Quarterbacks and other “skill position” players typically dominate the top of the NFL Draft but a Minnesota native became the first offensive lineman picked on Thursday night. Joe Alt, a North Oaks native who starred at Totino-Grace High School, was picked fifth overall by the Los Angeles Chargers. KSTP Sports caught up with Alt during the lead-up to the draft in February. He was widely considered the top offensive lineman in the draft after a standout collegiate career at Notre Dame, where he was a two-time All-American in just three seasons. He’s still just 21 but the 6-foot-9, 320-pound tac ..read more

The Fullfillment Distribution Center, Inc. (FDC) in St. Cloud will end operations on Oct. 31, according to a notice sent to the state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) State Rapid Response Team. The company says the plant is closing because its only contract, with the Publishers Clearing House, is ending due to the clearing house’s commerce line of business closing. This closure is expected to impact about 350 people. The letter to the state noted that the FDC is looking for more customers to retain work and stay open. The current final operation date of Oct. 31 is the ..read more

For the first time in nearly 20 years, St. Cloud will have a new mayor next year. Dave Kleis, who is the longest-serving mayor in St. Cloud’s history, announced Friday morning he won’t run for reelection this fall. “I believe in service, but I also believe that in every part of service, it’s important to have new individuals lead,” Kleis, 60, said during a press conference about a charter change he’s proposed. The Air Force veteran and former state senator was first elected mayor of St. Cloud in 2005 but said he’s ready for someone else to take the reins after his fifth term expires. “So in Ja ..read more

A popular dinosaur exhibit that makes frequent stops in Minneapolis is now expanding to St. Cloud. Jurassic Quest is coming to the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center this June. The giant dinosaurs will be on display from June 14th through the 16th. There are many interactive activities for visitors in addition to viewing the ancient creatures. The exhibit hours are Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information on tickets, click HERE. The post Jurassic Quest coming to St. Cloud first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness N ..read more

An early morning shooting in St. Cloud on Sunday has left a teen and a woman injured. St. Cloud police say the shooting, which happened on the 1000 block of 9th Avenue South near Go For It Gas, happened just after 2:30 a.m. Responding officers found a 17-year-old boy who had been shot in the torso. He was initially taken to the St. Cloud Hospital but was then flown to a hospital in the Twin Cities. St. Cloud police say he remains in critical but stable condition. According to police, the shooting happened after a group of people got in an argument that led to a fight in the parking lot. That’s ..read more

State authorities say they need your help in finding a man who was last seen months ago. According to the alert issued early Friday morning by the Minnesota BCA, 37-year-old Shane Lewis Wozney was last seen on Feb. 11, 2024, in the St. Cloud area. Due to the amount of time that has passed, the BCA says he is listed as being endangered. Wozney uses American Sign Language as his primary language and is deaf. He typically wears a hat, has an Eagle’s head tattoo on his back and usually has a pair of black-framed glasses. Authorities describe Wozney as being 5’11, weighs 180 pounds, has brown hair ..read more

Expecting families will soon have another option to help mothers give birth in central Minnesota. On Monday, CentraCare announced a doula program will be available at its OB/GYN clinic in St. Cloud. The program will be open to any expectant mother who is also a patient at the CentraCare – Plaza Clinic Obstetrics and Women’s Health. While doulas don’t have the same medical training as an OB/GYN physician, they are trained to provide advice on labor positions, assistance with breathing exercises and other non-medical pain management techniques, patient advocacy during labor time as well as the i ..read more

Arts and crafts lovers in central Minnesota will have one less business to visit for their materials. Crafts Direct, a staple in the St. Cloud area for more than three decades, is closing its doors, much to the disappointment of its customers, who have shared a social media post announcing the closure thousands of times. Owners of the Waite Park business say due to the “current financial climate and shifts in retail shopping,” they have decided to permanently close. The store began as Ben Franklin Crafts before evolving into Crafts Direct. Store owners say after being closed Monday through Wed ..read more

A woman who entered a guilty plea to a second-degree murder charge last summer following the death of her 3-month-old son has now been sentenced. On Thursday, Judge Sarah Hennesy sentenced 29-year-old Fardoussa Abdillahi to spend 261 months, or 21.75 years, at the Shakopee project. She was allowed 859 days of credit for time already served behind bars, or a little over two years. As previously reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, Abdillahi was indicted for one count of first-degree premeditated murder and one count of second-degree intentional murder, not premeditated, in December of 2021. Before Ab ..read more

A woman is injured and a man is dead after a shooting in St. Cloud on Wednesday night. Officers were called to a house on the 600 block of Wilson Avenue Southeast at 7:25 p.m. on a report of multiple gunshots, according to St. Cloud Police Commander Lori Ellering. Arriving officers found a 34-year-old woman in the front yard with multiple gunshot wounds. Her injuries are serious but she is in stable condition at St. Cloud Hospital, said Ellering. The suspect, a 35-year-old man, was found dead inside the home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Law enforcement said the victim and sus ..read more