Welcome to The Flyover, your daily noontime(ish) digest of what local media outlets and Twitter-ers are gabbing about.
Walz on Public Safety
In a State Fair interview with Fox 9 yesterday, Governor Walz said he's against the Minneapolis ballot question to replace the police. "It's been distilled down to this: defund police or fund police?" Walz told Fox. "I know it’s more complex than that, but I think that poses problems." (Which, if he knows it's more complex than that, why put it that way?) Walz said he doesn't believe the public safety agency issue should be decided by the public, but by elected officials, adding, "I think there’s other ways to do it." Maybe he's called the National Guard already?
Cops Clearing Out Water Protectors at the Capitol
Troopers are making arrests at the Capitol building in St. Paul, according to MPR's Evan Frost. For the last few days, water protectors and protesters have gathered to ask officials to stop the completion of the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline. The four-day protest brought out thousands in support of the cause, and it's not at all clear why officers are breaking up the peaceful assembly. (Apparently they're citing an expired permit.) Watch more via Roots Action here and here.
It’s Alan Page, Not Alan Tweet
We love Alan Page, don’t we folks? NFL Hall of Fame Viking, Minnesota's first African-American Supreme Court justice, author, and all-around well-liked guy... none of which was enough to make him worthy of Twitter verification. Yesterday, Page tweeted that he didn’t meet the site's “criteria for notability,” sparking a lot of "are you actually serious" replies and quote tweets. The Pro Football Hall of Fame vouched for Page this morning, but so far, still no blue check for the big guy. Meanwhile, two of Racket's four full-time staffers—having accomplished such great feats as writing the definitive Dome Dog history and DIY-ing IKEA dressers—are verified.
Suni Lee is Still Competing
St. Paul gymnast Suni Lee was one of the breakout stars of the Tokyo Olympics, taking home a gold medal for women’s all-around, a silver for Team USA, and a bronze on the uneven bars. Her next big venture? Joining the women’s gymnastic team as a freshman at Alabama’s Auburn University, and competing on Dancing with the Stars. The 18-year-old tumbler will bust out new moves on the show’s 30th season, set to air in September. No announcement has been made about her partner, but we do know she’ll be going up against internet personality/Dance Moms alum/LGBTQ advocate/overall juggernaut Jojo Siwa, who will be paired with a lady dancer—a first for the competition. Gymnastic Olympians Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, and Laurie Hernandez have all appeared on the show in recent years.
