Morning Newswatch with Jay Caldwell

COVID cases are on the rise in the St. Cloud area. St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel says they are seeing a spike in cases starting in early July but the uptick in cases have since plateaued.

The Minnesota State High School League approved boys volleyball as a high school sport last year. The first season of boys high school volleyball as a full fledged sport in Minnesota will be during the 2024-2025 school year.

The Minnesota DNR in collaboration with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa plan to move elk from the northwestern part of the state to the northeastern part of the state near Cloquet and north.

The University Bridge crossing the Mississippi in St. Cloud was expected to reopen at the end of July but due to some unexpected challenges on the east side reconstruct it likely will not.

St. Cloud State University is undergoing numerous changes which includes financial cuts but the elimination of unused residence halls appears next on the chopping block.

The Benton County Fair is set to start one week from today (June 30) in Sauk Rapids. Benton County in Minnesota is one of 9 states with a Benton County. All are named after the same person. That person is former Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton.

A business in Waite Park are reporting that a license plate was stolen off one of their business vehicles. Alicia Mages from Tri-County Crime Stoppers says it happened on the 10 block of 2nd Avenue South.

Thousands of people flooded Harriet Island this past weekend to attend Minnesota's first Yacht Club Festival. Harriet Island wasn't always called that. It was known as Waken Island initially before the name was changed to Harriet Island after Harriet Bishop.

The St. Cloud V.A. is undergoing a significant information technology update and this includes construction on buildings on campus. St. Cloud V.A. Public Affairs Officer Barry Venable indicates several roads on campus are being rebuilt as well, which has caused some disruption. He says all services continue to be available.

The St. Cloud Police Department are reporting a burglary on the 400 block of 1st Avenue South. Alicia Mages from Tri-County Crime Stoppers says a witness interrupted a bearded white male inside a vacant building cutting copper pipes and wiring.