Stories from July 6, 2023

2 teens charged with launching fireworks at police
Hennepin County prosecutors on Thursday charged two teens with shooting fireworks at police during a night of chaos across Minneapolis over the Fourth of July holiday.
Hottest days ever recorded on earth this week
Earth’s temperatures spiked to the hottest level ever this week.
Minnesotans may be polarized, but they are keeping it mostly to themselves, like the rest of the country. Also, first charges filed in connection with July 4th mayhem. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
State Patrol: Speeders going over 100 mph on I-494
The patrol says the trooper stopped a man in Minnetonka Thursday afternoon going 109 mph in a 60 mph zone. He caught another driver the day before on the same stretch of Interstate 494 going 103 mph.
Authorities have identified the three people who died earlier this week while swimming in the Vermillion River near Red Wing, Minn., as Petrona Juan-Jose, 17; Miguel Juan-Jose, 22; and Ke Drer, 41. All three were from the same household in Oakdale, Minn.
Duluth nonprofit receives opioid settlement money to provide temporary housing for people recently released from prison
Nonprofit Housing for Inmates founder Richard Howell joined MPR News senior producer Emily Bright to talk about his plans to provide housing and support to formerly incarcerated people.
'Latino Lawyer Camp' connects Latino teens with the legal profession
MPR News Host Emily Bright spoke with Jorge Saavedra, one of the attorneys behind the camp, and Soli Rangel, a graduate of this year’s camp and a rising ninth grader at Minnetonka High School.
Is Threads really a 'Twitter killer'? Here's what we know so far
Meta’s new app, Threads, may be the latest in a long-string of Twitter’s competitors, but it appears to have an edge in the game thanks to its ties to Instagram. Over 30 million users have joined.
Most of Minnesota now in drought; minor rain chances ahead
Despite some locally heavy rainfalls drought continues its expansion. Thursday will be cooler than normal. Rain chances are spotty in the forecast.
Moorhead prepares to raise a monument to a long forgotten soldier
Later this summer historians in Moorhead will install a statue on a city corner to honor a Black Civil War veteran. Moorhead might seem like an odd place for such a memorial, but the idea is to recognize a long-forgotten piece of history.
Cooler than normal temperatures continue Thursday
It’s a cool start early Thursday and temperatures will remain a little below normal with highs in the 70s statewide with sunshine. Scattered showers are possible mainly north and west Friday.
Authorities shut down the iconic Stone Arch Bridge to avoid a repeat of the chaos and fireworks assaults in the Mill District last July. But crowds migrated to parks like Boom Island, Minnehaha Falls, Lake Nokomis and Bde Maka Ska instead. Social media postings show fireworks being launched directly at police and bystanders. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.
To protect against Russian airstrikes, Ukraine's defenders 'shoot and scoot'
When Russia launches an airstrike on Kyiv, the first line of defense is parked in a hayfield well outside the city. The protection consists of two soldiers, a Humvee and a Stinger missile.
REI fostered a progressive reputation. Then its workers began to unionize
REI, the shopping mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, has balked at recognizing its newly unionized workers. They accuse the retailer of breaking labor laws, which the company denies.
Abandoned, stray animals flood Twin Cities shelters after the holiday weekend
The Animal Humane Society locations of Coon Rapids, Woodbury and Golden Valley report a total of 74 turn-ins of stray animals Friday through Monday, amounting to around three times the number of animals they see on average over the same period.
Meta takes aim at Twitter with the launch of rival app Threads
Meta unveiled an app to rival Twitter on Wednesday, appearing to target users looking for an alternative to the social media platform owned — and frequently changed — by Elon Musk.