Stories from July 20, 2021

Smoke and heat add to summer suffering across the state, as drought starts to pinch water supplies in the Twin Cities. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
First smoke, then fire? BWCA braces for the worst
Residents in northern Minnesota woke up to thick smoke Tuesday morning that spread from wildfires burning across the border in Canada, and some people around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area are bracing for a severe fire season that will likely last all summer.
Michael Wolff's third strike at Trump White House has hits and misses
The author has gifts as a writer: a novelistic eye for scene and detail, an ear for dramatic dialogue. His story keeps moving, free of constraints common to courtroom lawyers or newspaper reporters.
Hennepin County 'doubles down' on vaccine incentive program
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved an additional $250,000 to promote vaccine shots, on top of the original $100,000 that was allocated earlier from federal recovery funds.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, millennials had been dubbed the “unluckiest generation” by some economists. The pandemic may have set them back even further. Guest host Nina Moini talked with two economists and the vice president of a young professionals network about millennials in the workplace.
How the richest Americans avoid paying taxes
While most Americans have access to some kind of retirement savings, about 25 percent of workers have nothing saved at all. Meanwhile, America’s top earners are raking in millions, even billions, from their retirement accounts with very little tax debt. 
Funeral held for bystander killed in police pursuit crash
Friends and family gathered at a Minneapolis church to honor the life of a man killed when a police squad car struck his vehicle while the officer was chasing a robbery suspect.
A Colorado man has drowned after a severe storm moving through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota capsized his canoe, sheriff's officials said Tuesday.
Audio postcard: Scents of summer on the prairie
We get occasional reports on Morning Edition from wildflower chasers Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root, as they roam around Minnesota on the hunt for what’s in bloom. Their latest dispatch is from a hike at Schaefer Prairie near Glencoe, where they went looking for milkweed at the height of summer.
Blue Origin's Bezos reaches space on 1st passenger flight
Jeff Bezos blasted into space Tuesday on his rocket company's first flight with people on board, becoming the second billionaire in just over a week to ride his own spacecraft.
The wind shift along with a cold front is drawing smoke back into Minnesota, while the front is also triggering some spotty storms. Overall, our pattern stays drier and hotter than average.
The life cycle of a COVID-19 vaccine lie
Where do myths about coronavirus vaccines come from and why do they spread? NPR takes a look at how rumors about vaccines and fertility reached the public earlier this year.
A cold front moving across the state continues to bring chances for showers and storms. Meanwhile, the wind shift behind the front has funneled more smoke back into northern Minnesota.
The 40-year-old pilot from Texas was crop-dusting Monday afternoon when the chopper blades got caught in some power lines near Elgin and crashed, authorities said.
Air quality alert expanded across Minnesota over Canadian wildfire smoke
State pollution control officials have extended the alerts through Thursday morning, and increased the range from as far north as Roseau down to the Twin Cities region, as well as Rochester and Mankato.
A state court on Monday sent a key air emissions permit for the planned PolyMet mine back to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, a setback in the company’s bid to open the state’s first copper-nickel mine. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Muslim designers, noticing a demand for sustainable Eid clothing, have launched eco-friendly pieces leading up to the holiday.
10 things to watch for when the Tokyo Olympics begin
Against great odds, the world's top athletes are about to take the spotlight. Here are some key things to keep an eye out for during the first half of the Summer Olympic Games.
Crowds once again flocking to county fairs across Minnesota
It's the heart of county fair season across Minnesota. For the first time in two years, people are lining up for midway rides, filling barns to look at animals and 4-H exhibits and eating a lot of corn dogs and funnel cakes.
Meet the summer Olympians from Minnesota
More than 20 athletes attending the Tokyo Summer Olympics have a connection to Minnesota. Get to know the athletes, and follow this page for updates on when athletes are set to compete.