>>Minnesota is Figuring Prominently in Democratic National Convention
(Chicago, IL) — The Democratic National Convention is underway in Chicago and Minnesota has a prominent role. Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison introduced Minnesota’s lieutenant governor on Monday night by saying, “When Tim Walz becomes the vice president, she will become the first Native American governor in this great country: Peggy Flanagan!” Flanagan told the convention she’s a member of the White Earth Nation and, “we never leave anyone behind. That’s why I am supporting Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to be the next president and vice president of the United States.” Governor Tim Walz got the official nod earlier as Kamala Harris’s V-P running mate, but delegates voted in person to ceremonially confirm him last night. Walz will officially accept the nomination on Wednesday evening.
>>U-S House Repubs ask F-B-I to investigate Walz ties to China
(Washington, DC) — Republicans in the U-S House have launched a probe into Governor Tim Walz’s long-time ties to China, and are asking the F-B-I to investigate. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky writes that, ” Walz has longstanding connections to Chinese Communist Party-connected entities and officials. ” He says that makes Walz susceptible to the Party’s strategy seeking to co-opt influential figures to influence the U-S for the benefit of the communist regime. Walz has visited China over 30 times and in 1989 became one of that country’s first U-S-sanctioned educators. A Walz spokesman says “Republicans are twisting basic facts and desperately lying to distract from the Trump-Vance agenda: praising dictators, and sending American jobs to China.”
>>Ex-Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura to Boycott State Fair
(Minneapolis, MN) — Former Governor Jesse Ventura won’t be attending the Minnesota State Fair this year. Ventura says he’s boycotting the fair because organizers have banned cannabis. He pointed out that alcohol and tobacco are allowed on the fairgrounds while legal cannabis is banned. Ventura pushed for legalization more than 25 years ago and launched his own cannabis brand this year.
>>31 Tornado Reports in Minnesota This Season
(St. Paul, MN) — The summer of 2024 will not be remembered for severe weather outbreaks or tornadoes in Minnesota. Pete Boulay of the State Climatology Office says it’s been a below average tornado season with a preliminary number of 31 so far this year. He says the average number from 1994 through 202 was about 44 tornadoes per year. Boulay notes the twisters this summer have all been “fairly weak.” A record 127 tornadoes have been reported in neighboring Iowa. Boulay says we also haven’t had a lot of extreme heat this summer.
>>Bio Acoustic Fish Fence to Prevent Spread of Invasive Carp in Mississippi River
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota lawmakers, the D-N-R and the Stop Carp Coalition are celebrating a 12-million-dollar project today (Tues) to prevent invasive carp from moving up the Mississippi River. Senator Foung Hawj of St. Paul says the Bio Acoustic Fish Fence will be installed at Lock and Dam 5 near Winona. He says it’s a water bubble system that has been proven to deter invasive carp species like jumping carp and grass carp. Hawj says around 600 invasive carp were found in the river in southeastern Minnesota last year. He says it will take several years to complete the project.
>>Juvenile Arrested for Fatal Stabbing in Browns Valley
(Moorhead, MN) — A juvenile is in custody in Moorhead in connection with a deadly stabbing in Browns Valley in far western Minnesota. Traverse County Sheriff Trevor Wright says deputies went to an apartment building east Friday morning on a report of an unresponsive person. Deputies say 17-year-old Andre Kampeska of Browns Valley had a stab wound to the chest and died at the hospital in nearby Sisseton, South Dakota. A juvenile was later arrested on suspicion of murder and manslaughter.
>>1 Dead, 1 in Custody in Beltrami County Domestic Disturbance
(Beltrami County, MN) — Authorities in northern Minnesota say one person is dead and another is in custody after a domestic incident near Bemidji in Beltrami County. Deputies and Leech Lake police found the victim unresponsive and not breathing on Saturday. The victim was taken to the hospital and died of their injuries. The second person was arrested pending criminal charges. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the victim and cause of death.
>>Woman Killed in Pickup vs. SUV Crash in Coon Rapids
(Coon Rapids, MN) — The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman is dead after a crash Sunday in Coon Rapids. Officers say S-U-V attempted to turn left on a local road when it was hit by a pickup and trailer. A female passenger in the S-U-V died in the hospital. The man driving the S-U-V was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies say the pickup driver was unharmed and taken into custody.
