Good morning,

It's Wednesday, July 28, and it's not a great day to be outside. Heat warnings and severe weather today.

National Weather Service meteorologist Caleb Grunzke says Minnesotans in much of the southern half of the state should be on guard. The signs of sickness from heat are profound weakness, confusion, irritability and difficulty walking. Children and older people are especially vulnerable, as are people experiencing homelessness.

So, take care of yourself and keep an eye out for others today. Stay inside if you can. If you can't, take breaks from the heat in the shade and drink plenty of water. Thunderstorms are likely in the late afternoon and evening. It'll cool down a bit tomorrow.

Here's what else is happening across the state.

People fill the room before a school board meeting in Rochester, Minn., on Tuesday. The board revised its mask mandate for many students in the district. Evan Frost | MPR News

Rochester Public Schools to require masking of younger students in the fall

The board of Rochester Public Schools Tuesday revised its mask mandate for many students in the district.

Students between 2 and 12 years old will be required to wear masks inside all school facilities during the next academic year.

Interim Superintendent Kent Pekel said masks are needed to protect kids who aren't eligible for vaccines. The CDC agrees with this approach.

"When we have the opportunity as is anticipated to vaccinate younger children, and those rates of vaccination are sufficiently high, we could remove the requirement for our youngest learners,” Pekel said. “So I wish I could tell the board that this is the last time that you'd be dealing with this, but I think it's very likely that we need to continue to be responsive to this situation over time."

Even after the doors closed before the board meeting, there was a line well down the hall and outside for seating. In recent weeks, large groups have showed up at school board meetings to voice concerns about teaching critical race theory in schools, which Rochester doesn't, and masks.

And those same concerns were on display last night.

Andrea and Phillipe Robinson's home in Cold Spring, Minn., after Benton Beyer crashed this car into their home Saturday | Andrea Robinson via Facebook

Robinsons want crash charges upgraded

A 32-year-old Minnesota man named Benton Beyer faces felony charges for allegedly intentionally crashing a vehicle into the house of a Cold Spring, Minn., family who has come out publicly about racist harassment they've endured where they live, including bullying directed at their children.

Court documents say a large piece of granite was sitting on the car's accelerator. Footage from Andrea and Phillipe Robinson's doorbell surveillance camera shows the vehicle stopping across the street and a person getting out and running off before the vehicle crashes into the house.

The Robinsons had sought and received a restraining order against Beyer and complained that he was stalking and harassing their family and watching their home.

Beyer is charged with felony theft, stalking and damage to property, plus a gross misdemeanor charge of violating a restraining order. The Robinsons believe Beyer should face more severe charges, like assault or attempted murder motivated by hate.

Kirsti Marohn has the full story.