>>St. Louis County Board to Consider State of Local Disaster
(Virginia, MN) — The St. Louis County Board will consider a resolution declaring a State of Local Disaster during an emergency meeting this morning (Thurs 10am) in Virginia. Officials say it’s in response to the heavy rainfall and flash flooding Tuesday that washed out roads and damaged public infrastructure. A total of 43 roads were closed in St. Louis County — 32 in the northern third of the county. Highway 1 was washed out and remains closed about 15 miles west of Tower and six miles east of Ely.
>>7 Entry Points to BWCA Totally or Partially Closed
(Duluth, MN) — Superior National Forest officials have totally or partially closed seven entry points into the B-W-C-A Wilderness due to washouts and/or fallen trees from Tuesday’s storm that brought extremely heavy rains. Spokesman Tim Engrav says “These areas are directly impacted and people… won’t be able to get into them or across them until we get some repairs made.” Engrav says B-W-C-A visitors with reservations are being contacted directly by e-mail with instructions.
The B-W-C-A entry points currently inaccessible where permits have been cancelled and suspended include:
- Trout Lake Overnight Motor and Day Use Motor Entry Point #1 inaccessible due to washouts and the motorized portage not being able to operate on the
road/trail. Overnight paddle permits are still being issued and the canoe portage is open.
- Slim Lake Entry Point #6 inaccessible due to washouts on the North Arm of Burntside Road.
- From Big Lake Entry Point #7 inaccessible due to washouts on the boat access road.
- Stuart River Entry Point #19 inaccessible due to the east Echo Trail closure and fallen trees.
- Angleworm Lake Entry Point #20 and Angleworm Trail Entry Point #21 inaccessible due to the east Echo Trail closure and fallen trees.
- Mudro Lake Entry Point #23 inaccessible due to a major washout on the Grassy Road.
- South Hegman Lake Entry Point #77 inaccessible due to the east Echo Trail closure and fallen trees.
>>Smith Disappointed by ‘Little Progress’ on New Farm Bill in Congress
(Minneapolis, MN) — U-S Senator Tina Smith says she’s disappointed there’s been “so little progress” on a new Farm Bill this year — and indicates part of the problem is funding for nutrition programs including SNAP (food stamps). The Minnesota Democrat says, “the Republicans in the House — and also in the Senate — are looking to cut the nutrition programs and we just can’t go along with that.” Smith says particularly when so many Minnesotans are worried about where their next meal will come from. Senate Republicans say their Farm Bill framework modernizes the farm “safety net”… facilitates access to overseas markets… fosters breakthroughs in ag research… and grows rural communities — while making historic investments in conservation as well as protecting nutrition programs.”
>>Twins Pay Tribute to Fallen MPD Officer Mitchell at Target Field
(Minneapolis, MN) — A hero’s tribute to fallen Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell before last night’s (Wed) Twins game at Target Field. A video played on the big screens honored Mitchell’s life and legacy. More than a hundred fellow officers lined the first and third base lines with the Twins and Rays players during the national anthem. Many were wearing black t-shirts with Mitchell’s badge number 4819 and a blue line on it. The Twins made a ten-thousand-dollar donations to Mitchell’s family. Team officials say Mitchell was recently hired as a gameday officer at Target Field before he was killed in the line of duty.
>>Fergus Falls Police Officer Breaks Leg While Making an Arrest
(Fergus Falls, MN) — A Fergus Falls police officer is recovering after their leg was broken during an arrest. According to court documents, the Fergus Falls officer stopped a vehicle for dark tint Monday evening and the driver, 62-year-old Joseph Cross, reached toward his side, in what appeared to be an attempt to hide an object. Cross ignored commands to keep his hands visible, and the officer ordered him to get out of the car. Cross refused, and the officer started to pull him from the car. Cross fought with the officer and was brought to the ground. Cross repeatedly pushed the officer against the ground until other officers arrived. The officer was taken to the hospital with a broken fibula and multiple scrapes. Police found 3.5 grams of methamphetamine on Cross and arrested him for resisting arrest and drug possession.
>>Vandals Open Fire Hydrants in Cokato, Wasting Million Gallons of City Water
(Cokato, MN) — Officials in Wright County are blaming vandals for wasting more than a million gallons of the municipal water supply in Cokato. Firefighters were called out multiple times overnight Saturday for fire hydrants opened throughout the city. The fire department says this is depleting the water supply which can be a major threat if there’s a fire. They’re warning that open fire hydrants can wreck roadways and property and cause potential flooding concerns. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.
>>First McLeod County Pride Picnic Saturday in Hutchinson
(Hutchinson, MN) — The first-ever McLeod County Pride Picnic is planned for Saturday (10am-5pm) at Rotary Park in Hutchinson. Organizer Tommi Lynez Smith says they had a small pride gathering with about 70 people last year and are expecting around 300 this weekend. She says the goal is to socialize and get to know who our neighbors and allies are. There has been some negativity and pushback to the event on social media – but Smith says most comments have been supportive. It is a potluck picnic and there will also be a Gouda Q barbecue food truck.
>>Woman Hurt in 3-Wheeled Motorcycle Crash on I-90 near Rochester
(Dover, MN) — A woman from western Wisconsin is hospitalized in Rochester after a three-wheeled motorcycle crash Wednesday on Interstate 90 in southeastern Minnesota. The State Patrol says a Can Am Spyder driven by 58-year-old James Gierok of Whitehall lost control on westbound on I-90 near Dover and his passenger, 56-year-old Angela Gierok, fell off the back and landed on the roadway. The report says Angela was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Both riders were wearing helmets.
