>>Walz Considered a Potential Vice Presidential Running Mate for Harris
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is reportedly on the list of possible running mates for Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket. Walz is throwing his support behind Harris for the presidential nomination and is current chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Political analysts in Minnesota don’t think Walz is a frontrunner to be Harris’ running mate. Hamline University Professor David Schultz puts Walz “incredibly low” on the list of possible V-P candidates and says Governor Walz is not a household name nationwide. Carleton College analyst Steven Schier says Harris can try and put a state like Arizona in play or a state like Pennsylvania in play by either picking Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona or Governor Josh Shapiro from Pennsylvania.”
>>Minnesota DFL Party Sets 24-Hour Online Fundraising Record
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota D-F-L Party is reporting a new 24-hour online fundraising record after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. Officials say more than 100 thousand dollars was raised through digital fundraising alone between Sunday and Monday. D-F-L Chairman Ken Martin says, “the party and base are fired up and ready to elect Kamala Harris and to defeat Donald Trump in November.” Governor Walz and most Minnesota Democrats are endorsing Vice President Harris in the race for the White House.
>>Walz to Announce $200 Million EPA Grant to Reduce Emissions in Food System
(New Hope, MN) — Governor Tim Walz is scheduled to announce a 200-million-dollar grant this morning (Tues 11am) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota’s food system. Walz, E-P-A Regional Administrator Debra Shore, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Katrina Kessler are visiting the nonprofit The Food Group in New Hope. The governor’s office says the state will use the funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to make improvements including climate-smart farming practices, electric vehicles to transport food, and scaling up food waste prevention programs.
>>State Ag Dept. Awards $3 Million in Grants to 16 Gas Stations for E-15
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is awarding more than three-million dollars to 16 gas stations through the Biofuels Infrastructure Grant program. State ag officials say the retailers will use the grants to increase access and sales of E-15, or 15-percent ethanol fuel. The funds can cover the costs of replacing or upgrading pumps and other equipment. The 16 stations across Minnesota received grants ranging from 145 thousand to 199 thousand dollars. Here’s the list of recipients:
-AJ’s Gas & Grocery Inc. in Herman $199,000
-Argyle Clark $145,686
-Clearview General Store in Lutsen $199,000
-Fred’s Store in Goodland $159,084
-Hallock Cenex $194,980.50
-Jerry’s U-Save in Morris $199,000
-Kenny’s Tire and Auto in Bemidji $199,000
-Lac qui Parle Co-op Madison $199,000
-Morris Coop North Station $199,000
-Pump n Munch Robbinsdale 199,000
-Robbinsdale BP $199,000
-Sabin C Store $199,000
-Shell in Jordan $199,000
-Station 59 in Thief River Falls $179,431
-The Corner Store in Inver Grove Heights $199,000
-The One Stop in Longville $171,238
>>Social Equity Applicants Can Apply for Pre-Approval Cannabis Licenses Wednesday
(St. Paul, MN) — Social equity applicants can begin applying tomorrow (Wed) for pre-approval cannabis business licenses through the state. Office of Cannabis Management spokesman Josh Collins says these folks hope to begin growing plants this year. Collins says applicants who receive pre-approval will be entered into a lottery for a cannabis business license. The first license lottery will be this fall. The pre-approval window for social equity applicants is open until August 12th. Applications and materials are on the Office of Cannabis Management’s website (https://mn.gov/ocm/).
>>Authorities ID Victims in Deadly Itasca County Pedestrian Crash
(Coleraine, MN) — Authorities in Itasca County are identifying the two pedestrians struck by a vehicle Monday morning on Highway 169 near Coleraine. The Minnesota State Patrol says 14-year-old Dakota Jones died at the scene and 13-year-old Aubrey Martin was taken to a Duluth hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The report says Jones and Martin were walking in the southbound lane when they were hit by a car driven by 18-year-old Matthew Trombeck of Marble. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash.
>>Missing Endangered Person Alert Issued for 17-Year-Old Sartell Girl
(Sartell, MN) — The Minnesota B-C-A is asking for the public’s help finding an endangered, missing 17-year-old from Sartell. Officials say Kaydence Johnson was last seen with another juvenile girl – who has since returned – June 22nd in Minneapolis. She’s believed to be in the Twin Cities area. Johnson is described as white, 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs around 200 pounds, and has brown-red hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sartell Police Department (320-251-8186).
>>Twins Top MLB-Best Phillies in Series Opener at Target Field
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins scored seven unanswered runs in a 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies Monday night at Target Field. Bailey Ober pitched seven innings of two-run ball for his ninth win of the season. Manny Margot and Willi Castro each drove in two runs for Minnesota. Bryce Harper did all of Philly’s scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning. The 55-and-44 Twins trail the first-place Guardians by four games in the American League Central. Philadelphia still has the best record in baseball at 63-and-37. Simeon Woods Richardson starts for Minnesota tonight (Tues 6:40pm) in game two against Zack Wheeler.
