>>Lindell Announces Privately Funded Recount of Primary Election
(Chaska, MN) – Despite losing the primary election by more than 45,000 votes, Republican candidate Mike Lindell is not giving up. Lindell announced he will privately fund a statewide recount and audit of every paper ballot cast in the August 11th primary. Despite losing by a wide margin to Republican nominee Lisa Demuth, Lindell still says there are multiple anomalies in the results, including claims that vote totals were moved backwards during reporting and that some counties reported more votes than ballots cast. Lindell’s statement says this will be the largest privately funded statewide paper ballot recount in U.S. history.
>>xAI Challenges Minnesota’s AI Nudification Ban in Court
(St. Paul, MN) — Elon Musk’s xAI is asking a federal judge to block Minnesota’s new law targeting AI-generated sexual images. The company argues the law violates free-speech protections. DFL Senator Erin Maye Quade, who helped lead the push for the law, says the technology can turn an ordinary photo into a sexual image and potentially victimize anyone. Maye Quade says the law is narrowly tailored to protect people from nonconsensual sexual images. The judge indicated a Monday announcement will provide more information on when a ruling could come.
>>Governor Authorizes Emergency Aid for Storm-Damaged Counties
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz is authorizing emergency assistance for six Minnesota counties hit by severe weather in late June and early July. Becker, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, and Winona counties reported damage from severe storms, flash flooding, and tornadoes. The assistance will help communities repair and rebuild damaged public infrastructure. The total amount of state aid will be determined after damage assessments are completed.
>>Judge Orders DOJ to Turn Over Grand Jury Material in St. Paul Church Protest Case
(St. Paul, MN) — A federal judge is ordering the Justice Department to turn over grand jury materials from the prosecution of dozens of people charged in connection with an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul church. Judge Laura Provinzino ordered prosecutors to provide transcripts, witness testimony, legal instructions and multimedia evidence by August 25th. The 38 defendants include journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort and civil rights activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. Provinzino will privately review the materials as defendants challenge the indictments and seek dismissal of the charges.
>> Congresswoman Morrison Fights for Vaccines
(Washington, D.C.) – Minnesota Congresswoman Kelly Morrison joined nearly 90 U.S. Senators and Representatives in demanding President Trump rescind his executive order that urges schools to reduce the number of required vaccines for children. Morrison says she is deeply concerned about the dangerous impact this executive order will have on children’s health. She cites a 35-year high in measles cases in the United States. Trump’s latest directive pushes to break up combination vaccines into single-disease doses, which goes against the advice of the medical community, according to Morrison.
>>Released Documents Detail Warnings Before Fleet Farm Gun Sales
(Undated) — Newly released documents from a lawsuit against Fleet Farm show a store manager raised concerns about suspected straw gun purchases in 2021. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office says those concerns went unanswered and Fleet Farm continued selling firearms to Jerome Horton, who was later convicted in a federal gun-trafficking case. The same transactions were later cited in company training as examples of suspicious sales. Fleet Farm agreed in February to pay $1 million and strengthen safeguards against straw purchases, without admitting liability.
>>Trump Administration Moves to Lift Roadless Protections in Superior National Forest
(Undated) — The Trump administration is moving to lift restrictions on logging and road construction across roughly 62,000 acres of Minnesota’s Superior National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule, which protects millions of acres of undeveloped national forest land nationwide. The change would not automatically authorize logging, but would give local forest managers more flexibility to approve projects. Federal officials say the move could improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk, while environmental groups warn it could threaten water quality and wildlife habitat near the Boundary Waters.
>> Walz Meets with Metro Businesses Affected by Operation Metro Surge
(Twin Cities, MN) – Governor Tim Walz met with Twin Cities area small business owners Tuesday to discuss the ongoing impact of Operation Metro Surge. During a visit to Midtown Global Market, Walz heard from business leaders who say the federal operation led to reduced foot traffic and lasting financial challenges. The governor highlighted efforts to support impacted businesses, including a “Shop Local, Stand Together” campaign and a proposed $10 million relief package. Walz says the state remains committed to helping businesses recover and documenting the operation’s long-term effects on communities.
>> Teen Injured in Le Sueur County Dirt Bike Crash
(Le Sueur County, MN) – A 15-year-old boy was seriously injured in a private dirt bike crash in rural New Prague Tuesday night. The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office says emergency crews provided medical aid at the scene before the boy was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital for treatment. The incident remains under investigation.
>>Brainerd Company Paying $115,000 in Cancer Discrimination Settlement
(Brainerd, MN) — A Brainerd company is paying $115,000 to settle a disability discrimination case involving an employee undergoing cancer treatment. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights says Glacier Ice House considered the worker’s medical condition when eliminating the employee’s position, while retaining others in similar roles. The company must also strengthen its disability policies and training and submit reports twice a year. The state will monitor compliance for three years.
