>>Mendota Heights Hosting Memorial for Fallen Police Officer Scott Patrick
(Mendota Heights, MN) — The city of Mendota Heights is hosting a public memorial event today to remember fallen Police Officer Scott Patrick. Forty-seven-year-old Patrick was fatally shot on July 30th, 2014, during a traffic stop in West St. Paul. There will be a moment of silence at 12:20 this afternoon, which is the time Officer Patrick was killed. His widow, Michelle, Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins, and state Senator Matt Klein are speaking at the event.
>>A Meeker County Man Sentenced in Wife’s Death
(Dassel, MN) — Bryan Demarais, 36, was sentenced Tuesday to more than 30 years in prison for the December 2023 shooting of his wife, Kayla, at their rural Dassel home. Their two children were inside at the time. Demarais also received concurrent sentences for child endangerment and was credited for nearly 20 months already served. He entered a Norgaard plea earlier this month, admitting guilt but claiming memory loss. He told the court he acted out of emotional distress, citing infidelity, financial strain, and sleep deprivation.
>>Air Quality Alert Extended
(St. Paul, MN) — Winds are carrying heavy wildfire smoke into Minnesota, with unhealthy air quality conditions expected to linger through Saturday afternoon. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Tuesday expanded its air quality alert to include all of Minnesota, with most of the state in the red-level, “unhealthy” category.
>> Minnesota Recognized as a National Leader in Health Care
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz announced today that the state ranks third in the nation for health care, according to a new WalletHub report. The ranking is based on 44 factors, including cost, access, and outcomes, and it’s the third year in a row that Minnesota has placed in the top three. Governor Walz says the state has worked to lower prescription drug prices, stabilize insurance costs, and reduce medical debt, while continuing to support world-class health care institutions. And in a separate report, U.S. News & World Report named 12 Minnesota hospitals among the best in the country.
>>TikTok Rolling Out New Features
(Los Angeles, CA) — TikTok is testing a new “Footnotes” feature, allowing users in a pilot program to add context to videos. If enough contributors with differing views find a note helpful, it becomes visible to others. The social media platform also announced new safety tools, including parental controls for teen accounts and comment filters for creators.
