Monday, September 7, 2026
Today is Labor Day. A Federal Holiday so all government agencies are closed, post offices closed no regular mail delivery, some parcel delivery services are running today. Banks are closed. Many offices and businesses reportedly have decided to be closed today to check ahead. Most stores are open today. Most schools are closed and back in session or start school for the year tomorrow. A reminder that travel is expected to be congested at times as many return home from the long holiday weekend. The offices at Little Falls Radio are closed today and reopen again on Tuesday.
The Labor Day Holiday weekend is here and already it has started deadly on Minnesota roadways. On Friday, an 84-year-old from Kansas was killed in Rice County, at least one person from Cottage Grove died in a two-vehicle accident in St. Louis County, a 19-year-old was killed in an accident in Norman County and two people from Rochester including a 5 year old was killed in an accident in Olmsted County on Thursday with the others on Friday. Extra law enforcement will be out in force on Minnesota Roadways all the way through Monday night watching for impaired an distracted drivers. Two more fatal accidents were reported on Saturday one in Washington and another in Wabasha County. Even more fatal accidents happened on Sunday including one in Otter Tail County and another in Bloomington when an SUV struck a three wheel motorcycle. More accidents were also reported with critical and non life threatening injuries again a very deadly and accident filled Labor Day Holiday Weekend.
Five railcars from a Union Pacific train derailed in Savage Sunday evening. According to Union Pacific, there were no injuries reported and its crews are responding to the incident. The company said the railcars were empty. The derailment occurred around 6pm according to the company. No other details released.
A four-vehicle crash on Highway 10 on Friday afternoon sent one passenger to the hospital. The crash took place about 1:40 p.m. near Rice. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a minivan being driven by 44-year-old Rachel Goodier of Excelsior, a pickup being driven by 49-year-old Brian Lindner of Sartell, an SUV being driven by 72-year-old Suzanne Haroldson of Woodbury, and a second SUV being driven by 22-year-old Morgan Kreuser of Sartell were all westbound on Highway 10 when they collided. A passenger in Haroldson's vehicle, 70-year-old Garlen Haroldson of Woodbury, was taken to St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls with non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was hurt in the crash.
Only one person was hurt in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 94 on Friday afternoon. The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. near Melrose. The Minnesota State Patrol says a minivan being driven by 57-year-old Kristen Setterberg Swanson of Roseville, a car being driven by 69-year-old Thomas Fox of Rochester, and an SUV being driven by 42-year-old Ashley Hauff of Apple Valley were all going west on the interstate when they crashed. Setterburg Swanson was taken to Melrose Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was injured.
As if backing a trailer straight wasn’t enough of a challenge, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is advising those on the water to take extra care at public access sites throughout the state. The DNR says nearly all of the state is experiencing some level of drought, with conditions ranging from moderate to extreme drought. Forty-eight percent of Minnesota in severe drought. This has led to challenges at public water access sites throughout the state. This can be tricky, especially for those operating larger watercraft with longer trailers. They may face difficulties launching and retrieving at shallow boat ramps. Low water levels may also expose additional or unmarked obstructions at the ramp. That could include stumps, rocks, holes, sand bars, and other damage caused by power loading. The DNR says boaters who rely on lifts or private docks should stay alert to changing water levels and be familiar with the boat removal options available locally.
Minnesota waterfowl hunters get their first shots of the season this weekend. Early teal season runs Saturday, September 5th through Wednesday, September 9th, with shooting hours from sunrise to sunset. The early goose season, open statewide, runs September 5th through September 20th. The DNR says the printed hunting and trapping regulations booklet lists the wrong dates for the central zone, which takes in the St. Cloud area. The booklet says the second half of the central zone duck season runs October 11th through November 30th. The correct dates are October 10th through November 29th. The online version has been corrected. Waterfowl rules are no longer printed on their own. The DNR folded them into the main hunting and trapping regulations booklet this year, which is available online and wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Teal hunting is restricted on wild rice waters inside the Mille Lacs, Leech Lake and White Earth reservations. Hunters planning to be on those waters should contact the tribal authority for that reservation before opening day.
After a great start with records on the 27th and 28th of August at the Minnesota State Fair and a good weekend last week the Fair had very low turnout Monday through Thursday with barely topping the 100,000 mark each day. They rebounded a bit with 155,000 on Friday, then really got busy Saturday with over 217,000 crossing the gates but still not a record breaking day. Fair officials believe that the warmer and more humid days last week, many schools returning to session and pre labor day travel is believed to be some the reasons for the decline at the Fair that runs through today with the Fair announcing there will be a lot of last day deals on Labor Day to take in at the fair.
With city of Little Falls offices closed today for Labor Day the Little Falls City Council will meet on Tuesday night at 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers.
The St. Stephen Catholic Church in St. Stephen with Father Patrick Hoeft has their parish festival all day on Labor Day today events start at 10am and auctions begins at 12pm. Check out more events at fallsradio.com and click on community calendar.
Death Notices: Beatrice F. Heinz, age 97 of Little Falls. Loretta Moran, age 88 of Little Falls.
Weather: mostly cloudy skies, high near 80, spotty showers at times during the day, stronger showers and thunderstorms are possible after 4pm. Showers and thunderstorms tonight, some with gusty winds and heavy rains in areas, low around 64. Tuesday morning showers, then sunny, still a bit humid, high 82, clearing and cooler Tuesday night low 57. Wednesday partly sunny and breezy, cooler, high 73, clear and cool Wednesday night low 48. Sunny and warmer Thursday, high 78, clear Thursday night low 58. Sunny and warm Friday, high 81, showers Friday night low 60. Showers at times Saturday, high 74 and breezy, clear and 50 Saturday night. Few showers Sunday, high 75, storms likely Sunday night low around 53.
Sports: Jordan eliminated Sobieski 3-1 Saturday night in Class B State Baseball ending the Skis season and all teams from the Victory League have been eliminated from the tournament. Coon Rapids won in 10 innings over Sartell for Class A title Sunday. Fairmont beat Elrosa 5-4 for Class C Title Sunday night. Plato and Watertown go for B title today. White Sox beat the Twins 4-1 on Friday, Ryan Jeffers hit a 3 run homer and Twins win 6-4 on Saturday. White Sox shell the Twins 10-1 on Sunday to take the series in Chicago. Twins are at Detroit today at 2:10pm. High School Football Friday- Pierz 61-7 over Sauk Centre, Upsala-Swanville beat Parkers Prairie 30-8 and Annandale beat Little Falls 28-8. On Thursday Royalton 32-26 over Kimball and Holdingford held off Cathedral 7-6 in week 1 of high school football. Harrison Smith has resigned with the Vikings for a 15th season and will play Sunday in the opener against Green Bay at 3:25pm live on KLTF also the Season Opener is Wednesday night New England at Seattle at 7pm also live on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.