>>Estranged wife of MN corrections commissioner charged with attempted murder of their vulnerable adult son
(Vadnais Heights, MN) — The estranged wife of Minnesota Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell is accused of trying to kill their vulnerable adult son with a potentially lethal dose of medication late last year at his adult group home in the Saint Paul suburb of Vadnais Heights. 64-year-old Julie Myhre-Schnell faces charges of first-degree attempted murder after allegedly putting enough lorazepam, an anxiety medication, in her 33-year-old son’s feeding bag to make him “go to sleep forever.” Her son was brought to the hospital and diagnosed with acute respiratory failure. Commissioner Schnell filed for an emergency restraining order against her after learning of it in June. The two are currently separated after filing for divorce in 2023. Myhre-Schnell told investigators she filled her prescription, crushed the pills up in water, brought it on a visit to her son on December 3rd, 2023, and emptied the contents into the bag before leaving. Her next court hearing is on October 9th.
>>Rachel Visser from Hutchinson is 71st Princess Kay of the Milky Way
(Falcon Heights, MN) — 19-year-old Rachel Visser of Hutchinson has been crowned at the Minnesota State Fair as the 71st Princess Kay of the Milky Way. She says her message to Minnesotans is that dairy farming is not easy — 24/7/365 — and Visser says people don’t acknowledge just how much care farmers show towards their animals in their daily duties. “This is so essential to producing the healthy, wholesome dairy products that we love to enjoy,” she says. Visser, a double major in agriculture, food and business management, along with ag communications and marketing, hopes to work in dairy statistical analysis. Her first official duty as Princess Kay is sitting in the cooler in the Dairy Building while her likeness is sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter.
>>Walz misses opening day of State Fair, Auditor Blaha “standing in” for him
(Falcon Heights, MN) — Governor Tim Walz can’t be at the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair because of the Democratic National Convention, and State Auditor Julie Blaha says she’s sort of “standing in” for him. Blaha says, “This is how I know he is somebody who really cares about freedom in America, because he is willing to sacrifice the first day of the State Fair to do this work. And that is, for him, I know that’s huge. It’s gotta be driving him nuts.” Blaha says she’s eating cookies and “having a Pronto Pup for Tim.” Blaha says she knows if the governor can get to the State Fair, he will — but predicts if he does come “it’s gonna be a surprise.”
>>Harris to address final night of Democratic National Convention
(Chicago, IL) — Vice President Kamala Harris speaks tonight (Thurs late p-m) to cap the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Carleton College analyst Steven Schier indicates there’s no consistent reading in the polls on how undecided voters will react to Harris — which he says gives her an opportunity tonight. “She has to balance necessary specifics with an uplifting theme,” Schier says, noting that so far, Harris’s campaign has not dealt with a lot of policy specifics. A cardinal rule for politicians is, define yourself to voters, or your opponent will — and Schier says, “One of the few opportunities a candidate has to define himself or herself is with their acceptance speech, and this is a really big opportunity for Harris to do that in a constructive way for her campaign.”
>>ND Woman Pleads Guilty Related to Death of 1-Year-Old on Spirit Lake Reservation
(Fargo, ND) — A North Dakota woman has pleaded guilty in connection with the death of a one-year-old on the Spirit Lake Reservation. In February 2023, 27-year-old Kenzie Baker of St. Michael (ND) called 911 to report a child not breathing. The child died at a hospital in Devils Lake. An autopsy revealed the child died due to neglect, abuse, and repeated untreated injuries. Baker admitted to being aware of swelling for two weeks and not seeking medical care. Her sentencing is set for January. Co-defendant Collin Delorme claimed that the child was injured when he slipped on a step and hit the child with a flashlight. Delorme is scheduled for trial in November on four charges, including murder.
>>Minnesota Vikings sign former Golden Gopher running back Ibrahim
(Eagan, MN) — Former Golden Gopher running back Mo Ibrahim is joining the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent. Ibrahim is the University of Minnesota’s all-time leading rusher with more than 46 hundred yards and 53 touchdowns. He signed as an undrafted rookie with the Detroit Lions in 2023 but suffered a season-ending hip injury during a kickoff return in late October. Ibrahim was the Big Ten Running Back of the Year for the U of M in 2020.
