>>State Economist Kalambokidis Stepping Down
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s state economist, Doctor Laura Kalambokidis (Colombo-KEY’-diss), is stepping down after supporting the state’s budget and economic forecasting process through eleven tumultuous years including a “sea change” in Minnesota’s work environment due to the COVID pandemic. “Doctor K” says economic growth is expected to continue in Minnesota, although at a slower rate, and “As long as there is continued economic growth, there is going to be demand for workers in Minnesota.” After stepping down, Kalambokidis will continue teaching at the University of Minnesota and as an extension economist. Her successor will be Doctor Anthony Becker, a professor of economics at Saint Olaf College in Northfield, where he’s taught for nearly 40 years.
>>Congressional Black Caucus Slams Marjorie Taylor Greene Over Floyd Comments
(Washington, DC) — The Congressional Black Caucus is condemning a Georgia Republican’s rant against George Floyd. Floyd is the Black man whose death by police brutality four years ago in Minneapolis triggered nationwide outrage and calls for police reform. On Monday, G-O-P Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on social media that Democrats were “still worshiping convicted felon George Floyd.” The Congressional Black Caucus responded that her comments were “unhinged” and “unacceptable.” The caucus said, “George Floyd did not deserve to die, and a member of Congress should have the decency to acknowledge his humanity.”
>>Police ID Passerby Critically Wounded Before Suspect Fatally Shot MPD Officer
(Minneapolis, MN) — Officials are releasing the name of the passerby who was critically wounded just before Officer Jamal Mitchell was fatally shot last Thursday evening in south Minneapolis. Police say 38-year-old Alexander Hage was driving through an intersection when gunfire erupted and he’s in critical but stable condition at H-C-M-C. Investigators say after Hage was shot, Officer Mitchell approached 35-year-old Mustafa Mohamed who was sitting next to a vehicle in that area, asked him if he was hurt and needed help, and that’s when Mohamed shot the officer at close range before exchanging gunfire with other officers which killed him.
>>Duluth Man Convicted of July 2022 Shooting Death of 17-Year-Old
(Duluth, MN) — A Duluth man will be sentenced in August for the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy in July of 2022. A jury found 19-year-old Corey Devon Young guilty of second-degree murder Tuesday. St. Louis County prosecutors say the victim went to an apartment intending fight Young, but after a verbal exchange Young pulled out a pistol and shot him. The teen died in a Duluth hospital. Young was also 17 at the time of the shooting. He faces up to 40 years in prison at an August 29th sentencing hearing.
>>Minnesota BCA Names Man Shot at by South St. Paul Police
(South St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (B-C-A) is naming the suspect shot at by police Friday night in South St. Paul. Agents say Officer Dylan Naffzinger fired his handgun at 54-year-old Demetrious Royal, but he was not injured. Investigators say two officers were responding to a disturbance in a parking garage when Royal pointed what appeared to be a gun at them. He followed their commands to get on the ground and slid what was later determined to be a laser pointer designed to be mounted on a gun towards them. One gun cartridge casing was found outside the garage and Co-2 powered pellet gun was located inside. Royal is charged with threats of violence with a replica or B-B gun.
>>Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Crimes in Grand Forks, North Dakota
(Grand Forks, ND) — A Minnesota man is pleading guilty to sex crimes against underage girls in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Prosecutors say 47-year-old Manuel Martinez Junior of East Grand Forks is accused of sexually abusing his girlfriend’s four daughters between 2012 and 2021. Martinez was living with the family in Grand Forks and the girls were as young as age six at the time. He could face up to 30 years in prison at sentencing on August 30th.
>>Rochester Studio Owner Charged with Running Illegal Nightclub
(Rochester, MN) — A studio owner in Rochester is accused of operating an illegal nightclub since 2021 and evading taxes from 2019 to 2023. Forty-seven-year-old Donyale Gayles-Johnson owns 45 Entertainment and allegedly ran the nightclub from 2 to 5 am on Fridays and Saturdays. The city claims that he owes over $40,000 in sales and use tax, in addition to penalties and interest.
>>Mosquitoes Biting Now Don’t Carry West Nile or Other Disease
(St. Paul, MN) — Mosquitoes are out in full force in Minnesota, but this is not a high-risk time for West Nile virus or other diseases. Department of Health epidemiologist Elizabeth Schiffman says these spring and summer “pest” species like to bite us for our blood and are not capable of transmitting disease. She says we start to talk about those mosquitoes being more of a problem about the middle of summer into the last half of summer. Schiffman says E-P-A-registered repellents provide safe and effective protection from mosquitoes.
>>Take a Kid Fishing Weekend in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — June is Great Outdoors Month in Minnesota, and the D-N-R is urging adults to get kids out to wet a line. This weekend is Take-A-Kid Fishing Weekend where adults don’t have to have a fishing license if they take a child 15-years-old or younger with them to fish. Take-A-Kid Fishing starts on Friday and continues through Sunday. The D-N-R says fishing has a multi-billion-dollar effect on Minnesota’s economy and by taking kids fishing, you are creating future anglers for the state.
