>>Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara Pays Tribute to Officer Mitchell at Memorial
(Maple Grove, MN) — Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara says what happened to Officer Jamal Mitchell is the “sad fate of far too many police officers lately,” noting that about 11 officers have been killed over the last 14 months in this part of the country. At Tuesday’s memorial in Maple Grove, O’Hara announced that Mitchell has been posthumously awarded the department’s two highest honors: the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart. The chief choked back tears as he concluded his tribute, saying, “Farewell, Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell, number 4819. Until we meet again: We love you. We miss you. We will honor your legacy forever.”
>>Minnesota GOP Senate Hopeful Fraser Gets High Profile Endorsements
(Undated) — Retired U-S Navy commander Joe Fraser, who’s challenging Republican Party-endorsed candidate Royce White in the August primary, is being endorsed by former U-S Senators Rudy Boschwitz and Norm Coleman, and former Governor Tim Pawlenty. They say Fraser’s “integrity and character reflect the best of the Republican Party,” while Fraser says his G-O-P rival Royce White doesn’t have the skills, demeanor or behavior to run for Senate. White, a former college basketball player, says his past — debt, eviction, and alimony disputes — is not extreme considering he comes from the Black community, and says those voters will relate to him.
>>St. Cloud State University Finalizes Program, Staff Cuts in 5-Year Plan
(St. Cloud, MN) — St. Cloud State University is out with a list of 42 degree programs and 50 minor programs it plans to cut over the next five years. Some of the majors being dropped include criminal justice, music performance, physics, economics, electrical engineering, and gender and women’s studies. The reduction in programs will result in a 13 percent decrease in full-time faculty, eight percent of staff, and 15 percent of administrator positions. S-C-S-U officials announced last month that the school was facing a nearly 15-million-dollar budget deficit in fiscal year 2024.
>>Ellison and 42 AGs Reach $700 Settlement Against Johnson & Johnson
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison says his office and 42 other attorneys general reached a $700 million settlement against Johnson & Johnson for the marketing baby powder products. Minnesota will receive more $10.5 million over three years. The settlement alleges Johnson and Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers in advertisements about their talc-based body and baby powder products, primarily to women, as a means to prevent chafing. Johnson & Johnson will also have to permanently stop the manufacture, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of all its talc powder products in the U-S.
>>Minnesota Families Can use WIC Benefits for Online Purchases at Hy-Vee
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota families participating in the Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC (wick) program, can now use their E-B-T cards to shop online at most Hy-Vee stores in the state as part of a pilot program. State WIC Director Kate Franken says shopping with young children can be challenging, and without an online option, not as many healthy foods are accessible. She says the pilot program had a successful launch at the Brooklyn Park Hy-Vee store in February and expanded to most locations on May 27th. Franken says delivery is available for an additional fee, which cannot be paid for using WIC benefits.
>>Autism Society of Minnesota Grieves Loss of 4-Year-Old Hopkins Boy
(St. Paul, MN) — The Autism Society of Minnesota is grieving the loss of four-year-old Waeys Mohamed of Hopkins, who went missing and was later found dead in Minnehaha Creek. Deputy Director Daren Howard says coordination with law enforcement and first responders is very important in a search. He says, “A lot of the time when a child goes missing they’re found within 45 minutes or so. And the first place folks need to be looking is a body of water or a swimming pool.” Howard says many kids with autism tend to wander off and their sensory differences attract them to water. Investigators said Waeys was autistic and nonverbal.
>>Crow Wing County Man Sentenced to Life for Killing Daughter’s Boyfriend
(Brainerd, MN) — A Crow Wing County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the October 2022 shooting death of his daughter’s boyfriend. Prosecutors say 46-year-old Michael Laflex of Merrifield was sentenced Monday for the first-degree murder of 23-year-old Bryce Brogle (BROH’-gull). He was reported missing after visiting Laflex’s storage unit and Brogle’s body was later found buried on the property. Investigators say Laflex shot Brogle in the head because he believed that Brogle was abusing his daughter.
>>Authorities ID 8-Year-Old Boy Who Died in Burnsville Shooting
(Burnsville, MN) — Authorities are identifying the eight-year-boy who died from injuries suffered in a shooting at a Burnsville townhome The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office says Amir Harden was shot in the head and neck last Thursday and died in the hospital Sunday night. Police found Amir and a male relative in critical condition. Investigators say it appears the man shot Harden before turning the gun on himself. He remains hospitalized in critical condition.
