>>Political Analyst Weighs in on First Presidential Debate

(St. Paul, MN) — The first presidential debate of 2024 was arguably unlike anything the nation has seen before. Hamline University political analyst David Schultz says Thursday’s debate featured one person who lied about the facts versus somebody who forgot the facts. He says that in the case of Biden, he stumbled upon many different things and lost his place. And for Donald Trump, he lied about his position or lied about a variety of situations.
While most post-debate polls show former President Donald Trump was the clear winner in last night’s debate, Schultz says it likely didn’t change most voters’ minds.

>>MN House POCI Caucus Issues Statement Condemning Islamophobic Remarks from Don Samuels

(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House of People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus has issued a statement condemning Islamophobic comments made by Don Samuels, a two-time challenger against 5th district Representative Ilhan Omar. The group cites a recent interview Samuels had with WCCO, where he declared Omar, who is Muslim, a “pawn of Hamas.” Officials call Samuels’ words “not just Islamophobic, but dangerous,” demanding an apology.

>>Twins Cities Pride Festival Opens this Weekend

(Minneapolis, MN) — The state’s largest Pride Festival is this weekend. Twin Cities Pride is 52 years old. Executive Director Andi Otto says the event originally started with about 50 people. Of those 50 people, about 25 of them stayed in Loring Park, and the other 25 marched down Nicollet Mall. That basically was a combination effort after the Stone Wall Riots happened, and it was really just about marching for our freedom and rights here in Minnesota and around the nation. Otto says the 25 people who stayed in Loring Park were purposely staged there in case any of the Nicollet Mall protesters were arrested and needed to be bailed out of jail.

>>Community Center Opening Focusing on Frontline Worker Mental Health

(Forest Lake, MN) — The head of the Invisible Wounds project is opening a community center in Forest Lake for front-line workers and veterans dealing with mental health struggles. Founder and Executive Director Russ Hanes says the focus is on pre-care before the crisis. He says the goal is to reach this group before they hit that dam and prevent crisis, prevent the loss of life, and prevent those long-term life-changing things. Hanes says the center will be a safe therapeutic space where people can receive services, connect with others, and get their needed support. Within the center, there will be an art, woodworking, and music studio. A soft opening is planned for next month.

>>Country Star Keith Urban is Coming to Fine Line in Minneapolis Sunday

(Minneapolis, MN) — Country music superstar Keith Urban plays the Fine Line Music Cafe in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday night. Tickets went on sale at 9 am today (Fri) for 50 dollars through First Avenue and A-X-S. The Fine Line has a capacity of 650 people. Organizers of Gymnastics City U-S-A hinted that there would be some surprise pop-up concerts this weekend in Minneapolis. Urban’s last two Minnesota shows were at the State Fair and the Xcel Energy Center.

>>Minnesota Wild Pick 13th in N-H-L Draft in Vegas

(Las Vegas, NV) — The Minnesota Wild have the 13th overall pick in the first round of the National Hockey League (NHL) Draft tonight (Fri 6pm) in Las Vegas. Rounds two through seven of the draft will be held on Saturday. Minnesota has a total of five picks in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds. Wild first-year players Brock Faber and Marco Rossi were named to the N-H-L All-Rookie Team last night.

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