Wednesday, October 7, 2026
The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Candidate Forum Thursday at 6pm for residents of Little Falls to find out more about candidates running for several offices. The forum will have those running for Morrison County Commissioner, Minnesota Senate, and Minnesota House of Representatives District 10A and 10B. The forum will allow candidates to give an introduction, discuss community issues, and respond to questions from the public. The Chamber is encouraging people to participate by submitting questions ahead of time by emailing them. If time allows, attendees will be allowed to ask questions directly from the podium. The Little Falls Chamber says they are holding the event as a nonpartisan opportunity for citizens to learn more about the candidates and the issues affecting them ahead of the election. The forum will be held from 6pm to 8pm at the Morrison County Government Center. All are invited to attend.
Members of the public are now able to comment on a proposed dairy feedlot in Morrison County. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has assessed the potential environmental effects of the feedlot and released a draft environmental assessment worksheet known as an EAW. A company is looking to start a sizeable dairy farm near Little Falls. The company, 3C Dairy, LLC, plans to house 3,600 dairy cows near Little Falls on land currently used for row-crop production. The cattle would be housed in a ventilated barn with a milking parlor. The plan would require the company to follow all state rules and guidelines on pollution. Liquid manure would be stored in a lined storage area with six stormwater basins to help protect against manure runoff. The project would require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System wastewater permit from the MPCA, a manure management plan, and an air modeling analysis. The MPCA is inviting comments as its determines the next steps. The MPCA will use the EAW, written comments, permit applications, and other information to determine if the project requires the more comprehensive environmental impact statement known as an EIS. If there is no need for the EIS, the project will move forward through the permitting process. Details at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/feedlots.
A 21-year-old student at the University of Minnesota-Morris has been charged with attempting to kill his percussion instructor. It happened on Sept. 29 around 4 p.m. in the Humanities and Fine Arts building. Officers were called to the scene on reports of a stabbing, and they found the victim bleeding from his arm. Officers later learned the victim had cuts to his head as well. According to the criminal complaint, the defendant was identified by people on scene as Alexander William Cusey. A knife was found in the practice percussion room, officials said. When interviewing Cusey, he reportedly told investigators that "all his life he had a monster inside of him that he kept buried but today it came out." According to court documents, Cusey said he hated going to college and did not want a job, so he wanted to go to prison, and that he decided to stab the victim because he hated him for giving him work to do. Cusey also allegedly said he felt the experience was "fun" and was reportedly smiling while telling investigators about the attack. Cusey is charged with first-degree premeditated attempted murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault.
A 24-year-old man wanted on a federal warrant, along with a state warrant for multiple felony charges, has been arrested by U.S. Marshals. A press release from the agency says Ryan Henry James Davis Pacheco was apprehended on Monday in Baxter for his connection with a firearm-related incident in Mahnomen County in late July. The White Earth Police Department had previously sought him(opens in new tab) as a suspect in that shooting. According to court records, Pacheco was wanted on a federal warrant for a supervised release violation and a Minnesota state warrant charging him with: two counts of attempted second-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, three counts of second-degree assault involving a dangerous weapon and substantial bodily harm, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a crime of violence. Members of the U.S. Marshals Service North Star Fugitive Task Force located Pacheco at an apartment in Baxter on Monday, and shortly after, he was taken into custody without incident. The Marshals were assisted in the arrest by the Baxter and Brainerd police departments and the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.
A St. Cloud man faces a carjacking charge after an incident outside a St. Cloud business last month. According to the charge filed in Stearns County District Court, a man told police officers on September 20th that he had just finished filling up his rental vehicle with gas when a man got into the driver's seat. The victim said he jumped into the rear passenger seat before the suspect drove off. The victim did regret jumping in a stolen vehicle. The victim said he repeatedly asked the man to stop and let him out. He also opened the window and began yelling for help. The victim said the driver then stopped, removed the victim by pulling him through the window, threw him to the ground, and drove away. Officers were able to review surveillance video from the business and get a still photo of the suspect. Police said they found the stolen vehicle abandoned in Benton County. The rental car was found days later parked in East St. Cloud. On Sunday, police say an officer spotted 39-year-old Joshua Harley Thompson walking in the city of St. Cloud. Thompson was wearing the same boots as the person in the surveillance video. The officer said Thompson matched the build, facial features, and tattoo of the suspect in the video. Thompson was arrested despite denying any involvement in the carjacking.
The Foley Police Department is asking for the public’s help finding a 53-year-old man who has been missing for days. Police say Steven Bairett was last seen on October 2nd near the 900 block of West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. He is known to spend time along Lake Street in Minneapolis. According to police, Bairett is without his medication, and there are concerns for his safety. Bairett is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and 192 pounds with gray hair. He has a tattoo on his right forearm and walks with a hunch. Anyone who has seen Bairett or knows where he might be is asked to call the Foley Police Department at 320-986-7201 or dial 911.
The Cass County Sheriff's Office is expected today at noon to give an update on the investigation into the death of Dylan Oothoudt. On September 13th the 17 year old was fatally shot in a yard in Pike Bay Township of rural Cass Lake. Family members and law enforcement will be on hand as the investigation has been ongoing since the shooting with at least reported no arrests have been made. Again an update on the investigation is expected today from the Tribal Justice Center in Cass Lake at noon.
CHI Health at Home has their Harvest of Care Dinner Thursday from 4:30-8pm at the Little Falls VFW. Herbies Fish and Haluski with all the fixing for $17 in advance at the Hospital Gift Shop or $20 at the door. Also there is a 50/50 drawing and live and silent auction of items. All proceeds go to CHI Health at Home for their hospice care in the community. Questions call Michelle at 320-631-5575.
Death Notices: Bonnita "Bonnie" Hoheisel, age 70 of Little Falls.
Weather: today sunny and a bit breezy, high near 68, wind gusts 10-25mph. Clear skies tonight low around 43. Thursday partly sunny skies, high 63, clear Thursday night low 48. Partly Cloudy Friday high near 70, partly cloudy Friday night low around 52. Saturday sunny, windy gusts to near 35mph and warm, high near 82, clear Saturday night low 57. Sunday partly sunny, high near 70, rain Sunday night low near 50. Rain at times, breezy and cooler, high 59 Monday, rain and wind Monday night low 44. Rain showers still possible Tuesday cloudy and cool, high 53, low around 40.
Sports: Pierz upsets Stella Maris in section tennis Tuesday 6-1 and advances to Pequot Lakes later this week. Cross Country Little Falls Girls 1st, boys 9th at the Pequot Lakes invite, the girls went 3, 6, 7, 8 and 13th place in the race led by Rose Jarnot 3rd. Little Falls girls soccer wins 6-0 over Melrose, Boys soccer tied Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 1-1 at Little Falls Tuesday. Volleyball last night Royalton won, Little Falls, Pierz and Upsala lost. MLB Tuesday Padres and Dodgers win, making game 4's today, along with Game 3's in the ALDS all 4 series in action today. Thursday Night Football 6:30pm Dallas and Tampa Bay on AM960 KLTF. High School Football Friday Little Falls at Albany 7pm on AM960 KLTF. Pierz at St. Cloud Apollo Friday 7pm on 94ROCKS. Saturday Wild Hockey at Florida at 4:45pm on Q92 WYRQ. Check out the broadcast schedule online at fallsradio.com and click on sports.