Thursday, December 18, 2025

Little Falls Radio was informed Pierz is doing E-Learning today no students in class in Pierz. Swanville schools 2 hours late, Mid State Education District opening 2 hours late today, Mid State Tech and Community College in Wadena opening 2 hours late. Thursday, December 18th.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for most of Minnesota today with a wintry mix of rain changing to snow at times around 1 inch of snow in central Minnesota with very strong wind gusts of 25-45mph causing blowing snow and icy conditions with temps dropping from 37 at 6am to 9 above by 5pm today and down to -10 below zero with wind chills near -30 below zero by later tonight. There is a Blizzard Warning for Fargo/Moorhead to the northwest border of the state and into North Dakota. High Winds Warning for southwestern Minnesota, Winter Storm Warning 3-6 inches of snow from north of Blackduck to International Falls and over to Hibbing. The winds will subside by late tonight with light snow still possible on Friday with highs in the teens and colder temps expected for Saturday and Sunday. 

According to Mn Dot, a semi-truck damaged the bridge along the exit ramp south of Little Falls. The Little Falls Police Department and the Minnesota Department of Transportation reported that the exit ramp on Highway 10  near Little Falls is closed. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has closed the westbound Highway 10 exit ramp to Haven Road/County Road 76 until further notice. MnDOT says a semi truck hauling equipment struck the bridge over Highway 10. A structural assessment determined that the bridge must be closed to make repairs. The closure will be in place for an extended period of time while a design fix is developed and repairs are completed. Mn Dot website reported repairs should be completed around January 14th of next year. Drivers who are traveling westbound on Highway 10 will need to continue to the next exit at Highway 27 to access Little Falls. MnDOT will provide updates when information becomes available. Get road reports at 511mn.org. It was also reported by the Mn Dot website they responded with the State Patrol to an accident yesterday afternoon on Highway 27 around 6 miles west of Little Falls. The State Patrol had no report of any injuries from that accident. 

A 23-year-old Clarissa man has pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a juvenile. Lavern Kauffman entered his guilty plea in Todd County District Court today on a count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. On Sep. 12, 2021, Kauffman reportedly assaulted a juvenile at his family home in Todd County. At the plea hearing, Kauffman acknowledged he had a significant relationship to the juvenile. According to the criminal complaint in the case, six females with significant relationships to Kauffman reported being sexually assaulted by him. Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office prosecuted Kauffman upon a referral from Todd County Attorney John Lindemann. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 25th. 

Fire damaged a St. Cloud house on Tuesday morning. The St. Cloud Fire Department was dispatched to 230 28th Avenue North just before 10:20 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find a fire on the 2nd floor of the house.  Fire crews initiated a response inside the home and searched for occupants. The fire was brought under control, and firefighters ventilated smoke from the house. No one was hurt, and the occupants have been temporarily displaced. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the St. Cloud Fire Marshal. No damage estimate is available.

Minnesota’s minimum wage will rise to $11.41 an hour on January 1st, reflecting a 2.5 percent increase. The 90-day training wage for workers under 20 will increase to $9.31. Minneapolis and St. Paul will continue to enforce higher local minimums, with rates topping 16 dollars. Employers must update workplace posters and provide written notice of pay changes. New break rules also take effect: a paid 15-minute rest break for every four hours worked and a 30-minute unpaid meal break for shifts of six hours or more. More details are available at the Department of Labor and Industry's website (dli.mn.gov/breaks).