Thursday, March 19, 2026

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that on 3-17-2026 at approximately 1:03 pm, their office received a report of a one-vehicle accident with injuries near the intersection of 93rd Street and 355th Avenue, approximately eight miles east of Buckman, MN in Morrill Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 61-year-old Michelle King-Talbert of Pierz, MN was traveling east on 93rd Street. Her vehicle left the roadway due to the icy road conditions and went into the ditch on the north side of the road. King-Talbert was transported to St. Gabriel’s Hospital by Mayo Clinic Ambulance with unknown injuries. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Pierz Fire Department, MLMB First Response Team and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.

A 23-year-old Motley man is now charged with two felony counts of assault for allegedly stabbing another man on Sunday morning. Christian Denio is charged with first-degree assault–great bodily harm and second-degree assault–dangerous weapon–great bodily harm. Denio was arrested after authorities were called to a home six miles south of Motley and found a 53-year-old man who had been stabbed numerous times on his chest and face. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office says the victim, Douglas Denio, suffered life-threatening injuries in the stabbing. His current condition has not been released. Christian Denio made his first court appearance today and is scheduled to be back in court for Rule 8 hearing on March 23rd. 

The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of a new scam that's targeting the county's planning and zoning department. The sheriff's office heard from someone who applied for a land use permit and was targeted by scammers. The caller said they were sent an email by someone impersonating city and county planning and zoning officials. The victim was coerced to send the money through a wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment, or cryptocurrency. The sheriff says the emails appear very convincing, even referencing accurate permit details like addresses and case numbers. The scammers are also including details from public records like employees' names, job titles, and information from the permit applications. Residents who receive an email request for payment are urged to call (763) 765-4450 to verify the information.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz released his supplemental budget on Tuesday, a mid-course update to the state’s two-year spending plan. According to data released by the governor’s office, Minnesota currently has about $3.7 billion in its general fund. Under the plan, that drops to roughly $1.8 billion. The state has until June 30th to pass a final budget or face a government shutdown. About 104,800 families with young children would receive larger child care tax refunds. First-time homebuyers, renters in crisis, and people needing stable housing would share $100 million in assistance. The statewide sales tax rate would drop slightly, the first cut in state history, but the tax would expand to cover some services provided by bankers, investors, and lawyers. A new statewide Office of Inspector General would serve as a dedicated watchdog across all state agencies. Billing rules for disability and mental health services would be tightened, projected to save roughly $292 million over two years. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Unit would get more investigators, and penalties for stealing from public programs would increase. The budget also responds to Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement operation that disrupted thousands of Twin Cities families and businesses. The plan proposes $33 million in rental assistance for about 9,150 renters, $10 million in partially forgivable small business loans, and $10 million in a flexible fund for ongoing needs. A new tax on firearms and ammunition would raise an estimated $28 million for prevention programs. The package also includes banning assault-style rifles, requiring firearm insurance, closing the ghost gun loophole, and $15 million for school safety grants. On the cuts side, disability services would be reduced by more than $120 million over two years. Nursing home reimbursement rates face new oversight rules saving around $57 million. Metro Transit’s state subsidy would be cut by $40 million. Speaker Lisa Demuth welcomed the fraud focus but said Republicans want those savings used for tax relief, including no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and lower car tab fees. Senate Minority Leader Harry Niska criticized Walz for raising taxes while cutting nursing home funding, calling it the wrong direction for a state where costs are already too high. Ways and Means Chair Paul Torkelson said cuts to nursing homes and new taxes on legal services will face strong resistance, but he identified the Office of Inspector General, IT modernization, and Medicaid compliance as areas where both parties could work together. Two Republican health committee chairs echoed that sentiment, calling Medicaid compliance urgent and warning that delays risk billions in federal funding that Minnesotans rely on.

A reminder that Little Falls Community Schools will host a virtual community forum on the district’s upcoming school referendum Thursday night at 6pm. Questions on how to be part of this contact the Little Falls Community High School Superintendent Greg Johnson at 320-632-2001. 

Morrison County Area Foundation is hosting their 2nd Annual Egg Hunt fundraiser on March 29th at 1pm at the Linden Hill Historic Estate grounds. The cost is $2 per person to participate, bring the kids and enjoy the egg hunt on March 29th at Linden Hill. 

Weather: morning fog and freeze fog Thursday then becoming sunny, high 46, fog and freeze fog possible again Thursday night, low around 31. Fog early Friday then partly sunny and mild, high 55, cloudy Friday night low around 35. Saturday partly sunny and breezy, high near 60, rain and snow after 1am Saturday night low around 33. Rain and snow early Sunday then becoming sunny and colder, high near 40, low around 28 Sunday night with partly sunny skies and high of 47 on Monday. 

Sports: One day after the University of Minnesota parted ways with longtime women's hockey coach Brad Frost, a source says men's hockey coach Bob Motzko is also out. A source close to Motzko confirmed the move Wednesday after the Gophers failed to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019. The three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year joined the Gophers in 2018 after 13 seasons at St. Cloud State. Under his direction, Minnesota reached the NCAA tournament five consecutive years from 2021 to 2025, including a runner-up finish in 2023 when he was named the Spencer Penrose Award, which is given to the top Division I men's hockey coach in the nation. The Gopher women's hockey team was eliminated in the opening round of the NCAA Women's tournament to Northeastern last weekend. The start of high school spring sports Thursday with track time trials for Little Falls they are at Foley, Pierz at Becker, Royalton and Holdingford are at the St. John's Fieldhouse all on Thursday for the start of the track season.

Thursday is Q92 WYRQ's Ladies Night Out Pierz Style. Stop into participating businesses around Pierz and Genola Thursday from 12-6:30pm then head to the Red Rooster in Genola at 7pm for drawings and prizes. The theme is Diamonds and Denim with a best dressed prize to also be given away at the event. Full details at fallsradio.com on the home page and listen to 92.1FM WYRQ Little Falls Thursday for full details. Alex and Ron will be at the Red Rooster Thursday for the drawings.