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Latest Minnesota news, sports, business and entertainment at 9:20 p.m. CDT

Original Publication Date July 26, 2021 - 1:21 AM

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA

Minnesota officials urge shots as delta variant surges

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota health officials are warning that the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus now accounts for more than 75% of the state’s new COVID-19 cases. And they say it’s a serious threat to unvaccinated people as the state’s case numbers head back up. Kris Ehresmann, the state’s infectious disease director, says the delta variant has gone from causing less than 1% of Minnesota cases to over three-quarters in just a few weeks. Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm made a plea for Minnesotans who haven’t been vaccinated to get their shots. She says breakthrough cases” among vaccinated Minnesotans remain “very rare.”

CLEAN CARS-MINNESOTA

Walz says 'clean car' rules haven't hurt in 14 other states

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota has become the first Midwestern state to adopt a plan for encouraging the switchover to electric vehicles. And Gov. Tim Walz predicts that someday people will wonder why there was such a fuss. He visited an Eden Prairie company that makes electric vehicle chargers to highlight the state’s “clean car” rules, which take effect in 2024 for the 2025 model year. He says the rules will mean more choices for consumers, cleaner air and more jobs. Fourteen other states already have adopted similar standards. The rules are based on California’s, and that’s been a major sore point for auto dealers.

FOUR KILLED-MINNESOTA

4 killed, 4 injured in south central Minnesota crash

LE CENTER, Minn. (AP) — Four people have died and four others have been hospitalized following a two-vehicle collision in south central Minnesota. Sheriff’s officials say seven people from California were in a Ford Expedition that collided with a pickup truck in Le Sueur County about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Authorities say four people in the Expedition were killed and three passengers in the SUV were injured, as was the driver of the pickup. The SUV driver, 54-year-old John St. John, of Piedmont, California, and three passengers, 56-year-old Jill St. John, a 13-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy died in the crash. A 41-year-old woman and two boys, ages 9 and 15, were injured, as was the 41-year-old pickup driver.

GRAIN ELEVATOR FIRE

Multiple agencies fight large grain elevator fire in Clinton

CLINTON, Minn. (AP) — Firefighters from multiple agencies battled a large fire at a grain elevator in small western Minnesota city where some residents were evacuated. According to Big Stone County Sheriff Mark Brown, crews were called shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday to the grain elevator, which had become fully engulfed in towering flames. Officials in Clinton, with its population of about 500 people near the South Dakota border, declared a civil emergency by midday. Residents were advised not to use water, roads were closed and those living within three blocks were told to evacuate.

AP-CAR-IOWA-SPEEDWAY-ANNOUNCER'S-RANT

Announcer back at Minnesota racetrack after racist rant

FAIRMONT, Minn. (AP) — A racetrack announcer who was fired by an Iowa track after a racist rant was back behind the microphone last weekend in southern Minnesota. Lon Oelke announced a race at Fairmont Raceway on Friday — but not to the standing ovation that track promoter Jon McCorkell promised. McCorkell said Oelke was uncomfortable with that idea. Still, McCorkell says Oelke has support in the area and he will stand by him. Last week, the Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, Iowa, cut ties with Oelke after he went on a racist rant earlier this month against Black fans and athletes who kneel during the national anthem. Oelke was not available for comment to the Star Tribune during Friday's race.

WOMAN KILLED-CHILD ABDUCTED

Milwaukee man sentenced to life for killing daughter's mom

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Milwaukee man who was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter’s mother and is charged with killing the couple's girl has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Thirty-seven-year-old Dariaz Higgins pleaded guilty in April to first-degree intentional homicide in the March 2019 shooting death of 24-year-old Sierra Robinson and attempted first-degree intentional homicide for shooting and injuring a 4-year-old girl who was with Robinson. Authorities say Higgins shot at the pair as they were walking toward an apartment where he told them they would find the 2-year-old daughter of Robinson and Higgins. That was several days after Higgins allegedly killed the toddler, who was the subject of a nationwide search.

AP-US-R-KELLY

R. Kelly lawyers: We'll fight bid to add claims to trial

NEW YORK (AP) — R. Kelly’s lawyers say they'll fight prosecutors’ bid to tell jurors about allegations beyond the actual charges at his upcoming federal sex trafficking trial. Kelly lawyer Nicole Blank Becker said Monday that the government's move is a veiled effort to shape public perception, ignoring that Kelly is presumed innocent, Jury selection is due to start Aug. 9 in a New York federal court for the Grammy Award-winning R&B star. He's charged with leading what prosecutors call a criminal enterprise of managers, bodyguards and other employees who allegedly helped him recruit women and girls for sex. Kelly denies ever abusing anyone.

TRIPLE SLAYING-WISCONSIN

Authorities identify victims in Wisconsin triple homicide

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — Authorities have identified the victims of a triple homicide in far western Wisconsin. The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office says the bodies of 24-year-old Peng Lor, 24-year-old Nemo Yang and 23-year-old Trevor Maloney were discovered shortly before 5 a.m. Friday by two workers of the Milestone Quarry. The quarry is located near West Salem, about 14 miles (23 kilometers) northeast of La Crosse, which is along the Minnesota border. La Crosse County Sheriff Jeff Wolf called the deaths a “targeted act” but has not said how they died. He believes the three victims were killed sometime Thursday night or early Friday. Investigators want to see if any cameras recorded vehicles in the area at that time.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021
The Associated Press

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