MPR News PM Update
July 29, 2021

Tonight it’ll be mostly cloudy with temperatures in the 50s north and low 60s south and some of the worst air quality on record. Friday, temperatures from the mid-80s to mid-70s in the south. Smoky air will linger in most of the state through tomorrow.   Find the latest on Updraft.

Family, friends and supporters of Sunisa Lee celebrated as she won her first Olympic gold medal in all-around gymnastics competition Thursday morning. Lee of St. Paul became the fifth straight American woman to claim the Olympic all-around title. 

COVID-19 limited the number of fans allowed to watch in person. So a watch party for Suni Lee happened in Oakdale instead.

Lee, the first Hmong American to represent Team USA, trained for around eight years alongside teammate Ayden Her at Midwest Gymnastics Center in Little Canada.

Her says Lee was always such a strong gymnast, but she was still in awe watching her friend win the top prize in the sport.

"It's kind of shocking, honestly. I mean we all knew she was going to get here," Her said, "but I just never thought that in spite of everything that happened in 2020 that she would still be able to persevere and do as well as she did."

Most of Minnesota, with the exception of the North Shore of Lake Superior, is under yet another air quality alert.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Air Quality Forecaster Nicholas Witcraft says the bad air can cause serious health problems and that people should avoid outdoor activities through Friday.

Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily. — Nancy Lebens, MPR News

 
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