Stories from July 23, 2021

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