🐝 Date night at the wasp nest

A legal barrage: Defense lawyers for the 38 individuals charged in the Cities Church protest case came out on the offensive earlier this week with almost 50 court submissions. The filings included a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that Homeland Security Investigations did not have the authority to investigate the charges that were ultimately filed. Another filing alleged that the agency engaged in "outrageous government conduct" by collecting evidence through atypical means. [New York Times]

Cute date idea: If a sense of danger is the spark you're looking for in your love life, local artist Sammy Lett recommends inviting your date to see the active wasp nest near the rose garden in Lyndale Park. The cartoonishly large wasp nest looks like it's straight out of Looney Tunes, and I'm so happy we have something like this in the city. [Sammy Lett]

Yum: Members of the City Cast team ate a lot of great food at the State Fair over the past week, and we have recommendations for you. Personally, I really enjoyed the boba beer, fried Cubano, and Mouth Trap cheese curds. Check out our Instagram for our full list. [City Cast Twin Cities]

Not ICE: Videos circulating on social media have shown Department of Homeland Security agents present at the State Fair, which is understandably unnerving after what our community went through during Operation Metro Surge. Fair officials say those law enforcement officers are not immigration agents. They are with the Federal Air Marshal Service, which is part of the Transportation Security Administration, which in turn is part of DHS, and they provide security at transportation venues for large events like the state fair. Still unanswered: why are they wearing cowboy hats? [MPR News]

Free money for schools? An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution will be on the ballot this November to give a funding boost to public schools without any cost to taxpayers. The amendment seeks to increase the amount dispersed by Minnesota's Permanent School Fund from 2.5% per year to 4.5% per year. Proponents argue that the increase is sustainable as the fund grows from its investments by an average of 8% per year. While the increase in funding would be appreciated, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Superintendent Tucci Osorio said it would be a "drop in the bucket" compared to budget cuts her district is facing. [Sahan Journal]

Do You Know Your Way Around the Fair?

The answers to today's crossword puzzle are all street names at the Minnesota State Fair. If you're someone who approaches the Fair with a planned itinerary every year, you might be able to get every word! [Crossword Labs]

• Chief Guest Engagement & Revenue Optimization, Agency Division Director Senior at Minnesota Zoo | $116k–$167k per year
• Director, Financial Communications at General Mills | $150k–$224k per year
• Campus Services Manager at Minneapolis Institute of Art | $85k–$90k per year
• CRM & Email Marketing Manager at Second Harvest Heartland | $83k–$90k per year
• Career Development Advisor at Minneapolis College of Art and Design | $25–$27 per hour