Uh oh. The Star Tribune’s Paul Walsh reports: “A predawn house fire in Minneapolis was deliberately set, and police suspect that ‘Black Lives Matter’ and Paul Wellstone signs in the midst of the blaze could reveal a motive, a neighborhood leader said.”

Whew. The Pioneer Press’ Bob Shaw reports: “If White Bear Lake dries up, don’t blame the lawn sprinklers. … That’s the message from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which released new research Wednesday showing why the level of the lake fluctuates. … Officials said that a court-ordered ban on outdoor residential watering within five miles of the lake would have a negligible effect on the lake.”

You still gotta like Omar’s chances. The AP reports (via KSTP): “A Minnesota Democratic candidate for Congress who is poised to become the first Somali-American elected to the U.S. House has denounced claims that she married her brother and committed immigration fraud as ‘disgusting lies,’ and says allegations of campaign finance violations are politically motivated. … Ilhan Omar, who is running in Minnesota’s liberal 5th District, continues to be dogged by conservatives who have raised questions about her past. As the election approaches, the attacks are intensifying: Last week, Minnesota Republicans in the 5th District began a digital billboard campaign and launched a website that highlights the allegations, many of which were first raised by conservative media outlets in 2016 as Omar was running for her seat in the Minnesota Legislature.”

Charged debate. MPR’s Elizabeth Dunbar reports: “Minnesota regulators are weighing whether to let Minnesota Power team up with Dairyland Power Cooperative in Wisconsin to build a new natural gas power plant in Superior, Wis., just across the border from Duluth. … But attorneys for several of the larger companies Minnesota Power serves — ArcelorMittal USA, Blandin Paper Company, U.S. Steel Corp., and others — have joined environmental groups and consumer advocates in arguing that the proposed Nemadji Trail Energy Center isn’t needed.”

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In other news …

Freeman and Haase in Hennepin County: “County Attorney debate probed volatile issues” [Spokesman-Recorder]

Another one: “East Calhoun neighborhood may be next up for name change” [Southwest Journal]

Yuck: “Olmsted County warns about invasive worms” [Rochester Post Bulletin]

See if you agree: “Minnesota in the fall: 62 things we love” [City Pages]