Stories from July 1, 2025

Minneapolis renovation uncovers century-old Gold Medal Flour advertisement
A Minneapolis couple discovered a giant advertisement for Gold Medal Flour on the side of their house during a home renovation project. Now, the owners are balancing preserving the historical gem with practical maintenance concerns.
Cuts to unique disability waiver program leave questions for disabled Minnesotans
The state Legislature voted to cut funding for nursing homes and the state’s disability waivers system to help balance the budget. Lawmakers say the cuts will “slow the growth” of Minnesota’s disability waiver program.
Marijuana business owner says customers stocked up ahead of cannabis tax increase
July 1 marks the first day of a raised tax on retail marijuana sales. Tax on recreational marijuana products is now 15 percent plus sales tax, making it one of the highest cannabis taxes in the country.
The U.S. Senate passed a major tax and budget package today after days of floor debate over the bill's contents. Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaking vote. Law enforcement is asking the public for any information about Jordan Collins Jr. -- known as "Manny." Searchers found the teen's body in a landfill in Elk River over the weekend.
Iowa's civil rights protections no longer include gender identity as new law takes effect
Iowa has become the first state to remove gender identity protections from its civil rights code. The law that took effect Tuesday means transgender and nonbinary residents are no longer shielded from discrimination in their job, housing and other aspects of life.
One year after devastating flood, Waterville residents are slowly recovering
One year after severe flooding damaged or destroyed more than 100 homes, summer cabins and businesses in the small southern Minnesota town of Waterville, many residents are still struggling to recover and rebuild. And some fear catastrophic flooding could happen again.
As light pollution increases, West Texas works to protect the world’s largest ’dark sky reserve’
While recent research shows the night sky is getting brighter every year across North America, the Big Bend area in Texas has fended off the light glow that washes out starry nights.
Poll: Most feel democracy is threatened and political violence is a major problem
76 percent of Americans think that democracy is under a serious threat, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. And their faith in political leadership in the White House and Congress is low.
Judge OKs sale of 23andMe — and its trove of DNA data — to a nonprofit led by its founder
The DNA data of millions of people who used 23andMe’s services won’t be sold to a pharmaceutical company. A bankruptcy judge greenlighted the sale of the remnants of the firm, including its wealth of genetic data, to a nonprofit led by co-founder Anne Wojcicki.
Mail-in voting rates dropped but early in-person voting is a hit, federal report shows
A new federal survey - taken after every major election - shows in 2024, mail-in voting was down but early, in-person voting was up. And, a shortage of poll workers is a looming problem.
This doctor specializes in diagnosing child abuse. Some of her conclusions have been called into question.
Dr. Nancy Harper is a leading child abuse pediatrician who testifies in trials across the Midwest. She’s claimed to have never incorrectly diagnosed a shaken baby syndrome case, but some judges and juries seem to seem to disagree
With the beginning of July, new laws take effect across Minnesota, including one that now allows motorcyclists to split lanes to maneuver through traffic in certain situations. New biometric facial scanning has begun at the Twin Cities airport airport for US citizens returning from abroad.
‘I’m just a huge fan’: Justin Vernon of Bon Iver on his love for the Lynx, new partnership
If you’ve been to a Minnesota Lynx game, chances are you’ve seen Justin Vernon in attendance. Vernon recently debuted a first-of-its-kind partnership with the team to fight gender inequity.
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