Stories from August 29, 2024

Tornado touches down in Isanti County; 40,000 without power due to storm
Law enforcement confirmed that a tornado touched down and then lifted east of Isanti near North Branch in Isanti County as part of a storm that swept across Minnesota late Thursday afternoon.
New school cellphone policy landscape across Minnesota includes locked pouches
At United South Central Public Schools in Wells phones will be locked in a pouch for the entire day. Meanwhile at Grand Rapids-Big Fork Public Schools, phones will be put in a designated area during each class period.
Roasted corn and crop art: Highlights from my first time at the Minnesota State Fair
After nearly a decade in Minnesota, MPR News senior reporter Hannah Yang visited the Minnesota State Fair for the first time and shared her experiences with the food, arts and unique attractions she encountered.
In first sit-down interview of her presidential campaign, Harris says ‘my values have not changed’
Vice President Kamala Harris said Thursday “my values have not changed,” as she was questioned along with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in their first major television interview of their presidential campaign.
After power outages from storms, expert says it’s time to upgrade our systems
University of Minnesota professor Gabriel Chan said investments are needed to address aging power lines, intensifying climate change that could lead to more severe weather and new demands on power grids from technology like solar panels.
This is the evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.
Twin Cities severe storm warning ends as line moves into Wisconsin
Thunderstorm and tornado warnings around the Twin Cities have expired as the line of storms moves east into Wisconsin. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in place until 9 p.m.
Severe thunderstorm warning until 5:15 p.m. includes Twin Cities
The National Weather Service in Chanhassen has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for portions of Hennepin, Dakota, Scott, Anoka, Carver and Ramsey counties.
Minnesota sends a warning shot to retailers selling kid-friendly e-cigarettes
Attorney General Keith Ellison said the state is alerting more than 5,000 business owners that they could be out of compliance with a new state law banning sales of kid-friendly flavors or shapes for e-cigarettes.
Twin Cities risk level rises for severe weather Thursday
The national Storm Prediction Center has raised its severe weather risk Thursday from “slight” to “enhanced” for the Twin Cities region and parts of central and southern Minnesota. A severe thunderstorm watch is posted now from the Iowa border to Canada.
Teacher of the year: MCA test scores are not always reflective of student‘s knowledge
Minnesota Teacher of the Year Tracy Byrd teaches English at Washburn High School in Minneapolis and shared his perspective about what he thinks the new standardized test scores tell him about student learning.
Minnesota State Fair hosts another llama-alpaca costume contest for the ages
The Minnesota State Fair’s Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum was bursting with applause and chuckles as a herd of llamas and alpacas strutted their stuff alongside their 4-H student handlers Wednesday at the annual costume contest that saw a hungry caterpillar, plenty of wigs and lots of repurposed pants.
Gophers kick off the season versus North Carolina; Minnesota favored
North Carolina visits Minnesota to start the season and open the post-Drake Maye era after the departure of the star quarterback to the NFL. Minnesota is favored by 1½ points according to BetMGM odds. North Carolina won the matchup 31-13 at home last season.
The U.S. urges major changes to Israel’s evacuations in Gaza, a leaked memo says
In an internal memo obtained by NPR, U.S. officials warn that Israel’s “drastically increased” evacuation orders in Gaza have further displaced Palestinians and could debilitate aid efforts.
Morning Announcements for Aug. 29
Here are the morning announcements for Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.
The ’Deeper Blues’ of Minneapolis music legend Cornbread Harris
MPR News host Angela Davis hosts a special North Star Journey Live at the Minnesota State Fair with 97-year-old Cornbread Harris, one of Minneapolis’s most influential musicians.
Trump to visit La Crosse, Wis., as battleground campaigning increases
Former President Donald Trump will campaign in Michigan and Wisconsin as his campaign efforts in a handful of battleground states ramp up heading into the Labor Day turn toward the fall election.
3M will be required to remove forever chemicals from the water it discharges from its Cottage Grove plant. And former President Donald Trump is campaigning in western Wisconsin Thursday evening.
Atlanta Braves beat skidding Minnesota Twins 5-1 for 3-game sweep
Chris Sale won his major league-leading 15th game with six crisp innings, Jorge Soler homered early and threw out a runner at the plate late, and the resurgent Atlanta Braves beat the struggling Minnesota Twins 5-1 to complete a three-game sweep.
Warm, humid Thursday with strong to severe storms
The second cold front of the week will push warm, humid air ahead of it and touch off strong to severe storms later Thursday. Behind it will flow comfortable, cooler air for Friday.  
How swing states came to be critical in U.S. presidential elections
Political campaigns and pundits have long focused on swing states because they offer candidates an opportunity to sway voters off the fence and win coveted Electoral College votes.
It’s fairly irresistible: Minnesota State Fair is a political proving ground
For more than a century, local, state and national candidates have flocked to the fair to meet with constituents, campaign and attract media attention. Political appearances have resulted in campaign-making and campaign-breaking moments.
State looks to limit ‘forever chemicals’ in wastewater from 3M’s Cottage Grove plant
It will be the first time Minnesota has required an industry to limit PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in its wastewater. 3M’s Cottage Grove plant, the epicenter of the global PFAS problem, has been operating under a permit that expired more than 20 years ago.
Minnesota school test scores stabilize but COVID’s effects linger
Minnesota’s K-12 public school math and reading scores remain largely unchanged since the COVID-19-era drop, according to newly released data from the state Education Department. One positive sign: School attendance rates are rising again.
Paralympic Games opening ceremony starts the final chapter on a long summer of sport in Paris
Against the backdrop of a setting sun, thousands of athletes paraded down the famed Champs-Elysées avenue to Place de la Concorde in central Paris where French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Paralympic Games open.