Day 4 of the RNC is off to a slow start on security beat. Photographer Dave Chaney and I wrapped up Day 3 about 1 a.m. with arrests in downtown Minneapolis of about 100 young folks who were hanging out and sitting in the streets after the Rage Against the Machine concert at Target Center.

The crowd was rowdy and was taunting cops but nobody got violent or broke anything downtown. It reminded me of bar closing time downtown when the crowds spill out into the streets.

At the daily police briefing this morning, the St. Paul police chief said he thought things are going well from law enforcement perspective. He said officers are prepared to work with protesters to keep a march peaceful this afternoon and ready to respond with force if things become disruptive as they did the first two days of RNC.

Dave and I got caught in the clash Tuesday night when police used smoke canisters and flash-bang devices to clear the street in front of Mickey's Diner, so we remembered to pack some face masks yesterday and today.

We didn't have to use them last night in Minneapolis and hope we don't need them today after the rally and march in St. Paul. 4:00 is the scheduled kick-off time at the State Capitol.

Posted by: Caroline Lowe, WCCO-TV reporter