29-Jan-2026

House Fire Death

A Wheaton man has died after an early morning house fire. On Wednesday January 28,  Traverse County Law Enforcement recieved a 911 call reporting the fire around 3:55 a.m. Crews responded to the home at 1307 Broadway Avenue, where officials say first responders found 63-year-old homeowner, Kevin Kruize, inside the residence. Authorities say they attempted life-saving measures, but Kruize was pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

29-Jan-2026

Pedestrain Hit

A pedestrian is in serious condition after being struck by a vehicle on the highway. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 9:00 p.m. on Monday on Highway 10 in Todd County.  A Jeep driven by 55-year-old Susan Horstman of Staples was going west in Staples when the vehicle struck the man in the roadway at Highway 210. The man has been identified as 28-year-old Tyler Schreck of New Richmond, Wisconsin.  He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with life-threatening injuries.  The driver of the Jeep was not hurt.

29-Jan-2026

Two Vehicle Crash

A two-vehicle crash resulted in minor injuries for one driver along U.S. Hwy. 10, Wednesday. According to Minnesota State Patrol, a Freightliner truck and trailer were eastbound on Hwy. 10 near Shore Dr. when they collided with a Toyota Rav4. The driver of the Toyota, 44 year old Doris Manigan, of Fargo, was taken to St. Mary’s Detroit Lakes for minor injuries. Troopers say the truck driver, 34 year old Alex Mayo,  of Hewitt, wasn’t hurt. MSP says alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

27-Jan-2026

Child Porn Charges

An investigation lasting more than three years has led to child pornography charges against a St. Cloud man. According to the charges filed in Stearns County District Court, investigators with the St. Cloud Police Department received an Internet Crimes against Children Cyber Tip from Microsoft in December 2022. Microsoft detected two photographs of a young girl being sexually assaulted. The internet address was tracked to a residence in the 1500 block of 6th Avenue South in St. Cloud. Additional tips of child pornography at that IP address were sent in April 2023 and September 2024. In November 2024, authorities used a search warrant to confiscate several electronic devices from 74-year-old Joseph Scott Smith. In February 2025, the FBI sent the investigators a copy of Smith's hard drive. In August, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent the investigator reports on the 468 images of child sexual abuse material found on Smith's hard drive. Many of the images were of girls between the ages of three and five years old, but also included an infant child, a boy between the ages of two and three, and two videos involving bestiality. Smith is charged with 10 felony counts of possessing pornographic works involving minors under the age of 14 years old. Smith is due in court on March 18th.