>>National Guard Records Show Walz Retired Prior to Mobilization Order
(St. Paul, MN) — Republican vice presidential candidate J-D Vance is accusing Governor Tim Walz of knowingly retiring from the National Guard before a scheduled deployment, but his military record says otherwise. The Minnesota National Guard reports Walz retired on May 16th, 2005 and the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery received an alert order for mobilization to Iraq on July 14th, and the official Army mobilization order on August 14th. Officials say Walz was deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom from August of 2003 to April 2004 and supported security missions in Europe and Turkey. Walz says he retired after 24 years to run for Congress in Minnesota’s 1st District.
>>GOP Congressman Tom Emmer Continues to Criticize Walz VP Pick
(Undated) — Republican Congressman Tom Emmer continues his criticism of Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. The U-S House majority whip called Governor Walz, “a left-wing radical who has turned Minnesota into a liberal wasteland.” Emmer said, “people are going to know Tim Walz supported free college and health care for illegals. They are going to know he actually signed a law allowing illegals to get driver’s licenses in Minnesota.” Emmer also claimed the liberal media tends to give Walz a pass and that “he basically owns the Star Tribune.”
>>11 Minnesota Delegates Uncommitted Ahead of DNC
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota is sending the largest number of uncommitted delegates to this month’s Democratic National Convention. Nineteen-percent of the D-F-L voters in the March presidential primary checked the uncommitted box in a protest over the lack of a cease-fire in Gaza. That means 11 of the 75 delegates heading to Chicago will not be committed to any candidate. Many of those delegates say they won’t support any candidate who doesn’t back a permanent cease-fire. The D-N-C is scheduled to begin on August 19th.
>>FEMA Opens Disaster Recovery Center in Waterville
(Waterville, MN) — FEMA is opening a disaster recovery center for flood victims in south central Minnesota today (Fri) in Waterville. The site at Waterville City Hall will be open from 7:30 to 6:30 pm seven days a week, but will be closed on Tuesday for the state primary election. Representatives from FEMA will be able to answer questions about the types of federal disaster assistance available to those affected by recent storms and flooding. State agencies and the U-S Small Business Administration will also be available at the center.
>>Fundraiser at Mankato Brewery for Family Who Lost Home, Rapidan Dam Store
(Mankato, MN) — Mankato Brewery is hosting fundraiser tonight (Fri 5:30pm) for the family who lost their home in the Rapidan Dam failure and the nearby Dam Store. Shannon Whittet organized the event to benefit her uncle Jim Hruska and cousins David Hruska and Jenny Barnes. She says they lost their house, their store and their land, and this event is to help them raise money and show community support. She says there will be a pulled pork dinner, live music, “Dam Strong” t-shirts and hats, and pies from the Dam Store. Mankato Brewery is donating one dollar from each pint sold to the Hruska family.
>>Body of Missing Minnesota Teen Recovered from Lake Michigan in Indiana
(Beverly Shores, IN) — Authorities in northwest Indiana say they recovered the body of a Minnesota teen who went missing Tuesday while swimming in Lake Michigan. The Porter County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 17-year-old Max Moras Loeza from Eagan. The Indiana D-N-R reported Loeza was located about six miles from where he was last seen. Two other swimmers and a bystander were rescued and taken to the hospital.
>>MN Lottery Still Waiting For $1M Raffle Prize Winner to Come Forward
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Lottery is still awaiting the winner of a one-million-dollar raffle jackpot to claim their prize. The Minnesota Millionaire Raffle is an annual event held on New Year’s Day, and it has a pair of two million-dollar winners. One of the prizes remains unclaimed seven months after the drawing. The ticket was purchased at Coborn’s grocery store in Delano. Prizes that go unclaimed for 12 months are put into the state’s general fund.
>>USA Women’s Basketball Faces Australia in Olympic Semifinal
(Paris, FR) — Team U-S-A women’s basketball takes on Australia this morning (Fri 10:30am) in the Olympic semifinals in Paris. The U-S advanced with an 88-74 win over Nigeria on Wednesday. The American women are shooting for their eighth straight gold medal. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve is leading the U-S team and forward Napheesa Collier is a starter. Lynx forward Alana Smith plays for the Aussie team. Smith scored 22 points in their quarterfinal victory against Serbia.
