>>Stearns County Jail Inmate Allegedly Assaults Staff, Rips Sink from Wall
(St. Cloud, MN) – A Stearns County Jail inmate is accused of assaulting officers and pulling a sink off the wall of his cell. According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to reports of flooding after the inmate allegedly damaged the sink and refused to cooperate. When officers entered the cell to remove the 28-year-old inmate, he allegedly punched two officers in the head. The complaint says both officers suffered visible injuries. The inmate is now facing two felony counts of fourth-degree assault of a peace officer.
>>Review Hearing Scheduled for Rochester Man Convicted of Family Murders
(Rochester, MN) – A review hearing has been scheduled for a Rochester man convicted of killing his family with an axe more than 30 years ago. David Brom was released from prison in July under a work-release program after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling found that life sentences without the possibility of parole for crimes committed by juveniles are unconstitutional. Brom was 16 at the time of the murders. His review hearing is set for January 27th.
>>Snowmobiles Break Through Ice on Lake Vermillion
(Tower, MN) – Six people on snowmobiles broke through the ice on Lake Vermillion near Tower, Minnesota, Sunday night. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the four snowmobiles went through the ice near a pressure ridge that had formed on a marked trail near the Tavern on the Bay. Authorities say four adults and two kids were involved. All of them were able to make it back onto the ice on their own or with the assistance of customers from the tavern. Five people were taken to the hospital to be treated for exposure.
>>Several Structures Destroyed by Fire in Central Minnesota
(Miltona, MN) – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a house fire Sunday afternoon near Miltona, north of Alexandria. The homeowner says the house was evacuated after he noticed smoke and flames around 3:45 p.m. When deputies arrived on scene, they say that a shed, carport, and SUV were already destroyed, and the west side of the house was on fire. The house is a total loss because of the fire, smoke, and water damage. The homeowner told emergency responders he plugged an extension cord into the vehicle’s block heater about an hour before noticing the fire. A Douglas County Public Works snowplow operator was nearby and helped clear snow drifts so emergency vehicles could get to the scene.
>>Blowing and Drifting Snow in the Forecast Across Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) – Blowing and drifting snow is expected across much of Minnesota today. While the biggest snowstorm of the winter season is winding down, strong winds will continue to create difficult travel conditions. High temperatures will struggle to reach 12 degrees, with wind chills making it feel well below zero for much of the day. Skies are expected to clear by this afternoon, but colder air will remain in place. A warmup arrives tomorrow, with highs climbing into the mid-to-upper 20s.
>>MN Gas Prices Fall for 5th Straight Week
(Undated) – For the fifth straight week, the national average price of gasoline has declined. GasBuddy says oil prices have remained relatively low, even amid the U.S. blockade on Venezuela’s exports. They say the lower trend could persist a bit longer before prices finally bottom out sometime in January or February. Average gasoline prices in Minnesota have fallen 5.7 cents in the last week, averaging $2.62 per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 4.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.75 per gallon. The national average price of diesel has decreased 5.4 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.52 per gallon.
>>MN Wild Continue 7 Game Road Trip in Las Vegas
(Las Vegas, NV) – The Minnesota Wild play the Golden Knights late tonight at 9 p.m. in Las Vegas. The Wild opened a seven-game road trip with a 4-3 overtime win at Winnipeg on Saturday night. Mats Zuccarello scored the game-tying goal with 22 seconds remaining, and Matt Boldy netted the game-winner 39 seconds into OT. Minnesota beat Vegas in overtime the first time the teams met last month in St Paul.
>>Mall of America Hosts Special New Year’s Eve Countdowns for Kids
(Bloomington, MN) – The Mall of America will host two kid-friendly New Year’s Eve countdowns in Nickelodeon Universe on Wednesday. The celebrations will begin at noon and 6:30 p.m. Before each countdown, the Nickelodeon team will lead a festive character parade through the park, starting at the East Entrance and ending at the South Entrance. Families can also purchase a regular unlimited ride wristband and receive a pair of 2026 light-up glasses while supplies last.
