State Fair Buzz: USA TODAY ranked Minnesota’s state fair No. 1, with Wisconsin’s Great State Fair close behind at No. 2—pushing the spotlight on local food, new treats, and big economic impact. Youth Mental Health: A bipartisan Senate push led by Tammy Baldwin and others passed to block high-concentration sodium nitrite from public sale, aiming to curb youth suicide. Early Childhood Watch: Wisconsin Early Childhood Association is sounding the alarm over a federal proposal that would weaken Head Start Program Performance Standards, including classroom safeguards and support for kids with disabilities and multilingual learners. Primary Politics: The GOP race for Wisconsin secretary of state is heating up with four candidates vying to replace Sarah Godlewski, while Democrats line up endorsements—Sen. Dora Drake backing David Crowley for governor. Local Infrastructure: Grafton is moving toward repairing its broken Bridge Street Dam lift gate, expediting bids after months of delays. Public Safety & Privacy: Rural law enforcement use of license plate readers is under scrutiny, with reporting raising concerns about surveillance reach. Food Safety: CDC/FDA confirm a Salmonella Javiana outbreak tied to recalled jalapeños from Mexico, with 345 sickened across 27 states. Community & Culture: A new AC Hotel is breaking ground in Milwaukee’s Deer District, and Plymouth’s Cheese Capital Jazz & Blues Crawl fundraiser is set for Aug. 14.