students will return to school Monday following Friday night’s shooting outside the high school’s homecoming football game. Superintendent Dr. Josh Swanson said Sunday the district has spent the weekend preparing additional support for students and staff. Police say two people were injured in the shooting outside Eden Prairie High School’s Aerie Stadium. The victims were not students at Eden Prairie or Minnetonka high schools. Investigators have said the shooting was targeted and involved people from outside the Eden Prairie community. Swanson also addressed hateful messages circulating online targeting Somali people following the shooting. “The heinous and sickening actions of a few do not define an entire community,” Swanson wrote. He said Somali students, neighbors and community members should feel safe and welcome, adding that threats, bullying or aggression against anyone in the community will not be tolerated. The shooting prompted the evacuation of the homecoming game Friday night. The investigation remains ongoing. The game was rescheduled for 4pm. Police Chief Matt Sackett said that the two people were shot and have injuries described as non-life-threatening. Sackett said that the shooting happened outside the stadium in a parking lot near the north side of the high school. He added that no on is currently in custody at this time and their investigation is ongoing.
Saint Paul firefighters battled a fire outside a commercial building Sunday afternoon. Fire crews were dispatched just before 3:30 p.m. to 859 Prior Avenue, where multiple plastic totes were burning outside the building and producing heavy black smoke. Firefighters used hose lines and water streams from fire engines and an aerial ladder to extinguish the flames. The fire did not spread inside the building, according to the Saint Paul Fire Department. Crews searched the building and found no fire inside. No employees or firefighters were injured. Crews remained at the scene Sunday afternoon to wet down the area. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Little Falls School Board is hold a special meeting Wednesday October 7th at 5pm at the District Office. The items are the consideration of an offer to purchase district property. Also approval of additional October 2026 Lane Changes. The regular school board work session will then follow at 5:15pm again on October 7th.
The Minnesota DNR reported Friday that fall colors are already near or past peak in some parts of the state mainly in northwestern and northeastern Minnesota. Morrison County is reported to be at 50% peak already for many trees, most of central Minnesota is 25-50% but north of Little Falls already reported 50-75%. For the latest fall colors go the fall color finder at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors/index.html.
The Little Falls City Council meets tonight at 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers.
Weather: Frost Advisory in effect until 9am today. Patchy frost early, then increasing clouds, high 62 today with chance of isolated showers after 4pm. Showers tonight then clearing warmer, low 51. Sunny and warm Tuesday high 74, clear skies Tuesday night low 47. Wednesday sunny and mild, high near 70, clear Wednesday night low 45. Thursday sunny, breezy and cooler, high 63, clear Thursday night low 46. Cloudy with rain showers Friday, high 62, clearing Friday night low near 40. Saturday sunny and mild, high 73.
Sports: Vikings hold off Miami 15-10, Vikings had no touchdowns but defense and special teams were their factor in the win to go to 4-0. Vikings take on New Orleans on Sunday. Other NFL scores: Green Bay holds off Tampa Bay 17-14, Chicago beat The New York Jets 23-12 and Carolina beat Detroit last night 32-26. The Vikings, Kansas City and San Francisco are the remaining undefeated teams. The Gophers (4-1) get the Little Brown Jug by beating Michigan 20-14 on Saturday winning over the Wolverines at home for the first time in 49 years. Wild are 2-0 with a 4-1 win Saturday night over Boston at Buffalo Tuesday. Timberwolves open preseason tonight vs. Milwaukee. High School Football Friday: Pierz 42-0 over Little Falls. Upsala-Swanville 42-8 over Browerville. Melrose 56-20 over Royalton. Holdingford 24-7 over Minnewaska. Foley 47-0 over St. Cloud Apollo. Hawley beat Pillager 50-8 and DGF beat Staples-Motley 34-26. Soccer Saturday Little Falls boys win 3-0 over Melrose and Alexandria beat the Girls 6-2 on a very rainy soccer field. High School Girls Tennis section playoffs begin on Monday, Fergus Falls at Little Falls, Pierz at Stella Maris in Duluth, Foley vs. Litchfield. WNBA playoffs continues, MLB playoffs continue this week and Monday Night Football tonight is New Orleans vs. Atlanta at 6pm on AM960 KLTF.