Wednesday, March 25, 2026
An Eden Valley man had to be extricated from his van after a crash on Monday morning near Richmond. The crash happened on County Road 49 in Eden Lake Township at around 7:30am. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 24-year-old Luke Haan was driving a Chevy Express van eastbound when it collided with an International box truck that was stopped on the side of the road. The sheriff's office says 24-year-old Nayeli Cruz Pabon of Clara City had pulled over to drop off garbage cans at a residence there. The crash pinned Haan inside the van, forcing authorities to pry him free. Haan was treated at the scene for minor injuries. No one else was hurt.
The Minnesota House voted 133-0 to close a loophole in state law that left students at risk during school bus stops. The bill, authored by Representative Keith Allen, updates state law to require drivers to stop for a school bus once its red lights begin flashing. Under the previous language, drivers only had to stop if the lights were flashing and the stop arm was extended. Allen called it a loophole that inadvertently shielded reckless drivers from consequences and put students at risk as they boarded and exited buses. “This is a straightforward fix to a serious safety issue,” Allen said. “Students should never be put at risk on their way to school because of a gap in the law. This bill makes sure drivers know exactly when they need to stop and helps keep kids safe.” Drivers must stay stopped until the arm is retracted and the lights are turned off. The minimum fine for violating the law is $500. The bill is the first legislation of the session to pass both chambers and now heads to Governor Tim Walz for his signature.
Workers at Associated Milk Producers Incorporated Dairy in Paynesville have ended their strike after Teamsters Local 471 members voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract Sunday afternoon. The agreement brings to a close a work stoppage that began Saturday after nearly a year of contract negotiations broke down over what the union called unfair labor practices. According to Teamsters Spokesperson Matt McQuaid, the new contract includes significant wage increases, as well as language protecting their standards if the company is sold or changes ownership – one of the central sticking points in the dispute. Members will also gain the ability to move into a Teamster health insurance plan, which the union says will significantly reduce costs to members. Sarah Schmidt, Vice President of Marketing for AMPI, also confirmed the vote, saying members ratified the new contract early Sunday afternoon. The strike began Saturday after union members walked off the job, accusing AMPI of refusing to bargain in good faith and presenting an unfair contract proposal. AMPI is the largest farmer-owned cheese cooperative in the U.S., and its Paynesville processing and shipping facility supplies cheese throughout the Midwest. AMPI confirms the deal was ratified Sunday.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued updated fish consumption guidelines Tuesday after new data analysis revealed persistent levels of "forever chemicals" and mercury in fish tissue across lakes and rivers. The updates, the first comprehensive review of mercury data since 2020, introduce stricter protections for northeast Minnesota and new length-based recommendations for popular fish like walleye and northern pike. Scientists within the Fish Consumption Guidance program reviewed mercury data dating back to 1967 using updated analysis methods. This led to the creation of specific guidelines for Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties. Officials noted that fish in northeastern Minnesota generally contain higher mercury concentrations than those in other regions. MDH also implemented length-based guidelines for sensitive populations. Because larger fish tend to accumulate higher mercury levels over time, the state now recommends consuming smaller fish to allow for more frequent servings. The 2026 update also expands the list of waters affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are human-made chemicals used in nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing that do not break down in the environment. Health officials warned that exposure is linked to: Low birth weight in infants, Weakened immune systems in children, Changes in liver function and increased cancer risks. While PFAS remain a modern concern, mercury—emitted by industrial processes into the air before settling in water—remains a primary focus. Regular consumption of contaminated fish can damage the kidneys, liver, and nervous system, and may hinder learning in young children. To address these risks, MDH recently utilized Clean Water Fund resources to move testing in-house. Previously, Minnesota was forced to outsource PFAS tissue testing to a lab in Canada due to low capacity in the U.S.
Upsala Area Schools have announced there will be no school Thursday and Friday this week allowing students and faculty and others to go and see the Upsala Boys Basketball Team at the State Tournament Thursday morning at Target Center at 11am against Henning and win or lose to see them on Friday morning. To make up those dates the school announced they had classes this past Monday March 23rd and will also be in class on April 2nd next Thursday. You can hear the Upsala games live on Q92 WYRQ Little Falls.
Death Notices: Lois E. Breden, age 86 of Little Falls formerly of Randall.
Weather: Wednesday, becoming mostly sunny and mild, high 68. Wednesday night rain develops after midnight, low around 40. Rain likely into early afternoon Thursday some could mix with a few wet snow flakes midday, high near 45 early dropping into the 30s by late day. Clearing Thursday night low 18. Sunny Friday and chilly, high 39, low around 24. Saturday sunny and high near 50, low around 32. Sunday partly sunny and breezy but mild, high near 60, low around 34.
Sports: U of M athletic director Mark Coyle announced Tuesday that Brett Larson will be the next Gophers men's hockey coach, pending a background check and approval from the Board of Regents. According to the U of M, the two sides agreed to a five-year term. Larson, a Duluth native, has 16 years of collegiate coaching experience, including eight as the head coach at St. Cloud State. He led the Huskies to four NCAA tournament appearances and the program's first appearance in the national championship in 2021. Coyle announced Sunday that Greg May has been named head coach of the Golden Gophers women’s hockey program. May and the university agreed to a four-year contract, pending completion of a background check and approval by the Board of Regents. May has served as associate head coach for Minnesota since 2023, helping guide the Gophers to NCAA tournament appearances in 2024, 2025 and 2026, including a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2025. He worked primarily with the forwards and oversaw a power play that ranked among the nation’s best during his tenure. The State Boys Basketball Tournament continues Wednesday in Minneapolis with games now at Williams Arena. Upsala 11am Thursday vs. Henning on Q92 WYRQ.