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High winds knock over mobile home, truck near Litchfield

5-18-12 High winds yesterday knocked a mobile home off a trailer near Litchfield. Just before 11 a.m. yesterday the Meeker County Sheriff's Department and the state patrol were dispatched and responded to a property damage accident on Highway 12, a half mile west of County Road 31. A Truck driven by 39-year-old Cody Nelson of Sioux Falls was MORE...

Woman abducted in Glenwood, kidnapper sought

5-18-12 A alleged abductee has been found safe but the man suspected of taking her against her will is still on the loose. The Pope County Sheriff's Office and B-C-A are looking for 39-year old Dennis Aason, who is considered dangerous and should not be approached. He is five-foot-ten and about 200-pounds. The alleged victim, 30-year old Jenna Lee MORE...

CURE canoe rides this weekend

5-18-12 CURE is trying something new this year with CURE's River's & History Weekend Canoe Trips Tomorrow theyare asking anyone who wants to paddle in the Upper Minnesota River Watershed to gather at the Chippewa County Park along the Minnesota River in Wegdahl at 12 noon. From there they will self organize -- deciding who wants to go where MORE...

Beware of VISA phone scam

5-18-12 The Willmar Police Department would like to make the public aware of phone scams that are hitting this area in volumes involving the attempt to obtain credit card information from citizens by telling them that their VISA debit card appears to be experiencing possible fraudulent activity.
Citizens have been plagued with calls where they are advised that their MORE...

Ron Paul

Ron Paul to speak at GOP convention in St. Cloud tonight

5-18-12 The Republican Party of Minnesota's state convention opens today in Saint Cloud and one of delegates' first jobs is to endorse a candidate for U-S Senate. Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul is scheduled to speak to the convention tonight (6-7pm). They'll also elect national delegates and alternates to the GOP convention in Tampa in MORE...

Swimsuit time!

A sample of summer in mid-May

5-18-12 Forecasters call it a "plume" of warm air that will
make Minnesota feel like it's the middle of summer today. The National
Weather Service predicts highs in the 80's and 90's over much of the state
as stiff winds move across the lower two-thirds of Minnesota all day. (MNN)

Adam Holm (Hutchnson Leader News)

Adam Holm hired as Litchfield High School Principal

5-18-12 The Litchfield School District has announced that a new high school principal has been hired. Adam Holm will begin his duties on July 1st. Adam Holm is currently assistant principal at Centennial High School in Circle Pines, Minnesota. Prior to this position, he was assistant high school principal for three years in Hutchinson. MORE...

Trucker goes through fence, into lake near Alexandria

5-18-12 A truck driver from New York suffered non-life
threatening injuries after crashing into a lake yesterday morning near
Alexandria. The State Patrol reports 39-year-old Velic Hassan (huh-SAHN')
drove off westbound Interstate 94 through a freeway fence into Lake Latoka.
Hassan was able to climb out of the truck and sat on the cab until he was
rescued by boat MORE...

Coming to a county near you...Click it or Ticket

5-18-12 Residents of Kandiyohi,Renville and Swift Counties— Better be buckled up, because it’s Click It or Ticket time, May 21–June 7. In Minnesota, about 400 law enforcement agencies will partner with 10,000 agencies nationwide to work overtime patrols to increase seat belt compliance in an effort to stop preventable deaths and injuries. More than 400 MORE...

Judge Smith

Probation reinstated for Andrew Wyman

5-17-12 Convicted burglar and arsonist Andrew Wyman has avoided prison and is being given another chance. At a probation revocation hearing today, Kandiyohi County District Judge Kathryn Smith reinstated the 18-year-old Willmar man to probation. Smith was given a variety of options for Wyman, including sending him to adult prison for 75 MORE...

Unhealthy environment at Red Wing health department

5-17-12 The relocation of employees continues as an ironic
situation unfolds in southeastern Minnesota. Complaints of headaches,
nausea, mold and the smell of sewer odor have prompted officials to start
moving nearly two dozen employees from the Goodhue County Health building in
Red Wing. Reports say the workers are filing into office space in the
nearby government MORE...

Crash hurts three south of Willmar

5-17-12 Two men and a child were hurt in a head-on crash south of Willmar last night. The state patrol says at 7:49 p.m. a southbound SUV driven by 26-year-old Jonathan Morales of Willmar and a northbound pickup driven by 35-year-old Shaun Kampsen of Belgrade collided head on on Highway 71, just north of County Road 119. Both drivers and a child MORE...

Woman trashes animal shelter

5-17-12 Police have arrested a Brainerd woman after an animal
rescue shelter was vandalized and its dogs released. The 24-year-old could
face burglary and property damage charges. A dog missing from the shelter
was found at her home and the shelter had been vandalized, with the word
"Killers" spray-painted on the building. All the dogs from the impound (KWLM)

Nelson

Darek Nelson indicted on 1st Degree Murder

5-17-12 A grand jury has indicted a 24-year-old man for
first-degree murder in the stabbing of a woman outside a Montevideo
restaurant last winter. Darek Nelson is accused in the January death of
Vinnesa Lozano near the Pizza Ranch restaurant. Nelson is also charged with
using a dangerous weapon to assault a witness who tried to come to the
victim's aid. The MORE...

Watkins man arrested after Saturday crash

5-17-12 A Watkins man is under arrest for crashing an SUV on Saturday morning and fleeing the scene, leaving an injured passenger. The Meeker County Sheriff's Department says 19-year-old Michael Downham was driving a GMC he borrowed from an Eden Valley man, and at 3:46 a.m. Saturday rolled the vehicle near Watkins. He left the scene, MORE...

Andrew Wyman

Wyman appears for probation revocation hearing today

5-17-12 18-year-old Andrew Wyman of Willmar will find out today if he'll be going to prison for a boatload of crimes, including burning down a house full of people and running away from a juvenile facility and hitchiking to California. Wyman was sentenced to 75 months in prison for several arson and burglary charges after a crime spree in the MORE...

Rude biker hurts woman rider

5-17-12 Stearns County officials say a speeding biker on the Wobegon trail caused a woman to crash and get injured. It happened Saturday morning as the woman and her daughter were riding toward Holdingford. The speeding biker startled the woman who rode into the ditch in order to avoid running into her daughter, and was hurt. The other biker kept MORE...

Probation For Man Who Abandoned Young Son

5-16-12 (Hastings, MN) -- A judge has ordered two years probation for a Lakeville man who abandoned his 11-year-old son last year and took off for California. 60-year-old Steven Cross was found 43 days later. More...

Welcome Home For National Guard Airmen

5-16-12 (St. Paul, MN) -- Family and friends welcomed home 33 Minnesota National Guard airmen in Saint Paul this afternoon (Wed). Members of the 133rd Airlift Wing returned from a two-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel Carl Lojovich says they departed from Bagram Air Base with the last Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft. More...

Duluth Loses Round In Fight Over Downtown Casino

5-16-12 (Duluth, MN) -- Duluth officials have lost a round in their fight to get part of the revenue from a downtown casino operated by the Fond du Lac tribe, but they vow to continue the battle in court. The U-S Interior Department says it will cancel the lease agreement because it violates federal law that Indian tribes retain "sole proprietary interest" More...

Delbert Huber

Huber trial moved to September

5-16-12 A new schedule for Delbert Huber's murder trial in Kandiyohi County has been set. Huber, 81 of rural Paynesville was set to go on trial June 18th for the October 8th 2011 slaying of Tim Larson of Albertville. However Huber still hasn't hired an attorney, and at a hearing in Willmar this morning it was determined if Huber MORE...

Torii Hunter

Torii Hunter's son arrested for sexual assault

5-16-12 Former Twins outfielder Torii Hunter is on leave from the
Angels after his son's arrest in a Texas sexual assault investigation.
Seventeen-year-old Darius McClinton-Hunter is one of five Dallas-area high
school students accused of felony sexual assault of a child. Hunter flew
home to Texas several hours before last night's game against the A's and MORE...

Hospital workers vote to strike

5-16-12 Nearly 91-percent of the 35-hundred members of a
medical union voted to strike at eight Twin Cities hospitals. Five health
systems would be affected by a two-to-five-day walkout. The Service
Employees International Union represents nursing assistants, E-R technicians,
maintenance and food service workers. The two-day vote was taken just before
negotiations were MORE...

