>>Gender Justice Questions Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion Pill

(St. Paul, MN) — The U-S Supreme Court is protecting access to the abortion medication mifepristone, but advocates at Gender Justice say language in the high court’s ruling suggests doctors could be allowed to refuse to provide treatment on religious grounds. Legal Director Jess Braverman says, “What the court basically said in its ruling, it was almost just a green light to just, like, leave people dying on the floor of an emergency room. It was shocking. It’s a(n) open question for me whether that component of the ruling is binding.” Braverman says sometimes things that judges say in rulings are not necessarily binding because they’re not part of the key finding in the case. Whether doctors are allowed to opt-out of certain procedures on religious grounds could be a gray area, and Braverman indicates it remains to be seen how it might play out.

 

>>DOC Investigates Synthetic Drug Overdose at Stillwater Prison

(Bayport, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Corrections is investigating the apparent drug overdose death of an inmate at the Stillwater state prison. Officials say the 22-year-old man was found unresponsive Saturday morning and officers tried to save him, but he died in his cell. Investigators say they are looking into the possibility that his death was related to the use of synthetic drugs based on evidence found in the cell. Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell said in a statement, “we will make every effort to determine who introduced and provided the substance for the purpose of pursuing prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.” The man hasn’t been identified.

 

>>Bomb Threat Made Against Cook County Pride Event in Grand Marais

(Grand Marais, MN) — Authorities in northeastern Minnesota are trying to determine the source of a bomb threat targeting a Pride event in Grand Marais. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office says the threat was directed to attendees of the Pride event Saturday. No explosives were found during a precautionary sweep of the area and the Crow Wing County Bomb Squad was notified. Deputies said there was no indication of an active threat. Sheriff Pat Eliasen says they are taking the threat very seriously and “will pour every resource we can into the finding the source.”

 

>>Authorities ID 2 Riders Killed in Motorcycle vs. Pickup Crash in Wright County

(Clearwater, MN) — The Minnesota State Patrol is naming the two victims of a deadly motorcycle vs. pickup crash in Wright County. State troopers say a motorcycle driven by 50-year-old Chad Eskelson of Clear Lake collided with a truck driven by Adam Brambink of South Haven at an intersection on Highway 24. The report says Eskelson and his passenger, 46-year-old Vicky Jo Nieman of Clear Lake, died at the hospital Friday. Brambink and his passenger were not injured.

 

>>Motorcycle Rider Killed in Otter Tail County Crash

(Pelican Rapids, MN) — Authorities in Otter Tail County say alcohol is not believed to be a factor in a fatal motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon north of Pelican Rapids. The sheriff’s office says first responders treated the rider for serious at the scene, but they were unable to save the victim. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, jacket and gloves. No further information is being released.

 

>>Public Hearing on Lowering Nursery Level of Care at North Memorial

(Robbinsdale, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health is hosting a public hearing June 27th on lowering the newborn nursery level of care at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. According to the filed submission, the modification from special care nursery (Level 2) to well newborn nursery (Level 1) will “align labor and delivery resources to better match the actual volume.” The proposed change means babies born at the hospital who need a higher level of care will be transferred to one of the five neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) available in the area, much to the public’s dismay.

 

>>Pet Haven Hosts Online Puppy Naming Contest

(St. Paul, MN) — St. Paul-based animal rescue Pet Haven is holding its largest online puppy naming contest in years after the birth of nine adorable puppies. Two and a half-year-old “Dixie,” a collie who came to the rescue in May from northern Minnesota, gave birth June 9th. Minnesotans can share one name nomination each via Pet Haven’s Facebook, Instagram, or email through 7 pm Wednesday. Winning names will be announced June 20th, along with photos of the puppies at one week of age.

 

 

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