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Stories from July 23, 2021

Forest Service lifts one BWCA closure order; other parts of wilderness remain closed

Forest Service lifts one BWCA closure order; other parts of wilderness remain closed

Officials are lifting the Boundary Waters closure order related to the Delta Lake fire east of Ely. A much larger closure order remains in effect north of Ely because of concerns about wildfires burning in Ontario.
by Andrew Krueger

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Scattered storms into Saturday morning; heat continues

Scattered storms into Saturday morning; heat continues

Spotty storms rumble across parts of Minnesota overnight into Saturday. And sharp dry line pushes much less humid air into the state.
by Paul Huttner

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As Herschel Walker eyes Senate run, a turbulent past emerges

A homegrown football hero and businessman supported by his longtime friend Donald Trump, Herschel Walker has an attractive profile for Republicans looking to reclaim a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia. But as he decides whether to run, a more complex picture is taking shape.
by The Associated Press

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Winston Smith’s car passenger takes legal action

Winston Smith’s car passenger takes legal action

Attorneys for Norhan Askar filed a lawsuit against the Hennepin and Ramsey county sheriff’s offices and a separate $15 million tort complaint against the U.S. Marshals Service.
by MPR News Staff

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3 deaths in western Wisconsin investigated as triple homicide

Workers discovered three bodies early Friday at the entrance to a quarry in western Wisconsin, and authorities said they are investigating the deaths as a triple homicide.
by The Associated Press

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New legislation requires public high rises to have sprinkler systems

New legislation requires public high rises to have sprinkler systems

Minnesota elected officials are gathering Friday afternoon to honor victims of a 2019 fire and mark new legislation that aims to prevent similar fires from happening again.
by Mark Zdechlik

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Minneapolis voters to decide fate of MPD

A ballot question about whether to replace the Minneapolis Police Department cleared its final hurdle Friday and will appear on November's ballot. The citizen-driven ballot measure would create a new department of public safety and give the city council more oversight. Opponents say it would complicate decision-making and slow the pace of police reform.  This is the afternoon MPR News update for Friday, July 23, 2021. Hosted by Nina Moini. Theme music by Gary Meister.
by Nina Moini

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Minneapolis residents will vote on replacing the MPD

Minneapolis residents will vote on replacing the MPD

A ballot question put forward by city residents to replace the Minneapolis police with a new Department of Public Safety cleared the final hurdle Friday to make it onto November’s ballot. 
by Jon Collins

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Employee killed in accident at Golden Valley Menards

According to authorities, a man operating a forklift in the lumberyard of Menards in Golden Valley died when a large pallet of wood tumbled onto his machine Thursday.
by The Associated Press

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As smoke dissipates in Minnesota, health experts urge people to stay aware of air quality

As smoke dissipates in Minnesota, health experts urge people to stay aware of air quality

The thick wildfire smoke that choked much of Minnesota earlier in the week has largely dissipated. But while measurements of particulates in the air have receded from record-high levels, the air quality still isn't great across Minnesota.
by Laurel Poole

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Firefighters officially end search in Florida condo collapse

Firefighters officially end search in Florida condo collapse

Firefighters officially ended their search for bodies in the debris of the collapsed Surfside condo building on Friday, even as police and forensic specialists continue working to identify human remains.
by The Associated Press

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Free your home and the rest will follow

Free your home and the rest will follow

The Minimalists say a pared-down lifestyle doesn’t just free up space in your home — it frees up space in your life.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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'I believe survivors ... and I know Black men are held to a different standard': Minnesotans grapple with John Thompson abuse allegations

'I believe survivors ... and I know Black men are held to a different standard': Minnesotans grapple with John Thompson abuse allegations

A traffic stop has led to waves of allegations against the DFL representative from St. Paul. Activists see a double standard in the media coverage and the calls for John Thompson’s resignation. Approached by Sahan Journal, all 21 legislators in the POCI caucus — progressive legislators of color — offered no comment.
by Becky Z. Dernbach