Wildfire danger worsens up north

5-16-12 The danger of wildfires has become more combustable in
recent hours over much of northern and eastern Minnesota. The D-N-R reports
a still-extreme fire danger rating for northwestern counties while conditions
have worsened to the east in Lake of the Woods, Koochiching, Itasca and
northern portions of St. Louis and Lake counties. Also, much of the Twin
Cities area MORE...

Judge rules in favor of Meeker County redistricting plan

5-16-12 It wasn’t an agenda item during Tuesday’s Meeker County Board meeting, but County Attorney Stephanie Beckman informed the Commissioners that Judge Steven Drange made a decision Monday on the redistricting issue. She says the court found that the County exercised due diligence and met the necessary criteria, so the map adopted by the County MORE...

Regent Dean Johnson, President Kaler, Vice President Jones and Karen Kaler

Kaler in Willmar for MCROC opening

5-16-12 University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and other school officials were in Willmar Tuesday for the grand opening of the Mid Central Research and Outreach Center, or MCROC. Kaler has been on the job for 10 months now and is glad to be able to come out to Willmar for the event. University Senior Vice President Robert Jones says MCROC is the latest MORE...

Man flees after traffic crash near Paynesville

5-16-12 A Belgrade man was hurt in a traffic crash Monday night when his Jeep hit a van east of Paynesville. The other driver fled the scene and was later arrested for drunk driving and other charges. The Stearns County Sheriff's Department says it happened at 8:17 p.m. at the intersection of County Road 34 and Highland Drive, half a mile MORE...

Delbert Huber

Delbert Huber pre-trail hearing today

5-16-12 We may finally hear today what accused killer Delbert Huber has done to legally defend himself in his upcoming murder trial in Willmar. Huber, 81 of rural Paynesville, will appear in Kandiyohi County District Court for a pre-trial hearing on charges of 1st Degree Premediated Murder, and 2 Counts of Second Degree Murder. His trial is MORE...

Woman in critical condition after being hit by car in St. Cloud

5-16-12 The state patrol says a Sauk Rapids woman is in critical condition at St. Cloud Hospital after being hit by a car in St. Cloud Monday night. 34-year-old Jaclyn Growney was crossing Highway 23 at 7th Avenue against the light at around 10 p.m. Monday when she was hit by a car driven by a St. Cloud man. (KWLM)

Suspected Child Abuse

5-15-12 (Brainerd, MN) -- Crow Wing County officials are investigating a suspected child abuse case involving a four-month-old infant from rural Brainerd. A emergency call stated the child was having a seizure. More...

Nuclear Security Supervisor Busted During Drug Testing

5-15-12 -- It's been disclosed that a nuclear security supervisor was fired last summer for faking a drug test urine sample at the Prairie Island nuclear plant. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that the deception came to light when a test technician noticed the urine sample cup did not feel warm. More...

Supreme Court Won't Be Taking Petters Case

5-15-12 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Supreme Court has denied Minnesota businessman Tom Petters request to review his 2009 conviction on charges he orchestrated a nearly four-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme. This means the lower court's conviction will stand. More...

Girl drives into side of convenience store

5-15-12 A convenience store in Holdingford was hit by a car and heavily damaged this morning. The Stearns County Sheriff's Department says at 9:33 a.m. a car driven by 18-year-old Chelsea Gerads of Albany pulled into the parking lot of the Holdingford Gas and Grocery. Gerads tried to stop, but stepped on the gas instead of the brakes, propelling MORE...

Girl drives into side of convenience store

Man hurt in hit and run crash near Paynesville

5-15-12 A Belgrade man was hurt in a traffic crash last night when his Jeep hit a van east of Paynesville. The other driver fled the scene and was later arrested for drunk driving and other charges. The Stearns County Sheriff's Department says at happened at 8:17 p.m. at the intersection of County Road 34 and Highland Drive, half a mile east MORE...

Pedestrian hit by car, injured

5-15-12 A pedestrian was struck by a car and injured in St. Cloud last night. The state patrol says the victim was crossing against the lights on Highway 23 at 7th Avenue around 10 p.m. and was hit by a car. The victim was taken to St. Cloud Hospital, and no name or condition has been released but the state patrol describes the injuries as MORE...

88% of corn planted

5-15-12 A lot of farmers got back out in the fields this past week, according to the U-S-D-A. The latest Crop Report shows corn planting continued, thanks to drier conditions, bringing the statewide total up to 88-percent. About half of that corn is now peeking out of the soil. Also, nearly half of Minnesota's soybean crop is now MORE...

88% of corn crop planted

Governor signs stadium bill

Dayton signs stadium bill, vetos tax bill

5-15-12 The governor signed a Vikings stadium bill on Monday but
did not put the pen to a second tax bill approved by lawmakers this
session.Saying the business tax relief measure would have created a
100-million dollar hole in future state budgets, Governor Dayton vetoed the
bill, adding it would have provided, quote, "virtually no tax relief for
anyone MORE...

Survey: Dayton gets good marks

5-15-12 A new SurveyUSA poll indicates a majority of Minnesotans are happy with the job Governor Dayton is doing. Fifty-six percent of respondents approve of Dayton's job performance while 33 percent disapprove. Just 21 percent support the performance of state legislators and 67 percent were opposed. The survey also found that 52 percent of registered MORE...

Monday was a warm one

5-15-12 Monday turned out to be the warmest day of the year so
far in Minnesota. The National Weather Service reports Hutchinson, Madison,
Olivia and Morris all hit 90-degrees, 88 in Willmar, while St. Cloud and the Twin Cities
area got up to 86. Forecasters say today's weather will cool by an overall
ten-degrees or so this afternoon, with the statewide highs MORE...

Harlan Madsen

Kandiyohi County to hear government restructure report

5-15-12 The Kandiyohi County Board Tuesday will be hearing a report on how the county should proceed with replacing retired Auditor/Treasurer Sam Modderman. Later they'll hear how to replace Family Services Director Jay Kieft who resigned earlier this year. Kandiyohi County Commissioner Harlan Madsen of Lake Lillian says they hired David MORE...

U of M Regent Dean Johnson, President Eric Kaler, Vice President Robert Jones, Karen Kaler

President of U of M in Willmar today for MCROC open house

5-15-12 Univeristy of Minnesota President Eric Kaler will be in Willmar Tuesday for the open house for the new Mid Central Research and Outreach Center, MCROC for short, on the MinnWest Technology Campus. The event goes from 2 to 4 p.m., with a short program by President Kaler at 2:15 p.m. Tim Miller is MCROC Facility Manager and MORE...

Mental Health walk/run in Willmar today

5-15-12 Hundreds of people are expected to participate in Tuesday afternoon's 2012 Mental Health Walk-Run at Robbin's Island Park in Willmar. Event Chair Amanda Olson of Kandiyohi County Family Services says registration begins at 430 at the Guri Endreson Shelter at Robbins Island Park in Willmar. Runners and Walkers will follow a 5k or 3 mile MORE...

Grand jury to consider Nelson indictment today

5-15-12 Chippewa County authorities will convene a grand jury Tuesday to consider a 1st degree murder indictment against a man accused of stabbing a coworker to death in Montevideo January 13th. 24-year-old Darek Nelson was arrested outside the Pizza Ranch after allegedly stabbing 18-year-old Vinessa Lozano several times. He told officers he MORE...

Cycle hits deer, driver killed

5-15-12 A motorcycle driver is dead after striking a deer, then getting run over by two vehicles in Morrison County northwest of Little Falls. The state patrol says the cycle was westbound on Highway 10, west of County Road 13 at 9:45 last night when it hit a deer. The driver went down onto the roadway, and was then run over by a westbound car MORE...

Governor Signs Vikings Stadium Bill

5-14-12 (St.Paul, MN) -- Governor Dayton signed the Vikings stadium bill into law this (Mon) afteroon during a state Capitol ceremony. The governor was joined by Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, the stadium bill authors, Minneapolis Mayor R-T Rybak and other dignitaries. More...

Arrest Made, Charges Filed In Triple Murder

5-14-12 (Brooklyn Park, MN) -- Criminal charges have been filed in connection with last month’s triple homicide in Brooklyn Park. 34-year-old Eddie Mosley of St. Louis, Missouri is charged with three counts of second-degree murder. Prosecutors say the murders appear to have been motivated by a sexual assault charge filed against Mosely More...

Asian Carp Fight

5-14-12 (St. Paul, MN) -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is taking preventive measures after 137 Asian carp were recently netted in northwest Iowa lakes. Officials are worried the invasive fish will sneak into southwestern Minnesota waters through connected rivers and streams. More...

