>>MPCA Issues Orange Air Quality Alert for Northeast MN
(Undated) — An air quality alert has been issued for northeast Minnesota until 6 a.m. tomorrow (THURS). The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says the alert comes from wildfire smoke in Saskatchewan and Manitoba brought by northerly winds, with heavy ground-level smoke trapped over Lake Superior. Affected areas include Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, and the tribal nations of Grand Portage and Fond du Lac. The orange alert means sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.
>>Dozens Rescued from Minneapolis Apartment Fire
(Minneapolis, MN) – A massive fire at a Minneapolis apartment building left four hospitalized and 30 people displaced from their homes late Tuesday night. Fire crews arrived and immediately began rescuing people trapped by the smoke and flames. Four residents were taken to the hospital for treatment, including a teenager. Officials said all are in serious but stable condition. Three are being treated for burns, and one for smoke inhalation. One firefighter was treated for exhaustion and released. The building was badly damaged. It’s not known at this time what caused the fire.
>>Incumbents Win Congressional Primaries
(St. Paul, MN) — The makeup of Minnesota’s congressional delegation is expected to remain largely unchanged after the November general election. DFL Senator Amy Klobuchar and seven current House members won their primaries by significant margins Tuesday. Fifth District Democrat Congresswoman Ilhan Omar had the closest race, beating challenger Don Samuels by more than 16,000 votes. Democrats Angie Craig and Betty McCollum, as well as Republicans Brad Finstad, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber, also advanced. The race in the Third Congressional District is the only one featuring two newcomers. DFL candidate Kelly Morrison and Republican Tad Jude were unchallenged and will now face each other for the seat currently held by Democrat Dean Phillips.
>>Sturgis Bike Rally Concludes
(Sturgis, SD) — Three people died in motorcycle accidents during the recently concluded Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. The rally officially began on August 1st and ended on Sunday. According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, the actual number of motorcycle-involved traffic deaths in the state from the days before, during, and after the event is 12. On July 31st, 60-year-old Joel Erickson from Montgomery, Minnesota, lost control of his motorcycle in Hill City, slid, and flipped before coming to rest on the shoulder. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Erickson was not wearing a helmet. In other statistics, this year’s rally included more arrests for drug possession and impaired driving but fewer crashes and citations. Law enforcement also seized $71,504 in assets allegedly tied to criminal activity this year – more than 35 times the total from 2023 – and arrested seven men on sex trafficking charges.
>>One Dead, Two Injured in Northern Minnesota Crash
(Warroad, MN) — A fatal crash occurred in northern Minnesota on Tuesday around 6 p.m., about 10 miles southwest of Warroad. The accident involved a semi traveling eastbound and a straight truck. The collision took place at an intersection. The driver of the straight truck, 59-year-old Richard Hasbrouck of Warroad, died at the scene. The 39-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy in the semi-truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to Lifecare Medical Center in Roseau. All three individuals were wearing seatbelts, and alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
>FEMA To Open Disaster Recovery Center In Mankato
(Mankato, MN) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is opening a disaster recovery center in Mankato today. FEMA representatives will work with those affected by June’s severe storms and flooding, answering questions and helping them fill out needed paperwork. Staffers from the state of Minnesota and the Small Business Administration will also be on hand to assist with relief and recovery questions. The center will be located in the Justice Center on Carver Road and will be open every day from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
>>Closure Of Blatnik Bridge Moved To Next Week
(Duluth, MN) — The closure of Duluth’s Blatnik Bridge has been postponed. The Minnesota Department of Transportation had planned to close the bridge for 24 hours starting tomorrow and reopen it on Friday morning. However, the closure is now rescheduled to begin on Monday at 6 a.m. and end by 6 a.m. on Tuesday. During this time, crews will be making final bypass connections to provide direct access to and from Interstate 35.
