>>The Front Line Foundation provides $55k to family of fallen MPD Officer Mitchell
(St. Louis Park, MN) — The Front Line Foundation says it has given 55 thousand dollars in death benefits to the family of fallen Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell. Officials say it is their largest death benefit to date. They say it was made possible in partnership with Purpose Restaurants, whose fundraiser Saturday at the Apostle Supper Club in St. Paul raised more than 32 thousand dollars. Over three thousand people came out to show their support for Mitchell and all first responders. Officer Mitchell leaves behind a fiancée and three children.
>>Ricky Cobb’s attorneys say they’ll ask F-B-I and Justice Department to investigate MN State Patrol after charges against troopers dropped
(Minneapolis, MN) — Lawyers for the family of Ricky Cobb the Second say they’ll ask the F-B-I and the U-S Justice Department to investigate not only Cobb’s fatal shooting but also the Minnesota State Patrol, after Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty dropped all charges against Trooper Ryan Londregan. Cobb family attorney Bakari Sellers says, “I’ve never been a part of a case where an individual was charged with a crime, then articulated his own defense, and then the prosecution said, hey, we’re gonna dismiss these charges because of what you told us.” County Attorney Moriarty said there are “so many points” where Trooper Londregan could have handled the situation differently, but prosecutors can’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred, given new evidence. But the trooper’s attorney, Chris Madel said Monday about what Moriarty calls “new evidence” that “the county attorney’s office had this from day one.”
>>President Biden Issues Executive Order on Border, Rep. Craig, Omar Reacts
(Washington, D.C.) — President Biden has announced an executive order aimed at securing the country’s southern border. It allows Biden to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border when a certain number of crossings are hit and would bar those who cross the southern border illegally from being considered for asylum. This comes after a call for action from 2nd District Congresswoman Angie Craig and 14 other House Democrats. Craig calls the president’s order “a start, but Congress must take action on a more permanent fix.” But fellow Democrat, 5th District Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she’s “deeply disappointed” and “Biden has signaled to the world that we will turn our back on those suffering from global catastrophe to appease the far-right, who will never be satisfied.”
>>Vikings star WR Justin Jefferson agrees to terms on record-breaking non-QB contract
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson has agreed to terms on the largest non-quarterback contract in N-F-L history, E-S-P-N reporting the four-year extension through the 2028 season is worth up to 140 million dollars — 110 million guaranteed and over 88 million dollars when Jefferson signs. He says, “Now being a leader of this team and carrying myself a different way, I’m gonna be on everyone hard and I’m gonna make sure that I’m the leader of this team, and we’re working to where we wanna go, which is a world championship.” Jefferson has been one of the most prolific wide receivers in the N-F-L since entering the league in 2020. He’s recorded over one-thousand yards in each of his four seasons and has been named to three Pro Bowls. In 2022, Jefferson led the N-F-L in receptions and yards.
>>Second juror dismissed from Feeding our Future trial, jury sequestered, defendants detained and phones confiscated
(Minneapolis, MN) — A second juror has been dismissed from the Feeding our Future federal fraud trial, after the 25-year-old woman from Savage said she heard from a family member about the attempted bribe of another juror. Hamline University legal analyst David Schultz says someone might have decided the risk of jury tampering was worth it because the trial “may be getting very close to identifying some very powerful people.” Schultz says, “They’ve never really found sort of who’s the mastermind behind all of this…, why it was possible for this amount of money to be misappropriated, and where was the oversight from the state?” U-S District Judge Nancy Brasel has sequestered the jury, which is now in its second day of deliberations. The judge also added security to the courtroom, detained all seven defendants and ordered the F-B-I to confiscate their phones.