Governor to sign stadium bill today

5-14-12 The governor switches from rod-and-reel to official pen
today as he is scheduled to sign into law a bill to build a new Vikings
stadium. The ceremony is set for noon at the Capitol. Both the House and Senate passed the legislation last week. The only hurdle left will be
approval by Minneapolis City Council before the 975-million dollar project
can be put into MORE...

Driver, passengers sought in Watkins crash

5-14-12 At 3:46 a.m. Saturday the Meeker County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a possible vehicle accident on 667th Ave near Watkins. The Sheriff's Office received another call that an injured party had just showed up at this same address. Upon Deputies and Officers arrival, the only injured party was identified as MORE...

Classic car involved in motorcycle crash

5-14-12 A St. Cloud man was hurt in a motorcycle crash involving a classic car. The Stearns County Sheriff's Department says 47-year-old Scott Walls was driving his motorcycle northbound on County Road 44 when he struck the rear of a 67 Barracuda driven by 22-year-old Cheri Grewal of Clearwater. The crash occured in Lynden Township at the intersection MORE...

Legislative Reveiw wraps up on Open MIke this morning

5-14-12 KWLM will be airing it's final Legislative Review show of 2012 this morning from 10 to 11 a.m. The session ended last week after lawmakers passed a Vikings Stadium bill. A bonding bill, transportation bill, Legacy fund bill, and bill to hold a Voter Photo I.D. referendum this fall also passed. This area also lost long time State MORE...

Voter I.D. program tonight

5-14-12 Minnesota's Voter ID will be the topic of a program hosted by the Willmar Area League of Women Voters tonight. Kathy Bonnifield, Director of Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota will present the program from 7 to 830 p.m. at the Bethel Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Downtown Willmar. Bonnifield will present the facts on the MORE...

Chopper to spray for caterpillars today

5-14-12 A helicopter will be spraying for tent caterpillars around Green Lake starting at 6 p.m., weather permitting. If there is a wind of more than 5 mph spraying will take place tomorrow starting at 6 a.m. The chemical contains a sticky substance that will not harm human, animals or birds and any white spots on vehicles and windows can be MORE...

Woman hurt in Benton County Rollover

5-14-12 A Dayton woman was critically injured in a one vehicle rollover Saturday afternoon near Sauk Rapids. The state patrol says 47-year-old Lisa Forbes was southbound on Highway 10 in Benton County when she lost control while passing another vehicle and rolled in the median. She was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and alcohol was detected in her MORE...

Woman hurt in Benton County Rollover

2012 Governor's Open in Park Rapids

(St. Paul, MN) -- As this weekend's Governor's Fishing Opener in Waconia winds down, it's been announced next year's event will take place in Park Rapids. John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota, says Park Rapids reflects "what's great about fishing and travel throughout Minnesota." (MORE...)

Gas Prices Hold Steady

(Undated) -- Many people are moving ahead with spring and summer travel plans they had nearly abandoned now that it seems four-dollar gas will not rear its ugly head after all. Triple A-Minnesota's Gail Weinholzer reminds that it's important to have a plan to ensure a safe trip. (MORE...)

Roadwork Could Cause Headaches on Road To Duluth

(St. Paul, MN) -- Travelers face a challenge this spring and summer as they drive up I-35 toward Duluth. Highway crews are working on four major projects between Hinckley and Duluth, meaning lane closings and slowdowns. (MORE...)

Thousand Join in Minnesota Fishing Opener

(Undated) -- Thousands of anglers will take part in today's fishing opener. The DNR's Tim Smalley says be safe and don't forget to wear your life jacket. He says even though the ice came off area lakes much earlier this year, water temperatures are still below 50 degrees on many lakes. (MORE...)

No Bonding Money for St. Cloud Prison Upgrade

(St. Cloud, MN) -- The half-billion-dollar bonding bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature allocates no money for the St. Cloud prison. Department of Corrections spokesman John Schadl (SHAW'-dul) says they requested 30-million dollars and one of the big plans was to update the prisoner intake area. (MORE...)

Dermatologist Sees Uptick In Skin Cancer Among Young Women

(Minneapolis, MN) -- The number of skin cancer cases is on the rise Dr. DeAnn Lazovich, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, says dermatologists are seeing a spike in melanoma among young women (MORE...)

U of M Regents Approve Vikings T-C-F Bank Stadium Agreement

5-11-12 (Minneapolis, MN) -- The University of Minnesota Board of Regents unanimously approved an agreement today (Fri) to allow the Vikings to use T-C-F Bank Stadium. The Vikings will need to play at least one season on the U of M campus while their new 975-million-dollar stadium is under construction. More...

State Representative Rukavina Resigns

5-11-12 (St.Paul, MN) -- Representative Tom Rukavina (rook-uh-VEE'-nuh) of Virginia is the latest veteran state lawmaker to calls it quits. The Iron Range Democrat announced today (Fri) that he is resigning after 26 years in office. In his resignation letter, Rukavina explains that the changing atmosphere at the Capitol helped expedite his decision. More...

Frost Damage to Apple, Alfalfa Crops Not As Bad First Feared

5-11-12 -- April brought several rounds of frost to Minnesota - and growers have been worried about crop damage. But climatologist Mark Seeley says at least two crops are doing surprisingly well. He says the damage done to the alfalfa crop and to the apple orchards was not as bad as first feared. More...

Jessica Rohloff kicks off her campaign tonight

5-11-12 Minnesota House Candidate Jessica Rohloff of Willmar kicks off her campaign at Jazz and Java, north Highway 71 in Willmar tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Rohloff, a DFLer, is running for House District 17B which includes Willmar, New London, Spicer and the northern 2/3rds of Kandiyohi County. She wants to run against incumbant Republican Bruce MORE...

Drought is pretty much over

5-11-12 April showers - and lots in May - have enabled most of Minnesota to break free of the long and damaging drought. U of M climatologist Mark Seeley says 33 counties were considered in serious drought, but Seeley says only Lake and Cook Counties still have patches of serious drought. The northeastern corner of the state has had the longest run of drought - dating back at MORE...

Fishing opener is tomorrow

5-11-12 The walleye season officially kicks off this weekend in Minnesota. The 2012 Governor's Fishing Opener is being held Friday and Saturday on Lake Waconia. Explore Minnesota Tourism Director John Edman says the sport is a big part of the summer travel season. Edman says fishing also supports more than 43-thousand jobs in the state. The MORE...

Senator Joe Gimse

2012 Legislative Session is over

5-11-12 The 2012 Minnesota Legislative Session is over. A Vikings Stadium bill, bonding bill, transportation bill, Legacy fund bill, and bill to hold a Voter Photo I.D. referendum this fall all passed. Locally, money is coming for completion of the Ridgewater College expansion and renovation project and a new truck station at the MnDot MORE...

Wilf thanks fans for their support

5-11-12 The song "Skol Vikings" is getting a lot of play these days as Minnesota's pro football team is close to getting a new stadium. Thursday's 36-to-30 vote by the state Senate puts the 975-million dollar plan before the governor to sign during a ceremony sometime in the coming days. Minneapolis City Council must also approve the new MORE...

Judge hears Meeker County redistricting case

5-11-12 Judge Steven Drange presided over a case Thursday afternoon in Meeker County District Court regarding the redistricting of the Meeker County Commissioner districts. Michael Housman of Dassel and County Attorney Stephanie Beckman presented their arguments, and Judge Drange will make a decision by next week. Housman’s main concern is that a new MORE...

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Senate Candidate Pete Hegseth in Willmar today

5-11-12 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Pete Hegseth is coming to Willmar today from 9:30 until 10:30 at Mcmillans in Willmar. People are invited to come for 10 minutes or stay for the full hour. Hegseth says this is one of 4 candidates for the endorsement of the Minnesota Republican Party which endorsement will be considered on the 18th and 19th MORE...

Maplewood Man Sentenced For Prostituting 17-Year-Old Girl

5-10-12 (St.Paul, MN) -- A Maplewood man has been sentenced to nearly nine years in prison after pleading guilty to prostituting a 17-year-old girl. Twenty-nine-year-old Malachai Tramble the Third admitted prostituting the child using the online site Backpage.com. More...

Bachmann Seeks to Withdraw Dual Swiss Citizenship

5-10-12 (Washington, DC) -- Congresswoman Michele Bachmann no longer wants to be a citizen of both the United States and Switzerland. The Minnesota Republican sent a letter to the Swiss Consulate today (Thurs) requesting withdrawal of her dual Swiss citizenship. More...

