Minnesota Democrats head to Chicago 🌭

Plus: A new look and mission for the Star Tribune [Plus: A new look and mission for the Star Tribune] View this email as a [web page]( [The Minnesota Star Tribune](   [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA Good morning, Minnesota! Scroll to the end to catch a glimpse of my Slim Pickens impression 💣 On to the news 📢 [Eder Campuzano] By Eder Campuzano TODAY’S TOP STORIES - [Out-of-state applicants swarm Minnesota’s early cannabis license window]( - [Before copper theft law takes effect, Twin Cities residents bear darkened streetlights]( - [Vikings agree to terms with former All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore]( - [Four children ages 11-14 shot in Minneapolis while riding in stolen car]( - [Small farms boost rural economies. Can organic milk save dairies from extinction?](   Minnesota Democrats head to Chicago for the party convention Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune It's the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and Minnesotans keep making national news. Last night, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan was announced as one of four co-chairs for the sprawling event. The DNC begins tonight with an address from President Joe Biden. It's been less than a month since Biden dropped his bid for a second term and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket. Yes, you read that right — the president dropped out of the race on July 21. Feels like an eternity ago, doesn't it? Since then, Harris recruited Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, and the nation has been inundated with tales of his Diet Mountain Dew habits and complicated relationship with spices. (Despite joking that Minnesotans can hardly handle ground pepper, his hot dish recipe calls for several seasonings.) Harris is expected to accept the Democratic nomination for president Thursday. Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, have planned a series of rallies to counter the convention's programming. Even though much of the Democratic Party has rallied behind the vice president since Biden dropped out of the race, it's unclear how much support she has from folks who were skeptical of his re-election bid. Around the same time the DNC announced Flanagan as a co-chair, demonstrators took to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden imploring the Harris-Walz ticket to support an arms embargo to Israel. We'll have continuing coverage of the convention and its impacts at StarTribune.com. You can get up to speed with the links below. Related coverage - [Minnesota’s lieutenant governor named one of four Democratic National Convention chairs in Chicago]( - [Minnesota delegates roll into Chicago excited by state and Walz’s starring role]( - [Minnesota Democrats come together around Harris-Walz ticket — some happily, some uneasily]( - [How 6 Minnesota Democrats feel about the presidential race ahead of the DNC]( - [In Minneapolis, protesters call for Harris-Walz to support arms embargo to Israel](     GOING OUT - [Review: Despite dreading going onstage, Irish rock star Hozier convinces crowd in St. Paul]( - [Review: Night 2 of Metallica’s Minneapolis ‘takeover’ was as commanding as the first](   [Share this newsletter with friends]( Do you enjoy Essential Minnesota? Encourage your friends and family to [sign up](. You also can share it using the links below.   New Star Tribune, who dis? So long, Star Tribune. Hello ... the Minnesota Star Tribune. The 157-year-old news organization rolled out its full rebrand yesterday, complete with a new look and a new name to reflect its mission to serve readers across the state. What does this mean for readers of this newsletter? Not much, aside from the bolder colors and the updated header! Essential was one of the baby steps we took as a news organization toward the Star Tribune's relaunch, so in a way you were all in on the ground floor. Check the links below to learn more. - [It's time to meet your new Minnesota Star Tribune]( - [A new vision for a fresh chapter in Minnesota]( - [We're realigning our coverage to better serve Minnesota]( The Minnesota Star Tribune MORE FROM THE STAR TRIBUNE - [Tolkkinen: Western Minnesota votes against Christian nationalism]( - [MnDOT wants feedback on plans to fix congestion-riddled and ‘unsafe’ Hwy. 252]( - [First-round draft pick Claire Thompson signs two-year deal with PWHL Minnesota]( - [How to join a Twin Cities community garden and save grocery money]( ON THIS DAY IN 1994 Richard Sennott/Star Tribune file The 1994 fire season was a particularly rough one in the U.S. On Aug. 19 of that year, the Star Tribune reported that the U.S. Forest Service was responding to the worst outbreak of wildfires on the West Coast since 1988. More than 18,000 firefighters were called to battle the blazes and the Forest Service wanted 5,000 more — double what was available at the time. In this picture, which was featured on the newspaper's front page, about 40 recruits march to a fire line training exercise at Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids, Minn. IN OTHER NEWS - [‘Very frustrating’: Hmong leaders worry U.S. Census’ refusal to reclassify groups could harm access to resources]( - Sahan Journal - [St. Paul Saints and their fans well-versed on automated ball-strike system that could soon come to Major League Baseball]( - MinnPost - [Defying crisis in local news, Star Tribune expands]( - New York Times     THE MINNESOTA GOODBYE Samantha Matsumoto via my iPhone La Jefa and I were heading back to our car after the Lynx game last Thursday when I spotted a green newspaper box and realized we were nearing the end of an era. The debut of the Minnesota Star Tribune was imminent. And the bright green news vans that deliver the paper across the Twin Cities and the state were about to get a fresh coat of paint and a new logo. I can't tell you why, but in these moments I default to climbing on things. I call this shot "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the News." Now if you'll excuse me, I've still got to finish planning my Minnesota State Fair itinerary. What do you think of the rebrand? Let us know at essential@startribune.com. Thanks for reading Eder Campuzano, reporter David Taintor, editor     [Premium digital access] GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EVERY STORY [Premium digital access] GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EVERY STORY [Subscribe]( SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER [Email]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Manage email preferences]( • [Subscribe to Star Tribune]( • [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe from this newsletter]( [Manage]( your preferences | [Opt Out]( using TrueRemove™ Got this as a forward? [Sign up]( to receive our future emails. View this email [online](. 650 3rd Ave. S. Suite 1300 | Minneapolis, MN 55488 US This email was sent to {EMAIL}. To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.