>>German national carrier Lufthansa inaugurates air service between MSP and Frankfurt
(Minneapolis, MN) — Germany’s national air carrier, Lufthansa is launching its first-ever service this afternoon (Tues 3:05pm departure) between M-S-P and its hub in Frankfurt, Germany. Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman Mike Schommer says it’s an important global connection with “a lot of building demand for travel to Europe. We’re projecting more than 35-thousand passengers going from Minneapolis to Germany and another 365-thousand expected to fly to Europe from M-S-P this year.” Schommer says it’s year-round service five days a week using Boeing 7-8-7 aircraft. It’s M-S-P’s first new transatlantic carrier in more than four years and the 19th airline operating at the airport.
>>MPD union members ratify new contact by wide margin
(Minneapolis, MN) — Members of the Minneapolis police union by a five-to-one margin have voted to approve a new contract which includes a 5.5-percent pay raise on July 1st and additional bumps on January 1st and again next summer. The Star Tribune reports the contract would also include a large amount of pro-rated backpay, bringing the total increase to nearly 22 percent over three years. The agreement requires City Council approval, which analysts say is not a sure thing because the council’s progressive wing reportedly wants “deep, transformational reforms” in future contracts. The union vote comes less than a week after Officer Jamal Mitchell was fatally shot in south Minneapolis, the department’s first such death in the line-of-duty in over 20 years.
>>Water Advisory for Multiple MN Beaches
(Duluth, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health is advising people to stay out of the water at a number of beaches on the North Shore due to the possible presence of fecal contamination. Elevated E. coli levels were identified from samples at Brighton Beach and Leif Erikson Park Beach in Duluth, Agate Bay Beach in Two Harbors, Stewart River Beach, north of Two Harbors at the mouth of Stewart River, and Grand Marais Downtown Beach. If anyone becomes ill after coming into contact with beach water, officials recommend contacting the state Health Department at 1-877-366-3455.
>>Eden Prairie Man Charged with Arson for House Fire
(Eden Prairie, MN) — 23-year-old Abdullahi Abdi Abdullahi Jr. of Eden Prairie remains in custody and has been charged with first-degree arson after allegedly lighting his ex-girlfriend’s home on fire while several people were inside. Court documents say officials responded to a townhome fire around 11:30 a.m. May 31st, finding parts of the house and garage engulfed in flames. A man, two women, and a child were outside and firefighters entered the home to rescue an infant. One adult and four children, including the infant, were taken to the hospital, with the infant said to be in critical condition. One of the women, Abdullahi Jr.’s ex-girlfriend, claimed it was Abdullahi Jr., as he came to her home two days prior and threatened to kill her. Surveillance video identifies Abdullahi Jr. and the red Jeep he had been driving.
>>Revere Man Injured in ATV Rollover in Redwood County
(Redwood County, MN) — A Revere man has been flown to a hospital for injuries sustained in an ATV crash in Redwood County. Early Monday evening, officials responded to a 911 call of a single vehicle ATV rollover on State Highway 7 with the driver, later identified as Randy Schultz, trapped underneath. No other information is being released at this time.
>>Oil Spill at Spicer’s Pirrotta Park
(Spicer, MN) — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, DNR, and local officials have contained a minor oil spill Pirrotta Park in the west-central Minnesota community of Spicer. Officials reported the spill at 9 a.m. Monday with oil going into Green Lake. The source of the spill is under investigation. Spicer Mayor Robin Decathelineau says despite its small volume, immediate action is crucial to mitigate any potential environmental consequences for the lake.
>>Second-tallest building in downtown Minneapolis deeded to lender, apparently to avoid foreclosure
(Minneapolis, MN) — The owner of the second-tallest building on the Minneapolis skyline, the 58-story Capella Tower, has surrendered ownership to its lender in New York after a failed attempt at finding a buyer. The Star Tribune reports while terms of the transfer by Shorenstein Properties to Metropolitan Life Insurance are not public, such transactions are often to avoid legal action involving foreclosure. Shorenstein paid 255 million dollars for the tower in 2018 and its assessed value is now under 200 million. Almost one-third of office space in downtown Minneapolis is vacant, and total value of commercial buildings has dropped 13 percent since last year.