Senate Passes Vikings Stadium Bill

(05/10/12) The Minnesota Senate has passed the Vikings stadium bill by a 36-to-30 vote. The measure now goes to Governor Dayton for his signature and he is expected to sign it. MORE...

Mike Schiks

Head of Project Turnabout hopes stadium bill raises awarness

5-10-12 A Minnesota gambling addiction expert hopes any Vikings stadium bill contains money to warn about the problems gambling can cause. The bill which is in conference committee would fund the state's portion of a stadium package by allowing bars and restaurants in the state to install and operate electronic pull tab machines. Mike Schiks (shix) MORE...

Couple humiliate daughter for bad grades

5-10-12 A Fridley couple was charged today with malicious
punishment of a child after shaving their 12-year-old daughter's head and
making her pick up trash and run wind-sprints outside their apartment
building -- wearing just a tank top and adult diaper. Fridley Police
Lieutenant Michael Monsrud says 38-year-old Stephanie Broten, and her
husband, 34-year-old Darnell MORE...

Representative Ellison

Ellison looks to cut oil company subsidies

5-10-12 Congressman Keith Ellison is introducing a bill today (Thurs) that would eliminate all oil, coal and natural gas production subsidies. The industry will receive an estimated 113-billion dollars in tax breaks over the next ten years. Ellison says it's time to end what he calls "polluter welfare. Ellison says oil, coal and natural gas companies get MORE...

House passes final Vikes bill, adjourns for session

5-10-12 The next brick has been set in a possible football
stadium deal at the capitol. With the Vikings agreeing to pay an extra
50-million dollars as part of their share, the Minnesota House has passed a stadium deal by a vote of 71-to-60 at 3 this morning, then adjourned for the session. The Vikings' share of the nearly
one-billion dollar stadium is now up MORE...

River up at New Ulm, down at Redwood Falls

5-10-12 The Minnesota River continues to swell after recent
rains and is now at flood stage around New Ulm. Forecasters expect the river
to dip below that mark by the weekend. Meanwhile, earlier flood levels have
subsided along several southwestern Minnesota rivers near Redwood Falls. (MNN)

Senator Al Franken

Sunburg, Hanley Falls and Watson post offices won't close

5-10-12 Sen. Al Franken lauded Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe for abandoning his plan to close rural post offices in Minnesota and across the country. Instead, the Postmaster General offered a new plan that would give rural communities much greater say in what should happen to their local post offices, ensuring that communities have the option to keep MORE...

Swift County trying to deal with Giese retirement

5-10-12 Swift County is joining the list of governmental entities looking at restructuring. Willmar Municipal Utilities and Kandiyohi County have both hired Springsteds and Associates to do a study on their leadership structure. The Utility recently terminated General Manager Bruce Gomm and Kandiyohi County is looking for a new MORE...

Gimse, Koenen, Fischbach vote for Vike's stadium

5-9-12 Senators Joe Gimse of Willmar, Lyle Koenen of Clara City and Michelle Fischbach of Paynesville voted for the Vikings Stadium Bill in the Senate last night, Senator Scott Newman of Hutchinson voted against it. The bill passed 38-28 and now goes on to conference committee. Senator Gimse says during debate yesterday the subject of user fees came up MORE...

Malvin pleads guilty in traffic death case

5-9-12 A Raymond woman has pleaded guilty to criminal
vehicular homcide charges in a November 2010 crash near Litchfiled that
killed two people. Forty-five-year-old Ronda Malvin says she attempted to
brake on Highway 22 but lost control on the icy road and her vehicle entered
the opposite lane causing a three-car collision. Two passengers in Malvin's
car, MORE...

Mother, two kids hurt in Richmond rollover

5-9-12 A mother from Richmond and her two daughters were hurt in a one-vehicle rollover in Stearns County yesterday afternoon. The sheriff's department says 27-year-old Sandra Brix and her son Corey and daughter Brooklynn, both 3 years old, were injured when Brix lost crash her car on County Road 23 north of Richmond. Brix was driving MORE...

Willmar has 90 minute power outage

5-9-12 At approximately 2:45 am, a fault was detected on the transmission line that feeds Kandiyohi Power Coop substations north of Willmar. This line is fed from Willmar Municipal Utility (WMU) sources, so the breakers feeding that line tripped out.
The fault caused the substation next to the WMU power plant to trip out of power also. Areas affected by the outage MORE...

Journey coming to State Fair

5-9-12 The Minnesota State Fair has added three more shows to this year's grandstand concert series lineup. Grammy Award-winning soul and jazz singer Anita Baker will perform on Sunday August 26th. Classic rockers Journey with special guests Pat Benatar and Loverboy will play the grandstand Saturday September 1st. Hip-hop artist Wiz Khalifa MORE...

MnDot funding meeting tonight in Willmar

5-9-12 The Minnesota Department of Transportation wants to know what people in this area want for future projects. MnDot District 8 Planning Director Patrick Weideman says a "Corridor Investment Management Meeting" or CIM takes place at MinnDot Regional Headquarters in Willmar Wednesday afternoon to discuss future priorities with the public as well MORE...

7 million in transportation bill for Willmar MnDot garage

5-9-12 The MnDot Headquarters in Willmar will be getting a new truck garage in a transportation bill heading for conference committee. Senator Joe Gimse of Willmar chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, and says the bill contains 45 million dollars for projects around the state, including the Willmar garage. Gimse says he's been working MORE...

Skol Senate! (hartupnorth.tumblr.com)

Minnesota Senate passes Vikings Stadium Bill

5-9-12 The state Senate passed a Vikings stadium bill last night
by a 38-28 margin. This version differs from the House bill which passed on
Monday, meaning the two versions need to be reconciled in coference
committees before going to the governor's desk for a signature. Three dozen
amendments were considered during Tuesday's debate which lasted MORE...

Charlene Stevens

Downtown plan hearing comes up May 21st

5-9-12 People can give their final comments on a plan for the future of Downtown Willmar at a hearing May 21st. Willmar City Administrator Charlene Stevens says the Downtown Plan has been in the works for several months, and addresses several topics. Stevens says the plan addresses who is in charge of what area, and who will pay for it. Stevens MORE...

House burns north of St. Joseph

5-9-12 Fire heavily damaged a house near St. Joseph early yesterday morning. The Stearns County Sheriff's Department says just before 1 a.m. they sent the St. Joseph Fire Department to the Dean and Joan Holtz home on Watab Drive in St. Wendel Township, two miles north of St. Joseph. The couple and their dogs were able to get out of the house MORE...

23 of 24 Renville County liquor businesses check i.d.s

5-9-12 Recent results from alcohol compliance checks conducted in Renville County show that 96 percent of alcohol retailers refused a sale to someone under the age of 21.
Out of 24 checks completed, 23 retailers passed. We commend the efforts of the 23 businesses that refused to sell alcohol to persons under the age of 21. Working with plainclothes MORE...

Timothy Huber

Huber says state should pay for $1400 transcript

5-8-12 Kandiyohi County Judge Don Spilseth has to decide who needs to pay for a grand jury transcript for murder suspect Timothy Huber. Huber, 46 of rural Paynesville, is charged with 1st degree murder for the October 8th shooting death of Tim Larson of Albertville, and at a hearing in Willmar Tuesday morning, Huber's attorney Carter Greiner asked MORE...

Man rescued from burning car near Kimball

5-8-12 At 8:53 Saturday morning, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office, Kimball Fire dept. and Rescue Squad, and Gold Cross ambulance responded to County-State-Aid-Highway 19 at 325th Street, for a single vehicle personal injury accident. 60-year-old Richard Dinsmore of Kimball, driving a 1995 Dodge Minivan, drove off the roadway and into the ditch. A small fire started MORE...

Representative Andrew Falk

Lawmakers split on stadium, veto vote

5-8-12 Three local lawmakers split on their vote for the Vikings Stadium Bill last night. Representatives Dean Urdahl of Grove City and Bruce Vogel of Willmar, both Republicans, voted for the bill while DFL Representative Andrew Falk of Murdock voted against it. On Legislative Review this past weekend, Urdahl said the tax bill veto MORE...

Corn Capital Days funding drying up

5-8-12 This year's event is not in danger, but officials who run Olivia's annual Corn Capital Days are worried about one of their main funding sources drying up. Olivia Chamber of Commerce President and Corn Capital Days Director Nancy Standfuss says on Thursday May 24th there will be a public meeting looking for ideas on how to continue funding Corn Capital MORE...

