Minnesota storms, floods cast pall over July 4th celebrations

A stormy pall brooded over storied July 4th traditions in much of Minnesota Wednesday, forcing some to trade parades for washed-out streets and others to swap sparklers for sandbags.

In the Twin Cities, some parades and fireworks were canceled as Mother Nature dropped a booming show of thunderstorms across the region. In Bemidji, officials were cleaning up downed trees, branches and power lines Wednesday, trying to assess if high winds were the result of a brief tornado touchdown. And from Redwood Falls to the Iowa border, southern Minnesota cities scrambled Wednesday to respond to rising waters, seeping into businesses and homes.

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-storms-floods-cast-pall-over-july-4th-celebrations/487333841/