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Weekend forecast: Heat continues, humidity drops

Weekend forecast: Heat continues, humidity drops

Hot weather will continue in many areas this weekend, but our dew points will drop. We have your weekend forecast details plus a look at Friday night rain chances.
by Ron Trenda

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Minnesota prepares for lingering drought

Retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley participated in the state drought task force meeting earlier this week. He told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer that based on current models, he’s expecting the drought to persist at least through October.
by Cathy Wurzer, Will Matuska and MPR News Staff

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Free money for all? Mayors hope local tests bring big change

Free money for all? Mayors hope local tests bring big change

Dozens of cities and counties and the state of California are experimenting with giving some low-income residents a guaranteed income of $500 to $1,000 each month to do with as they please, and tracking what happens.
by The Associated Press

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Storms Friday night punctuate the hot pattern

Storms Friday night are not expected to bring enough rain to dent Minnesota’s drought, and the hot, mostly dry weather continues into next week.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Cleveland's baseball team goes from Indians to Guardians

Cleveland's baseball team goes from Indians to Guardians

Known as the Indians since 1915, Cleveland's Major League Baseball team will be called Guardians. The ballclub announced the name change on Twitter, ending months of internal discussions triggered by a national reckoning by institutions and teams to permanently drop logos and names considered racist.
by The Associated Press

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New effort aims to hold back water to slow ‘flashy’ Minn. rivers

New effort aims to hold back water to slow ‘flashy’ Minn. rivers

Unlike this year, Minnesota often has had to contend with high water. Scientists attribute flash flows to more intense rain events and the loss of wetlands that act as natural sponges. New state funding aims to help landowners store more water on their land.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Dangerous heat returns to Minnesota Friday

Minnesota faces a variety of weather concerns Friday, from dangerously hot conditions to the risk for severe storms.
by Nicole Mitchell

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When your book publishes in a pandemic — authors talk about terrible timing

When your book publishes in a pandemic — authors talk about terrible timing

A league of unfortunate writers had their books come out in the height of the coronavirus crisis — there are even several online support groups for authors who published mid-pandemic.
by Neda Ulaby

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Farmers say widening drought now threatening livestock

As the drought in Minnesota worsens, Gov. Tim Walz told farmers Thursday he’s working with state and federal agencies to help meet their most pressing needs. This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, July 23, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Bird, Alvarez chosen to carry U.S. flag at opening ceremony

Bird, Alvarez chosen to carry U.S. flag at opening ceremony

Four-time Olympic women's basketball gold medalist Sue Bird and baseball player Eddy Alvarez have been chosen as USA flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. They are the first duo to share the honor of leading the delegation into the ceremony.
by The Associated Press

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Tokyo Olympics begin with muted ceremony and empty stadium

Tokyo Olympics begin with muted ceremony and empty stadium

The Tokyo Games have arrived at last, after a yearlong delay. They're a multinational showcase of the finest athletes of a world fragmented by disease. They're also steeped in the political and medical baggage of the relentless pandemic.
by The Associated Press

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COVID-19 in MN weekly update: Three weeks of rising case counts

COVID-19 in MN weekly update: Three weeks of rising case counts

COVID-19 case counts have been trending upward for the past three weeks. It's cause for concern — but at the same time, far more Minnesotans are vaccinated now, compared to the previous wave in April.
by MPR News Staff

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Weekend road closures: Highway 62 east in Richfield, I-35W north in Burnsville

Eastbound Minnesota Highway 62 will close between Interstate 35W and Minnesota Highway 77 late Friday through early Monday. Northbound I-35W will close between the I-35/35E/35W split and County Road 42 from 9 p.m. Sunday until 5 a.m. Monday.
by Nancy Yang

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The lambda variant: What you should know and why experts say not to panic

The lambda variant: What you should know and why experts say not to panic

Cases of the variant have popped up in several states. But neither the World Health Organization nor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers it a variant of concern, and the fast-spreading delta variant continues to dominate U.S. cases.
by Laurel Wamsley

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