Senator Joe Gimse

Bonding bill passes House and Senate, Ridgewater money included

5-8-12 The Minnesota Senate has followed the lead of the House,
passing a 500-million-dollar bonding bill for state public works projects.
The two chambers must now work out their differences in conference committee.
Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem says difficult choices had to be made,
considering projects around the state. The deal puts 50-million dollars in MORE...

Representative Bruce Vogel

Vikings Stadium Bill passed House, moves to Senate

5-8-12 The Minnesota Senate is expected to take up the Vikings
Stadium bill today. The House approved stadium legislation last night but
lawmakers upped the share the team would have to pay. On a 73-58 vote, the
975-million dollar stadium plan passed. Vikings V-P Lester Bagley says the
current measure is "not workable," adding they still have a few days to MORE...

Timothy Huber

Tim Huber in court today

5-8-12 Murder suspect Timothy Huber of rural Paynesville appears in Kandiyohi County District Court today for a pre-trial hearing. Huber, 46, is accused of helping his father 81-year-old Delbert Huber kill Tim Larson on a farm near Belgrade October 8th. Both Hubers are charged with 1st Degree Murder. In December Tim Huber claimed he MORE...

Keep matches, lighters away from kids

5-7-12 The problem of kids setting fires is the focus of Arson Awareness Week in Minnesota (5/6-5/12). There were nearly 12-hundred juvenile-set fires in the state from 2007 through 2011. Fire Marshal Jerry Rosendahl says many of the causes remain undetermined. Last month a child playing with a lighter started a fire that heavily damaged a house in MORE...

Red Bulls are back...time to get them jobs

5-7-12 The eleventh and final wave of 34th Infantry Red Bull soldiers returned from Kuwait over the weekend. Lt. Col. Kevin Olson says once the troops are home, there are many resources available to help them acclimate. As part of the program, troops receive tips from employment experts on job interviews, writing resumes and networking. Olson says about twenty MORE...

Redwood, Cottonwood Rivers could flood tomorrow

5-7-12 By this time tomorrow morning, forecasters say there will be flooding in
southwestern Minnesota. The National Weather Service has issued flood
warnings along the Redwood River at Redwood Falls -- and the Cottonwood River
at New Ulm -- both starting late tonight. The reason: 4- to 6-inches of rain
which has fallen in just a 48-hour period. The prediction MORE...

Gas prices drop

5-7-12 Minnesota drivers got a bit of a break this weekend as pump
prices took a dive. Minnesota-Gas-Prices-dot-Com reports the statewide
average for regular unleaded dropped to just under 3-60 a gallon this
morning. That's 11-cents less than last Monday. We're also faring better
than we were last month and last year at this time. (MNN)

Vikings stadium bill getting a vote today

5-7-12 The Vikings stadium bill gets a crucial "up or down" vote
on the House floor later today. The bill needs 68 votes to pass, which could
be a challenge as some Republicans are upset that Governor Dayton vetoed
their business tax relief bill last week. There could be a last-minute
changes made to the bill during debate, which could push the vote MORE...

Wet April, May helping alleviate drought

5-7-12 The month of April brought temperatures slightly above average and more precipitation than March gave us. And now May showers are helping with Minnesota's long struggle against drought. State climatologist Pete Boulay (boo-LAY') says northeastern Minnesota has struggled with persisent drought the last few years - and much more rain is needed MORE...

Kandiyohi County museum seeks to expand

5-7-12 Efforts have begun to expand the Kandiyohi County Historical Society Museum in Willmar. Museum Director Jill Wohnoutka says they want to build a 42-by-42 foot community multi-purpose room on the west side of the museum. Wohnoutka says they had a community room but after a roof collapse in 1997, they decided to rebuild and put a storage and MORE...

DFL Endorses Nolan in 8th District

5-6-12 Democrats in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District overwhelmingly endorsed Rick Nolan Saturday to challenge freshman Republican Chip Cravaack. Ex-Congressman Nolan received 76-percent of the convention vote, with Duluth City Councilman receiving ten-percent and former state Senator Tarryl Clark zero-percent. Cravaack unseated longtime D-F-L Congressman James Oberstar in MORE...

Hundreds Turn Out at MOA for Vikings

5-6-12 Hundreds of fans from throughout the state and beyond turned out at the Mall of America Saturday to rally for a new Vikings stadium. Also on hand were Governor Mark Dayton, Vikings linebacker Jared Allen and several state lawmakers. The rally was held to garner support for a new stadium, which is set to get a vote on the House floor tomorrow. MNN

Last Wave of Red Bulls Return Home Today

5-6-12 More than 270 soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division are scheduled to return home from Kuwait today. It's the final wave of the 1st Brigade soldiers to return to Minnesota. The public is invited to attend the troops' return at armories throughout the state. For a list of times and locations, you can visit MNN

Man's Body Recovered from Mississippi

5-6-12 A man's body has been recovered from the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office pulled the body out of the river at around noon Saturday after a passerby spotted the body in the water near the Franklin Avenue Bridge. The Sheriff's Office, Minneapolis Police and Hennepin County Medical Examiner are investigating. MNN

Meeker County Sheriff Jeff Norlin

Man arrested after Dassel, Darwin crime spree

5-5-12 On April 14, 2012, the Meeker County Sheriff's received multiple reports of thefts from

vehicles, from the Dassel and Darwin areas. The

Meeker County Sheriff's Office increased patrols in the area, informed the public in crime alerts

and the media, worked with citizens, area law enforcement, and actively investigated MORE...

It could only be Jared

Rally at Mall of America today for Vikes stadium

5-5-12 Vikings stadium backers are turning up pressure this
weekend before Monday's scheduled vote in the Minnesota House. There's a
rally hosted by the Vikings this afternoon (Sat 12:30 pm) at the Mall of
America in Sears Courtyard. Governor Dayton, Vikings defensive end Jared
Allen, Minneapolis Mayor R-T Rybak, plus key lawmakers and Vikings officials
will be on MORE...

House Speaker Kurt Zellers

Will stadium bill pay the price for tax bill veto?

5-5-12 It's the final weekend before a planned vote in the
Minnesota House on a Vikings stadium, and Republicans suggest Governor Dayton
reconsider his veto of a business tax relief bill. Republicans aren't saying
whether Dayton risks losing votes on the Vikings stadium because he vetoed
the tax bill, but House Speaker Kurt Zellers says Dayton's action was MORE...

Hutchinson woman tries to suffocate her baby

5-5-12 A Hutchinson woman is charged with trying to suffocate her
infant son at a St. Paul hospital this week. Investigators say 24-year-old
Katie Lewis pinched her son's nose closed while covering his nose and
mouth.They say nurses saw what was happening via video surveillance and
rushed into the room. The five-month-old boy's heart rate had MORE...

Willmar man gets a new heart

5-5-12 A Willmar man is living proof of how being an organ and tissue donor saves lives. 53-year-old Dave Baron underwent a heart transplant at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis February 17th. Baron says he first started having heart problems in 1994, when he was 36. His heartrate shot up to 200 and he had to have a MORE...

Hunting, fishing fees to increase, AIS fines to double

5-5-12 Governor Dayton has signed into law a game-and-fish bill
that increases the cost of hunting and fishing licenses in Minnesota. The
fee increases were generally supported by a broad range of sportsmen and
environmental groups. Representative Dean Urdahl of Grove City says the DNR has't raised the license fees since 2011, and had to do it to MORE...

Mobile home fires ruled arson

5-5-12 The Renville County Sheriff's Department says the burning of two mobile homes near Bird Island last week is suspicious. On April 24th a deputy found a mobile home burning and another next to it completly destroyed by fire on 430th Stree 10 miles northeast of Bird Island. The homes were on an abandoned farm site and no one had been MORE...

Dayton will likely veto tax relief bill

5-4-12 A bill freezing the statewide business property tax at its current level, plus providing other incentives for businesses to create jobs, is on its way to Governor Dayton after the state Senate passed Thursday. Sponsor - Republican Julianne Ortman - notes it authorizes phase-two construction at the Mall of America creating 10s of thousands of new MORE...

Igor the Giant

Minnesota giant needs new shoes

5-4-12 The tallest man in America, who lives in Rochester, is
getting a brand new pair of shoes. Seven-foot-eight-inch tall Igor
Vovkovinskiy (vo-koh-VIN'-ski) traveled from Minnesota to the Reebok Shoe
Company's headquarters in Canton, Massachusetts for a special fitting on
Thursday. The assignment: fit Igor with size-26 sneakers. Reebok figures it
will takeMORE...

aAry Danielson

Emminent domain process authorized on County Road 9 project

5-4-12 It looks like court action will be needed on at least one parcel of land involved in the Kandiyohi County Road 9 relocation project north of Willmar. County Public Works Director Gary Danielson says the county will begin the emminent domain process on 3 of the 30 parcels. The 2-year, 4 million dollar project involves moving 1 mile or so of MORE...

