>>Klobuchar Discusses Flood Relief with FEMA Regional Administrator Sivak
(Minneapolis, MN) — U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar says she spoke with FEMA Regional Administrator Tom Sivak Wednesday about the flooding in Minnesota and the need for swift and comprehensive relief. Klobuchar says they discussed the need to help communities across the state rebuild and recover. Sivak has been on the ground in Minnesota surveying the flood damage. Klobuchar is encouraging all cities and counties to document damage to public infrastructure so when the threshold for federal disaster relief is reached, funding will be delivered quickly.
>>St. Louis County Crews Re-Open All But 5 Roads Closed by Flooding
(Duluth, MN) — Officials in St. Louis County say public works crews have re-opened all but five of the 43 roads that were damaged or close due to high water. Repairs continue mainly in the northern part of the county. St. Louis County Environmental Services is accepting flood-related debris at no charge at ten locations in the areas most impacted by flooding. Residents affected by last week’s storm are encouraged to visit the county’s online flood resource page (stlouiscountymn.gov/flood).
>>Underground Tours Suspended at Lake Vermilion Soudan Mine
(Lake Vermillion, MN) – Underground tours at the Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine remain suspended as crews work to remove water from the mine. Heavy rains from last week flooded the mine, and a lightning strike caused a power outage at the pump station. The mine received 7.6 inches of rain in 24 hours. Surface tours will continue daily from 10 am to 4 pm. It’s expected the underground mine tours will resume in late July or early August.
>>Dedication Ceremony for new Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston
(Preston, MN) — The new Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston will be officially dedicated today (Thurs 3pm ) during a ceremony. The 54-bed skilled nursing facility for veterans in the southeast corner of the state welcomed its first residents in January. Governor Tim Walz is among the scheduled speakers for the program. There’s a social hour before the ceremony from 1:30 to 2:30 this afternoon. Preston is one of three new state Veterans Homes to open this year. The others are in Bemidji and Montevideo.
>>BCA Identifies Brooklyn Park Officer Who Shot Armed Man
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota B-C-A is naming the Brooklyn Park officer who used fired his weapon during a June 23rd incident as Momodou Dibba. Agents say Office Dibba has three months of law enforcement experience and is on critical incident leave. Officers were called to a Brooklyn Park home Sunday morning on a report of a baby not breathing and the infant later died at H-C-M-C. The baby’s father, 24-year-old Oronde Reese, was distraught and locked himself inside his room with a gun. Investigators say there was a physical struggle and Officer Dibba shot Reese. He remains hospitalized in stable condition.
>>Felon Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm
(Minneapolis, MN) — A felon from the Twin Cities will serve 4.5 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Prosecutors say a Minnesota State Patrol officer stopped 46-year-old Salvador Pachecho in October 2022 for multiple traffic violations. After smelling marijuana in the car, a drug-sniffing dog was deployed and a search of Pachecho’s car revealed a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol inside his backpack. Due to Pachecho’s previous felony convictions for murder, assault, and weapons violations, he was arrested for possessing the gun.
>>U-S Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials Begin in Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — The U-S Olympic Team Trials kick off today (Thurs 11:30am) with an event on the Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Sandy Sweetser of Minnesota Sports and Events says the top gymnasts in the country are trying to earn a spot on Team U-S-A. She says, “people are coming from all over the world to be here. Media from all over the world. The Twin Cities are going to be center of the sports and gymnastic world over the next four, five days.” Gold medalists Simone Biles and Suni Lee and Minnesotan Shane Wiskus are among those vying for a trip to the 2024 Summer Games in Paris next month. The men’s competition begins today at Target Center and the women start on Friday.
>>Minnesota Timberwolves Land 2 Players in First Round of NBA Draft
(Brooklyn, NY) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have two new players after the first round of the N-B-A Draft in Brooklyn, New York. The Wolves made a trade with San Antonio to land the eight overall selection, Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, for a pair of future draft picks. Minnesota used the 27th pick to take Terrence Shannon, Junior out of Illinois. The Timberwolves have the 37th overall selection today (Thurs) in the second round of the draft.
>>Country Star Brantley Gilbert Comes to Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth
(Duluth, MN) — Country music star Brantley Gilbert is coming to perform at this year’s Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. Brantley will headline the music event July 18th. Gilbert is known for his seven number-one hits, including “Bottoms Up,” “Country Must Be Country Wide,” and “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do.” General tickets are available for $39.50.
