>>Walz Reportedly a Finalist for Democratic Vice Presidential Running Mate
(Bloomington, MN) — The three apparent finalists for vice president on Democrats’ ticket — Governor Tim Walz, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly — are waiting for Vice President Kamala Harris’s decision, expected before she and her running mate kick off a battleground state tour next Tuesday evening. Walz said Thursday in Bloomington, “I’m not interviewing for anything. I just am who I am and put it out there. I think this is going to be really important that the best decision and the best for the vice president to make that.” Harris and her running mate will first visit Philadelphia — fueling speculation that Shapiro might be her choice — but then head to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. That city’s proximity to the major media market in the Twin Cities sparks predictions that Walz could be her running mate.
>>US Senator Bernie Sanders in Minnesota for Town Hall and DFL Campaigns
(Mankato, MN) — Vermont Senator and former presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders is in Mankato tonight (6pm) for a town hall meeting, but the D-F-L candidate for U-S House in the 1st District, Rachel Bohman, won’t be there. Her campaign says due to a family commitment. Carleton College political analyst Steven Schier calls that decision “very curious” because she is a long shot against Republican Congressman Brad Finstad. He also says, “ the 1st District is a pretty conservative district, and aligning yourself with Bernie Sanders is not gonna get you a lot of votes in Greater Minnesota most of the time, and that may be part of her calculation.” Sanders is in Minneapolis Saturday for a rally in support of 5th District Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who faces a primary election challenge in a rematch with former Minneapolis City Councilmember Don Samuels.
>>Internal Review Exonerates State Trooper Londregan in Cobb Shooting
(St. Paul, MN) — An internal review by the Minnesota State Patrol exonerates State Trooper Ryan Londregan of all allegations in the deadly shooting of Ricky Cobb II. Londregan was initially charged with second-degree murder, assault and manslaughter for shooting Cobb during a traffic stop on I-94, but Hennepin County prosecutors later dropped the case. An internal affairs complaint was filed against Londregan last year and a new State Patrol memo indicates the investigation was completed on Wednesday.
>>Report of Assault in Vehicle on I-94 in St. Paul Results in Homicide
(St. Paul, MN) — Police and the Minnesota State Patrol are investigating a homicide in St. Paul after the suspect called to report an assault in a vehicle. Officers say two men were in a car on the side of Interstate 94 Thursday afternoon and the elderly man driving was found unconscious and not breathing. He was treated at the scene and later died in the hospital. Investigators say the passenger called to self-report that he had assaulted the victim in the vehicle. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to release more information about the man’s death.
>>Red Lake Nation Cannabis Dispensary Celebrates 1st Anniversary
(Red Lake, MN) — Red Lake Nation’s NativeCare cannabis dispensary is celebrating its first anniversary this week. It was the first recreational cannabis retailer in Minnesota to open on August 1st, 2023. Red Lake tribal leaders planned to be the first dispensary in the state after Minnesota lawmakers legalized cannabis last year. The White Earth Nation and Prairie Island Community have also opened marijuana dispensaries. Non-tribal cannabis retailers are expected to open next year in Minnesota.
>>DNR Officially Loosens Walleye Regulation on Lake Mille Lacs
(Onamia, MN) — The Minnesota D-N-R is officially increasing the bag limit for walleye on Lake Mille Lacs on August 16th. Fisheries manager Brian Nerbonne says the original regulation was one fish 21 to 23 inches long or a trophy walleye over 28 inches. He says the new regulation will allow anglers to keep two fish between 18 and 20 inches. Nerbonne says there have been fewer anglers on Mille Lacs due to a windy and rainy season and possibly the conservative walleye regulations. Walleye fishing has been catch-and-release on Mille Lacs early in the season.
>>Suni Lee Wins Bronze Medal in Gymnastics All-Around Olympic Final
(Paris, FR) — Saint Paul’s Suni Lee is the bronze medal winner in Thursday’s gymnastics all-around individual final at the Olympics in Paris. Lee becomes the first American woman since 1976 to follow an all-around gold medal with another medal at the following Summer Games. Lee took the gold in Tokyo three years ago. Her U-S teammate Simone Biles won the gold this time. Lee has a chance to win a third medal on Sunday in the uneven bars. She completed her Olympic comeback after a battle with a rare kidney disease.
>>St. Cloud BMX Racer Willoughby Advances to Olympic Semifinals in Paris
(Paris, FR) — St. Cloud native Alise Post Willoughby is in the semifinals of the women’s B-M-X racing competition today (Fri) at the Summer Olympics in Paris. Thirty-three-year-old Willoughby took first place in all three quarterfinal runs on Thursday and is one of 16 riders to advance. The top eight finishers in the semifinals will make it to the one-race final later today. Willoughby won a silver medal in Rio in 2016 and is a favorite for a medal in Paris. The Ultimate Sports Bar in Waite Park is hosting a watch party again this afternoon (Fri 12pm) for friends and local supporters of Willoughby.