Friday, July 10, 2026
The City of Little Falls has been notified that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) will be conducting low-level helicopter flights in and around Little Falls. USGS will be utilizing a helicopter towing geophysical data collection instruments. More information can be found on the USGS website: https://www.usgs.gov/.../media-alert-low-level-helicopter.
Morrison County Public Works announced that the Soo Line Trail will be closed July 13 and 14 from 30th Street to 450th Street south of Bowlus. Crews will be conducting soil borings in that segment. Anyone with questions may call the Morrison County Public Works Department at 320-632-0121.
A woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for fatally shooting a man in his northwest Minnesota home while she was high on meth. Jordan Carol Hanson, 24, received the 180-month sentence Wednesday in a Kittson County courtroom. She previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the March 13, 2025 shooting death of Justin Esparza, 42, in Hallock. Hanson admitted to shooting Esparza in the head with his own handgun, then leaving the scene with the man’s truck and dog. A witness told investigators that he had been smoking meth with Hanson and Esparza at the latter’s home, and that he saw Hanson shoot Esparza.
An 81-year-old Brainerd man faces a criminal citation after authorities say he shot at a black bear without a justifiable reason. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources cited Dwight Joseph Brown by mail with taking big game outside the legal hunting season, a gross misdemeanor. According to the citation, law enforcement authorities received a report on July 3 of someone shooting at a bear in a neighborhood near North Long Lake, about 10 miles north of Brainerd. DNR Conservation Officer Jim Guida responded and found no evidence the bear had caused any property damage. The animal was on someone else’s property and “not a substantial threat,” according to his report. “Shooter indicated that the bear looked at him,” Guida wrote. The bear wasn’t found, and authorities don’t know whether it was injured. A handgun and ammunition were seized as evidence, the report stated. A message left at a phone number listed for Brown was not returned. Minnesota law allows people to kill nuisance bears only in limited circumstances, such as when they’re causing significant property damage or posing an immediate danger to people or animals. Damage to bird feeders or unsecured garbage cans is not a legitimate reason. In this case, there was no evidence the bear had damaged property or was behaving aggressively, Guida said in an interview.
You know Minnesota State Fair is close when the roster of new foods is released. As ever, the lineup is a combination of social media-ready comestible chaos and dishes you’ll wish were actually on the menu at area restaurants. In 2026, the fair will have 36 official new foods and nine new vendors, with new delicacies like a pickle pie, cheese curd lumpia, and Fruity Pebbles-covered blue moon shaved ice. There is a surf and turf with lobster and ground beef, a walking chopped Italian grinder, Hmong corndog, Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries, a vegan “butcher” shop of items, Cubano style, special ideas from ice cream, shaved ice, cakes and even donuts and more, all can be found online at https://www.mnstatefair.org/new/food/.
A Reminder that the local Disabled American Veterans Chapter 12 still has their clothing drop off on Friday's like today from 9-12pm at the address of 609 4th Avenue Northeast. If you have large numbers of items make sure they are in clean long garbage bags or call Tim Tabatt to pick them up.
Join the Upsala Upstage Players for their summer musical Tarzan July 17th, 18th and 20th at 7pm and July 19th at 2pm at the Upsala High School. The presentation is based on the Broadway musical based on the Disney movie of the late 90s. Tickets at the door for $12, cheaper for seniors and students more details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/upsalaupstage/.
Weekend events include the Swanville Mid Summer Carnival starting Friday at 5pm Chicken BBQ, Midway at 6pm and music, Saturday midway and events at 3pm with live bands at night, carnival of rides start at noon on Sunday after the parade at 11:30am come and enjoy 3 full nights and all day Sunday of the carnival this weekend in Swanville. The largest open mic show is Saturday 2-9pm at the Iron Street Distillery in St. Cloud to help Place of Hope Ministries to the homeless and those in need, see Charlie Roth, Matt Vee, Jeff Engholm, Paul Imholte, Paul "Stretch" Diethelm and more 25 musicians, three stages all free to come and view, donations encouraged to help their causes and there are kids events bounce houses and Professor Shake-a-Leg will be there come and enjoy the day in St. Cloud on Saturday for Places of Hope. Bethany Lutheran Church of Ramey has a chicken and ham dinner Sunday at 11am at the church for all to enjoy followed by their fancy work auction at 1pm, all in their air conditioned hall. More events can be found by going to fallsradio.com and click on the community calendar.
Weather: partly cloudy skies, more humid, high 84, chance of isolated showers and storms, better chance in the evening tonight, then clearing low around 63. Sunny and muggy Saturday, high 88, clear and humid night low 67. Sunny Sunday high 90, low near 70, Sunny Monday and muggy, high 91, low near 72. Tuesday sunny and hot, high 92, low around 71. Some thunderstorms Wednesday high near 90, low around 68. Sunny and hot next Thursday and Friday highs in the upper 80s, lows in the mid 60s.
Sports: Bailey Ober returned to the mound off injury Thursday and got no run support as Cleveland beat the Twins 5-2 Thursday at Target Field, Twins had 3 hits in the game, 2 from Royce Lewis including a homerun. Twins host LA Angels Friday at 7:10pm then 1:10pm games Saturday and Sunday before the All Star Break next week. Lynx host New York Liberty Saturday at noon. Sauk Rapids beat the Little Falls American Legion last night 13-4 in baseball. Little Falls faces Albany in Avon on Tuesday night. Victory League back after over a week off as Ft. Ripley at Nisswa Friday night at 7pm, Freeport at Aitkin Saturday at 1:30pm then 9 games scheduled for Sunday around the league, including Nisswa at Pierz Lakers KLTF Game of the Week at 1:30pm Sunday on KLTF and streamed at fallsradio.com.