Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Wildfires burning across the northern part of the state have prompted the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to issue an air quality alert for unsafe air across much of the region, which went into effect Tuesday and will last until late Friday morning on the 17th. Along with an Extreme Heat Warning that remains in effect through 9pm Thursday night. Forecasters say hot temperatures combined with air pollution will exacerbate health impacts. According to officials, heavy smoke is expected across the Arrowhead on Tuesday, as large wildfires continue to spread. A frontal boundary will then spread smoke farther south Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, as it moves across northern and central Minnesota. The onset of smoke is expected to be rapid. Additional rounds of heavy smoke are possible from Thursday through Friday morning across the alert area. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the maroon air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered hazardous for everyone, across northeast Minnesota. Those levels are expected to reach the red category, a step lower but still considered unhealthy for everyone, across central Minnesota, including St. Cloud, and continuing into the Twin Cities and Winona. In the red category, everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors. There are at least 17 wild fires burning in northern Minnesota and the Governor called out the National Guard to help in suppressing the fires.
Four people were killed Monday in an accident on Highway 95 in Mille Lacs County in Princeton Township. The State Patrol reported 80-year-old Marilyn Marshall of Princeton was traveling westbound when she crossed the center line and collided head on with 60-year-old Jeffrey Geisler of Princeton. Both drivers, and two of Geisler's passengers 57-year-old Susan Geisler and 16-year-old Steven Geisler died in the accident either at the scene or North Memorial in the Twin Cities. It was reported that Marshall also was not wearing a seatbelt, and some of the passengers in the Geisler vehicle may also not been wearing seatbelts. 18-year-old Janessa Geisler remains in critical condition at North Memorial Medical Center. A third vehicle was involved in the accident, but that driver managed to escape with no serious injuries.
Police Departments across the state of Minnesota are reporting a large uptick in theft from a motor vehicles. St. Cloud and Waite Park in the past two weeks said that locked vehicles had their windows smashed in and in many cases it is medicines and prescription drugs that were taken, some money and other items. In some cases it was reported the vehicles in stores parking lots were left unlocked and items were quickly taken from the vehicles. If you are noticing suspicious activity around vehicles do not hesitate to call 911 so police and law enforcement can get to the scene as soon as possible. Investigators have started looking into the fact that some of these crimes could be connected and working to find suspects could depend on the public watching for these crimes to occur.
A St. Cloud woman has been arrested after a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian in Monticello. Wright County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the intersection of County Road 18 NE and Oak Ridge Drive on Friday just before 7:30am. The sheriff's office says a man and his dog were struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene. The vehicle was described as a metallic blue Subaru Forester. The man was taken to North Memorial Hospital for treatment, but his dog did not survive the incident. Sheriff's office investigators were able to identify the suspect as 62-year-old Denise Lagou of St. Cloud. Lagou was arrested and booked into the Wright County Jail for probable cause of leaving the scene of a crash with injuries.
On Monday evening the Stearns County Sheriff's Office was asking for the public's assistance in locating a missing person. Ronald Thomas Statz, 73, was last seen in the area of the 28000 block of County Road 9north of Richmond. He is 6-2, 160 pounds, and has brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans a white or gray t-shirt. Anyone with information is asked to call 320-251-4240. It was reported late Monday into early Tuesday morning that Statz was found safe and the sheriff's office thanked everyone who helped in the search for him, again he was located safe.
A fire that tore through a Rosemount church Monday has left its congregation devastated, just months after its members moved into the space. Leaders of Minnesota Debre Bisrat St. Gabriel and Arsema Ethiopian Orthodox Church said they purchased the building about six months ago, after outgrowing their former location in St. Paul. Members spent months renovating the space before officially opening their doors in April “We put a lot of hard work into it,” deacon Dagam Tilhun said. "Everyone was here sleepless, 24/7." The church had been home to the congregation for three months before the fire destroyed the building on Monday. Church leaders said it remains unclear how the fire started or whether the building can be rebuilt. “It’s really sad. It’s heartbreaking," Tilhun said. "Seen a lot of people here crying." The loss is also affecting people with memories of the building that go back decades. Lareen Narva of Lakeville said she attended Sunday school there as a child, got married there and watched her children grow up participating in church activities. Despite the loss, current members said they are trying to find hope in the heartbreak. “We built this church basically from the ground up, remodeled everything," Tilhun said. "There’s nothing we can’t do if we all stand together." Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that no one was hurt in the fire.
There is an ice cream social tonight at Graham United Methodist Church in Rice from 5-8:30pm there will also be burgers, hot dogs, beans and more in the meal with ice cream, adults $12, kids are cheaper, that is tonight in Rice. Community Garden Walk is today 3-8pm starting at Linden Hill in Little Falls along with many other gardens around the area, maps can be picked up at Linden Hill this is a fundraiser, $10 is the price to view all the gardens in the Community Garden Walk, again that is today starting at 3pm, they do ask that you arrived before 6:30pm so you can get to all the gardens before 8pm tonight. More details on events can be found at fallsradio.com on the community calendar.
Weather: Extreme Heat Warning in effect through Thursday 9pm, an Air Quality Alert is in effect through 11am Friday. Today, sunny and hot, areas of thick smoke possible, high 94, clear tonight low 68. Sunny and hot on Thursday, with areas of smoke, high 93, clear Thursday night low 68. Friday sunny and hot, again areas of smoke possible, high 94, clear Friday night low around 68. Saturday sunny and hot, high near 90, clear Saturday night low around 64. Sunny and hot again on Sunday with high near 91, low around 63. Monday thunderstorms possible, bit cooler, high 86, low around 62.
Sports: American League shut down the National League last night 4-0 in the MLB All Star Game, 11 pitchers from the AL allowed only 3 hits in the entire game from the NL, even Twin Joe Ryan struck out two in his 1 inning of work. White Sox Miguel Vargas hit a homer, and Yankees Cody Bellinger was the game MVP last night. The Twins return to action Friday night at Chicago Cubs. The Minnesota Lynx host Los Angeles Sparks Wednesday in WNBA action. Spain beat France 2-0 in the World Cup semi-finals and advances to the finals to play either England or Argentina who play today. Little Falls VFW opens playoffs Wednesday 11am against St. Cloud Blue in Little Falls. Albany held off Little Falls American Legion 3-2 last night in Avon, Little Falls host St. Cloud 76ers Thursday night, playoffs for the Legion start July 20th. Victory League Game of the Week Opole at Royalton at 1:30pm Sunday on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.