Minnesota
Minnesota State Fair: Power restored after hour-long outage Friday
![Minnesota State Fair: Power restored after hour-long outage Friday Minnesota State Fair: Power restored after hour-long outage Friday](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox9.com/www.fox9.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1280/720/Skyscraper-sized.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The Skyscraper ride at Adventure Park inside the Minnesota State Fair was stuck inoperable for more than an hour after losing power on Friday night.
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) – The electricity in the air after record-breaking attendance on the first day of the Minnesota State Fair didn’t translate to electrical outlets for a little over an hour on Friday evening, as some areas lost power before it was again restored.
What we know
Minnesota State Fair officials say they first received a report of a power outage at 4:19 p.m.
Crews with Xcel Energy responded, and were able to replace a fuse, which restored electricity again at 5:39 p.m.
Who was affected?
In addition to booths in the area south of the Grandstand, several attractions and vendors along Judson Avenue, Liggett Street and Underwood Street were impacted during the outage.
At the time electricity was lost, two people were riding the Skyscraper ride at Adventure Park, officials told FOX 9.
The riders were lowered and safely removed from the ride within five minutes, and both were uninjured, officials say.
According to a fair spokesperson, normal operations have since resumed.
Getting there: MN State Fair parking reminders
FOX 9 Morning News takes a live look at one of the Minnesota State Fair parking lots Friday morning and early-rising fairgoers pour in.
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Minnesota
Get the official Minnesota State Fair App
![Get the official Minnesota State Fair App Get the official Minnesota State Fair App](https://www.wdio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Minnesota-State-Fair-app.jpg)
Have you ever left the Minnesota State Fair and thought “Shoot, I wanted to see…” or “How did I miss this!” Well, the Minnesota State Fair has a new, handy app that you can download before you go so you do not miss a thing.
The Minnesota State Fair app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Add it to your smartphone so you can plan your visit.
The brand new Official MN State Fair App offers interactive finders and searchable daily schedules. Create a list of “Favorites” to review later. There is an integrated Food Finder and Shopping Finder where you can seach by vendor names, menu items and map area. Once you’ve made your way onto the fairgrounds, you’ll be able to find fair favorites closest to you in real time.
According to the Minnesota State Fair website, the new app replaces the previous web-based version of the State Fair app. You will need to download the new version rather than update the previous version. Search “Minnesota State Fair 2024” to find it.
Minnesota
Humidity increases on Friday in Minnesota before heat arrives
![Humidity increases on Friday in Minnesota before heat arrives Humidity increases on Friday in Minnesota before heat arrives](https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/23/540fd70a-7b1a-462d-8f05-fcea9ffb5fd5/thumbnail/1200x630/fd4516633aa9783602164f0ff0679233/snapshot-2024-08-23t061012-996.jpg?v=29ebd300d9a3cd24077d945a46991f72)
MINNEAPOLIS — Humidity is on the rise Friday, with things expected to heat up for the first weekend of the Minnesota State Fair.
There will be a small chance of an isolated shower in the Twin Cities in the mid-morning hours. Temperatures are expected to rise to 80 degrees.
On Saturday, it will be noticeably warmer as dew points increase. Sunny conditions are expected.
Then, both Sunday and Monday are expected to rise to 90 degrees or close to it, accompanied by very humid conditions. That means the fair will be a bit sweaty.
Next week, models are picking up on a few chances for rain and storms, but the forecast could change by Monday, so WCCO’s NEXT Weather team is keeping an eye on that. As of now, temperatures are looking like they will drop by Thursday with a storm chance.
Minnesota
Officers from 65+ law enforcement agencies staffing Minnesota State Fair police force
![Officers from 65+ law enforcement agencies staffing Minnesota State Fair police force Officers from 65+ law enforcement agencies staffing Minnesota State Fair police force](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/23/7732567a-f401-4182-8438-c2ea7e493867/thumbnail/1200x630/25b67d408e454e88dfecd19c9bd4fb5e/raw-thur-state-fair-security-broll-schuman-schwab-00-05-5009.jpg?v=29ebd300d9a3cd24077d945a46991f72)
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — Welcoming hundreds of thousands of people to the Minnesota State Fair and keeping them safe is no small task.
Minnesota State Fair Police Chief Ron Knafla is overseeing 185 officers from more than 65 agencies.
He says the biggest thing is having a visual presence.
“It’s a community engagement detail,” Knafla said. “They’re out interacting with the public, being visible, interacting with the kids, assisting with medicals, assisting with lost kids.”
There are also undercover officers dressed in plainclothes as well as police from several partnering agencies.
Metal detectors and bag checks greet people at the entrances.
Guns aren’t allowed, but two years ago, there was a shooting in the Midway.
Knafla says they’ve taken steps to prevent anything like that from happening again.
“Increased the height of some of the fences, made the fences a little more difficult to climb, added barbed wire around the perimeter and we added a lot of cameras and improved lighting around the perimeter,” he said.
Outside the fairgrounds, St. Paul police are running traffic control and patrols.
Once again, they’re collaborating with nearby neighbors as well as the Community Ambassadors, a violence interrupter group focused on defusing tensions among young people.
“We talk to them and say, ‘Not here. This is a community and a family event. If you need something talk to us. Let’s talk through whatever situation it is.’” said Randy Freeman, one of the Ambassadors.
There are about 50 ambassadors who will be walking the neighborhood streets from 4 p.m. to midnight every day of the fair.
“Folks can feel assured that the Fair’s a safe place to come, probably the safest place in Minnesota right now,” Knafla said.
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