>>Pilot Killed In Winona Plane Crash
(Winona, MN) — A pilot is dead after an ultralight plane crashed Thursday evening at Winona Municipal Airport. Emergency crews were called just after 8 p.m., where they found the aircraft down near the runway. Despite lifesaving efforts, the 74-year-old pilot died at the scene. No one else was injured. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating what caused the crash.
>>Early Voting Begins for August 11 Minnesota Primary
(ST. PAUL, Minn.) — Early voting is now underway for Minnesota’s August 11 primary. Secretary of State Steve Simon says voters can cast their ballot by mail, vote early in person, or vote at their polling place on Election Day. He also reminds absentee voters they can track their ballot online at MNVotes.gov to confirm it has been received by their local election office. Early and absentee voting continues through Monday, August 10th.
>>West Nile Virus Detected in Twin Cities Mosquitoes
(St. Paul, MN) — The first signs of West Nile virus this season have been detected in the Twin Cities metro. The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District says mosquitoes collected at sites in Hennepin, Ramsey, and Dakota counties tested positive for the virus. Officials say this is the time of year when West Nile typically begins showing up. Minnesota saw a record 120-plus human cases last year. Health experts recommend using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors, and eliminating standing water around homes where mosquitoes breed.
>>BCA Identifies Man, Officers in Deadly St. Peter Shooting
(St. Peter, MN) — The BCA has identified the man killed in last week’s officer-involved shooting in St. Peter as 21-year-old Jordan Donahue of St. Peter. Investigators say Donahue fled into a home after a police pursuit, then fired a shotgun from an upstairs stairwell, striking St. Peter Officer Austin Buss in the arm and ballistic vest. Buss and Nicollet County Sergeant Dustin Struckman returned fire. After a lengthy standoff, a police drone found Donahue dead inside the home. The BCA says body cameras captured portions of the incident, and both officers remain on standard critical incident leave.
>>Smith Urges Trump to Sign Housing Bill
(Washington, D.C.) — Senator Tina Smith will join affordable housing advocates today(1 pm) to urge President Trump to sign a bipartisan housing bill aimed at lowering housing costs. The President has said he will not sign the measure despite overwhelming bipartisan approval in Congress. Smith says the legislation would reduce barriers to building new housing, prevent private equity firms from buying single-family homes, and preserve nearly 10,000 affordable homes in rural Minnesota. She says delaying the bill will keep housing costs high for renters and homebuyers.
>>Senator Gustafson Appointed to Legislative Inspector General Advisory Commission
(St. Paul, MN) — A key lawmaker behind Minnesota’s new Office of the Inspector General is helping choose its first leader. Senator Heather Gustafson of Vadnais Heights has been appointed to the Legislative Inspector General Advisory Commission. The bipartisan panel will conduct a nationwide search and recommend candidates to serve as the state’s first Inspector General. The office, created by lawmakers this year, will independently investigate fraud involving state government programs and recommend ways to improve accountability and protect taxpayer dollars.
>>Ellison Federal Court Victory
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has won a second federal court victory this week over President Trump’s election-related executive orders. A judge ruled the administration could not create a federal list of eligible voters, limit mail voting based on Postal Service records, or threaten state election officials with criminal prosecution for refusing to comply. The decision comes one day after another court blocked a separate executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Ellison says the rulings reaffirm that states—not the federal government—have the constitutional authority to administer elections.
>>New Minnesota DNR Licensing System Now Available
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts can now use the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ new online licensing system. The updated website is now live, allowing users to create an account, purchase licenses, register recreational vehicles, and access other DNR services. The agency has also launched the new MN DNR Licensing mobile app, available for both Apple and Android devices, giving customers another convenient way to manage licenses and registrations while on the go.
>>Tractor Fire Contained in Meeker County
(Litchfield, MN) — An 84-year-old Meeker County man escaped injury after a tractor caught fire inside a machine shed Wednesday evening in Ellsworth Township. Deputies say Dwight Barrick was able to move other vehicles out of the shed before firefighters arrived. The Litchfield Fire Department quickly extinguished the blaze, preventing damage to the building and surrounding property. Investigators believe the fire was caused by a mechanical problem.
