>>Damage assessments underway in Arrowhead after storms, heavy rain
(Various) — Officials in Minnesota’s Arrowhead are assessing damage after storms with extremely heavy rain hammered the region Tuesday. Saint Louis County Emergency Management Coordinator Josh Brinkman says damage is mainly to infrastructure, such as roads and culverts, scattered through the county but heaviest in the northern third. Brinkman says, “As of right now, most of the residential damage is sounding like it’s contained mostly to basements, some low-level flooding like that, sump pump failures and whatnot. Some of the commercial spaces [are] in a similar boat.” Brinkman says infrastructure damage is being likened to that in 2012, but it’s mostly in sparsely-populated areas — unlike 12 years ago when Duluth and vicinity were hard-hit. Motorists should frequently check 511mn.org for the latest road closures.
One lane of Highway 61 at Taconite Harbor on Minnesota’s North Shore is closed after yesterday’s (Tues) heavy rains due to a washout and a bypass is in place, and sections of Highway 1 east of Ely and west of Tower are closed. Lake County Emergency Manager Matt Pollmann says the worst road and culvert damage in is Toimi, about halfway between Beaver Bay and the Iron Range. But Pollmann says, unlike in the severe floods of 2012, “I have not had any reports or calls about any homes or businesses or anything like that even close to being threatened. So that is my positive take-away from this weather event.”
>>Superior National Forest officials assessing damage to BWCA Wilderness entry points, campgrounds, other facilities
(Various) — Officials at the Superior National Forest are assessing damage to B-W-C-A Wilderness entry points, campgrounds, roads and trailheads after Tuesday’s severe storms and expect to issue a list of affected areas later today (Wed). Spokesman Tim Engrav says there are no reports of anyone stranded but they’re doing flyovers to double-check. But Engrav notes, “Even if visitors make it out to their vehicle, they might not be able to drive the road out…. We’ll work with them and county officials just in terms of being able to get the people out okay. It’s just [that] there might be vehicles that have to stay until access can be restored.” Engrav says the heaviest swath of rain was from Cook across Lake Vermilion to north of Ely, and through Isabella and Tofte over to the North Shore. He says six to seven inches were reported and maybe more in some places.
Engrav says Trout Lake Portage at Lake Vermilion was affected and they expect issues on the Echo Trail north of Ely, and are checking in the Isabella and Tofte areas. He says there was not as much impact in the Gunflint District north of Grand Marais.
>>Twins pre-game ceremonies will honor slain Minneapolis Officer Jamal Mitchell
(Minneapolis, MN) — Tonight’s (622pm) pre-game ceremonies before the Twins take on Tampa at Target Field will honor fallen Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell. The Twins’ Julie Vavruska says 125 officers representing all five Minneapolis police precincts will be along the first- and third-base lines. Vavruska says, “They will all be in matching black t-shirts with Jamal’s badge number in white and a blue line through it. We’ll also have command staff from different entities like Metro Transit, Park Police, State Patrol, Hennepin County Chiefs Association as well, and all those officers will be in uniform tonight, standing behind home plate.” Players from both the Twins and the Rays will then join the officers on the lines for the national anthem. Vavruska says it’s to honor Officer Mitchell’s legacy and “show how much we stand with the police.”
>>Nebraska Man Charged with Attempted 1st-Degree Murder, Carjacking After South Metro Stabbing Sunday
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Nebraska man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and carjacking after a stabbing in the south metro Sunday. Bloomington police responding to a report of two men fighting at a gas station learned a car had been carjacked at knifepoint by 31-year-old Nathan Sughroue in Shakopee around 90 minutes before. The fight at the gas station occurred as Sughroue attempted a second carjacking, leading to the victim suffering multiple stab wounds. He was arrested less than 20 minutes later by Robbinsdale police when he crashed on Highway 100.
>>St. Paul Man Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Ammunition
(Minneapolis, MN) — A St. Paul man has been sentenced to over seven years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Court documents say on July 5th, 2023, 31-year-old Nakia Martin, a female acquaintance, and her seven-year-old daughter visited a sporting goods store in Woodbury. Investigators say the woman bought a semiautomatic.40-caliber firearm, while Martin stole a 50-round box of ammunition. Due to prior felony convictions, Martin is prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms or ammo at any time. He pleaded guilty to one count in January.
>>St. Cloud BMX Racer Post Willoughby named to Team USA for Paris Olympics
(Undated) — St. Cloud B-M-X racer Alise Post Willoughby will be competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Thirty-three-year-old Willoughby rode for Team U-S-A in London in 2012, Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. She won the silver medal in 2016. Post Willoughby said on social media,” to be officially named to my fourth Olympic team is just mind blowing and such an honor. She says representing Team U-S-A on the world’s biggest sporting stage is an incredible feeling.
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