>>VP Harris Welcomes Running Mate Walz to Presidential Ticket in Philadelphia
(Philadelphia, PA) — Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to the Democratic presidential ticket Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. In a fiery speech punctuated by cheers from the audience, Walz pledged to protect freedom and thanked Harris for “bringing back the joy.” The governor told the crowd this election is about which direction the country will go. Walz said, “Donald Trump would damn sure take us backwards, let’s be clear about that. And don’t believe him when he plays dumb: He knows exactly what Project 2025 will do to restrict our freedoms.” Republican vice presidential nominee J-D Vance blasted Walz in Philadelphia before the rally, calling him, “one of the most far-left radicals in the entire United States government at any level.”
>>National Weather Service Confirms 4 Tornado Touchdowns in Southern Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) — The National Weather Service is confirming at least four tornado touchdowns Monday evening in southern Minnesota . The first tornado reported near St. James was an EF-1 tornado with wind speeds of 100 miles an hour. Another EF-1 twister hit near Janesville with winds up to 105 miles an hour. The third south of Waseca was also an EF-1 tornado and the fourth was near Twin Lakes in Freeborn County. There were no injuries from any of the tornadoes.
>>New COVID Variant is More Evasive and Transmissible
(St. Paul, MN) — The C-D-C is reporting a COVID variant named K-P-3-point-1-point-1 now accounts for one in four cases in the U-S. Minnesota Department of Health Epidemiologist Stephanie Meyer says it appears to be more infectious than previous strains. She says early laboratory data have shown that K-P-3-point-1-point-1 might be the most evasive variant of this line and it’s more transmissible. Meyer says there’s no indication this variant causes more severe disease. Cases have slowly been on rise in Minnesota since spring.
>>Minnesota Prosecutors Charge 15 in Mexico-Based Drug Trafficking Ring
(Minneapolis, MN) — Federal prosecutors say 15 people face drug charges for trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl from Mexico in Minnesota. U-S Attorney Andrew Luger says these indictments disrupt one of the most sophisticated and significant drug trafficking organizations his office has ever prosecuted. Court documents allege that Clinton James Ward led the drug trafficking ring and was first arrested in January of 2019 with more than eight pounds of meth in a Vadnais Heights hotel. Authorities say Ward fled to Mexico where he established his own drug dealing organization and distributed thousands of pounds of meth to Minnesota. He was arrested and returned to the U-S in March.
>>Minneapolis Childcare Center Employee Accused of Taking Nude Photos of Kids
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota B-C-A says a worker at a Minneapolis childcare center is accused of taking nude pictures of children. Agents arrested the 34-year-old man Monday on suspicion of pornographic work involving minors. Investigators searched his home and located what appeared to be child sexual abuse material including nude images captured at the childcare facility. Authorities say they are working with the center to identify the victims and notify their parents.
>>Teen from Eagan Reported Missing in Lake Michigan in Indiana
(Beverly Shores, IN) — Searchers in Indiana are looking for a Minnesota teen who was reported missing Tuesday. The 17-year-old from Eagan was reported missing in Lake Michigan near the town of Beverly Shores. The search had to be limited Tuesday due to dangerous water conditions and authorities could not say when the search will resume.
>>New Invasive Insect Confirmed in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is confirming the appearance of a new invasive species that attacks elm trees. The agency says elm zigzag sawflies have been found on the Twins Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. The insect is native to Asia and was first found in the U-S in 2021. It was named because of the distinctive zig-zag pattern it leaves on elm leaves. The insect can harm elm trees, though state ag officials say the full impact is still unknown.
>>US Men’s Basketball Routs Brazil in Olympic Quarterfinal
(Paris, FR) — Team U-S-A rolled over Brazil 122-87 in the men’s basketball quarterfinals Tuesday at the Paris Olympics. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards had 17 points and five rebounds and Devin Booker led the Americans with 18 points. The U-S will face N-B-A M-V-P Nikola Jokic (YO’-kitch) and Serbia in the semifinals on Thursday.
>>Team USA Women’s Hoops Faces Nigeria in Quarterfinal in Paris
(Paris, FR) — Coach Cheryl Reeve and the U-S women’s basketball team plays Nigeria today (Wed 2:30pm) in the quarterfinals of the Summer Olympics in Paris. The U-S topped Germany 87-68 on Sunday. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier had eight points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks for the Americans.
