>>Walz Formally Accepts VP Nomination at Democratic National Convention
(Chicago, IL) — Governor Tim Walz gave a rousing speech to close out day three of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Walz told the cheering party faithful at the United Center, “It’s honor of my life to accept your nomination for vice president of the United States.” Members of his Mankato West High School football teams appeared on stage to support Walz. He said to the D-N-C delegates, “It’s the fourth quarter, we’re down a field goal, but we’re on offense and we’ve got the ball! We’re driving down the field and, boy, do we have the right team!” He warned that Republicans will jack up prices on the middle class, repeal the Affordable Care Act, gut Social Security and Medicare, and ban abortion nationwide. Minnesota House G-O-P Minority Leader Lisa Demuth responds on Walz’s watch in 2023, ” 18-billion-dollar surplus that was spent and then, with taxes and fees, our state budget went up by another 10 billion dollars.”
>>Opening Day of the 2024 Minnesota State Fair
(Falcon Heights, MN) — More than a hundred thousand people are expected on this opening day (Thurs) of the Minnesota State Fair. Spokeswoman Maria Hayden reminds visitors that the State Fair parking lots fill up fast and she recommends taking the bus. She says there are 30-plus free park-and-ride locations a short distance from the fairgrounds where visitors can leave their vehicle there and take the bus to the fair. Onsite parking at the State Fairgrounds is 20 dollars. Today is a discount day with 15-dollar gate admission for fairgoers ages 13 to 64 – and 13 dollars for seniors and kids ages 5 to 12. Just over 106 thousand visitors attended opening day last year.
>>MPCA Trying to Find Source of Sheen on Mississippi River
(Various) — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency continues trying to find the source of a “sheen” that appeared on the Mississippi River upstream from the drinking water intakes for both Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It was largely gone by nightfall Tuesday, but officials received another report Wednesday morning from a park in Coon Rapids. Saint Paul immediately shut down its river water intake when the “sheen” was first reported and is using other sources. Minneapolis draws exclusively Mississippi River water and resumed intake Wednesday morning with additional precautions. Officials say the city’s water was “safe and unaffected.”
>>West Nile Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes in All 7 Metro Counties
(St. Paul, MN) — Officials say mosquitoes have now tested positive for West Nile virus in all seven counties of the Twin Cities. Alex Carlson with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District says it’s usually late summer when the risk of West Nile tends to elevate in Minnesota. Carlson says only two human cases of the virus have been reported in Nicollet and Yellow Medicine counties. He notes that most mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile are from species that don’t bite humans.
>>PeaceMaker Minnesota Promotes “Don’t be a Bully Month” in August
(Roseville, MN) — August is “Don’t be a Bully Month” and nonprofit PeaceMaker Minnesota is reminding parents and kids of the dangers and impacts of bullying before the school year begins. Executive Director Dan McNeil says one of the biggest problems is that people stand by instead of offering help, or worse, act like it doesn’t exist. He says, “the most important thing is to be looking for it and to not accept it. To be assertive when seeing somebody hurting somebody else. ” McNeil recommends talking to your kids about bullying and creating a safe space for them to come forward about potential harassment. He adds engaging in positive social activities can also help boost kids’ self-esteem.
>>Ponsford Man Indicted on Federal Charges for Sexually Abusing a Minor
(Minneapolis, MN) — A northwest Minnesota man is facing federal charges for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor under 12 years old. Prosecutors say 42-year-old Joseph Schultz of Ponsford is accused of knowingly engaging in sexual acts with the child between October and December of last year on the White Earth Reservation. The indictment charges Schultz with aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. He made his initial appearance in federal court Wednesday in Minneapolis.
>>2 People Arrested in Morrison County Traffic Stop for Possessing Meth
(Little Falls, MN) — Two people are in custody after a traffic stop in Morrison County Tuesday turned up five ounces of methamphetamine. Sheriff’s deputies say the meth was seized after a police dog detected drugs in the vehicle on Highway 10 near Cushing. Officers arrested the driver, a 27-year-old woman from Grand Forks, and a 43-year-old woman from Mahnomen (mah-NO-men). Criminal charges are pending.
>>Single Game Tickets for Minnesota Timberwolves on Sale Today
(Minneapolis, MN) — Single game tickets go on sale today (Thurs 12pm) for the 2024-2025 Minnesota Timberwolves season. The Wolves home opener is October 26th against the Toronto Raptors and the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks come to Minneapolis on October 29th. Minnesota has a pair of five-game homestands on the schedule in February and March. Team officials say fans can access the best available seats at the best price by securing a fall, half, or quarter season membership. Single-game tickets can be purchased on the Timberwolves website or by calling 612-673-1234.
