Happy Friday Minnesota!

Here's the latest news from across the state to start your day. ☕

WEATHER

☀️ Friday will see the return of sunny skies and temperatures still on the cooler side, though it’s worth noting our highs in the 60s to near 70 degrees are actually several degrees above normal

🌬️ 80-degree temperatures return Saturday along with strong south winds — creating potentially critical fire weather conditions.

Get the latest weather news on Updraft.

How biochar — the ‘Swiss Army Knife of climate tools’ — is growing in Minnesota

Minnesota is emerging as a leader in the research and manufacturing of biochar, a substance that can combat climate change by locking away carbon for centuries. It can also provide other environmental benefits such as filtering water and improving soil.

Breaking ground for better care: Minneapolis VA strives to create safer space for women veterans

The Minneapolis VA recently broke ground on a new women’s clinic. When it's completed in two years, the new facility will not only be larger and offer more services than the current clinic, it will be specially designed to serve the specific physical and mental needs of women veterans.

NEWS ROUNDUP

🏀 Napheesa Collier’s sticky defense and all-around play propelling Lynx playoff hopes. Napheesa Collier, known affectionately as Phee, won the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year this season, was second in MVP voting and was lights-out in the first round of the playoffs against Phoenix.

💰 Minneapolis mayor, City Council clash on homeless shelter funding. Council members said the money would come out of projected budget surpluses, based on financial reports from the mayor’s office. But last week, Mayor Jacob Frey told the council the money isn’t there.

🍽️ Closed during COVID, downtown St. Paul’s landmark Mickey’s Diner reopens. The diner at the corner of West Seventh and St. Peter streets — which dates back to 1939 — is having a soft opening, manager Sam Hashish said, with a grand opening soon.

🚨 A crash saved a teenager whose car suddenly sped up to 120 mph in western Minnesota. Sam Dutcher had just finished running errands when his vehicle suddenly began to accelerate, even though his foot wasn’t on the gas pedal. The brake wouldn’t work, he couldn’t shift into neutral, and before long, the runaway SUV was speeding into the western Minnesota countryside with no way to stop.

🛒 Dreamer entrepreneur behind new Mexican flavored markets in Minneapolis. Like thousands of others in Minnesota, Hernandez said he came to the U.S. as a teenager and has DACA status — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

🚚 Minnesota first responders, volunteers head south to aid in Hurricane Helene cleanup. Gov. Tim Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to provide aid in response to an emergency request from North Carolina officials. The guard said it’s sending two St. Cloud-based Chinook cargo helicopters which will carry personnel and supplies to flood-ravaged areas.

🦌 Lake Bemidji State Park welcomes youth hunters in October. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking participants for an upcoming youth hunt at Lake Bemidji State Park.

MUST LISTEN

🎧 Cube Critics discuss ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.’ Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle share insights on “Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story,” the latest addition to Ryan Murphy’s anthology series exploring notorious criminal cases.

🎧 As schools move to lock up cell phones, what do students think? Last month, MPR News spoke with the superintendent of United South Central Schools in Wells. The district decided this year to spend thousands of dollars on phone pouches that lock students’ phones all day with no access. The pouches were put into place on Tuesday.

🎧 Listen to today's headlines on our Minnesota Today podcast.

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