>>Blizzard warning for SW Minnesota, dangerous wind chills statewide to follow
(Chanhassen, MN) — Snow is picking up in parts of southern Minnesota with a blizzard warning in effect tonight through Saturday night in the southwest part of the state. Joe Calderone at the National Weather Service says heaviest accumulations — maybe 4 to 6 inches — will be limited to southeast Minnesota, including Red Wing and Rochester, and over to Albert Lea — with less in the Twin Cities and tapering off by Saint Cloud. And then, temperatures drop. Calderone says, “A lot of the state is actually gonna remain below zero from late Saturday evening all the way through to late morning Tuesday.” Those are air temperatures, with wind chills 25- to 35-below statewide from early morning Sunday through early morning Tuesday. That is dangerous cold. Anyone outdoors should be well bundled up, and travelers should have a fully-charged cell phone and emergency provisions with them.
>>Energy-saving tips for cold snap
(Undated) — Worried about keeping the warm air in your home during this weekend’s arctic blast? CenterPoint Energy’s Joshua Solis recommends closing window coverings and blinds, which helps insulate against the cold air outside. He says air leaks can also be sealed pretty easily with caulking or weatherstripping. And adjusting the rotation and speed of your ceiling fan can help circulate hot air trapped near the ceiling.
>>Man Dead After Truck Breaks Through Mille Lacs Lake Ice
(Mille Lacs County, MN) — A man is dead after his truck broke through the ice on Mille Lacs Lake this morning (FRI). Deputies went to the Flagship Inn around 10:50 a.m. on a call of a man wearing a flotation device stuck in the water after his truck had fallen through the ice. 80-year-old Richard Francis of Isle was pulled out of the water but died at the hospital.
>>2 Fishermen on UTV Rescued from Icy Waters of Upper Red Lake
(Otto, MN) — Another ice rescue on Upper Red Lake in northern Minnesota. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office says two ice fishermen on a U-T-V broke through the ice Thursday evening and bystanders used a rope to pull them out of the water. First responders treated the two 67-year-old men for hypothermia and exposure at a lodge and one man was taken to a Bemidji hospital for further treatment and a broken hand. Officials say ice conditions are improving with colder weather, but remain inconsistent in some areas.
>>Officials urge extreme caution during “Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend”
(Undated) — It’s “Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend” in Minnesota tomorrow (Sat) through Monday but DNR officials are asking anglers to use extreme caution. The DNR’s Benji Kohn says as of now, he wouldn’t venture out on any ice from St. Cloud south. He says some northern lakes have finally frozen in, but even in that part of the state he advises people call an area resort and double-check where the ice is safe. Kohn says if you do venture out, wear a life jacket or float coat, bring proper safety gear including ice picks, and never go out alone. And be sure to let someone know about your trip plans and expected return time.
>>Woman Dead in Fatal Head-On Crash in Beltrami County
(Beltrami County, MN) — A 76-year-old woman is dead after a head-on crash in Beltrami County this morning (Friday). Authorities say a Buick Verano traveling east on a local road collided head-on with a Ford pickup heading west. Despite life-saving measures, the Buick’s driver was dead at the scene. The driver of the pickup sustained minor injuries.
>>Over 2400 impaired drivers arrested in Minnesota during holiday season
(Undated) — Law enforcement from 279 agencies statewide arrested over 24-hundred impaired drivers during the holiday season stretching from November 22nd through New Year’s Eve, which compares to roughly 22-hundred in the same period last year. In the Twin Cities area, the Lakeville Police Department reported the highest blood alcohol content in an arrest at .46, with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office reporting the highest BAC in Greater Minnesota at .36. The Minnesota State Patrol in both the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota was the agency with the highest number of DWI arrests, with their west metro district making 204 arrests and their Rochester district with 65.
>>Minnesotans join neighboring Wisconsin to remember Senator Herb Kohl
(Milwaukee, WI) — Minnesotans are joining neighboring Wisconsin today (Fri) to remember former long-time Senator Herb Kohl at today’s (Fri) memorial service in the home of the Milwaukee Bucks — the N-B-A team Kohl owned for almost 30 years. Video footage seen for the first time at today’s service told Kohl’s philosophy in his own words. Kohl said, “When you think about it, if you’re lucky enough and fortunate enough to amass some level of resources, what do you do with it, if you don’t give it away? So I’d rather give it away for good reasons and good purposes, and then leave it when I’m gone to continue the work.” Former M-L-B Commissioner Bud Selig, Kohl’s friend since childhood, lauded him as “a man… of great loyalty and intensity” with a great feeling for people.
>>Maple Grove Felon Indicted for $10M Investment Fraud Scheme
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Maple Grove man, 50-year-old Aditya Sharma, has been charged with defrauding investors and financial institutions of over $10 million. The founder of Crosscode Inc., Sharma is accused of intentionally manipulating and falsely inflating financial records from 2017 to 2019. Sharma is said to have applied for nearly $9.25 million in funding from Minnesota lenders and finance companies during the multi-year scheme. The charges include four counts of wire fraud and two counts of bank fraud.
>SUV and Snowplow Collide on Icy Highway 169 in St. Louis County
(Tower, MN) — Authorities in St. Louis County are investigating a crash between an S-U-V and a snowplow Thursday afternoon near Tower. The Minnesota State Patrol says a vehicle driven by Joan Smerage of Winona lost control on icy Highway 169, started spinning and struck the plow truck head-on. Smerage was taken to a hospital in Virginia with non-life threatening injuries. The snowplow operator wasn’t hurt.
>>Investigators Probing Dead Swans Found In Western Minnesota
(Stevens County, MN) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for help with an investigation into the death of more than a dozen swans in western Minnesota. The swans were reportedly killed between December 16th and 17th in Stevens County. Swans are among the species protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Investigators say they rely on tips from the public to help solve these cases, and anyone with information is being asked to contact the Fish and Wildlife Service.