| July 16, 2020 Heat wave returns for the weekend. Our weekend is starting off on a warm, steamy note, and will cap off with cooler temperatures. Highs tomorrow will be in the mid-80s to the lower 90s. Heat indices in the Twin Cities metro area may reach 95 degrees in the afternoon. A few scattered storms are possible in southern and western Minnesota. In Pine Island, a town of 3,400 people, BLM protesters raise their voices. In the small southern Minnesota town near Rochester, demonstrators are planning their third gathering this weekend -- to initiate conversations around racial justice. There has been, however, some backlash against the protests, with a few anti-protesters meeting the efforts. One such counter-protester even waved a flag that combined an American flag and a Confederate flag during the group’s previous gathering in June. Dismantle MPD or not? Many say “the reform is necessary.” About 200 residents of Minneapolis attended a call-in meeting last night, where the city’s Charter Commission heard their thoughts about the Police Department. An overwhelming number of callers said police reform is necessary and the question whether to remove MPD from the city charter should be on the Nov. ballot. On the other hand, some others say that the proposal lacks a clear vision. COVID-19 in Minnesota today: 611 new daily cases; state getting close to the May peak level. COVID-19’s “Yes, but…” trend in Minnesota continued Thursday with another report of hopeful and concerning data: The daily count of new deaths, current hospitalizations and intensive care cases continue to flatten even as the number of new cases leaps. As Minnesota and other states across the nation report case upticks, health officials are concerned about a new shortage of personal protective equipment, like respirators and gloves. -- Jiwon Choi, MPR News | @ChoiGEE1 | 
