>>DPD Search for Missing Man
(Duluth, MN) — Duluth police are searching for a missing man. 41-year-old David Storbakken was last seen on May 5th in downtown Duluth. He’s described as Native American, 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, with dark hair, brown eyes, and a faded eagle tattoo on the back of his left hand. Anyone with information should call 911.
>>Missing St. Paul Senior
(St. Paul, MN) — The St. Paul Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing senior. 89-year-old Hyacinth Findlator was last seen at her Frogtown home around 9 p.m. yesterday. She’s described as Black, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 170 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. Findlator was last seen wearing a dark blue dress with a floral design, uses a black walker, and usually wears an OfficeMax baseball cap in red, white, or black.
>>Former North Dakota Senator Ray Transferred to Federal Medical Prison
(Rochester, MN) — Former North Dakota State Senator Ray Holmberg is now serving his 10-year federal prison sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester. The 81-year-old had previously been held at the Sherburne County Jail in Elk River following his sentencing in U.S. District Court in Fargo this past March. Holmberg was convicted of traveling to Europe more than a dozen times to engage in sex with underage boys. While U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland recommended Holmberg serve his sentence in Rochester, the final placement was determined by the Bureau of Prisons, which handled his transfer. The Federal Medical Center in Rochester houses inmates requiring specialized or long-term medical and mental health care. It accommodates inmates across all security levels and has a capacity of 786.
>>TSA Officers Stop 2 Loaded Handguns Tuesday at MSP Airport
(Minneapolis, MN) – The Transportation Security Administration reports officers stopped two loaded handguns Tuesday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Officials say the weapons were discovered when passengers screened their carry-on bags. MSP Airport Police were alerted to the security checkpoint and confiscated the guns. TSA officers have stopped 22 firearms at MSP checkpoints so far this year. Passengers need to place their guns in a locked hard case in checked baggage and notify the airline check-in counter.
>>Budget Negotiations Continue as No Special Session Called
(St. Paul, MN) – It’s all quiet coming from the governor’s office as a special session still hasn’t been called. The governor and legislative leaders last provided an update Thursday afternoon, saying the negotiations continue. The Human Services working group is holding a public meeting today to unveil its bill. Governor Walz and House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman said they would like the special session finished before Monday to avoid the next 28,000 layoff notices from going out to state workers. A government shutdown will happen on July 1st if there is no budget agreement before that date. DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy of St. Paul says they’re making progress “as slow as molasses, but molasses is good.” Republican Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring says there are still a lot of differences. As for a special session, some legislative leaders are saying it could come as soon as Saturday.
>>MN Sheriffs Urge Lawmakers to Pass Bonding Bill
(Undated) – Dozens of sheriffs from across Minnesota are urging Governor Tim Walz and lawmakers to pass the bonding bill. They say mental health facilities need to expand their bed capacity. Renville County Sheriff Scott Hable says too many of these patients are being held in jails, “when they need treatment, not incarceration.” He says the lack of capacity is criminalizing mental illness. Without the bill, Sheriff Dawanna Witt of Hennepin County says the years-long mental health crisis will only get worse, and that “it’s past time to put their money where their mouth is and repeal the two-year pause.” Democratic leaders have said the bonding bill is dead for this session. Republicans argue it still hasn’t been discussed.
>>MN Housing Awards $560K to School-Led Housing Programs
(Undated) – Minnesota Housing is giving over $560,000 to six housing programs to support student-built homes across Greater Minnesota communities. Catalyst for Assistance Change Executive Director Khalique Rogers explains that he and others in his community faced homelessness at a young age due to systemic barriers. He says issues like kids coming to school tardy or missing days weren’t being examined by policymakers; instead, students were punished. Part of the Housing Challenge Funds for School program, the grants will address some of these issues at the source by serving households earning at or below 80-115% of the area median income (AMI).
>>BEC Awarded $5M Federal Grant to Fix Rapidan Dam
(Blue Earth County, MN) — The Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program is giving Blue Earth County $5 million to repair the Rapidan Dam. The well-known dam failed last June during historic state flooding and storm damage in southeastern and south-central Minnesota counties. The County Road 9 bridge nearby, also heavily damaged and essential to local farmers, has been taken down and will be replaced.
>>AG Ellison Appoints Members on Future of MN’s Water Task Force
(St. Paul, MN) — The Advisory Task Force on the Future of Minnesota’s Water is complete. Attorney General Keith Ellison announced all the appointments today, including both DFL and GOP lawmakers, representatives from state agencies, and public members representing agriculture, tribal communities, businesses, local regulators, and water quality/conservation advocates and experts. The task force was formed on March 31st, and the first of six task force meetings over the next year is on June 11th at 1 p.m.
