>>Biden to meet with Democratic governor’s group chaired by Gov. Walz, amid concerns over debate performance
(Washington, DC) — Multiple national media sources report President Joe Biden, trying to defuse concern over last week’s debate, plans a video meeting tomorrow (Wed) with members of the Democratic Governors Association — which is chaired by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Surveying flood damage today (Tues) at Rapidan Dam near Mankato, Walz said he’s not sugar-coating what was “obviously a poor performance” by the president in the debate, “But I think the question is,… how does that impact how the country runs? How does it impact what an election looks like? And again, it’s about the differences and the binary choice that we’re going to face in November.” A source told N-B-C News that everyone who is to be on the call still supports the Biden campaign but “what everybody needs is reassurance.”
>>MN Lynx Head Coach Reeve Named WNBA Coach of the Month
(Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve has been named the WNBA’s Coach of the Month for June after leading her team to a 9-2 record and its first Commissioner’s Cup championship. Reeve posted her 307th regular season victory on the Lynx bench June 5th with an 86-82 decision at L.A., overtaking Bill Laimbeer for second place on the WNBA’s all-time list. The Lynx went 4-1 in Commissioner’s Cup contests to represent the Western Conference for the first time ever in the 2024 title game, where they beat New York 94-89 on June 25th.
>>MN E-bike Rebate Applications Close in Under 20 Minutes
(Undated) — Applications were closed just 18 minutes into Minnesota’s E-bike Rebate website relaunch this morning (TUES, 11 a.m.) as the 10-thousand-submittal cap was reached. This comes after the site crashed in minutes on its original June 5th launch due to an overwhelming number of applications. Those who were still waiting in the site’s revamped waiting room were notified they couldn’t apply until next year. The rebate covers 50-75% of the e-bike’s cost, depending on your annual income, of up to $1,500.
>>Vocal Leonard Peltier supporter not surprised parole request rejected
(Des Moines, IA) — A vocal supporter of Leonard Peltier says he’s disappointed but not surprised that a federal commission has again turned down the Native American activist’s request for parole. Peltier was sentenced to two life terms in the 1975 murder of two F-B-I agents in a shootout on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation. Former Fargo Mayor John Lindgren says, “There’s a whole social kind of history behind him that makes him an enemy in the eyes of some people, and they want revenge and that’s the way they’re getting it, is by not allowing him out of prison.” 79-year-old Peltier has long claimed he’s innocent and his lawyers say he has a serious health condition that can’t be addressed in prison. F-B-I Director Christopher Wray urged Peltier’s parole request be denied, saying he “intentionally murdered these two young men and has never expressed remorse for his ruthless actions.”
>>Man, Woman Charged with Child Negligence After 6-Year-Old Boy was Accidentally Shot
(Elgin, MN) — A man and woman have been charged with child endangerment through negligent storage of firearms after a boy was shot last Tuesday in Wabasha County in southeast Minnesota. Authorities responded to a shooting incident in Elgin, where a loaded shotgun was left unsecured in a motor vehicle and a 6-year-old boy was accidentally shot while two other children were present. Raymond Duque and Nicole McGee were arrested. The boy remains hospitalized. His condition is not available.
>>Faribault Man Charged with Coworker’s Murder
(Faribault, MN) — A Faribault man was charged today (TUES) with the murder of his 22-year-old coworker. 24-year-old Mohamed Hared is charged with the second-degree intentional murder of Ahmed Cariif. Police responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of Lakeville’s Amazon Fulfilment Center around 4 a.m. Saturday. Cariif was pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the chest. Hared claimed the victim and another man stole the flashlight attachment to his gun. Cariif denied the theft and ultimately got into two separate fights with Hared he was fatally shot. Hared’s bail is set at $2 million without conditions, $1 million with conditions, and his next court appearance is July 15th in Hastings.
>>Olmsted County Sees Increase in Drugged Driving Arrests in 2024
(Rochester, MN) — The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office reports a large increase in drugged driving arrests in the first half of 2024 after Minnesota’s law legalizing recreational marijuana took effect last August. Deputies have arrested 81 motorists on suspicion of impaired driving from January 1st through June 15th, up from 54 arrests made in the same time frame in 2023. 26 of those 81 arrests were for suspected drug impairment, which is up from four a year ago and two in 2022.
>>Hibbing referendum asks voters to approve half-percent sales tax for public safety center
(Hibbing, MN) — Residents in Hibbing on Minnesota’s Iron Range will vote on a half-percent sales tax increase in November to help fund a new regional public safety center. If approved, the measure would generate up to 19.6 million dollars over 20 years, or until the 29-million-dollar project is paid off. The Minnesota Legislature approved 10 million dollars for the project in the 2023 bonding bill. Hibbing city officials say they are pursuing additional funding to help reduce the overall cost to taxpayers.
>>DEED Secures $12M Workforce Grant for Young Minnesotans with Disabilities
(St. Paul, MN) — The state Department of Employment and Economic Development has received a $12 million federal grant to provide workforce development services for Minnesotans ages 16-24 with disabilities. The Equitable Transitions Models (ETM) grant will support a five-year program of intensive management services for young adults to complete post-secondary education and successfully transition into the adult labor force. The program will cover 53 Minnesota counties and is projected to serve 237 case-managed youth in Greater Minnesota and 310 parents and families through the PACER Center.
>>Minnesota Wild release 2024-2024 season schedule
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Wild open their 2024-2025 season on home ice October 10th against the Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s the 12th time in franchise history Minnesota will start the season at the Xcel Energy Center. The second home game is October 12th versus the Seattle Kraken before a season-long, seven-game road trip October 13th through 29th. The Wild will play 11 games at the X in March. The first preseason game in St. Paul is September 27th against the Winnipeg Jets. On-sale dates for single-game tickets will be announced later this summer.
