These days, the furious swelter in the air has finally let up. Much less smoke and a high of 76 degrees today. The world is still in flames, though. Sometimes all you can do is establish a routine.
Speaking of which, I have some news for you. If you haven’t already made the news a part of your daily routine, here’s what I have to offer.
Our top story is about how University of Minnesota researchers are mitigating public skepticism by enforcing transparency. Please read past the headline. In city news, there’s a new Minnesota State Fair vendor in town. Make sure to read the article if you go to the fair, and report back, too. Also in city, the Minneapolis City Council is considering a new mask ban for law enforcement post-Operation Metro Surge.
Read our new opinions column on World Cup reflections, even if you aren’t into sports-ball. Lastly, we have a new episode of the Gold Standard out. I leave you with an impressive breadth of news, and I bid you adieu.
See you soon.
Isabella Morden Wheeldon | Managing editor | [email protected]
Top Story
Data centers are ‘flashpoint’ that UMN researchers are helping Minnesota navigate
by Shayne Tarquinio | Investigative reporter | Published July 20, 2026
Across the state, local governments and communities grapple with corporate development plans for data centers, drawing the attention of academic researchers.
As physical manifestations of a global network of remote servers known as the cloud, these facilities store, process and manage all of our digital data. While data centers have existed since the mid-1900s, the artificial intelligence boom demands exponentially more data storage, driving technology corporations to target towns across the U.S.
For those who work in the energy sector currently, data centers are the center of gravity, Gabe Chan, associate professor from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, said.
“One of the big meta-challenges is that the energy sector is very complicated — there’s a lot of engineering, finance, economics, law and policy,” Chan said.
This complexity fuels public skepticism. Public sentiment toward data centers is increasingly negative, and it hasn’t always been this way, Chan said. Yet data center development has been eager here in Minnesota — cold winters mean lower energy costs — and sometimes, shrouded in secrecy.
News
Meet Saturday Dumpling Co., one of Minnesota State Fair’s newest vendors
By Isabel Tifre | Staff reporter
Minneapolis restaurant Saturday Dumpling Co. is making its debut at the Minnesota State Fair in August.
University of Minnesota alumni Linda Cao and her husband, Peter Bian, have opened three Saturday Dumpling Co. restaurants in Minneapolis and are currently in the process of opening Jujube, a full-service restaurant in the fall of 2026. Now, Bian and Cao are attending the Great Minnesota Get-Together not as guests, but as vendors.
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Opinion
Opinion: The World Cup reminds us of sports’ role in diplomacy
By Matthew Jegers | Columnist
I don’t think I would fit the definition of a typical sports fan by any American standard.
Outside of the Olympics and the occasional Gopher game, I’m more of a “look at the win-loss ratio and grumble” kind of fan.
But over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself inundated with stories of wacky hijinks surrounding this year’s FIFA World Cup, from the Norwegian rowing to a ranch dressing craze to Scottish fans going through all the beer in Boston. Heartwarming moments of camaraderie, kindness and jersey-swapping reached my feed, balancing the fun of the tournament with sincerity.
All of these stories gradually caused the World Cup to grow on me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Rarely do so many news stories and social media posts feel so pure, so down-to-earth — so human.
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Arts & Entertainment
’The Invite’ brings a comedic unraveling to a struggling relationship’s conflict
By Izzy Tomasouw | Staff reporter
Directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, “The Invite” uses awkward tension and a collection of comedic devices to bring out an ultimately heartwarming message about love and communication.
The film follows Angela and Joe, played by Wilde and Seth Rogen, a couple whose rocky everyday relationship challenges their intimate life. When Angela wants to invite their upstairs neighbors over for the first time, Joe is opposed to the idea.
Angela and Joe’s layered relationship begins to unravel to the audience as the neighbors, Piña and Hawk, played by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton, introduce themselves and their relationship to the couple.
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Sports
Sons of Stanley Cup champion Matt Cullen prepare to join the Gophers this fall
By Samantha Roering | Sports editor
The Cullen brothers have a long history with hockey, dating back to their father, three-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Cullen. Now, the pair will continue that journey with the University of Minnesota, joining the Gophers men’s hockey team this fall.
Matt Cullen played two seasons at St. Cloud State University before continuing his career with 1,516 National Hockey League games. Today his sons, Wyatt and Brooks, look to further the Cullen name beyond their father’s legacy with their collegiate debuts on the horizon.
Matt Cullen played for eight NHL teams, including two separate two-season stints with the Nashville Predators, the team that selected his son, Wyatt Cullen, with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. While the Predators retain Wyatt Cullen’s draft rights through his college career, he has up to four years to hone his skills.
Wyatt Cullen is now the 27th first-round pick in Minnesota men’s hockey history. When he was drafted, he said it was everything he had ever dreamed of.
