>>More BWCAW Entry Points Opening Soon
(Duluth, MN) – The Superior National Forest has opened more than 70% of the one-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. More entry points will be opening soon. The Forest says the Kekekabic and Pow Wow Trail entry points will reopen on August 11, while permit cancellations for the remaining 17 entry points are extended. The Forest Service reminds visitors to be diligent in planning trips into newly reopened and all parts of the BWCAW. Plan to be self-sufficient, ensure a travel plan is in place and shared with family or friends, know weather forecasts and fire conditions before your trip, travel with multiple means of communication, and understand that you are entering a remote Wilderness area with risks due to weather, access, and potential wildfire activity. Tips on Wilderness trip planning, rules and regulations, and the official BWCAW Trip Planning Guide can be found on this BWCAW website.
>>Shakopee Waste Company Fined $47,000 for Hazardous Waste Violations
(Shakopee, MN) – A Shakopee waste management company is paying a 47-thousand-dollar fine after state investigators found multiple hazardous waste violations. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says Daniels Sharpsmart intentionally stored 132 shipments of hazardous waste between 2023 and 2025 without the required permit. Investigators also found the company failed to report 19 rejected hazardous waste shipments and improperly handled several others. Along with paying the fine, Daniels Sharpsmart has agreed to stop unpermitted storage and comply with state-approved infectious waste management requirements.
>>Judge Allows Campaign Complaint Against Mike Lindell to Move Forward
(Undated) – A complaint against Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell is moving forward after a judge found probable cause that he may have violated state campaign law. The case stems from a July Fourth parade in Delano, where Lindell and campaign staff handed out pillows bearing campaign messages. State law prohibits giving voters items of monetary value to influence an election. Lindell argued the pillows were purchased wholesale for less than five dollars each and said the campaign took steps to comply with the law. The case now heads to a panel of administrative law judges for a hearing.
>>MSP Had to Delay Flights Thursday Due to Equipment Outages
(Minneapolis, MN) – An equipment outage is caused major travel disruptions at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration says a regional equipment failure prompted a ground stop Thursday afternoon, halting all departures and limiting arriving flights. Departure delays were averaging about 45 minutes and continuing to increase, according to the flight tracking service FlightAware. The FAA says the possibility of extending the delays remains moderate.
>>Farm Bureau Disappointed as Senate Farm Bill Stalls
(Washington, D.C) – The Minnesota Farm Bureau is expressing disappointment after the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance the Agriculture Act of 2026. Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing says the measure included several priorities for Minnesota farmers, including year-round sales of E-15 gasoline. Glessing says farmers have pushed for the legislation for more than three years and that delaying action creates continued uncertainty for the agricultural industry. He is urging lawmakers on the committee to work together and move the farm bill forward.
>>Journalist Seeks Dismissal of Charges Tied to St. Paul Church Protest
(St. Paul, MN) – An independent Minnesota journalist charged in connection with a protest that disrupted a St. Paul church service is asking a federal judge to dismiss the case. Georgia Fort is among 39 people charged following a January demonstration at Cities Church, where activists protested the congregation’s ties to a local ICE official. Fort argues her actions were protected by the First Amendment, saying she was reporting on a newsworthy event by observing, recording video, conducting interviews, and sharing information with the public. Three other journalists were also named in the indictment.
