July 1, 2021

Tonight will be mostly clear with lows near 60. Friday will be sunny with highs in the mid-80s to lower 90s. Saturday, it gets hot and sunny again, with highs in the upper 80s and mid-90s. Find the latest on Updraft.

Gov. Tim Walz formally signed off on a new state budget and the end of a nearly continuous year of legislating.

The spending includes increased funding for public schools, aid to small businesses and an expansion of childcare support. Walz said in a news conference that he is also pleased essential frontline workers, including health care workers and first responders, will also get some financial support.

A panel will recommend how to use the $250 million designated for those workers. Then the Legislature will act later this year on the plan.

Minnesota reported five new COVID-19 deaths today, as cases continue to trend down.

The state is now averaging just 90 new cases a day, over the last week. It’s about a third of the daily average a month ago, and compares to averages of 7,000 a day and more in November.

New tests are also averaging just 0.85 percent positive, yet another new record and the fourth time in a week that average has set a new low.

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Jobs, forest and climate: Wood products plant welcomed in northern Minnesota

The state is poised to provide $30 million to lure a North Carolina company to Minnesota's north woods. Supporters of the wood manufacturing plant project say it will create hundreds of badly needed jobs, while at the same time also benefiting the state's forests.

Passenger: Officers didn't ID selves in fatal Winston Smith shooting

An attorney for Norhan Askar, the passenger who was with Winston Smith when he was fatally shot by members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force, said Thursday that law enforcement officers were not in uniform and did not identify themselves as authorities when they surrounded Smith's SUV with their guns drawn.

Minneapolis extends COVID-19 emergency powers as state order ends

The local emergency rules were set to end Thursday, along with the state’s emergency order, which did expire with the passage of a new two-year state budget.

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‘You love me? Get the vaccine’: In this MN town, one-on-one conversations play a key role in COVID-19 shots

The state won’t meet its goal of vaccinating 70 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older by July 1. And to understand all the challenges — and tiny victories — that come with inoculating the public, look no further than one city in the southeastern part of the state where officials are leaning on longstanding partnerships and trusted community leaders to get more people vaccinated.

Sun Country software outage causes delays, major travel headaches

The outage comes on what travelers expect will be the busiest day since the pandemic began, and social media postings show big crowds at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport waiting for flights.

Art Hounds recommend summer sweets

Jodi Reeb’s new exhibit turns beeswax into paintings, a debut album by Champagne Drops celebrates female friendship and mother-daughter relationships, and the Hovland Arts Festival celebrates 15 years.

Trump's family business, CFO are criminally charged for alleged tax crimes

The indictment comes after a three-year investigation into the business dealings of the former president's family business by the Manhattan district attorney's office.

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