>>Severe storms possible in northern MN late afternoon into evening
(Duluth, MN) — The National Weather Service expects possibly severe storms to brew-up late this afternoon (Wed) and into the evening, beginning in far north-central Minnesota near the Canadian border, through the Iron Range and Duluth and into northwest Wisconsin. Meteorologist Ketzel Levens at the National Weather Service in Duluth says, “There’s a risk across the entire state of Minnesota for severe storms, but especially… north-central and northeast Minnesota is the spot where we’re particularly concerned about those very strong, severe storms.” Forecasters say there could be up to three-inch hail in some areas, 70-mile-an-hour winds, and tornadoes are possible. The Weather Service tweeted a warning to campers in the B-W-C-A. Meanwhile there’s a flood warning for the Minnesota River at Morton in south-central Minnesota’s Renville County, with other locations including Montevideo and Savage remaining above flood stage.
>>Winona County judge approves change of venue request from Adam Fravel
(Winona, MN) — A judge in southeast Minnesota has granted a request from the defense to move the murder trial of Adam Fravel out of Winona County. Fravel is facing first- and second-degree murder charges in connection with the March 2023 disappearance and killing of Madeline Kingsbury. Fravel’s lawyers argued that he could not get a fair trial in Winona County due to extensive media coverage of the case and the judge agreed today (Wed) that a change of venue is warranted. The order says,” the Court will collaborate closely with both district and state court administration to identify a suitable county capable of accommodating this Winona County case.” Fravel is Kingsbury’s ex-boyfriend and the father of her two children.
>>First Lady Jill Biden launches “Seniors for Biden-Harris” tomorrow in Duluth
(Washington, DC) — First Lady Jill Biden will be in Duluth tomorrow (Thurs) for the national launch of what the campaign dubs “Seniors for Biden-Harris, an organizing program to encourage senior voters across the nation to re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris.” Biden campaign manager Julia Chavez Rodriguez says “Seniors are such a critical part of our coalition, and it is vitally important that we engage them this election cycle.” Mrs. Biden was last in Minnesota April 19th when she spoke to an Education Minnesota teachers union meeting at a Bloomington hotel. Pro-Palestine demonstrators outside the event demanded an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
>>FBI agents raid another defendant’s home, investigating attempted bribe of juror in Feeding our Future trial
***MEDIA REFERENCE – 2ND LINE***
(Burnsville, MN) — Another F-B-I raid on the home of a defendant in the Feeding our Future fraud case, as investigators try to determine how jurors’ names were leaked to a woman who attempted to bribe a juror before last week’s verdict. The Star Tribune reports a neighbor says F-B-I agents arrived to search Mukhtar Shariff’s Burnsville home this morning (Wed). Shariff is one of five people convicted the first of a series of scheduled trials of Feeding our Future defendants. F-B-I agents raided another defendant’s home in Savage last week. The investigation began after prosecutors notified the judge that a woman had dropped off a bag with 120-thousand dollars cash at a juror’s home, saying there would be more cash if she voted to acquit. The juror immediately reported the incident to police and was excused from the jury, as was another juror who heard from a family member about the attempted bribe.
>>Federal agencies investigating arson fire at church in Maplewood
(Maplewood, MN) — The F-B-I and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating after authorities determined a fire early Sunday morning at a church in the Saint Paul suburb of Maplewood was arson. Fire responders, on a report of a burglary and fire alarm activation, found heavy smoke coming from inside Saint Jerome Catholic Church and a small fire was extinguished. Investigators say at this time it appears to be “an isolated incident resulting in minor property damage.”
>>State Senate ethics panel takes no action on complaint against Mitchell, sets next meeting for late July
(St. Paul, MN) — A state Senate panel considering an ethics complaint against Woodbury Democrat Nicole Mitchell took no action today (Tues) other than setting their next meeting for July 25th, because Mitchell’s next court appearance on felony burglary charges has been pushed back to the 1st of July. Her attorney, Bruce Ringstrom Junior told lawmakers final judgment in the case, whatever it might be, probably won’t be until this fall. “Of course it could be earlier, but that is my experience,” he said. The Senate ethics panel agreed to meet sooner than July 25th if necessary, Princeton Republican Andrew Mathews pointing out that body-cam footage could be released. In addition, he says, “There’ve been some changes with certain members of the legislature [who] have made calls for resignations, [plus] the [D-F-L] party chair. Some politics dynamics have shifted.” Attorney Ringstrom says there will either be a motion or a “not guilty” plea, or both, at the July 1st court hearing. He said earlier that Mitchell “does not intend to resign at this time.”
>President Biden Nominates St. Cloud Woman to Serve on U.S. District Court in MN
(Washington, D.C.) — Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith have announced President Joe Biden has nominated Laura Provinzino of St. Cloud to serve as a U.S. District Court judge in Minnesota. Provinzino has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney for Minnesota since 2010, leading efforts to prosecute violent crime, human trafficking, child pornography and crimes against Native American women. In 2023, she was awarded the Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service for her role in the prosecution of an international sex trafficking organization that victimized hundreds of women.
>>MN Twins Select Right-Handed Pitcher Jackson from Triple-A St. Paul
(Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Twins have selected right-handed pitcher Jay Jackson from Triple-A St. Paul to join the team. 36-year-old Jackson recently appeared in three Saints games, allowing one run on two hits in 3.0 innings of relief with no walks and two strikeouts. To make room for Jackson on the 26-man roster, the Twins optioned right-handed pitcher Louie Varland, who was recalled yesterday (TUES), to St. Paul.