>>Walz blames near-total abortion ban in Iowa on former President Trump
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz says because former President Donald Trump overturned Roe -v- Wade, women in neighboring Iowa “are now living under a near-total abortion ban.” Walz warns if Trump is re-elected, “he will go even further with his Project 2025 agenda to pass a national abortion ban and take away access to IVF [in-vitro fertilization] and contraception.” For 40 years the Republican Party’s national platform called for federal restrictions on abortion, but the 2024 document spearheaded by the Trump campaign says the abortion issue should be left to the states. At Saturday’s rally in Saint Cloud, Trump called Vice President Kamala Harris “an absolute radical on abortion.”
>>Harris blames Trump for Iowa abortion ban, pro-lifers worry Minnesota will attract “abortion tourism”
(Various) — Iowa now has in effect a ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, Vice President and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris saying Minnesota’s neighbor is “the 22nd state in our country to have a Trump abortion ban, and this ban is gonna take effect before many women even know they’re pregnant.” Paul Stark with Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life says it’s a “good thing” that Iowa is “increasing protection for human beings in the womb, but he says “what we don’t want is for Minnesota’s extreme abortion policy here to make our state a haven for unlimited abortion… a place of abortion tourism, basically.” Planned Parenthood says they’ve expanded capacity at their facilities in Mankato and Minneapolis as well as in Omaha, Nebraska.
>>National GOP group throws support to Tierab in 2nd Congressional District after endorsed candidate Rahm suspends campaign
(Washington, DC) — The National Republican Congressional Committee is throwing its support behind 2nd District U-S House candidate Joe Tierab, the Star Tribune reporting he’s now on the Washington D-C group’s “Young Guns” list which gives him more access to fundraising. Tierab has an apparently clear path to winning the August primary after party-endorsed candidate Tayler Rahm dropped out of the race to work on former President Donald Trump’s Minnesota campaign. Meanwhile, Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig’s re-election campaign says 2nd District Republicans are refusing to endorse “lifelong abortion ban activist” Tierab. They point to a social media post in which 2nd District Republican leaders say Rahm — whose campaign is suspended — remains the endorsed candidate through the primary election and also in the November election if he wins the primary.
>>2 women seriously hurt in SUV vs. train crash in Robbinsdale
(Robbinsdale, MN) — Two women are hospitalized with serious injuries after their vehicle was struck by a train this morning (Mon) in the Minneapolis suburb of Robbinsdale. Officers say the train hit the S-U-V in the front seat passenger area and pushed it about 130 yards down the track. The occupants were trapped in the vehicle and firefighters needed the Jaws of Life to extricate them. The 69-year-old driver and 88-year-old passenger were taken to North Memorial Hospital. Investigators say it appears the warning lights and bells were operational at the crossing at the time of the crash.
>>Cook Receives up to $2.5M in Economic Recovery Funding After Recent Flooding
(Cook, MN) — The City of Cook in northeast Minnesota is receiving up to $2.5 million in economic recovery funding from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) Board after substantial destruction by flooding on June 18th. Floodwaters rose as high as five feet in areas of downtown Cook, damaging infrastructure, businesses and homes. Cook’s Economic Recovery Fund will give financial support and available insurance to businesses wanting to reopen in that community.
>>Motorcycle Crash on North Shore Leaves New London Man Dead
(Silver Bay, MN) — A man from Kandiyohi County is the victim of a deadly motorcycle crash on Highway 61 along Minnesota’s North Shore. The State Patrol says a cycle driven by 62-year-old Douglas Studanski of New London left the roadway Sunday near Silver Bay, went into the ditch and struck a road sign and a bush. The report says Studanski died at the scene and was wearing a helmet.
>>Target to Begin ‘Denim Take Back’ Program to Reduce Material Waste
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis-based Target is starting their ‘Denim Take Back’ program, similar to their car seat trade-in program, to “recycle and repurpose donated denim materials by Target’s partners.” Beginning Sunday, August 4th through the 10th, any jeans, no matter how worn, brought to your local Target will earn you a 20% off coupon to buy new jeans. Up to 5 pairs can be brought in. Coupons must be used during the take-back week.
>>Minnesota Wild sign D Faber to 8-year, $68 million contract extension
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Wild are locking up defenseman Brock Faber with an eight-year, 68-million-dollar contract extension. N-H-L Network reports the 21-year-old Maple Grove native will earn an average annual salary of 8.5 million dollars. Faber had eight goals and 39 assists and played all 82 games of his rookie season. The former Golden Gopher all-American finished second in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy. Faber was traded to Minnesota in the deal that sent Wild forward Kevin Fiala to the L-A Kings.