Minnesota
Air quality alert issued for all of Minnesota
![Air quality alert issued for all of Minnesota](https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/8a5c205/2147483647/strip/true/crop/397x461%200%200/resize/918x1066!/quality/90/?url=https://forum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/brightspot/01/1b/2a4b94d64a2f8a83d91a84fe6125/air-quality.png)
DULUTH — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for all of Minnesota on Thursday and Friday due to fine particle levels propelled by a strong cold front. Air quality is expected to reach the red, or unhealthy, air quality index level for much of eastern Minnesota due to wildfires in the Northwest Territories of Canada according to the MPCA alert brief.
Southerly winds by Friday afternoon should help disperse the smoke levels and air quality should improve by late Friday.
The red level is considered unhealthy for everyone across northeast and east central Minnesota from the Twin Cities to International Falls, Duluth to Grand Portage. Everyone in the red region should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors, according to the report.
Pollution from wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and cause coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Smoke particles are small enough that they can be breathed deeply into lungs and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis or aggravate existing chronic heart and lung diseases, triggering heart palpitations, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes, the MPCA noted.
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Minnesota
Centreville man indicted on federal child exploitation charges in Minnesota – WTOP News
![Centreville man indicted on federal child exploitation charges in Minnesota – WTOP News](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1288257264-e1721420251937.jpg)
According to court documents, Raymond Jung Woo Choi began messaging the 13/14-year-old girl on social media apps between November of 2023 and February of 2024.
A man from Centreville, Virginia, is under arrest after police say he coerced a teenager in Minnesota to send sexually explicit photographs of herself to him and then tried to meet her in person.
Raymond Jung Woo Choi, 41, was arrested in Fairfax City on Monday after a grand jury indicted him on one count of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to court documents, Choi began messaging the 13/14-year-old girl on social media apps between November of 2023 and February of 2024 using an alias of “Jason Lee.”
Prosecutors said Choi knew the victim was a minor and in middle school when he messaged her. They claim Choi would convince the girl to send him the photos and in return provide gifts, which he either sent via Amazon or mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to her home.
In January, while waiting for more photos of the victim, Choi is accused of sending her a message about meeting in person.
The message Choi is accused of sending to the victim reads: “Ugh I wish I could just visit u. And record our own. Problem solved.”
Choi, according to prosecutors, boarded a plane in February and flew to Minnesota with the intention of meeting the victim — but that meeting never happened because of “family and law enforcement intervention,” court documents stated.
Choi then flew back to Virginia, where he was arrested this month. He remains behind bars in the Commonwealth as he awaits transportation to Minnesota to face the charges there.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota said the case was part of what it called part of “Project Safe Childhood” — an initiative aimed at identifying and rescuing victims of exploitation and prosecuting those responsible.
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Minnesota
Kandiyohi County deputy airlifted after rollover crash near Willmar
![Kandiyohi County deputy airlifted after rollover crash near Willmar](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2023/12/22/6617f8dc-3f82-4e97-aa34-3c653ba5c1de/thumbnail/1200x630/fd5f9c9c092c07b260801c44387da148/raw-mon-shooting-englewood-ave-stp-boeke-00-03-5100.jpg?v=5710b2ed1cee1bdfd30cb9c02455b43d)
WILLMAR, Minn. — A deputy is in stable condition after their squad car went off a south-central Minnesota road and flipped on Thursday evening.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office says the crash occurred at about 6:21 p.m. on County Road 4 just east of Willmar in Gennessee Township.
First responders had to extricate the deputy from the squad, which overturned when it left the roadway. The deputy was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital and is expected to survive.
The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating.
Minnesota
Houston Rockets Drop Summer League Contest to Rob Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves
![Houston Rockets Drop Summer League Contest to Rob Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4654,h_2617,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/inside_the_rockets/01j34p8yn0kke4z8cd35.jpg)
With the Houston Rockets losing their third game of Summer League in Las Vegas, it’s unlikely they’ll make the playoffs, as most teams that make it are undefeated. So, the Rockets look to have a strong fourth contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a guaranteed fifth game coming this weekend.
Houston fell to 2-2 in Las Vegas with a final game to be scheduled for this weekend, falling 93-83 to the Timberwolves. They’re essentially eliminated from playoff contention, but improvement from young guys is key for the Rockets.
The Rockets got off to a slow first quarter start, posting just 16 points in contrast to the Timberwolves’ 29-point first quarter fueled by a strong start from Leonard Miller.
The Rockets’ offense got going through the second quarter, with Reed Sheppard knocking down three straight shots to end the half. They still trailed 46-39, though they began to erase a disastrous start to the game.
Heading into the third quarter trailing by seven points, it was going to be a decisive frame for Houston. They won the quarter once again, cutting their deficit to just four points. In their most recent loss, they struggled mightily in the final frame, which they now had a chance to recover from.
The Rockets couldn’t quite close the gap in the fourth, though, being unable to gain the ground needed to square the game up or make a late-game push. Sheppard turned things around after a slow start, though. While he was unable to convert a 3-pointer, he scored 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting. He outmatched his former Kentucky teammate Rob Dillingham, who scored 15 points on 6-of-21 shooting for the Timberwolves.
AJ Griffin added 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, converting on two of his five 3-pointers attempted. As a team, Houston shot 6-of-23 from deep, a recipe for loss as their offense was unable to fully get going because of it.
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