Minnesota
Minnesota weather: Roads in St. Paul to reopen Wednesday after flood closure
St. Paul streets re-opening after flooding
After the City of St. Paul closed some roads, parks, and trails due to flooding concerns, Shepard and Warner roads are set to reopen Wednesday night. FOX 9’s Bill Keller has more.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – A stretch of road in St. Paul that closed in June due to flooding concerns is set to reopen on Wednesday.
It’s been nearly a month since the banks of the Mississippi River overflowed in St. Paul, prompting officials to close some roads, parks and trails in the city.
A three-mile stretch of Shepard Road and Warner Road on the north side of the river was closed to vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic on June 23. Now that water levels continue to improve, city officials say the roadways are set to open after 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Sibley and Jackson streets will also reopen for vehicle traffic from Shepard Road to Kellogg Boulevard.
The river levels crested in St. Paul at 20.17 feet, the eighth-highest record for the city, officials said. Since cresting nearly three weeks ago, the river has dropped almost 11 feet, and the water continues to recede.
However, Water Street on the other side of the river will remain shut down until inspection and cleanup are finished. Harriet Island also remains closed so crews can finish making repairs and prepare for a big event this weekend.
The overall drying trend is helping organizers prepare for the inaugural Minnesota Yacht Club, a two-day music festival this Friday and Saturday featuring big names like Gwen Stefani, Alanis Morissette, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Meanwhile, drivers in the southwest metro are still dealing with the impacts of high water levels. The Highway 41 Bridge between downtown Chaska and Highway 169 has been closed since June 20 due to flooding from the Minnesota River.
The water level at Shakopee has dropped more than 13 feet since the near-historic crest and just dipped below flood stage on Tuesday. With the receding water, crews are planning to reopen the crossing on Monday.
A 29-year-old man drowned at a lake in northern Minnesota on Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office said the man drowned at the swimming area at Little Emily Lake Park. The man was at the park with family and friends at the time.
First responders arrived at the scene to try and rescue him, but he was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” the sheriff’s office said.
Little Emily Lake is about 40 miles north of Brainerd.
Minnesota
If Nolan Teasley is the “primary football executive” in Minnesota, Seahawks will get compensatory picks
The hiring of Seahawks assistant G.M. Nolan Teasley as the Vikings’ new G.M. will carry a specific benefit for his former team.
Per the league, Teasley qualifies as a diverse candidate under the NFL provision that gives the former team of a newly-hired G.M. or head coach a pair of third-round compensatory draft picks.
The only question is whether Teasley will be Minnesota’s “primary football executive.” That requirement prevented the Bears from receiving the compensatory draft picks when assistant General Manager Ian Cunningham was hired to be the Falcons G.M. The league decided that president of football Matt Ryan is the “primary football executive” in Atlanta.
The Bears appealed the decision to the league, and Bears fans continue to be mystified by the outcome — especially since Ryan has made it clear that Cunningham is a General Manager “in every facet of the word.”
Minnesota has no similar position to Ryan’s job with the Falcons. The only alternative to Teasley would be coach Kevin O’Connell. But there has been no indication that, moving forward, O’Connell will emerge as the top football executive for the Vikings, with full control over the roster and the draft.
The NFL’s full collection of diversity of initiatives have recently come under attack by Florida’s attorney general. The Seahawks getting two extra third-round draft picks undoubtedly will spark a reaction from those who, in the current climate, attack efforts aimed at enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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