Cinco De Mayo fun in Willmar last year (lakesarea.com)

Cinco De Mayo celebrated in Willmar Saturday

5-4-12 Willmar's Cinco De Mayo Celebration takes place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Willmar Middle School. In case of rain, it will take place at Kennedy Elementary School. Cinco De Mayo, or the Fifth of May, celebrates Mexico's liberation from the French. Saturday's event will include Aztec dancers, folk MORE...

Cinco De Mayo fun in Willmar last year (lakesarea.com)

Cinco De Mayo celebrated in Willmar Saturday

Kerkhoven man killed in tractor rollover

5-4-12 A rural Kerkhoven man is dead after a tractor accident Wednesday. 70-year-old Kenneth Gerdes was driving the tractor on 70th Street Northeast southeast of Kerkhoven around 4 p.m. Wednesday when the tractor left the road and flipped into the ditch, pinning Gerdes underneath. (KWLM)

House will vote Monday on Vikings e-pulltab stadium bill

5-3-12 The Minnesota House will vote Monday on a Vikings stadium
bill funded in part by electronic pulltabs. Republican leaders abandoned a
plan to use state bonds rather than gambling proceeds because they say it
won't work. The stadium bill that will be put to a vote is the package
negotiated by Governor Dayton and the Vikings, authored by Fairmont Senator
Julie MORE...

Amy Senser convicted on two charges

5-3-12 After 19 hours of deliberations, a jury found Amy Senser guilty on two of three felony counts in the fatal hit and run case in Minneapolis. The 45-year-old defendant was found guilty of leaving the scene of the accident and guilty of failing to call authorities. She was found *not* guilty on the criminal vehicular homicide gross negligence count. But MORE...

Governor Dayton

If stadium is bonded, it may require a roof

5-3-12 A roof appears to be back in the mix for a Vikings stadium as Republicans try to hammer out details on a plan that would use state bonds to help fund the project. Governor Dayton has indicated he's willing to explore the proposal further. Republicans said there would probably have to be a roof on the stadium because state bonds require a "public MORE...

Magazine says MN is #36 when it comes to doing business

5-3-12 We hear a lot about what politicians say about
Minnesota's business climate -- but what do the nation's C-E-O's think?
According to Chief Executive Magazine, Minnesota ranks as the 36th-best state
to do business, dropping seven rungs down the ladder from this time last
year. The ratings are based on workforce quality and living environment
which Minnesota MORE...

Jury still deliberating in Senser trial

5-3-12 The jury in the Amy Senser case will continue deliberations this morning following a second day behind closed doors. In all, they've debated the hit-and-run case for more than 13 hours. Forty-five-year old Amy Senser of Edina is charged with three counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the August death of 38-year-old Anosoune Phanthavong MORE...

Vinessa Lozano

Grand jury indictment sought for Nelson

5-3-12 Chippewa County authorities want a grand jury to consider 1st degree murder charges against a man accused of stabbing a coworker to death in Montevideo January 13th. County Attorney Dave Gilbertson yesterday filed the motion against 24-year-old Darek Neslon, who was arrested outside the Pizza Ranch after allegedly stabbing 18-year-old Vinessa Lozano several MORE...

Vogel

Vogel defends using bonding to pay for stadium

5-3-12 Governor Mark Dayton says paying for the state's portion of a Viking's stadium through a bonding bill is a "hare brained idea." Representative Bruce Vogel says the Republican Caucus came up with the idea Tuesday. The state would pay for all of the site and infrastructure work for the stadium through a MORE...

Mayor Yanish at the prayer breakfast

Full house at Mayor's Prayer Breakfast

5-3-12 More than 250 people attended this morning's Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at St. Mary's Church in Willmar this morning. Pastor Jeffrey Engholm of Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar played the old folk spiritual "Kumbaya" on the guitar, and that went along with the theme of "We Work Better Together." Mayor Frank Yanish says MORE...

Hail hits western Minnesota, no tornadoes

5-3-12 Some areas of southeastern Minnesota received around
three inches of rain from last (Wed) night's heavy downpours. Large hail and
70 mile-per-hour winds were reported in Wabasha and Goodhue counties. The
National Weather Service is still waiting for official rainfall reports from
the area. There was flash flooding near Lake City with water over county
roads MORE...

Missing girl found in Benson

5-2-12 The search for a missing teen from the New London-Spicer area is over. She was found this morning around 10:30 a.m. in Benson. Kandiyohi County Sheriff Dan Hartog says the 16-year-old left her home around 10:30 yesterday on a 4-wheel ATV. Search and rescue teams spent the afternoon searching the area around Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center MORE...

Professor gives the legislature an "F"

5-2-12 A veteran political analyst is giving failing grades to the main players in the fight to end the legislative session. Hamline professor David Schultz claims Republican leaders are not controlling their members. And he says Governor Dayton is caving in to the G-O-P majority as Schultz says happened last year. Schultz is referring to Republican demands MORE...

Republicans propose new stadium plan

5-2-12 It seems like a never-ending fourth-down situation for
the Vikings' stadium issue at the Capitol. On Tuesday, Democrats blasted
the latest proposal for building the football team a new home: an open-air
stadium with the state's portion paid for by bonding money. The plan was to end the legislative session by the end of April but now on May MORE...

Jury deliberating Amy Senser's fate

5-2-12 A jury in Minneapolis today will continue deliberating
the hit-and-run case of Edina's Amy Senser. The 45-year told the court she
had no idea that she struck and killed 38-year-old Anosoune Phanthavong
(ANN'-a-song PANT'-a-vong) of Roseville with her S-U-V on an I-94 exit ramp
back in August. Senser is charged with three counts of criminal MORE...

Tornado spotted near Brooten

5-2-12 There was a brief tornado touchdown reported last
night in west-central Minnesota near the town of Brooten. The National
Weather Service says it's one of three possible twisters in the area.
Observers say damage was minimal. Strong winds did some light damage to the east, closer to the Twin Cities. Central Minnesota also got pounded by large hail while MORE...

Vikings stadium proponent says financing concerns are a "smoke screen"

5-2-12 Corey Merrifield with Savethevikes.org says it's late but there's still time on the clock to pass a Vikings stadium bill. Merrifield says arguments that the state funding mechanism of electronic pulltabs won't raise enough money is a smokescreen. He says the Minnesota Department of Revenue, Royal Bank of Canada and Goldman MORE...

UM Morris recognized for being "green"

5-2-12 The EPA says the University of Minnesota Morris is one of the largest users and generators of green power. The federal agency has placed them on Top 20 On-Site Generation List of the largest green power users. The college has a 1.6 megawatt wind turbine, generating nearly 5 million kilowatt hours of wind power annually, creating more than MORE...

Chippewa River Dam in Montevideo to be removed

5-2-12 The DNR is going to move forward on removing the low-head dam on the Chippewa River in Montevideo's Lagoon Park. Montevideo City Manager Steve Jones says the main reason is safety. Jones says the dam was built in the 1930s when Highway 59 was constructed. Low head dams are sometimes called "drowning machines" because MORE...

Sheriff Hartog

Willmar teen missing after taking off on an ATV

5-2-12 Search and rescue teams spent half-a-day searching for a missing rural Willmar teen yesterday and continue the search today. Kandiyohi County Sheriff Dan Hartog says at 10:27 yesterday morning they recieved a report of a 16-year-old female runaway. She took off on a green Suzuki 4-wheeler, and was last seen about 6 p.m. in the area of MORE...

Kandiyohi County Sheriffs Office searching for 16 year old female runaway

05/01/2012 at 10:27am, the Kandiyohi County Sheriffs Office received a report of a 16 year old female runaway. The female is described as 5’5”, 105lbs and has brown hair. MORE...

Willmar man assaults man in courtroom

4-1-12 The Stearns County Sheriff's Department says a Willmar man was involved in an assault in the Stearns County Courthouse in St. Cloud Tuesday. At 11:50 a.m. 32-year-old Shawn Skinner was in a court hearing before Judge William Cashman regarding whether an Harassment Restraining Order should be issued. The judge dismissed the order and adjourned MORE...

