Recent content from Jenny Berg
350-pound teacher stood on sixth-grader's back, injuring boy, charges say
Jason L. Rogers of Underwood was charged with one gross misdemeanor count of malicious punishment of a child.

At ticketed event, Rep. Fischbach gets questions about federal funding cuts, tariffs
Attendees at Thursday event were outnumbered by protesters outside Ottertail resort.

Long Prairie school board members bring superintendent back into fold — but remain tight-lipped about turmoil
The board approved a one-year contract extension for Daniel Ludvigson, as well as new details for how he will share duties with the interim leader.

Suspect arrested with 'fresh cut' on his hand charged in St. Cloud stabbing death
Marquis J. Fisher faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Shane M. Brunner, 36, of St. Cloud.
Minnesota man sentenced to six years for meth-fueled crash that killed mom driving child to day care
Chad J. Seitz of Coon Rapids crossed the centerline of a Stearns County highway, causing a woman to be partially ejected from her vehicle.

St. Cloud State looks to sell historic Selke Field
The athletics space is enclosed by granite walls built during the Works Progress Administration era.

Parole board denies release for Rocori school shooter, accomplice in vicious Minneapolis murder
Jason McLaughlin and Brian Flowers were juveniles when they were sentenced to life in prison for murder. Under a new Minnesota law, they had their cases considered by a newly established parole eligibility board.

St. Cloud State wants to raze buildings to create green spaces, cohesive campus
St. Cloud State and the Minnesota State system seek $25M from the Legislature to demolish old dorms and unused educational spaces at several campuses across the state.

St. Cloud swimmer with a record in hand has another in mind
Micah Davis holds the state mark in the 100-yard butterfly and has his eye on the national number. Also in the realm of possibility: the 2028 Olympics.
Man fired shotgun at Stearns County deputies during standoff, charges say
Nicholas Kaufenberg of Paynesville faces felony charges stemming from domestic-assault call. A shotgun pellet hit a deputy's safety glasses.

New St. Cloud mayor doubtful city will be reimbursed $200K for Trump rally
Trump's campaign and the Secret Service are playing hot potato with the $209,000 bill.

Warrant issued for second man wanted in St. Cloud shooting death
A 17-year-old died at the scene and a 19-year-old is still in critical condition two weeks later.

Long Prairie's new school board votes to reinstate beloved superintendent — if he will come back
After several clashes with the popular superintendent, the school board in the fall relieved him of duties. Voters removed his main detractor.
Teen charged with second-degree murder in St. Cloud shooting
Bernard Bowens is the third 19-year-old facing felony charges for the fatal shooting.
St. Cloud man gets nearly 16 years in prison for shooting through wall during standoff
Nine officers were in the apartment hallway shortly before Shawn Jacobs fired his weapon, documents state.
Sherburne County moves to end all DEI activities
Vote by the county board in central Minnesota follows executive order signed by Trump.
Two teens charged in fatal St. Cloud shooting
A pair of 19-year-olds face felony charges for aiding and abetting the Sunday shooting at an apartment building.

St. Cloud school board member resigns
The central Minnesota board appointed a former member to fill the seat vacated by Bruce Hentges until a special election is held in November.
Teen dead, another in critical condition after shooting in St. Cloud apartment
Officials say those involved in the shooting knew each other.

Man found guilty of fatally stabbing Waite Park woman at her apartment
A Stearns County judge found 30-year-old Jarquez J. Bedford guilty of first-degree murder.

Sartell City Council member arrested on suspicion of drunken driving
Rustin Deters was arrested after driving erratically a few days after being sworn in as a council member.

Meet St. Cloud's new mayor, a 'Jeopardy' junkie known for his smarts, collaboration
The 45-year-old IT project manager was sworn in as St. Cloud mayor on Monday by now-former Mayor Dave Kleis.

St. Cloud refugee nonprofit under scrutiny for not following charity laws
Attorney General Keith Ellison reached a settlement requiring compliance with St. Cloud-based Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization.
Three arrested, one sought in $100K Sherburne County home burglary
Four people were charged in the Dec. 18 burglary but one of the suspects is believed to have fled to Mexico.

