>>63,000 Acres Burn as Crews Battle Northern Minnesota Wildfires

(Ely, MN) — Wildfires continue burning across northeastern Minnesota, with the July Lightning Incident now covering more than 63,500 acres in the U.S. and another 8,400 acres in Canada. Nearly 780 firefighters are assigned to the incident. Cooler temperatures today (Tues) are helping, but gusty winds and dry conditions could increase fire activity. Evacuation orders remain in effect in parts of Lake, St. Louis and Cook counties, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness remains closed through at least July 24th. Fire officials continue urging the public to obey evacuation orders, avoid flying drones near fires, and stay clear of areas where firefighting aircraft are operating.

>>St. Louis County Urges Residents to Prepare for More Wildfire Smoke

(Duluth, MN) — St. Louis County Public Health is encouraging residents to prepare for more poor air quality as wildfires continue burning across northern Minnesota. Officials say smoke could affect the region for weeks or even months. The county has posted a list of public indoor locations with cleaner air, along with air quality updates and tips to reduce smoke exposure. The county is also distributing N-95 and KN-95 masks to organizations serving people most vulnerable to wildfire smoke while working to secure more supplies. Residents are encouraged to monitor air quality conditions, which can change quickly.

>>MPLS Mayor Frey Vows Stronger Response After Weekend Gun Violence

(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says the city is stepping up efforts to combat violent crime following a weekend of deadly shootings that left multiple families grieving. Frey called the violence “intolerable” and said police are increasing patrols in high-crime areas. The city is also expanding its Late-Night Safety Plan, using crime data to guide deployments, and continuing partnerships with county, state and federal agencies to investigate violent crimes.

>>Governor Candidate Demuth Receives NRA and Gun Caucus Endorsements

(St. Paul, MN) – Republican Candidate for Governor and House Speaker Lisa Demuth has picked up two endorsements from national and state organizations committed to protecting gun rights. Demuth has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association and the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. The two organizations praised Demuth for her record of protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners. Demuth is the only Republican to receive these endorsements. She is running against Businessmen Kendall Qualls and Mike Lindell in the GOP Primary on August 11^th.

>>Jury Selection Continues in Shiloh Hendrix Trial

(Rochester, MN) — Jury selection resumes today in the trial of Shiloh Hendrix, the Rochester woman accused of directing a racial slur at an eight-year-old Black child at a city park in 2025. Hendrix has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct stemming from the viral incident. Opening statements are expected once a jury is seated. It has not been announced whether Hendrix will testify in her own defense.

>>Minnesota Opposes Trump Rollback of Forever Chemicals in Water

(St. Paul, MN) – Minnesota has joined eight other states in filing comments opposing the Trump Administration’s rollback limits of PFAS-type forever chemicals in drinking water. Attorney General Keith Ellison says this rollback means that public drinking water systems would not be required by federal law to test for certain of these chemicals, report how much of them are in public drinking water or treat drinking water to remove them. Ellison says this rollback would go against the federal Safe Drinking Water Act that protects the health of the public.

>>Judge Dismisses Trump Administration Lawsuit Against Minnesota Over Immigration Policies

(St. Paul, MN) — A federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to require Minnesota to assist with federal immigration enforcement. Attorney General Keith Ellison says the ruling affirms that the federal government cannot force states to enforce federal immigration policies. The lawsuit challenged Minnesota’s policies on immigration detainers and the release of driver’s license information for immigration enforcement. The judge dismissed the claims, citing constitutional limits on federal authority over states.

>>Williston Man Identified After Body Recovered from Red River

(Moorhead, MN) — Authorities have identified the man whose body was recovered from the Red River in Moorhead last week. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner says 29-year-old Brent Leggitt of Williston, North Dakota, died from drowning. Investigators say there were no signs of foul play or other suspicious circumstances. Police and firefighters recovered Leggitt’s body from the river early last Wednesday morning.