Delta Airlines buys an oil refinery

5-1-12 A couple of notable developments within the airline which serves the most Minnesotans. In a new move for the industry, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines says it is buying an oil refinery near Philadelphia in hopes of eventually cutting 300-million dollars in yearly fuel costs. Delta spent nearly 12-billion dollars last year on jet fuel. On another financial MORE...

May has arrived, bringing temps in the 80s

5-1-12 As if on cue, the arrival of May will bring much warmer temperatures than what we've experienced in recent days. Statewide highs will range from the mid-60's to low-80's, with a threat of severe thurnderstorms this afternoon especially in western Minnesota. (MNN)

Minnesota Specialty Hospital-Willmar

Willmar mental hospital will stay open through Summer of 2013

5-1-12 Governor Mark Dayton has signed the Omnibus Health and Human Services Bill. Senator Joe Gimse says the bill keeps the Minnesota Specialty Health Hospital in Willmar open for another year. Last year Governor Dayton has proposed closing the hospital and moving the Adolescent Treatment Unit there from the former Willmar Regional Treatment Center MORE...

Coyote bounty fund almost used up in Swift County

5-1-12 So far this year at least 242 coyotes have been killed in Swift County. Swift was one of the first in the state to start offering bounties for the critters which are considered pests and there is no season to hunt or trap them. Swift County offers 10 dollars per carcass, and from January 1st through April 1st they've paid out $2420 for MORE...

Paynesville hires new schools superintendent

5-1-12 Paynesville is going to be seeing some changes in the people that run their police department and school system. Paynesville Schools Superintendent Todd Burlingame is leaving the district effective June 30th, and the school board last week voted to hire Robert Huot, currently a junior high principal in St. Cloud. And the Paynesville City MORE...

Sgt, Nicholas Dickhut

Rochester soldier killed in Afghanistan

5-1-12 He's the second soldier from Rochester to lose his life in
Afghanistan. Twenty-three-year old Nicholas Dickhut (di-KOOT') was on his
second tour of duty in Afghanistan. Dickhut served with the 520th Infantry
Regiment, attached to the 82nd Airborne. He graduated from Stewartville High
School and studied at Rochester Community and Technical College MORE...

House Speaker Kurt Zellers

GOP won't allow stadium vote unless business taxes are cut

5-1-12 A Vikings stadium bill remains on hold at the
legislature, and Republican leaders say it will stay that way until they get
agreement with Governor Dayton on business tax cuts and a bonding bill.
House Speaker Kurt Zellers won't say what happens to the Vikings bill if they
can't get a deal with Dayton on the other issues. But the governor MORE...

Gas prices jump a dime

5-1-12 Minnesota drivers did a few double-takes on Monday as the cost
of gas went up right before their eyes. Minnesota-Gas-prices-dot-Com reports
regular unleaded shot up a dime in the past day, to a statewide average of
over 3-74 a gallon this morning. But we're still paying less than the
national average -- for the moment. (MNN)

Sheriff Hable

133 pounds of unwanted meds collected in Renville County

5-1-12 Renville County Sheriff Scott Hable is calling last Saturday’s medication take-back initiative in Renville County “an excellent start”. The Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to offer Renville County residents a chance to get rid of unused prescription and non-prescription medications that MORE...

Stearns County crash injures Rice man

5-1-12 A Rice man was hurt in a one car crash Monday afternoon. The Stearns County Sheriff's Department says 26-year-old Zachary Helgeson was northbound on County Road 1 in Brockway Township when he left the road struck a tree. Helgeson was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (KWLM)

Republicans hold Vikings Stadium Bill hostage

4-30-12 Republican leaders continue delaying a vote in the
Minnesota House and Senate on a Vikings stadium, pushing Governor Dayton to
go along with business property tax cuts. The governor seems less receptive
than last week. He said this morning (Mon) his administration is working on
a proposal for comprehensive tax reform next session and has problems
singling out MORE...

Gimse, Miller endorsed in District 17

4-30-12 Senator Joe Gimse of Willmar got a warm welcome at the District 17 Republican endorsing convention in Maynard over the weekend. Gimse is running for reelection in the newly-drawn district that includes Kandiyohi, Chippewa, Swift and Yellow Medicine Counties and recieved the unanimous endorsement. Gimse will run against the either current MORE...

Animal rights groups forcing "cage free" policies at fast food restaurants

4-30-12 Minnesota livestock farmers are wondering what the impact
will be from a fast food giant's recent announcement that its menu will go
"cage-free" by 2017. The Minnesota Broiler and Egg Association's Steve Olson
wonders what it is behind the move by Burger King. The fast food-chain is
the first to make a 100-percent "cage-free" commitment, MORE...

Apple Valley police shoot, kill man in domestic dispute

4-30-12 An Apple Valley man shot by police last night (Sun) has died in the hospital. Officers say the 48-year-old man pulled out a handgun as they were responding to a domestic dispute. That's when an officer shot and wounded the suspect. He was taken to Regions Hosptial in St.Paul where he died. The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is MORE...

Governor Dayton

April 30th adjournment deadline likely to come and go

4-30-12 Lawmakers could remain at the Capitol this week --
despite a self-imposed deadline to end the current session today. No
agreement has been reached on building a new Vikings stadium, a tax bill, or
on a bonding bill for projects around the state. The governor and
legislators did not meet on Sunday. Both the Minnesota House and Senate are
scheduled to meet MORE...

April ending on a warmer note

4-30-12 The month of April ends with warmer air moving into Minnesota.
Statewide highs today should reach into the 60's and 70's, following a
rather wet weekend. During that time, the threat of wildfires decreased,
especially across the lower half of the state. The D-N-R reports there is
still a higher fire danger rating over the upper third of Minnesota. MORE...

Fire Chief glad Dayton vetoes fireworks bill

4-30-12 Governor Dayton this weekend vetoed a bill that would have
made aerial and audible fireworks legal in Minnesota during several weeks
around the Fourth of July. The bill's author, State Representative John
Kriesel (KREE-sul) says he and a lot of other people will now have to
continue going to Wisconsin to buy those fireworks. Governor Dayton said MORE...

Marv Calvin

Child with lighter starts house fire

4-30-12 A Willmar family spent the weekend salvaging whatever they could from their house after a fire Friday afternoon. Fire Chief Marv Calvin says a child playing with a lighter started the fire in a second floor bedroom of the house at 8th Street and Lake Avenue Northwest. No one was hurt but the house is uninhabitable and the Red Cross and MORE...

Harlan Madsen

Kandiyohi County government restructure report due May 15th

4-30-12 On May 15th, the Kandiyohi County Board will be hearing a report on how the county should proceed with replacing retired Auditor/Treasurer Sam Modderman. Later they'll hear how to replace Family Services Director Jay Kieft who resigned earlier this year. Kandiyohi County Commissioner Harlan Madsen of Lake Lillian says they hired David MORE...

Willmar police candidate numbers down to 24

4-30-12 The field of 124 applicants for two Willmar Police positions is now down to 24 candidates. Willmar Police Captain Jim Felt says the Willmar Police Commission will now rank the candidates to further narrow down the number until they get to the final two. Felt says after 4 months of training, the new officers should be ready to hit the streets on their MORE...

Vikes Stadium Bill Vote On Hold

(St. Paul, MN) -- Republican leaders continue delaying a vote in the Minnesota House and Senate on a Vikings stadium, pressing Governor Dayton to agree to property tax relief for businesses. Top House Republicans are still talking about ending the session Monday, but aren't saying whether they'd do it without voting on a Vikings stadium. (MORE...)

Governor Dayton Vetoes Fireworks Bill

(St. Paul, MN) -- Governor Dayton last night vetoed a bill that would have legalized aerial and audible fireworks in Minnesota, similar to those allowed in Wisconsin. Dayton says most Minnesotans are responsible enough to use inherently dangerous fireworks properly and safely, but unfortunately some are not. (MORE...)

History Student Compete at U of M Today

(Minneapolis, MN) -- It's all about history today on the Minneapolis campus of the U of M. It's history through the eyes of sixth through 12th graders and their special history projects. They are regional finalists in a History Day competition. (MORE...)

Check Contamination Levels Before Eating Fish

(St. Paul, MN) -- The state Health Department is out with a reminder that some fish taken from Minnesota waters have contamination, including mercury. The levels are not alarming but residents are advised to periodically check contamination levels via the Internet. (MORE...)

