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A close up view of a dam

Rapidan community campaigns to preserve aging dam

Blue Earth County is deciding what to do with the huge Rapidan Dam. Over a century old, it suffered damage during recent flooding. If the county board votes to take it down it will be the largest-ever dam removal project in state history. However some local residents say the huge structure is vital to attract visitors, and to the town’s identity.
  • MoreRock rapids replace aging dams to let Minn. rivers flow
A yellow lawn sign supporting a recall on Two Harbors mayor Chris Swanson

Two Harbors voters overwhelmingly back recall of mayor

Residents of Two Harbors, Minn., voted overwhelmingly this week to recall the city's embattled mayor. More than 86 percent of voters backed the effort to remove Mayor Chris Swanson from office.
  • EarlierRecall petition for Two Harbors mayor garners nearly 1,000 signatures
  • JuneDefiant Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson says he will not resign
Minnesota Nurses Association President Mary Turner

Monday strike authorization vote set for 15K Twin Cities, Duluth nurses

An authorization would need support from two-thirds of those voting. If it passes, it would allow union leaders to call a strike with a 10-day notice to employers.
Fans celebrates after first goal

Photos: Soccer fans flock to All-Star showcase in St. Paul

Carlos Vela scored in the third minute and Raúl Ruidíaz’s converted a penalty kick in the 73rd minute in the Major League Soccer All-Star team’s 2-1 victory over Mexico’s Liga MX on Wednesday night.
  • For some soccer fansLoyalty to home team remains unchanged
A woman poses for a photo at an election night party

Voters poised to send first openly trans person to Minnesota Legislature

“We're around and we deserve representation, and we have a lot of work to do to let people know what it means to have an inclusive government, to have an inclusive state and to protect everyone,” said DFLer Leigh Finke, who won her Minnesota House primary on Tuesday.
A platter of smoked meats

'Even bad barbecue is delicious': Why not take a chance on smoking meat?

Revival Chef Thomas Boemer offers tips to smoke meat at home.
A person uses a puppet to perform.

Art Hounds: Puppets, song, stories, laughs and clay

Puppetlab celebrates its 10th year with new, experimental work at Open Eye Theatre in Minneapolis. Stop by for “An Evening of Stories, Songs, and Laughs” in International Falls Saturday evening. And next weekend, the Cannon River Clay Tour offers a chance to see 21 potters at four studios around Northfield.

BCA releases more details of Otsego police shooting

In a statement, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said that Jordyn John Hansen, 21, died of gunshot wounds to his chest after Deputies Leland Wilkinson and Jeffrey McMackins opened fire with their handguns. Two other deputies, Patrick Mabusth and Mark Voss, fired their Tasers.
A member of law enforcement talks on the phone

Mall of America gunfire: Suspected gunman, accomplice arrested

Alleged gunman Shamar Alon Lark, 21, was arrested in Chicago along with Rashad Jamal May, 23, following a nationwide manhunt, the Bloomington police chief told reporters Thursday.
A man speaks at a podium

State patrol, Metro police step up efforts to reduce violent crime

The escalation of state and metro police crime fighting efforts come as a report from the Minneapolis Police Department highlights troubling gun violence trends in the city.
A fallen down tree crushing a house.

FEMA announces emergency aid for 23 counties damaged in May storm

The Memorial Day storm brought heavy winds, hail and at least five tornado touchdowns, including one in Douglas County. The county’s emergency management director joined All Things Considered to give a status update on cleanup efforts and discuss how the aid will help.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laid out new guidance for the national response to COVID-19 on Thursday.

With new guidance, CDC ends test-to-stay for schools and relaxes COVID rules

Revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looks to minimize COVID-19's disruption of daily life while conceding that the pandemic isn't over.

Justice Dept. seeks to unseal search warrant of Trump home

The Justice Department has asked a court to unseal the search warrant the FBI received before searching the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday. Garland cited the “substantial public interest in this matter” in announcing the request at a hastily scheduled Justice Department news conference.
A person goes to the pump at a gas station in Arlington, Va., on July 29. The national average price of gasoline fell below $4 a gallon on Thursday.

Gas prices drop below $4 a gallon. These factors will determine what happens next

The national average price of gasoline has fallen below $4 a gallon. These are four key factors that could determine what happens next with prices at the pump.
American pilot Francis Gary Powers (far right) during his 1960 trial in Moscow. Powers was shot down while flying a U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union. He was jailed for nearly two years before he was freed in a swap for a Soviet spy imprisoned in the U.S.

The Cold War to Brittney Griner: a new twist in U.S.-Russia prisoner swaps

The U.S. and Russia are trying to work out a prisoner exchange that involves basketball star Brittney Griner. While they've done deals for decades, the trading usually involves spies for spies.
A room in a Planned Parenthood of Illinois clinic in Waukegan, where abortion providers from Wisconsin are helping to provide access to more patients from their home state now that abortion is nearly banned there.

Abortion is legal in Illinois. In Wisconsin, it's nearly banned. So clinics teamed up

After Wisconsin left an 1849 near-total abortion ban in place, some providers began commuting to Illinois to treat patients. These Planned Parenthood partnerships could be a model for the future.
New York pop artist KAWS has designed boxes for the General Mills Monster Cereals Count Chocula, Franken Berry, Boo Berry and Frute Brute.

General Mills' classic Monster Cereals are back with a reimagined look

Artist KAWS has designed boxes — and collectible prizes — for Franken Berry, Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Frute Brute, which are back for General Mills' seasonal release of Monster Cereals.
Former President Trump arrives at a rally Friday, Aug. 5, in Wisconsin. Trump has been the subject of several ongoing investigations into his businesses and actions while in the White House.

The many investigations surrounding Donald Trump: Jan. 6, Mar-a-Lago, taxes and more

Authorities have several open investigations involving the former president, including into his businesses, his tax returns and his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
Only when the caller cannot or will not collaborate on a safety plan and the counselor feels the caller will harm themselves imminently should emergency services be called, according to the hotline's policy.

Social media posts warn people not to call 988. Here's what you need to know

Mental health advocates celebrated the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, but some people voiced concerns that using the service could lead to police involvement or forced hospitalization.
A man speaks to reporters.

What the Inflation Reduction Act does and doesn't do about rising prices

The Inflation Reduction Act is not expected to bring down inflation dramatically or right away, but experts say that might not be such a bad thing given the bill's other areas of focus.
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