>>Former President Trump Addresses RNC on Closing Night
(Milwaukee, WI) – Former President Donald Trump caps the Republican National Convention tonight when he officially accepts his party’s nomination and addresses the delegates in Milwaukee for the first time since last Saturday’s attempt on his life. RNC delegate and former state Representative Kelly Fenton from Woodbury says people saw Trump’s strength after he was grazed by a bullet: “Him standing, pumping his fist, and letting the people know, ‘I’m okay, and I’m never gonna stop fighting for America.’ To see that strength and leadership is something else that impacted everything.”
>>Minnesota Jobs Metrics Tick Down, but Remain High
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a point to 2.9% from May to June, and the labor force participation rate ticked down two-tenths to 67.8%. Minnesota lost 3,200 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis from May to June, with the private sector down 3,300 jobs. Despite June’s losses, Minnesota has added jobs in eight of the last 12 months. The national unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.1%.
>>New St. Anthony Muslim Community Center, Mosque, Continues to be Attacked
(St. Anthony, MN) — Law enforcement is investigating multiple burglaries and acts of vandalism at the new Muslim community center and mosque in St. Anthony. Since being established at a former bank building, the Tibyan Center has suffered shattered windows, break-ins, and more in the past two months, estimated at around $20,000 in damage. Police have five different open cases at the location.
>>UMN Study Shows Socioeconomic Status Matters When Donating Cells to Cancer Patients
(Minneapolis, MN) – Published in the PNAS, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the U.S., a University of Minnesota study examined the health outcomes of 2,005 blood cancer patients who underwent hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Dr. Lucie Turcotte says their findings show the striking biological impact of social disadvantage, noting, “When you have cells from a donor of low socioeconomic status, it leads to reduced survival by about 10%.” There’s also a 6.6% increase in transplant-related mortality at three years compared to those transplanted with donors of high socioeconomic status, regardless of the cancer patient’s status. Turcotte’s team is researching additional biological and physiologic drivers to develop interventions.
>>Back-to-School Shopping is Here
(Undated) – The back-to-school and college seasons are important for retailers and consumers. President of the Minnesota Retailers Association, Bruce Nustad, says, “Back to school and back to college shopping here in Minnesota is a big season for retailers. And about half of us here in Minnesota have already started shopping for our back-to-school supplies.” Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on clothing, shoes, school supplies, and electronics. It’s estimated that back-to-college students will spend around $1,350.
>>Minnesota Lynx Guard McBride to Shoot in WNBA 3-Point Contest
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Lynx All-Star guard Kayla McBride is competing in the W-N-B-A three-point contest Friday night in Phoenix. McBride ranks first in the league for three-pointers made with 76 this season. She is playing in her fourth WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday night. Lynx forward and Olympic team member Napheesa Collier was also selected for the fourth time this year. The format for the All-Star Game is Team WNBA vs. the U.S. Women’s National Team, coached by Cheryl Reeve of the Lynx.