The Minnesota mayor who once held a 24-hour town hall steps away from the job
Longtime St. Cloud mayor Dave Kleis plans to continue traveling the world in retirement, but he'll still be around and active in central Minnesota.
Minnesota baby store owner pleads guilty to $9M fraud scheme
Adelle Starin of Sartell owns Baby's on Broadway in downtown St. Cloud and Little Falls.
Man sentenced to about 3.5 years in prison for raping 14-year-old he met near St. Cloud park
Austin N. Ouellette, who lived in St. Cloud at the time of the assault, pleaded guilty to one felony count in August.
St. Cloud nonprofit leader, commission member accused of illegally selling gun
Mayor Dave Kleis said he asked Lenora Hunt to resign from the city's Planning Commission after she was charged with illegally transferring a gun.

Utility worker dies after falling from boom truck north of Big Lake
The 59-year-old Dayton man fell 6 to 8 feet and suffered significant head injuries, officials say.

'You can't let it be lost': Paynesville-area residents keep Christmas service alive in long-shuttered church
'Can you feel the nostalgia? It's dripping from the ceiling,' said a retired clergyman Saturday at Salem Historical Church's annual holiday program.

St. Cloud Tech, community college adds center for first-generation student support
St. Cloud Technical & Community College's J.A. Wedum Center for Student Success will pair with a plan to support first-generation students through graduation.

Report: Workers expressed concern over boy's age, size before he was crushed by hayride trailer
The case is closed and no charges are expected, according to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office.

St. Cloud appoints first Somali American to City Council
The council unanimously selected Hudda Ibrahim on its first vote to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat.

Stearns County man's conviction for fatally shaking his baby was vacated; now he faces retrial.
After Robert Kaiser spent more than seven years behind bars, the court ruled his conviction was based on false evidence. But the prosecution says they can prove the case at a new trial.

St. Cloud-area legislative recount changes by 1 vote, doesn't change state House numbers
Meanwhile, a Republican Sherburne County board member is demanding state GOP leadership apologize for the misinformation about votes being "found."

Three St. Cloud-area districts will ask voters to support projects early next year
St. Cloud school district will hold a special election April 8 asking for $65M in upgrades at Apollo High School and for a year-round recreation complex. Two neighboring districts will hold special elections in February.
Stearns County mom gets 22 years in prison for silencing child's oxygen alarm
Elise C. Nelson of Paynesville was convicted of second-degree murder for the death of her 13-year-old daughter, Kylie, in 2020.

St. Cloud mayor-elect Jake Anderson exits council before January installation
The St. Cloud City Council is seeking applicants to fill Anderson's seat representing Ward 3.

65-year-old Fargo man shot by police is ID'd
Sgt. Lucas Mock and officer Princeton Harris fired their weapons when the man exited his house, allegedly holding a handgun, police say.

Amazon Data Services buys site slated for data center near Sherco in Becker
The Seattle-based company bought the 348-acre parcel for $73 million.

Fargo police shoot and kill 65-year-old man who allegedly had gun
Officers answered a medical call for a suicidal man who later exited a house with a handgun, police say.

St. Cloud-area community school student taken into custody after gun found in locker
The principal at Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph found the unloaded gun, but no ammunition, in a student's locker on Friday.

Sherburne County will pay for legislative recount, while state will cover the cost in Scott County contest
The results of the two tight legislative battles could determine which party leads the House for the next two years.

Previously uncounted absentee ballots widen DFLer's lead in St. Cloud House race
The updated 191-vote difference in the St. Cloud-area race is outside the threshold for an automatic recount — but the GOP is calling for a state-funded one.

St. Cloud-area voters OK new sales tax for jail, tax increase for new fire station
Voters in St. Cloud also approved moving municipal elections to odd years.

St. Cloud voters elect Jake Anderson as mayor, three newcomers for City Council
Two Somali American candidates fell short of getting elected to St. Cloud City Council.

Three questions St. Cloud-area voters will see on the ballot next week
Voters will decide how to fund a new Stearns County jail, whether to build a new fire station and whether to move St. Cloud city elections to odd years.

Residents sue mobile home park, claiming sewage leaks, fraudulent practices
Four residents of Sartell Mobile Home Park filed a class-action lawsuit against the current and former owners.

St. Cloud superintendent gets top state honor
Laurie Putnam has been named 2025 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year and will be a candidate for the national title, as well.
Ex-hospital custodian gets jail after recording co-workers changing clothes
He must also attend a sex offender treatment program after admitting he videotaped staff at Alomere Health in Alexandria, using a phone and a pen camera.

