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AP-US-ENBRIDGE-ENERGY-LINE-3

Minnesota Supreme Court delivers blow to Line 3 opponents

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by opponents of Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 oil pipeline, letting stand a key decision by independent regulators to allow construction to proceed. The state’s highest court declined Tuesday to take the case, effectively affirming a decision in June by the Minnesota Court of Appeals. And it left the Native American and environmental groups that have been protesting at construction sites across northern Minnesota with dwindling legal options. Line 3 opponents are holding a series of events at the state Capitol this week, including a march and rally on Wednesday

WILDFIRES-MINNESOTA

Minnesota wildfires disappoint travelers and outfitters

ELY, Minn. (AP) — Ely is typically teeming this time of year with visitors heading out on or returning from excursions into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. But about the only cars in the northeastern Minnesota town with canoes strapped to their tops this week are leaving. Several fires inside and just outside the country’s most visited wilderness area led officials to close it last weekend. Minnesota Public Radio reports that it has dealt a blow to those who spent months planning their trips to the area and to the outfitters and other businesses that depend on them.

GOP OPERATIVE INDICTED

Testimony: Minnesota GOP donor paid underage girls for sex

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A police officer is testifying that a prominent Minnesota GOP donor allegedly paid underage girls for sex. The Star Tribune reports that Minneapolis Police Officer Brandon Brugger testified during a detention hearing Tuesday for Anton Lazzaro that Lazzaro groomed his victims with expensive purses, vape pens, alcohol and other gifts. Brugger added that 19-year-old University of St. Thomas student Gisela Castro Medina recruited girls for Lazzaro on SnapChat. A federal grand jury indicted the 30-year-old Lazzaro on multiple sex trafficking counts earlier this month.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA

Health officials nervous about Minnesota State Fair crowds

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota health officials say they’re nervous about the large crowds expected at the Minnesota State Fair as the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus continues to circulate statewide. Minnesota State Fair officials last week strongly urged fairgoers to wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor settings but declined to require mask wearing, proof of vaccinations or negative tests. Mitigation efforts will include signage recommending masking, offering vaccinations to attendees and encouraging those at higher risk to consider skipping the fair this year. Just over 71% of Minnesotans 16 and older have received at least one dose as of Sunday.

SERGEANT KILLED

Minnesota police sergeant killed in Wisconsin crash

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Forest Lake Police Department sergeant is dead after his utility-terrain vehicle crashed in Wisconsin. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Kurt Kowarsch was visiting his cabin Saturday night in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Authorities there say he apparently lost control of the vehicle and hit multiple trees before the vehicle caught fire. A preliminary autopsy report showed that he died before the vehicle caught fire. The 42-year-old Kowarsch served as a patrol officer, trainer, investigator and SWAT team member. He also was a firearms instructor. His infant daughter, Brooke, died in 2011 at a home day care in Lindstrom. The unlicensed provider was charged with murder and manslaughter but was later acquitted.

TEEN FATALLY SHOT

Arrest made in fatal shooting of teen in Brooklyn Park

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Police have arrested a man accused of fatally shooting a teenager outside a market in a Twin Cities suburb. The 18-year-old was arrested in Minneapolis Monday afternoon in the death of 16-year-old Varney Kennedy of Golden Valley. A criminal complaint charging the man with intentional second-degree murder says a witness told police he walked to the market in Brooklyn Parkwith the defendant on Aug. 17 and went inside while he stayed in the parking lot to sell marijuana vaping cartridges. The witness said he heard shooting while in the store. The victim was found outside with gunshot wounds. He was taken to North Memorial Medical Center where he died.

MINNESOTA MOSQUE BOMBING

Mosque bombing convict wants transgender identity recognized

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The militia leader convicted of masterminding the bombing of a Minnesota mosque is asking a judge to legally acknowledge her transgender identity. Emily Claire Hari was previously known as Michael Hari. Hari was found guilty last year of civil rights and hate crime charges in the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington in August 2017. According to court documents, Hari says gender dysphoria and right-wing misinformation fueled her “inner conflict” when she was convicted in the bombing. Hari’s attorney is asking a judge to sentence her to no more than the minimum 30 years in prison, not the life sentence that prosecutors requested. Sentencing is set for Sept. 13.

MINNESOTA STATE FAIR

Virus fears lead some vendors to skip Minnesota State Fair

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (AP) — Around 150 vendors will be missing when the Minnesota State Fair returns Thursday from a one-year layoff due to the pandemic. Many pulled out due to COVID-19 fears, staffing shortages and supply chain issues. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that’s double the number of vendors that usually drop out. Several state agencies won’t be coming or have scaled back. But the fair will be adding 61 new vendors to the mix. Fair officials announced last week that they would urge, but not require fairgoers to wear masks and be vaccinated, which led seven vendors and one band to cancel.