>>Harris Accepts Presidential Nomination, Thanks Walz on Final Night of DNC
(Chicago, IL) — The Democratic National Convention wrapped up Thursday night in Chicago with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the party’s presidential nomination. Harris thanked President Joe Biden, her family, and her running mate, Minnesota’s governor. She told the roaring crowd of D-N-C delegates, ” And to coach Tim Walz….you are going to be an incredible vice president.” Harris says America can live up to its proud tradition as a nation of immigrants and reform our broken immigration system. The Trump campaign warns Harris wants to make every state a “sanctuary state,” where law enforcement would be barred from cooperating with federal officials on deportations. Such a bill was introduced at the Minnesota Legislature but did not move forward last session.
>>Walz Thanks MN Delegates After Accepting VP Nomination
(Chicago, IL) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed his gratitude to the Democratic National Convention delegates after accepting the party’s nomination for vice president. He and his wife, Gwen, made a surprise appearance at the Minnesota delegates’ breakfast in Chicago yesterday. Governor Walz thanked the delegates for their support and acknowledged that they provided unwavering support to his family before and during the convention. The D-N-C concluded Thursday night with Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepting her party’s nomination for president.
>>Minnesota State Fair Officials Prep for Hot and Humid Weekend
(Falcon Heights, MN) — Minnesota State Fair officials say they’re preparing for possible high temperatures in the upper 80s to 90 this weekend. Fair spokesperson Maria Hayden says there are measures in place to help people beat the heat. She says they have misting stations across the fairgrounds, several air-conditioned buildings, and water bottle refill stations. She adds there’s also plenty of seating in the shade with all the trees and benches on the fairgrounds. Forecasters expect Sunday to be the warmest day. Opening day Thursday drew large crowds to the State Fair.
>>FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in St. Louis County Open 6 Days
(Virginia, MN) — The FEMA disaster recovery center in Virginia will now operate six days a week and be closed on Sunday. St. Louis County officials say the initial surge of applications for federal disaster assistance has started to slow. FEMA has distributed more than three-million dollars in grants to 448 flood victims in the St. Louis County area. The U-S Small Business Administration has a recovery center at the Cook Fire Hall to serve local businesses that suffered damage in the June storms. FEMA is closing the disaster recovery center Saturday for southern Minnesota flood victims in Faribault.
>>Xcel Energy Changes Peak Electric Charge Plans in Response to Public Criticism
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota-based Xcel Energy is adjusting its plan to increase electricity charges during peak usage periods. Earlier this year, the utility proposed enrolling all customers in a plan that would result in higher energy charges from 3 to 8 pm. In response to negative feedback, Xcel has modified the plan. It now aims to make the program voluntary, move peak hours to 7 to 10 pm on weekdays, and reduce the additional charges during peak hours.
>>8-Year-Old Boy Accidentally Shot by 11-Year-Old in Northwest Minnesota
(Fosston, MN) — Authorities in northwest Minnesota say an eight-year-old boy is hospitalized in Fargo after being accidentally shot by an 11-year-old Thursday afternoon near Fosston. Polk County sheriff’s deputies say the younger boy was shot in the leg and a .22 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene. The victim was taken to the Fosston hospital and later airlifted to Fargo with a non-life threatening injury.
>>Watson Man Sentenced for Threating to Shoot U of M Students
(Montevideo, MN) — A Chippewa County man is sentenced is 21 months in prison for threatening to shoot people on the University of Minnesota campus in January. Forty-two-year-old Joseph Rongstad of Watson pleaded guilty to two counts of threats of violence this summer. Investigators said Rongstad made threats to shoot U of M students on social media, saying, “kids will die for real.” He was arrested by a SWAT team after a standoff at his home. Rongstad is the former mayor of Watson. He received credit for 224 days already served in jail.
