>>Birch Bay Fire 10-Percent Contained
(Ely, MN) — Firefighters continue making progress on the Birch Bay Fire northwest of Ely. The wildfire is estimated at 35 acres and is now 10 percent contained. A Minnesota Incident Command System Type 3 team took over management of the fire this morning. About 80 personnel are assigned to the incident, working with engines, hand crews, heavy equipment, helicopters, and water-scooping aircraft. Crews are focusing on strengthening containment lines and extinguishing hotspots. There are currently no closures in effect, but officials are asking the public to avoid the North Arm Road area and keep drones away from the fire.
>>Minneapolis Announces Summer Safety Plan
(Minneapolis) – The City of Minneapolis announced it is launching a coordinated citywide Summer Safety Plan. Officials say it will use the city’s community safety network to prevent violence, respond to emergencies and ensure residents and visitors enjoy being in Minneapolis. The initiative is led by the Minneapolis Police Department and will include stepped up law enforcement. In its fifth year, this operation has resulted in dozens of arrests, the recovery of guns and illegal narcotics, and the city says it has reduced crime in the city.
>>Congresswoman Craig Announces Statewide Campaign Tour
(Minneapolis) – Congresswoman Angie Craig is taking her U.S. Senate campaign across Minnesota. Today her campaign team announced the “Rising Tide Tour” to grow the DFL party ahead of the August 11 primary. The tour kicks off this week in Minneapolis. Craig is running against Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan for the DFL nomination for the U.S. Senate race that will be vacated by the retiring Senator Tina Smith. Craig skipped the DFL State Convention last weekend and the party endorsement went to Flanagan. The two sides have also agreed to three upcoming debates.
>>DFL Leaders Say They Have Full Slate of Candidates Heading Into November Election
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota House DFL leaders are highlighting a candidate filing advantage heading into the November election. Filing closed Tuesday, and House DFLers say they have candidates running in all 134 House districts, while Republicans are leaving 17 races uncontested. DFL House Leader Zack Stephenson says the full slate gives Democrats more opportunities to compete for a House majority and support candidates in closely contested races. Republicans have not yet responded to the DFL’s claims. The 2026 election will determine control of the Minnesota House.
>>Benefits Running Out for Northern MN Miners
(Hermantown, MN) – The extended unemployment benefits passed last year by state lawmakers will soon run out for more than 600 Iron Range miners and their families. The bill that passed extended the benefits by an extra 26 weeks but those will expire this month. Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) said, “A mine shutting down on the Iron Range is the equivalent of 3M or Target shutting down in the Twin Cities in terms of the sort of scope of the economic impact to the region.” Hauschild is hopeful that the Mesabi Metallics Mine will open either later this year or early 2027. Lawmakers did pass extended benefits for the 64 miners that were laid off earlier this year.
>>Education Minnesota highlights positives of Legislative session
(Undated) – Education advocates in Minnesota are pointing to progress from the latest legislative session. Education Minnesota President Monica Byron says lawmakers from both sides showed support for a proposal to raise educator pay to at least sixty-thousand dollars a year, a move she says could help keep teachers and staff in the profession.
Lawmakers also approved more than $12 million for school-linked mental health services, along with another $10 million in aid for schools serving low-income students. In Saint Paul, teachers will see improved pension benefits, adding stability after their careers in the classroom. Education leaders say that while not every proposal passed, the session delivered meaningful gains for students and educators.
>>Minnesota Child Named 2026 Gerber Baby
(Undated) – A Minnesota child has been named the 2026 Gerber Baby. Cameron Chung, who is approaching his first birthday, was chosen out of thousands of photo entries. Gerber says Cameron’s contagious smile and his family’s story secured a place in the brand’s storied legacy of iconic Gerber babies. During the next year, Cameron and his parents Rachael and Alden will be featured in Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns. They also receive $50,000 plus a special wardrobe of clothing for Cameron.
