As wildfires threaten BWCA, Minnesota officials extend air quality alert to most of state

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - As wildfires threaten BWCA, Minnesota officials extend air quality alert to most of state: The encroaching wildfires from Canada continue to threaten the borders of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and worsen air quality throughout the state. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Tuesday [extended its air quality alert to most of the state]( through Thursday morning. - For first time in decades, Minneapolis and St. Paul call for even-odd watering: Utilities in Minneapolis and St. Paul are [asking residents to water their lawns less frequently]( and during cooler times of day due to drought conditions — a step the agencies haven't taken since the historically dry summer of 1988. - Delta variant causing 75% of new Minnesota COVID-19 cases: The highly transmissible COVID-19 delta variant is responsible for an estimated 75% of Minnesota's new cases, according to the state's infectious disease director. As has happened across the United States and in many countries, delta has become the dominant form of the virus, fueling [a COVID-19 surge in places with low vaccination rates.]( - Brooklyn Park man admits setting St. Paul store on fire during rioting last year: A 20-year-old man has [pleaded guilty to setting fire to a nutrition supplement store]( in the Midway area of St. Paul during the civil unrest and rioting after the police killing of George Floyd last year. Samuel E. Frey, of Brooklyn Park, admitted Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to commit arson in connection with the fire on May 28, 2020, that charred the Great Health and Nutrition store in a strip mall on University Avenue. - Americans owe nearly twice as much medical debt as was previously known: Americans owe nearly twice as much medical debt as was previously known, and the amount owed has become increasingly concentrated in states that do not participate in the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion program. Research published Tuesday in JAMA finds that [collection agencies held $140 billion in unpaid medical bills]( last year. An earlier study, examining debts in 2016, estimated that Americans held $81 billion in medical debt. - U.S. life expectancy saw biggest drop since WWII in 2020: [U.S. life expectancy fell by a year and a half in 2020](, the largest one-year decline since World War II, public health officials said Wednesday. The decrease for both Black Americans and Hispanic Americans was even worse: three years. The drop spelled out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is due mainly to the COVID-19 pandemic, which health officials said is responsible for close to 74% of the overall life expectancy decline. - Pelosi moves to block Trump allies from Jan. 6 committee: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi [rejected two Republicans tapped by House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy]( to sit on a committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, citing the "integrity" of the probe. - St. Paul DFL endorses Carter, three school board candidates: St. Paul DFLers endorsed Mayor Melvin Carter's re-election bid plus the candidacies of three school board hopefuls in [first-round results announced Wednesday](. The balloting, being conducted virtually this year due to the pandemic, now heads into a second round to determine if a fourth school board candidate can muster the 60% delegate support needed to win the party nod. - Crystal couple lead push for monument to slain boy: Two years ago, Crystal gave its flagship park a major makeover by replacing an outdated amphitheater, playground equipment and softball fields with an inclusive playground, splash pad and performance area. But Barway Collins, who lived across the street from Becker Park, never got to see it. A Crystal couple are leading an effort to [raise money for a memorial to be placed in the park to honor the 10-year-old boy](, who was murdered by his father six years ago. WATCH THIS Inside a $169M Manhattan penthouse apartment: [The penthouse at 432 Park Avenue](, which occupies the entire 96th floor of the building overlooking Central Park, has never been lived in and is currently listed for an eye-popping $169 million. Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Want to win free fried chicken for a year? Here's your chance. St. Paul's Bap and Chicken focuses on Korean fried chicken, bibimbap-inspired bowls, an array of fried chicken sandwiches and an assortment of playful novelties, including kimchi fried rice and Korean-style corn dogs. The format has obviously struck a chord with diners, because the restaurant will be celebrating its second birthday on July 29 — [featuring a raffle for a year of free fried chicken.]( - Our critics' guide to what to watch (and avoid): Here's a rundown of [the buzziest shows and movies to watch on TV this weekend.]( - How to grill just about every vegetable: While every vegetable can be grilled, not all should be cooked the same way. The key is [mastering two basic methods and a couple of easy techniques.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Buyouts make this a prove-it year for the Wild: We'll learn a lot about the path forward from the 2021-22 season, after which [many more difficult decisions will loom]( for the Wild and GM Bill Guerin. - Gophers' Johnson trying to balance search for players this season and next: Seven seniors are lined up to play in 2021-22, which [could result in a large 2022 freshman class.]( - Born to run, Hopkins star brings family legacy from Twin Cities to Tokyo: Joe Klecker, the son of Minnesota distance running stars, shook off near-misses in his career to [gain a spot in the Olympic 10,000 meters.]( Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK After championship win, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo took his trophies to Chik-Fil-A and ordered 50 chicken nuggets: "What would you do the morningafter winning your first championship? Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo apparently would do what many of us would — hit the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru and order a bunch of chicken nuggets," [JR Radcliffe and Evan Casey report for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES July 21, 2016: Members of the Iny Asian Dance Theater performed during the grand opening celebration for the Commons park in downtown Minneapolis. (Photo: Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune) Connect with Star Tribune [facebook]([twitter]([pinterest]([instagram]( [Manage email preferences]( • [Subscribe to Star Tribune]( • [Privacy Policy]( • [Unsubscribe]( This email was sent by: StarTribune, 650 3rd Ave S, Suite #1300, Minneapolis, MN, 55488 © 2021 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](