Meet the candidates for St. Cloud school board
Four incumbents, a former member and two new faces are vying for four seats this November.

Trump campaign misses deadline to pay St. Cloud for rally
The central Minnesota city billed the former president's re-election campaign about $209K for costs related to Trump's July 27 rally at St. Cloud State University.
Boy, 13, dies after he's run over at haunted hay ride
Alexander Mick, 13, was pronounced dead at Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta, Minnesota, after he was run over by a hay wagon.

St. Cloud has new choices for mayor. Here's how to tell them apart
Meet the candidates vying to replace the retiring Dave Kleis, who has served as mayor for two decades.

The Molly Burkstrand effect: How Minnesota's leading soccer scorer ignited change at St. Cloud Tech
Tigers senior Molly Burkstrand is four goals away from 100 in her career. And even if she doesn't score another goal this season, her total puts her at No. 4 for the career top scorers in a season. So what's fueling this recent streak of success?

CentraCare to purchase Monticello hospital
The St. Cloud-based health care system has run the hospital for the past decade.

St. Cloud YMCA manager harassed female employees, lawsuit claims
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued in federal court this week.

House candidates look to flip seats in St. Cloud area
Incumbents Bernie Perryman, a Republican in District 14A, and Dan Wolgamott, a Democrat in 14B, are being challenged by Abdi Daisane and Sue Ek, respectively.
St. Cloud man gets life in prison for fatally shooting co-worker he became 'infatuated with'
A jury found Michael J. Carpenter guilty on two felony counts of murder in August.

Former Hubbard County official, who was a school bus driver, gets six-year sentence for sex crimes against students
Daniel J. Stacey pleaded guilty to four felony counts as part of a plea deal.

What happened to St. Cloud State University?
The college has struggled to find its footing after years of steep enrollment declines, big projects that didn't always pay off and turnover among leadership.

St. Cloud mayor interviews his potential replacement for all to see
Dave Kleis recorded interviews with candidates for mayor and St. Cloud City Council — 21 in all — ahead of the primary and posted them to the city website.
Central Minnesota man gets 3.5 years in prison for crash that launched passenger into traffic
Aler L. Gomez-Lucas pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal vehicular homicide in March.

Gustavus Adolphus teammate charged with reckless driving in crash that killed hockey player
Gianna K. Gasparini was reportedly speeding and missed a stop sign before the Grace Township crash that killed goaltender Jori Jones.
Mother won't be charged after investigators ID baby girl left in box in Sherburne County in 1989
Authorities said Thursday the case is now closed.
Man who held hostages at a St. Cloud bank sentenced to 6.5 years in federal prison
Ray Reco McNeary, who was arrested following a nine-hour standoff at a Wells Fargo, pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery earlier this year.

St. Cloud City Council members Jake Anderson, Mike Conway to face off in November mayor race
Six of the 16 council candidates moving on to November include incumbent George Hontos and two Somali Americans: Hudda Ibrahim and Omar Abdullahi Podi.
Charges: DFL House candidate from Alexandria and wife stole hundreds of yard signs
Judd and Wendy Hoff are facing felony charges after officers found more than 240 signs at their Alexandria house.

Meet the candidates running for St. Cloud City Council
The pool of 16 candidates — the most in half a century — will be narrowed to six in the Aug. 13 primary.
Where is the real Lake Wobegon?
Garrison Keillor's famous fictional town took inspiration from central Minnesota — including some businesses that remain open today.

Meet the candidates vying to be St. Cloud mayor
Here's your voters' guide ahead of the Aug. 13 primary, when six mayoral candidates vie to replace longtime mayor Dave Kleis.

St. Cloud repeals 'No Mow May' ordinance after tall grass wreaks havoc
The ordinance, enacted by St. Cloud City Council last year, was meant to protect pollinators in the spring.

Melrose cleans up after tornado crumples buildings, scatters debris
No one was hurt, but several buildings were damaged as a supercell thunderstorm moved through Stearns County on Saturday night.
Jury finds St. Cloud man guilty for fatally shooting co-worker who rebuffed advances
Michael J. Carpenter will be sentenced in September for the murder of Nicole M. Hammond of St. Cloud.

At central Minnesota diner, JD Vance says the state is 'ready to turn red'
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's running mate ate breakfast with his family in Waite Park a day after a rally in St. Cloud.