Morning Newswatch with Jay Caldwell

WJON is featuring small towns in Central Minnesota once a month on a Friday. The first edition of "Small Town Friday" focuses on the town of St. Stephen. St. Stephen is the oldest Slovenian population in the United States.

The Minnesota DNR released a draft of its wolf management plan last week. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON this week. He says this it the first update since the initial plan was enacted in 2001. The plan does include options for hunting and trapping if certain benchmarks are met.

Waite Park Policer is reporting a bike stolen while parked at McKinley school. Alicia Mages from Tri-County Crimestoppers joined me on WJON today. She says the bike was stolen while the student was in school. No information about the bike is available.

Another theft from vehicle reported by Waite Park police. Alicia Mages from Tri-County Crimestoppers joined me on WJON. On the 10 block of 2nd Avenue South at a business in Waite Park someone left their purse in their vehicle and the vehicle was unlocked. The purse was stolen along with an Iphone Pro Max.

More than 6,000 jobs are available according to Gail Cruikshank, Talent Director from the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation. She says approximately 500 of those jobs are in the construction field. Cruikshank says there are currently limitations for 16 to 18 year old people who'd like to work on construction sites.

St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis appeared in the audience behind judge Sofia Vergara on the taping of NBC's America's Got Talent. He was in attendance to watch St. Cloud's James Calacsan, who performed on this week's program.

The City of St. Cloud, as previously reported on WJON, will not open the 7 wading pools due to a lack of qualified lifeguards. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis joined me on WJON today. He says this is unfortunate but not unexpected.

Warmer weather means a different strategy on how to catch fish in Central Minnesota. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON today. He says this is a big transition week with water temperatures on a sharp increase. Schmitt says your presentation and where you find fish changes.

The Ledge Amphitheater in Waite Park has a full schedule of events planned this summer with some of the shows already complete. Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud joined me on WJON today.

Tri-County Crimestoppers is reporting counterfeit bills being passed around the St. Cloud area. Alicia Mages from Tri-County Crimestoppers joined me on WJON. She says they are seeing counterfeit $100 bills.