Elk River, Minn. (AP) - An Elk River church is hoping to pack the pews by offering the chance for free Vikings tickets.

Those who show up at Crossing Church in Elk River Saturday or Sunday have a shot at season tickets for the Vikes.

Pastor Eric Dykstra says he ``would do anything short of sin to get somebody in the door.''

Dykstra's church doubled attendance when it gave away three cars last Easter.

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) -

Some St. Cloud residents came home from the movies to an adventure of their own Tuesday night.

They caught a man leaving their home with several game consoles and a laptop computer at about midnight.

After the man left, he met up with two other men, one of whom the victims and police say was acting as a lookout.

Police were able to track down and arrest two of the men.

22 year old Changkuoth Pouk of St. Cloud was arrested for 1st degree burglary and 25 year old Abdirizak Omar of St. Cloud was arrested for acting as a lookout.

They're in Stearns County Jail.

The third man is a person of interest and has not been arrested or charged.

The victims got at least some of their belongings back.

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) -

Police released the numbers from a special enforcement that they conducted on August 27th and 28th.

The enforcement took place on Division Street in St. Cloud and Waite Park on the 27th and Country Road 75 from St. Augusta to St. Joseph on the 28th.

Police arrested six people for DWI and two people for other offenses during the two-day patrol.

They stopped 185 vehicles and issued 39 tickets, some of which included multiple violations.

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) -

Go back to the 40's this Saturday during an all-day event to benefit women soldiers serving overseas.

The event called "Pin ups for soldiers" will allow women (and any adventurous men) to have their hair done like a retro pin up model, and then be photographed with classic automobiles.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday at Alter Ego Hair Salon which is just north of Highway 23 on 15th Ave North.

It will cost $40 for the hairstyle and photo shoot with all proceeds going to make care packages for women serving overseas.

FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL SCARLETT: 218-330-2993

CASH OR CHECK ONLY

The Benton County Sheriff's office has released more details in the attempted abduction of an 11 year old Rice girl last week.

The original Sheriff's report described the suspect's vehicle as an older minivan with dark tinted windows and a two-tone paint finish; gray on top and black at the bottom.

The update adds that the van has a critical habitat license plate with a picture of a loon on it. The van had a sliding door on the driver's side which sets it apart from some minivans.

The report also points out that the black bottom part of the van could be black molding, and may not necessarily be paint.

The suspect is described as a 60 year old white man with thick, wavy, crimped dark hair and short sideburns.

The attempted abduction happened at about 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Rockwoods Estates trailer park.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Benton County Sheriff's office.

A pair of former Twins will make an appearance at the grand opening of the new Sam's Club store in Sartell tomorrow.

Paul Molitor and Jack Morris will both appear at the new store.

They'll be available for photos and will sign autographs for the first 400 members to arrive.

Paul Molitor will be at the store starting at 10 a.m. Jack Morris will be there at noon.

The Sam's Club on 2nd Street South in St. Cloud will be closed as of 5 p.m. tonight.

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) -

You can almost hear umbrellas complaining about the excessive overtime.

As we breach the 2nd quarter of September, St. Cloud has already surpassed the average rainfall for the month.

St. Cloud State meteorologist Bob Weisman says the average for the month is 2.93 inches.

We've already been doused with over 3.5 inches as of noon today.

Over a third of the month's rain fell in a one-hour period yesterday with 1.25 inches falling between 6 and 7PM.

BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) - Republican Tom Emmer has offered the

first detailed glimpse of how he'd handle Minnesota's money woes as

governor, outlining a series of business tax cuts.

On paper, the proposal he described Monday would make a state

budget deficit more severe. State finance officials project a

deficit approaching $5.8 billion over the next two years.

Emmer's tax cuts would mean at least $626 million less for the state

treasury over the same period.

The legislator from Delano says the income and property tax

breaks for corporations and small businesses would help the state

in the long run because ailing employers would have more money to

hire workers.

Emmer has been criticized by his rivals, Democrat Mark Dayton

and the Independence Party's Tom Horner, for not coming forward

with a specific budget proposal.

Emmer says he will roll out two more phases of his budget plan

within two weeks.

Pine City, Minn. (KNSI) -

You may notice that flags are flying at half staff today.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has ordered that all Minnesota and U.S. flags be lowered to half staff in

honor of a fallen Marine from Minnesota.

Master Sgt. Daniel Fedder was killed by a roadside bomb Aug 27.

He leaves behind a wife and two children according to WNMT radio in Hibbing.

The 34-year-old Fedder was a highly decorated Marine bomb disposal technician.

The Purple Heart is among his many medals.

