Damage assessment after Midwest storms, tornadoes

Severe storms caused damage in the Midwest on Monday. At least one tornado touched down in Iowa, and travelers had to take shelter underneath a Chicago O'Hare International Airport terminal. Officials will be in Iowa on Tuesday to assess the damage.

Severe storms, tornadoes hit the Midwest

Severe storms impacted several states in the Midwest Monday night. Iowa and Illinois are cleaning up after widespread storms, strong winds, and tornadoes caused damage in the area. Officials in Iowa say crews will assess the damage on Tuesday. FOX 9's meteorologist Cody Matz has more.

Storm damage lingers amid Minneapolis park worker strike

Thousands of people across the metro still don't have power after storms swept through the area over the weekend. Many of the outages are caused by downed trees, a problem usually taken care of by park and rec workers, who remain on strike in Minneapolis.

Garden tours highlight variety of Twin Cities landscapes

Tour 10 unique Twin Cities metro gardens on Saturday as part of the Hennepin County Master Gardener Volunteer Learning Tour. The event is on Saturday, July 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Education is folded into this tour with 100+ Master Gardeners stationed at the featured gardens to answer your questions. Tickets to the tour, purchased in advance are $15 or $20 the day of. Children under 12 are free with a paying adult.

Limited time tours at renovated Pillsbury Castle

For the last year, work has been ongoing to preserve and restore a historic Minneapolis home. Two local entrepreneurs purchased the Pillsbury Mansion in 2023 and brought in 30 designers to furnish the 10,000 sq ft home. The home will be open for tours from July 12-28, and then the owners will move into the home. For more history on the house and to purchase tickets, visit PillsburyCastle.com

Doggie Walk for Page Foundation

Vikings Legend Alan Page is using the power of pets to help students of color have access to higher education. The Page Education Foundation. is hosting their annual summer celebration, called the Doggie Walk Saturday July 13th. Leaders from the Page Education Foundation and their partner the Rescue Pack joined FOX 9 Good Day to talk about the upcoming event.

Mpls park workers extend strike indefinitely

Minneapolis park workers walked off the job on the Fourth of July for a week-long strike, but the union says they are going to continue fighting and extend their strike indefinitely, adding they demand contract negotiations from the park board.

Harriet Island drying out after flooding

Water levels continue to drop after record flooding, and St. Paul officials are hoping things dry out quickly at Harriet Island so that a music festival planned on July 19-20 can go on as planned.

Hamel Rodeo gallops back for 43rd year

It’s time to rope and ride. The Hamel Rodeo returns to Corcoran Lion’s Park on Thursday evening, July 11, and runs through Sunday evening. The performances will feature bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing and the Bull Ridin’ Bonanza.

LGBTQ+ choruses gather in Minneapolis for weekend event

Thousands of vocalists will be in Minneapolis this week for the largest LGBTQ+ choral event in the world. A total of 122 choruses from around the globe will join the GALA Choruses Festival. There will be hundreds of concerts during the five-day span, July 10-14. Many of the events are free and some are ticketed. The opening event is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Peavey Plaza on July 10. Check out the full schedule online at GalaChoruses.org.

Helpful tips for hydrangeas

Garden Guy Dale K. outlines his favorite varieties of hydrangeas and some useful ways to keep them thriving through the summer.

Minnesota State Fair new foods taste test

The Minnesota State Fair is fast approaching and food always brings in the crowds. Tom Butler and Keith Marler put their taste buds to the test, trying out three of the new foods including the dill pickle tots from Tot Boss, the Raging Ball from Herbivorous Butcher, and the Turkey Kristo from the Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop.

Trail of Small Wonders opens in St. Louis Park

A little magic has arrived at the Westwood Hills Nature Center. For the fourth year, the Trail of Small Wonders is back in St. Louis Park. It features a miniature world of 150 hand-made dwellings for fairies, elves, gnomes and trolls. The Opening Day Festival is from 4:30 to 8 p.m., and is free and open to all and the trail is ADA accessible. The fairy houses will remain on display at Westwood Hills Nature Center from July 9th – 27th from sunrise to sunset. It’s located at 8200 West Franklin Avenue in St. Louis Park.