>>Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting Under Investigation in North Branch
(North Branch, MN) — The Minnesota B-C-A is investigating a police shooting in North Branch Thursday night that left a woman dead. Officers were called to a report of an intoxicated woman who was suicidal and had a gun. Investigators say one officer discharged a non-lethal PepperBall while another officer fired their department gun, striking the woman. The report says officers provided medical aid, but the woman died at the scene. The incident was captured on the officers’ body-worn cameras. The officers involved have been placed on standard leave.
>>Governor Walz, FEMA Regional Administrator to Provide Flood Update
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz and FEMA Regional Administrator Tom Sivak (SEE’- vac) will provide an update today (Fri 10:30am) on the state’s flood outlook and emergency response. The briefing will include state department heads, the Minnesota National Guard, and National Weather Service officials. U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar met with Sivak this week to discuss the need for federal disaster assistance in response to state flood damage.
>>MnDOT Reopens Flooded Highways in Southern Minnesota
(Mankato, MN) — State transportation officials say some roadways closed by flooding in southern Minnesota are back open. MnDOT says Highway 169 reopened from Mankato to St. Peter, and Highway 60 near Windom opened to traffic Thursday with one lane in each direction. Highway 169 in St. Peter is open, with traffic shifted head-to-head onto the southbound lanes, but the northbound lanes are still underwater. Crews continue to monitor flooded highways and bridges and will open them as soon as it is safe to do so.
>>Valleyfair Cancels 4th of July Fireworks, Revises Hours Due to Flooding
(Shakopee, MN) — Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee is canceling its Fourth of July fireworks show due to ongoing flooding from the Minnesota River. Officials say they plan to reschedule the fireworks for later this season. Valleyfair is also revising its operating hours from 10 am to 9 pm daily because of the impacts of high water. The river has flooded onsite parking and reduced entrance and exit capacity at the park. Free off-site parking and shuttle bus service are offered until the flood waters recede. The park had to close three popular rides this week.
>>GOP Lawmakers Urge Governor Walz to Reconsider Appointments to Racing Commission
(Blaine, MN) — Republican lawmakers are urging Governor Tim Walz to reconsider his appointments of two tribal leaders to the Minnesota Racing Commission. Representative Nolan West of Blaine says both of their communities have casinos that are direct competitors of Running Aces and Canterbury Park. West added, “so it seems strange that you’d appoint two people who have been fighting against the future of horse tracks to an entity regulating the horse tracks. West says the tribes backed a sports betting bill at the legislature that left the horse tracks out. Milles Lacs Band of Ojibwe Chief Melanie Benjamin and former Prairie Island Community President Jonny Johnson were appointed to the commission last week.
>>MN, ND Lawmakers Send Letter to Postmaster About Mail Service Problems
(Washington, DC) — All 13 Minnesota and North Dakota congressional members are calling on the United States Postal Service to make changes to fix ongoing delivery delays. In a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the group highlighted a recent audit by the agency’s inspector general. Investigators found more than 130,000 mail pieces were delayed during a two-day observation period. The Congressional delegation requests monthly briefings on progress toward improving mail delivery in both states.
>>Independent Rural Hospitals to Form Headwaters Network
(Aitkin, MN) — Nineteen independent Minnesota hospitals have come together to form the Headwaters High-Value Network. It includes over 50 clinics providing care to more than 750,000 Minnesotans. The partnership aims to control the increasing healthcare costs and promote best practices among all network members. The network includes Winona, Madelia, Madison, Aitkin, Cloquet, Wadena, Roseau, and International Falls locations.
>>Burnsville Man Charged with Defrauding Electronics Company of $1.2M
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Burnsville man is charged with three counts of wire fraud after stealing $1.2 million from an electronics manufacturing business in San Jose, California. Federal prosecutors say 52-year-old Thomas Pham, C-E-O of Enterprise Products LLC, pretended to be a broker with supposed business relationships with well-known companies. Pham pitched to a company known as Victim A that his business could facilitate multi-million-dollar manufacturing and repair contracts between Victim A and large electronic companies. He required Victim A to pay a “deposit bond” of more than one-point-two-million dollars, which he then used on personal transactions. Pham delivered 20 samples of electronic devices to Victim A to give the impression he had fulfilled the contract.
>>Minnesota Wild Players Faber and Rossi Named to NHL All-Rookie Team
(Las Vegas, NV) — Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber and forward Marco Rossi are honored as N-H-L All-Rookie Team members. Faber also finished runner-up to Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard of the Blackhawks at the N-H-L Awards Thursday night in Las Vegas. The Maple Grove native had eight goals and 39 assists in 82 games last season. Rossi scored 21 goals and added 19 assists. The Wild have the 13th pick in the first round of the N-H-L Draft tonight (Fri).
