Minnesota’s secretary of state has that Helsinking feeling. City Pages’ Hannah Jones asks Minnesota’s top election official about Trump’s latest: “…Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon isn’t feeling so good about the whole thing. … ‘The No.1 threat to the integrity of our elections nationwide is an outside attacker seeking to meddle in our democracy,’ he says. By publicly doubting Russia’s interference, Trump ‘made us less safe.’ … ‘It seems to give license to those who are planning to exploit our vulnerabilities.’”
Fear of development not just a Minneapolis thing. The Star Tribune’s Liz Sawyer reports: “For more than 10 years, Julie Butcher has enjoyed her quiet, dead-end street surrounded by woods and wetlands. … The Chanhassen resident regularly takes her family on secluded nature walks on a private trail between Lake Lucy and Lake Ann — one of the few remaining undeveloped swaths in the growing southwest city. … Now she fears development will dramatically alter the environment and hurt neighbors’ quality of life. … Lennar Corp., the Twin Cities’ top homebuilder, plans to convert the vacant land commonly referred to as the ‘Prince Property’ into a neighborhood with 200 market-rate and luxury houses.”
This place is going to the dogs. MPR’s Tim Nelson reports: “Elizabeth Johnson and her husband Cal had an unusual visitor at their Highland Park home during the Fourth of July holiday. … ‘Just had the day off, happened to be having a nice cup of coffee on the couch and looked out the window and we saw the famous coyote across the street,’ Johnson said. As she watched, the coyote came within 10 feet before moving off, ‘happy as a clam.’ … Like others in the Twin Cities who have spotted coyotes, she pulled out her phone and posted video to social media, on the Highland Coyote Fan Page with more than 700 members.”
Any predictions? The Star Tribune’s Chris Serres writes: “Hundreds of Somalis who fled violence and famine in their home country could be forced to leave if the Trump administration ends a special immigration program that has allowed them to live and work here legally. … The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will decide by Thursday whether it will extend temporary legal protections to approximately 250 Somalis who sought refuge in the United States, including some who have been living in this country for nearly three decades. A majority of those who would be affected live in Minnesota, which is home to the nation’s largest concentration of Somali-Americans.”
In other news…
Crying fowl: “Ducks get blame as Webber pool closes again after failing another water quality test” [Star Tribune]
Chasing pavement: “What Does MnDOT Do With All The Old I-35W Pavement?” [WCCO]
Crashing the party: “Target logs ‘biggest online shopping day’ this year on Prime Day” [CNBC]
More like “High B”, as in bacterial load: “Salmonella Sandiego outbreak in Minn. linked to Hy-Vee’s Spring Pasta Salad” [Duluth News Tribune]
“Coveted,” huh? “North Loop’s Hewing Hotel opening its coveted rooftop lounge to the public” [Star Tribune]
We’re a long way from Fighting Bob these days: “Wisconsin used to be progressive. Dan Kaufman on what happened.” [Slate]
