>>Long-imprisoned Native American activist Leonard Peltier again requests parole
(Coleman, FL) — Leonard Peltier, the Native American activist sentenced to two life terms for the 1975 murder of two F-B-I agents in a shootout on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, is again requesting parole after 47 years in prison. The Star Tribune reports 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 is urging the request be denied, saying Peltier “intentionally murdered these two young men and has never expressed remorse for his ruthless actions.” The American Indian Movement, founded in Minneapolis, says the U-S Parole Commission has always denied parole on the grounds that Peltier won’t accept criminal responsibility for killing the two F-B-I agents — “murders he simply did not commit,” say AIM leaders.
>>MN BCA Identifies MPD Officers Who Used Force in Fatal Incident
(Minneapolis, MN) — Authorities have released the name of the man who died during a use-of-force incident Wednesday in Minneapolis and the names of the officers who used their weapons. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office says 39-year-old Michael Ristow of Minneapolis died of multiple gunshot wounds. The MN BCA says Minneapolis Police Officers Enoch Langford, Abdirizaq Mumin, and Chaz Wilson all fired their department handguns. All officers involved are on critical incident leave. The BCA continues investigating.
>>Sen. Smith writes Comcast CEO about cable provider dropping Twins games
(Washington, DC) — In a letter to Comcast C-E-O Brian Roberts, U-S Senator Tina Smith says “my constituents are furious” after the cable provider dropped Bally Sports Network, leaving thousands unable to watch Twins games. Contract talks with Diamond Sports Group, parent company of Bally Sports, broke down earlier this year, resulting in Comcast pulling Bally from its airwaves starting in May. Comcast is the latest provider to drop Bally, joining Dish Network, as well as streaming service Hulu and YouTube TV.
>>State Education Department under lawsuit settlement must notify special-ed students of additional education entitlement
(Minneapolis, MN) — The state Education Department would have to notify a group of former special-ed students that they may be entitled to compensatory education for being denied school days leading up to their 22nd birthdays — that under a lawsuit settlement that’s received preliminary approval from a federal judge. The Minnesota Disability Law Center took up the case of two students and those in similar situations, alleging their school districts prematurely ended their instruction following their 21st birthdays, in violation of federal law.
>>St. Mary’s SEIU Members Vote Down Latest Offer, Send Bargaining to Arbitration
(Rochester, MN) — Over 99% of the voting members of SEIU at Mayo St. Mary have rejected their employer’s latest contract offer and have chosen to move bargaining to arbitration, a move the union hasn’t used in decades. This comes after the current contract between the two expired April 22nd, with an agreement in place to honor the contract for the time being. The move to arbitration has no official timeline, but it’s expected the process will begin soon. The bargaining team says they are “tired of the proposals from Mayo that feel disrespectful to the critical work we do every day.”
>>Rochester daycare employee accused of assaulting toddler with pizza cutter
(Rochester, MN) — A woman from Pipestone is accused of a cutting a young child with a pizza cutter at a daycare in Rochester. Police said 26-year-old Adrianna Newburn was arrested at a KinderCare Thursday afternoon and is facing assault charges. Investigators say Newburn assaulted another employee’s toddler during an altercation. The child was taken to the hospital for treatment of lacerations, but their current condition is unavailable.
>>State Rep Novotny Named MMPOA Legislator of the Year
(St. Paul, MN) — Republican Representative Paul Novotny of Elk River has been named Legislator of the Year by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA). Novotny was a peace officer with the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office for 33 years. Officials say he’s been an “invaluable voice in support of law enforcement.”
>>2 Peregrine Falcon Chicks Seen on DNR FalconCam Banded
(Undated) — Two peregrine falcon chicks seen on the Minnesota DNR’s FalconCam were banded Wednesday. The Midwest Peregrine Society (MPS) identified both chicks as male while giving them silver identification bands. MPS says though one chick is larger, both birds appear healthy. An unhatched egg and an adult feather were collected by MPS from the nest.
>>MN Lynx to Represent Western Conference in Commissioner’s Cup Final
(Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Lynx will represent the Western Conference in the Commissioner’s Cup Final, the WNBA’s annual in-season tournament, for the first time since it began in 2021. The Lynx concluded Commissioner’s Cup play with a 4-1 record against conference opponents in their games played June 1st through the 13th. They currently own the best record in the Western Conference at 9-3, opening the season with the franchise’s best start through the first 12 games since the 2020 season.
>>MN Aurora face division rival Chicago Dutch Lions on Sunday
(Eagan, MN) — Minnesota Aurora F-C, the pre-professional women’s soccer club based in Eagan, returns to T-C-O Stadium Sunday to face division foes Chicago Dutch Lions. The Aurora are coming off a 3-0 win Thursday against state rivals Rochester F-C and enter the weekend atop the Heartland Division standings, a position they’ve finished each of the previous two seasons in. Minnesota has yet to lose a regular season match in their 2-plus year existence and have won all five previous matchups against the Dutch Lions. Sunday’s match kicks-off at 3:00 P-M.
>>St. Paul native named chief soccer officer for MLS expansion club in San Diego
(San Diego, CA) — St. Paul native and former Augsburg University defender Tyler Heaps has been named Chief Soccer Officer for M-L-S expansion club San Diego F-C. Heaps previously worked for French Ligue 1 club A-S Monaco, as well as the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). Heaps graduated from Augsburg in 2012, playing 57 games for the Auggies’ men’s soccer team and is the fiancee of United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) captain Lindsay Horan. San Diego F-C is the newest M-L-S franchise, set to begin play in 2025.