Thursday, March 26, 2026

Good Luck to the Upsala Cardinal Boys Basketball team as they compete in the State Tournament Quarter-Finals in Class A Thursday at 11am against Henning at Target Center in Minneapolis. Upsala is the first of four quarter-final games Thursday in Minneapolis. Hear the game live on Q92 WYRQ at 92.1FM and also streamed online at fallsradio.com click on the Q92 WYRQ Listen Online link to hear the action. Win or lose Thursday the Upsala boys team will play again on Friday also on Q92 WYRQ Little Falls. 

Little Falls Radio was made aware of bear sightings already in Morrison County this week, including a ring doorbell camera spotting a black bear near Swanville. Garrison and Nisswa in Crow Wing County have also reported bear sightings in the recent days. A reminder again to watch out for bears. The DNR said they will be hungry so most bear are looking for food left outside in trash cans or bird feeders left out already.

A St. Cloud State University student is charged with two felonies and two other charges after allegedly making threats toward other students. According to the criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court, a student notified SCSU Public Safety about another student who threatened to shoot up his fraternity. The victim said 29-year-old Romello Lloyd walked up behind him in a skyway, tapped him on the shoulder, and asked the fraternity member if he had sent someone to "jump him". Lloyd said he was "jumped" three weeks prior when he was rejected by the fraternity and thought someone from the fraternity had sent someone to attack him. Court records allege Lloyd said he would shoot whoever it was if he ever found out, and that he is dangerous. The victim said Lloyd previously mentioned he had a handgun and a rifle, and he'd give the fraternity the guns so they could play a Squid Games version of red light, green light, and shoot whoever moved. St. Cloud Police and campus security found Lloyd in class and arrested him.  Lloyd denied making any comments about shooting someone. Police say a search of his pack uncovered a loaded handgun, an additional loaded magazine, replica guns, and a knife. Court records show Lloyd had been found incompetent to stand trial three separate times in Hennepin County and, therefore, is ineligible to have guns or ammunition. Lloyd is charged with two counts of threats of violence and two counts of being an ineligible person in possession of a gun or ammunition by way of mental illness.

Waite Park and St. Cloud Police are investigating reports of stolen license plates from vehicles. Police believe the thefts occurred at businesses and parking lots but some did not realize their plates were gone right away before calling. A good reminder to people that if you notice your license plate missing to report it to Police immediately and if at some larger retail parking lots and businesses check before leaving the facility. This is a way to help authorities in finding the suspects involved. If you have had your license plate stolen in recent days, contact authorities to see if any similarities in recent cases. 

A storage shed is considered a total loss after a fire on Tuesday afternoon. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says they received a 9-1-1 call about a structure fire around 3:40pm at 12435 Highway 29 South near Forada. The caller said they could see smoke coming from the roof and eaves of a pole shed. When emergency crews arrived, they found a shed with its interior on fire that was causing the roof to collapse. Authorities say the blaze eventually broke through the steel roof, and the shed is considered a total loss. The structure is owned by David Kent, and it contained personal property and recreational equipment. The Sheriff's Office says the cause of the fire is unknown, but it does not appear suspicious, and Kent is cooperating with the investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Work is officially underway to address persistent lighting problems on the pedestrian bridge in Sartell, with crews beginning construction on Wednesday. The project marks what officials hope will be a lasting resolution to issues that have plagued the bridge since August 2025. The intermittent lighting failures have been a longstanding concern for the community, and this repair effort aims to deliver a permanent solution. The bridge will be closed to pedestrian traffic for the duration of construction over the coming weeks, though it will reopen each weekend before work resumes the following week. Residents should plan alternate routes during weekday construction periods. Community members can expect to see a contractor trailer stationed at the mill site, along with active crews working in the surrounding area. Residents are reminded to avoid the bridge during closure periods and to watch for construction equipment and personnel in the area.

Journey with Jesus to Calvary in St. Francis of Assisi Church north of Albany, south of Upsala continues Friday and Saturday night at 7:30pm and Sunday at 1pm free of charge for all come and watch. Details on this and more events this weekend can be found at fallsradio.com on the community calendar. 

Weather: Thursday rain showers in the morning, could be a few wet snow flakes before 1pm, then gradual clearing temps near 42 in the morning, dropping to 33 by 4pm and down to 20 degrees for a low Thursday night. Friday sunny and chilly, high 37 clear Friday night low around 22. Saturday sunny skies, high near 50, clear Saturday night low around 32. Sunday partly sunny and breezy, high 65, rain showers late Sunday night low around 35. Rain showers Monday and Tuesday, highs around 60, lows around 35. 

Sports: State Boys Basketball Tournament continues with Class Quarter-Finals and then 3A and 4A Semi-Finals Thursday. More games Friday with all championships on Saturday. Upsala vs. Henning Thursday at 11am on Q92 WYRQ. The Minnesota Twins open the 2026 Baseball Season Thursday at Baltimore against the Orioles at 2:05pm, Joe Ryan is the opening day starter for the Twins, who then are off Friday and then have day games Saturday and Sunday also in Baltimore. On Tuesday, Little Falls Boys and Girls Track both finished 1st at the GRC invite in Foley while Pierz boys were 2nd and Pierz girls were 3rd.