More iPads in Minnesota School Districts

(Willmar, MN) -- More school districts across the state are incorporating the i-Pad into their curriculum. This fall, juniors and seniors at Willmar High School will each be issued an i-Pad. (MORE...)

Stadium Bill Clears Last Committee, Headed to Senate Floor

(St. Paul, MN) -- A Vikings stadium bill cleared its final committee in the Minnesota Senate last night (Fri), but expect a long and hard battle when the bill comes up for a vote on the floor -- and how soon is uncertain. (MORE...)

Dayton Signs TCF Stadium Beer Bill

(St. Paul, MN) -- Governor Dayton has signed into law a bill allowing liquor sales at a location in TCF Bank Stadium on the U-of-M Minneapolis campus. The University wanted to sell alcohol in premium seating areas only. (MORE...)

Strange Flu Season in Minnesota

(Undated) -- This year's flu season in Minnesota has been an unusual one. Kris Ehresmann (AIRS-man) with the State Department of Health says flu activity didn't start until later in the season, but they're glad that it will probably be wrapping up by May 1st. (MORE...)

No Tanning Beds Before Prom

(Rochester, MN) -- Dermatologists are urging high school students *not* to use tanning beds to get some skin color for their prom. Recent studies have shown indoor tanning is a major factor in increased cancer rates among young women. (MORE...)

Dayton

Dayton vetoes bill that requires licensing of abortion clinics

4-27-12 Governor Dayton Thursday vetoed a bill that would have required licensing and inspections of clinics in Minnesota that perform 10 or more abortions per month. Dayton says there's no evidence of poor quality or unsafe procedures, and proposed rules would have been "inappropriate and unworkable." Andrea Rau with Minnesota Citizens Concerned for MORE...

Drug pickup tomorrow in Litchfield

4-27-12 Meeker County Sheriff Jeff Norlin says a medication disposal event is scheduled for tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Sheriff’s Office will be working with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration on the National Take Back Initiative for prescription and over the counter medication disposal program. Norlin says on Saturday a deputy MORE...

Lakeeland Hotel

Group proposed renovation of Lakeland Hotel

4-27-12 The building business seems to be picking up in Willmar. Willmar Planning and Development Director Bruce Peterson says in the first quarter of 2012 building was picking up in all areas of the city, up about 50% over the 1st quarter of 2011. The Willmar Community Development Committee yesterday learned Rick Goodeman of the Southwest Minnesota Housing MORE...

Vikings stadium bill becomes bargaining chip

4-27-12 Leaders of the Minnesota Legislature have said they'll try
to finish the 2012 session by next Monday, but it's looking less likely. The
Vikings stadium bill has been at least temporarily put on hold, while
Republicans apparently try to use it as a lever to get Governor Dayton to
agree to business property tax reductions. Carleton College analyst MORE...

Mannequin passenger (facebook)

Woman cited for driving with mannequin

4-27-12 It's not something you see everyday. A woman was cited
Thursday for car-pooling with a mannequin in the fast lane. A State Patrol
trooper spotted the mannequin in the back seat of the woman's car in the
MnPASS lane south of Minneapolis. According to a post on the State Patrol's
Facebook page, the driver claimed she was acting on a dare. Police say MORE...

Joe Senser testifies at wife's trial

4-27-12 Today is Day Five of the Amy Senser trial. The wife
of former Viking Joe Senser is charged with criminal vehicular homicide for
allegedly hitting and killing a man as he was pouring gas into his stalled
car. On the stand Thursday, Joe Senser testified that his wife has never
lied to him in their 22-years of marriage. Prosecutors then asked Senser
whether he MORE...

Humphrey Terminal

Suspicious package leads to terminal evacuation

4-27-12 Terminal 2 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International, the former Humphrey Terminal, has been evacuated this (Fri)morning. According to airport officials, a luggage scanner detected something suspicious in a bag and the Bloomington Bomb squad has been called in. People are being asked to avoid the area if they can. In-bound planes have been MORE...

Crash kills one in St. Michael

4-27-12 The state patrol says an Otsego man was killed in a two-vehicle crash in St. Michael yesterday. At 3:14 p.m. a car and an SUV were northbound on Highway 101 when the SUV entered the car's lane and they collided. Both vehicles ended up rolling into the ditch. The Mercedes driver, 49-year-old Stan Tarasov of Otsego was killed. He was not wearing his seatbelt. The Car driver, 50-year-old Brian Sticher of Princeton was wearing his belt and escaped with had minor injuries. (KWLM)

New family given quilts as housewarming gifts

Keys handed over to new Habitat family in Willmar

4-26-12 The keys to the newest Habitat For Humanity House in Willmar were turned over to it's new owners yesterday afternoon. The house in northwest Willmar was built over the past 10 months by volunteers and members of the Ridgewater College Carpentry and Electricians program for the Hassan Jirow and Ibado Anshur Family. With 7 bedrooms, MORE...

Vikings Stadium Bill in doubt due to addition of racinos

4-26-12 Backers of slot machines at Minnesota's two horse tracks
put a "racino" measure in a Vikings stadium bill but sponsors of the stadium
package will likely have an opportunity to try to remove it in yet another
Senate committee this morning (10am start). They warn it will pull
much-needed votes away from the bill, because Minnesota's MORE...

Harlan Madsen

Plume of contaminants moving toward Shakopee Creek

4-26-12 The Kandiyohi County Board last week got an update on the plume of contaminants underneath the landfill. County Commissioner Harlan Madsen says Gary Gilbert, engineer with Environmental Concepts briefed the board at their April 17th meeting and said the plume continues to move laterally toward Shakopee Creek. Gilbert said the MORE...

Kjergaard confident i-Pads on the way to Willmar

4-26-12 Willmar Schools Superintendent Jerry Kjergaard says it's almost a sure thing that all Willmar High School Juniors and Seniors will have i-Pads next school year. Kjergaard says the district has come up with a 15-to-20 page i-Pad policy handbook covering the rules and responsiblities for students, staff and parents. A group called i-Cardinal MORE...

Come to the Twin Cities for a cheap vacation

4-25-12 The Twin Cities area is the second most affordable vacation
spot in America. That, according to Livability-dot-Com, which notes the
Minneapolis-St. Paul area's plethura of free parks, a science museum,
historic neighborhoods and the Mall of America. The survey rates
Louisville, Kentucky as the number one vacation city in the country. (MNN)

Come to the Twin Cities for a cheap vacation

Unemployment rate around 9% in Renville County

4-25-12 A more focused snapshot of unemployment around Minnesota
has been released. The state's seasonally-adjusted jobless rate came in at
five-point-eight-percent during March. Breaking down the numbers by region,
the highest unemployment remains in north-central Minnesota -- from Kanabec's
13-point-three-percent to Clearwater County's MORE...

Fireworks bill getting close to passage

4-25-12 A bill that would legalize fireworks in Minnesota similar
to Wisconsin is on its way to Governor Dayton's desk after the Senate passed
the measure. Cities and counties could still enact ordinances regulating
fireworks -- and aerial or audible devices could be only be sold or used in
the state June 1st through July 7th. East Bethel Republican MORE...

Murder-Suicide in Alexandria

4-25-12 Investigators believe the deaths of a woman and man in Alexandria last week were the result of a murder-suicide. The Douglas County sheriff says 51-year-old David Everett killed 38-year-old Sharon Love in the apartment they once shared and fled in her car. Authorities found Everett's body and Love's vehicle inside a garage near Osakis MORE...

Fire Chief Marv Calvin

Fire Chief: Swenson fire looks like an accident

4-25-12 Willmar Fire Chief Marv Calvin says at this point there's no reason to believe Monday's fire at Swenson Motors in Willmar was anything but accidental. Calvin says investigators have determined which room the fire started in but not what caused it. He says he and the insurance company are far apart on the dollar damage estimate and MORE...

MN Specialty Health System-Willmar

Willmar hospital included in HHS bill that passed the House

4-25-12 Representative Bruce Vogel says the future of the Minnesota Specialty Health System-Willmar Hospital is now in Governor Dayton's hands. The facility was actually slated to close at the end of March, prompting Vogel to write legislation to extend the closure date. The bill was included as a provision in the Health and MORE...

Urdahl ripped by Souhan over stadium statement

4-25-12 The whole Vikings stadium bill debate has left a sour taste in the mouths of two area lawmakers. Republican Representative Dean Urdahl of Grove City voted for the bill in the House Government Operations Committee last week, but the Twin Cities Media only picked up on his asking Viking's officials why the state should help pay for a stadium that a MORE...