Would Tim Walz be the first Lutheran VP? It just depends on how you count it

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz’s vibe has been defined by the internet as “Midwestern dad,” but Minnesotans know their governor as something more specific: a “Minnesota Lutheran” dad.

If elected alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, who herself is Baptist, he could be the first — or second — Lutheran vice president. It just depends on how you count it.

Although Walz has not often spoken publicly about his religion, he did refer to Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul as his parish in 2020. Earlier that year, Walz shared a Facebook post thanking the church for an Ash Wednesday service.

More recently, Walz cracked a joke about his religious identity during a 2024 legislative conference. “Because we’re good Minnesota Lutherans, we have a rule: If you do something good and talk about it, it no longer counts,” Walz said.

—The Charlotte Observer

Prosecutors expected to argue ‘overwhelming’ case against suspect in Las Vegas reporter’s slaying

LAS VEGAS — There are no eyewitnesses to the slaying of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German.

But experts say there is still enough evidence for prosecutors to prove a strong case against the suspect, a former low-level elected official accused of killing German over articles the journalist wrote about his conduct.

The circumstances of the case paint a relatively clear picture against former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, said David Roger, former Clark County district attorney.

“You may not have all the pieces to the puzzle, but if you have enough of the pieces, you can see what the puzzle is,” Roger said. “You may miss a piece here and there, but the circumstances, the entire picture of the jigsaw puzzle, is sufficient enough to show what the photograph is. And it’s the same thing with circumstantial evidence cases.”

—Las Vegas Review-Journal

O, say can you see: American flag flies again, legally, at California retailer

San Joaquin County officials are flagging what one supervisor is calling a savvy marketing campaign cloaked as patriotism by recreational-vehicle giant Camping World.

The nation's largest retailer of RVs and RV-related accessories and services is flying a giant American flag again outside its store in the Northern California town of French Camp. This time, however, the flag's appearance is legal.

The county and the RV business have been wrangling for more than a year over the huge flag and the extremely tall flagpole from which it flies; the county said the height of the pole required proper permits, which Camping World did not have. There was also initial concern about how close the pole was to Interstate 5.

In between, Old Glory was temporarily removed and then hoisted again against protocols. The corporation's CEO told a local outlet it was his patriotic duty to fly the flag. The county, however, maintained that the proper process was not followed but that the retailer ultimately received what it craved: publicity.

—Los Angeles Times

Brazilian city confirms 61 dead after plane crash in Sao Paulo state

RIO DE JANEIRO — A plane carrying 61 people on board crashed into a residential area in the city of Vinhedo in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo on Friday, the city administration told dpa.

No one on board survived the crash, which occurred early Friday afternoon, the city administration said. According to Brazilian airline VoePass, there were 57 passengers and four crew members on board.

The plane was en route from the city of Cascavel in the state of Paraná to Guarulhos in Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo–Guarulhos Airport is the largest airport in Brazil. Some 19 months ago, dozens of people died in Nepal in a crash of an aircraft of the same type.

Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked those attending an event in the south of the country to observe a minute of silence. "A very sad piece of news. My deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims," Lula said on social media platform X.

—dpa