Minnesotans in 19 counties hit hard by summer flooding can now apply for federal aid.

The federal government approved individual assistance for these counties on Monday, after a month of assessments of areas damaged by storms that left much of Minnesota deluged, a state fact sheet said.

The amendment to June’s major disaster declaration applies to 19 counties across southern Minnesota and the northeast corner of the state: Blue Earth, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Itasca, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Mower, Nicollet, Nobles, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Waseca, and Watonwan counties.

Residents of these counties may be eligible to receive help with home repairs, temporary housing, or property damage to appliances, furniture or a vehicle, the Federal Emergency Management Agency website said.

They can apply online for individual assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or can call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585), a state fact sheet released Monday said.

Additional counties may be added as damage assessments come in.

Emergency management directors in Blue Earth and Cottonwood counties confirmed that individual assistance had been approved, but said they’re still waiting for more details on what comes next.

Many Minnesotans affected by flooding this year did not have insurance that could cover damage, with some hoping for FEMA aid to offset losses. County and state officials have said that residents should keep photographs and other documentation to submit for aid applications.

The approval of individual assistance adds to a major disaster declaration by President Joe Biden on June 28 that opened up federal funding for hazard mitigation measures across the state.

As US vice president Kamala Harris ramps up her search for a 2024 running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz is gaining attention. Walz is making waves with his energetic campaigning and straightforward comments, becoming a notable figure in the vice-presidential race, according to USA Today.
60-year-old Walz is a former army national guard member and high school teacher.He has made a significant impression with his recent appearances supporting Harris. His efforts include stumping for Harris on the campaign trail and making notable appearances on cable news networks like CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. A recent event in St Paul, where Walz sported a grey T-shirt and a camouflage baseball hat, has gone viral, further fueling his rising profile.
“It was certainly an honour,” governor Tim Walz said on Sunday, acknowledging the interest in his potential as a running mate. Despite not confirming whether he has received vetting materials from the Harris campaign, Walz expressed his appreciation for the mention.
David Schultz, a political science professor at Hamline University, commented on Walz’s sudden prominence. “I put him pretty low, as most of us did, as a candidate for vice president, but he’s absolutely everywhere at this point and he’s getting a really good bounce,” Schultz noted.

‘My state example of what happens when you elect Democrats’

Walz has been serving as Minnesota’s governor for two terms. He previously represented a conservative rural district in Congress. His tenure as governor has been marked by the implementation of progressive policies, including paid family leave, universal school breakfast and lunch, recreational marijuana legalisation, abortion rights and gun control measures.
Schultz highlighted Walz’s effectiveness in promoting the Democratic agenda. “He’s good at articulating the argument for the Democratic Party’s agenda and he himself can say, ‘Look, I’m an example. My state is an example of what happens when you elect Democrats,’” he said. Schultz also pointed out Walz’s appeal to younger voters and progressives, noting his success in addressing key issues.
Walz’s candidacy has garnered support from several quarters. David Hogg, co-founder of the March for Our Lives movement, praised Walz as an “incredible VP” choice. “He’s so down to earth and such an excellent communicator,” Hogg added. This sentiment is shared by others who describe Walz as “authentic” and capable of connecting with voters on a personal level.
Tim Hogan, a Democratic strategist and former communications director for senator Amy Klobuchar’s 2020 presidential campaign, also lauded Walz. “He speaks in a way that is real, and the more voters learn about him, the more they like him,” Hogan said. He described Walz’s approach as a “Prairie Populist agenda” that has effectively resonated in the Midwest and is now being introduced to the national stage.
As a surrogate for Harris, Walz has defended her record against criticisms, particularly those from former President Donald Trump. “He’s going to roll it out, mispronounce names, you know, to try and make the case,” Walz said on CNN. “The fact of the matter is where you see the policies that Vice President Harris was a part of making, Democratic governors across the country executed those policies and quality of life is higher, the economies are better, all of those things, educational attainment is better.”
However, Walz faces challenges in his bid for the vice-presidential slot. Unlike other contenders, such as Arizona senator Mark Kelly or Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, Walz does not represent a critical swing state. His progressive record could also be a double-edged sword, potentially providing Republicans with ammunition to characterise a Harris-Walz ticket as overly progressive.

Is Tim Walz too ‘liberal’?

Schultz remarked on this aspect, “By Minnesota standards, Walz is centre-left. If you look at the critical swing states across the United States, like Georgia and Pennsylvania, he’s absolutely liberal in those states.”
Addressing criticisms that he might be too liberal, Walz responded with characteristic humour. “What a monster!” he said on CNN. “Kids are eating and having full bellies so they can go learn and women are making their own healthcare decisions … So, if that’s where they want to label me, I’m more than happy to take the label.”
Currently, about 12 individuals are under consideration for Harris’s running mate, according to USA Today.

HUTCHINSON, Minn. — Volunteers stepped up to save a deer sanctuary in central Minnesota.

The Gopher Campfire Wildlife Sanctuary has been in Hutchinson for 60 years. But due to a new law, it lacked the proper fencing to keep wild deer away putting the sanctuary in jeopardy.

“It’s a very nice sanctuary. You can bring kids. You can feed the animals,” said Conni Johnson Bergo, who was visiting the attraction.

Getting up close and personal with deer, ducks and geese is what’s made this animal refuge a popular place.

“It’s just nice to see all the wildlife. We love wildlife,” said DeLue Grams. “If it wasn’t here a lot of these kids aren’t going to see what’s out there in the wild.”

But a new law put the 28-acre site in jeopardy. The DNR required a second fence around the perimeter so wild deer couldn’t come into contact with sanctuary deer and potentially spread chronic wasting disease. Building that new fence was going to cost $100,000. If the money wasn’t raised, the deer would have to be euthanized.

“When we started, I didn’t think we’d come close,” said Craig Schmeling. 

Schmeling is a sanctuary board member, and one of the people who began raising funds for a second fence. 

“We’ve received funds from Duluth, Rochester, Mankato, Florida,” he said.

Thanks to local businesses and fundraisers, they got the money they needed right before their mid-July deadline.

“The community really came together and showed how much they want the deer to stay too,” said Schmeling. “When the new fence gets built, there will be four walk-in gates in this area. So people can still get close enough to the deer to feed them.”

Construction on the new fence is expected to being later this week. A testament to a town that couldn’t stand the thought of losing a big part of its history.

“It’s a huge relief for everybody. Nobody wanted to see this go,” said Schmeling.

The sanctuary had eight new fawns born this spring, adding to the more than two dozen deer on site. 

The new fence is expected to take several weeks to build.