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Stories from July 29, 2026

Northern Minnesota camps to reopen as wildfire conditions improve

Northern Minnesota camps to reopen as wildfire conditions improve

Two YMCA camps near Ely, Camp Widjiwagan and Camp du Nord, had evacuated campers earlier this month as wildfires burned in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Both are reopening as crews make progress containing the fires.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Rain coming to drought-impacted Minnesota

Rain coming to drought-impacted Minnesota

Needed, heavy rain is coming to southwestern Minnesota and across the state in the next 40 hours, temporarily easing drought conditions.
by Ben Cathey

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Grand Marais hopes weekend festival brings crowds as wildfire smoke recedes

Grand Marais hopes weekend festival brings crowds as wildfire smoke recedes

Most businesses in the area saw a huge hit to their foot traffic due to wildfire smoke and are expecting to see a big return this weekend, Sarah Jorgenson-Hallberg, who owns Java Moose Cafe in downtown Grand Marais, told MPR News.
by Cathy Wurzer and Lukas Levin

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First Amendment questions at center of lawsuit against Minnesota's AI nudification ban

First Amendment questions at center of lawsuit against Minnesota's AI nudification ban

A new state law was expected to take effect Aug. 1 targeting technologies that are used to create fake nude images and videos of people without their consent. A legal expert explained the likely arguments in a court battle that will delay implementation of the law.
by Nina Moini and Ngoc Bui

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Violence repeatedly erupts in dementia care despite warnings, inspections show

Violence repeatedly erupts in dementia care despite warnings, inspections show

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities can be fertile ground for violence between residents with dementia, including fatal assaults. Court records and inspections show how safeguards fall short.
by Jordan Rau

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Study finds 94 cases of crowd-control weapon misuse during Minnesota ICE protests

Study finds 94 cases of crowd-control weapon misuse during Minnesota ICE protests

The state accounted for nearly one-quarter of all incidents nationwide documented by the Physicians for Human Rights and the Human Rights Center at the University of California Berkeley. While rubber bullets were most common in Los Angeles, researchers found federal officers primarily used chemical irritants in Minnesota.

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Morning Announcements for July 29

Morning Announcements for July 29

These are the Morning Announcements for Wednesday, July 29. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
by MPR News Staff

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Breaking down barriers to dental care

Breaking down barriers to dental care

When was the last time you went to the dentist? Oral health affects your whole body, but many people struggle to get the dental care they need. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about access, anxiety and why dental care matters.
by Angela Davis, Nikhil Kumaran and Maja Beckstrom

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Elon Musk challenges anti-nudification law. St. Paul Mayor Her accused of inappropriate comments

One of the lawmakers who led an anti-nudification bill in the Minnesota House says she expected AI companies to challenge the law. And St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is alleging that Mayor Kaohly Her directed inappropriate sexual comments toward him and other city staff.
by Phineas Pope

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A couple more hot days then some hopeful rain chances

A couple more hot days then some hopeful rain chances

We’ll be near 90 degrees still Wednesday and Thursday. We have a decent chance of needed rain and thunder Thursday night into Friday followed by more seasonable temperatures.
by Sven Sundgaard

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The Federal Reserve faces a critical decision on interest rates

The Federal Reserve faces a critical decision on interest rates

Policymakers at the Federal Reserve are meeting to discuss interest rates Wednesday. They're expected to hold rates steady, but there's a chance they could raise rates to combat stubborn inflation.
by Scott Horsley

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Southeastern Minnesota's hidden historical gems: Restored Civil War buildings reopen to the public

Southeastern Minnesota's hidden historical gems: Restored Civil War buildings reopen to the public

A tiny hamlet in southeastern Minnesota is home to the only surviving Civil War recruiting station in Minnesota. 165 years ago, students at a local seminary were among the first in the nation to enlist in the the Union Army.
by Molly Castle Work

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Farmers are struggling to turn a profit. How does it compare to the farm crisis in the '80s?

Farmers are struggling to turn a profit. How does it compare to the farm crisis in the '80s?

Corn and soybean growers have seen several years of low commodity prices and increased costs for supplies like fertilizer and fuel. That has many farmers worried about whether they'll turn a profit this year and drawn some comparisons to a dark time in American agriculture.

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