The 16-year corps (core) veteran was previously deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2006.

His funeral was held at 10 this morning at the Pine City National Guard Armory.

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) -

An unlocked door may have led to the theft of a computer from a St. Cloud home early Monday morning.

The burglary happened in the 600 block of 8th Ave. South.

A 20 year old St. Cloud woman says she was in her backyard with friends at about four in the morning when she heard what she believes to be her front door slamming followed by the sound of screeching tires.

That front door was unlocked and police found no sign of forced entry.

The woman went inside to check things out and noticed that her Macbook Pro computer was missing.

MacBook Pros cost between about $1200 and $2300.

The woman did not see who burglarized her home.

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) -

St. Cloud Police discovered some stolen property after stopping a couple would-be stop-sign thieves.

Police had a stepped up presence in the area around St. Cloud State University on Saturday night.

During their patrols, they came across two men who they say were trying to steal a stop sign.

That bust led them to recover a rug that recently went missing from the University's College of Education.

Police issued 16 other citations during the six hour special patrol including one DWI.

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) - A St. Cloud man is in jail after police say he sexually assaulted an 18 year old St. Cloud woman.

21 year old Aaron Wentworth is in Benton County jail and faces 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct charges.

The assault happened in the 100 block of Columbia Ave. Northeast.

The woman was treated at St. Cloud hospital for what police say are minor injuries.

Sartell, Minn. (KNSI) - Pine Meadow Elementary's playground will be ready when students return to school tomorrow.

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) -

Running a stop sign lands a Waite Park man in Jail.

Police say 26 year old John Dombrovsky was driving a Jeep southbound on Westwood Parkway when he ran the stop sign at county road 134 and crashed into a 2008 Buick.

The 60 year old driver of that car was taken to St. Cloud hospital. Their condition is unknown.

The crash happened Saturday at about 5:20 p.m.

Dombrovsky was arrested for criminal vehicular operation, 2nd degree DWI, driving after revocation and a stop sign violation.

He's in Stearns County Jail.

Foley, Minn. (KNSI) -

Guns, drugs and a stolen riding lawn mower were found at a Foley residence yesterday morning after authorities executed a search warrant at the house.

The Central Minnesota Drug and Gang Task Force was investigating what they say is a marijuana growing operation at the house which is owned by Daniel Stauffenecker.

Police found 21 large marijuana plants, methamphetamine and several guns.

Police also found a riding lawn mower that went missing from a neighbor's home in July.

So, they got an additional search warrant to look for more stolen property and found 15 items they believe were stolen.

Police are trying to track down the owners of those items.

48 year old Dale Kampa, who lives at the house was arrested after police say he was in possession of a controlled substance. He faces 5th degree drug possession charges.

The investigation continues and more arrests are expected.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie reminded Minnesota voters serving in the military and those who will be overseas on Election Day to apply now for their absentee ballots.

Doing so ensures that they can begin receiving their ballots on Sept. 17, the date general election ballots become available.

Minnesota law allows military personnel and voters overseas the option of receiving their ballots electronically but requires the voters to return their ballots by mail.

Champlin, Minn. (KNSI) -

The Anoka County Sheriff's Department is missing one of its narcotics dogs.

The 4-year-old black lab ``Sherman'' disappeared Thursday in Champlin.

Deputies say the dog is trained only to detect drugs and won't attack when approached.

Sherman is wearing a choke chain collar.

St. Cloud, Minn (KNSI) -

St. Cloud State University’s campus television station, UTVS was nominated for five Regional Emmys.

The Emmy Awards ceremony is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Pantages Theater in downtown Minneapolis.

UTVS is carried locally by Charter Communications on channel 21.

UTVS is a student organization at St. Cloud State and one of three student media organizations on campus.

Students are given the opportunity to work in a professional environment, with professional equipment, to prepare them for the professional market.

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) -

Free beer.

Anna Marie's Alliance is holding a benefit from 4-7 today at McCann's Food and Brew on the corner of 3rd Street North and 33rd Ave North in St. Cloud.

There will also be free food at the event. There is not a donation requirement, but the more you can give, the better.

Anna Marie's Alliance provides women and their children the tools they need to escape domestic abuse.

The light and sound show put on by Mother Nature last night yielded some impressive numbers.

Sartell saw winds gust to 62 mph.

The St. Cloud airport saw 1.84 inches of rain in 4 hours, with 1.56 inches falling at SCSU.

St. Cloud State Meteorologist Bob Weisman says there was a considerable amount of pea-sized hail in our area.

Sartell and Foley saw golf ball sized hail.

Today will be cool and windy with a chance for some more showers and storms.