Stories from August 26, 2024

St. Paul Police Department renames building after officer killed 30 years ago
The Eastern District’s atrium is now painted inside with a mural of Ron Ryan, Jr. on the right side and the words “Ron Ryan Jr. Eastern District” on the wall above the main doors.
Native communities take the stage on Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Minnesota State Fair
NATIFS hosted Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday. This year, the Native News team from MPR News joined in on the day, sharing music, dancing and interviews at the MPR booth.
Cost is a barrier as cities prepare for wild weather in a changing climate
Minnesota cities are making plans to prepare for the impact of climate change. State grants help cities develop plans for updating infrastructure to manage more frequent extreme rain events but finding the money to make those plans a reality is a big challenge.
The Minnesota appeals court sided today with Life Time Fitness over a candidate for governor in a free-speech case. And COVID-19 has been on the rise since the Fourth of July in Minnesota and that has some Minnesota pediatricians concerned as the new school year draws near.
Latest fatal landslide in Alaska kills 1 and injures 3 in Ketchikan, a popular cruise ship stop
A landslide cut a path down a steep, thickly forested hillside and crashed into several homes in Ketchikan, Alaska, killing one person and injuring three in the latest such disaster to strike the mountainous region.
Candidate’s gym membership termination upheld by Minnesota appeals court
Hugh McTavish ran afoul of Life Time Fitness policy by putting campaign leaflets on cars and refusing to remove them. The gym canceled his membership, prompting a lawsuit that alleged free-speech violations.
Ask an epidemiologist: Who should get the new COVID vaccine?
For more information, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with epidemiologist Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
High heat could be dangerous for fairgoers — and animals
MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard about the heat. And she checked in with State Fair Veterinarian Scott Lang from Waseca Veterinary Clinic.
Minnesota Capitol, governor’s residence see a security boost since Walz named as VP candidate
The Minnesota Capitol and Eastcliff residence where the Walz family lives has seen an enhanced security presence when Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, returned to Minnesota.
As school nears, doctors worry about Minnesota's undervaccinated kids
“We always look for a little surge in our friends called viruses after the Great Minnesota Get-Together because we are in close contact, and there’s just a lot being shared,” Dr. Abe Jacob, a pediatrician told MPR News Monday. He said it’s not too late to get vaccinated.
Morning Announcements for Aug. 26
Here are the morning announcements for Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.
The role of higher education in Minnesota
Kerri Miller hosts a conversation with three Minnesota college presidents about higher education, diversity, protest and the lives of their students.
Excessive heat warning Monday with severe storms possible late
An excessive heat warning continues through 8 p.m. for southern Minnesota Monday. Severe storms are possible late Monday. Temperatures will cool throughout the week. 
Cooling centers in the Twin Cities metro are open to the public amid dangerously hot weather Monday. And Minneapolis police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old girl on Saturday.
There’s a severe kidney shortage. Should donors be compensated?
More than 90,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant. But a kidney shortage means many die on the waitlist or become too sick for a transplant. A new plan would compensate donors.
Journey around the world through a State Fair floral display
The day before the Minnesota State Fair opened, Kym Erickson and her crew were still hard at work placing flowers and setting scenes in the huge atrium of the Agriculture Horticulture Building. It’s a job that requires weeks of preparation leading up to the fair, and right down to the last minute the night before. 
In Duluth, a safe place to sleep for people living in cars
The city of Duluth is one of the few in the Midwest that sets aside a designated parking lot for people living out of their vehicles as one tool to address the growing homelessness crisis.