>>MPD Officer Mitchell and 2 Others Fatally Shot in South Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — Investigators say 28-year-old Minneapolis police Officer Jamal Mitchell was fatally shot Thursday evening in what they call an “ambush” as he was responding to a report of two people shot inside an apartment. The suspected shooter and another person are also dead — and a second officer, a firefighter, a bystander, and another person were wounded in the gunfire. Minnesota B-C-A Superintendent Drew Evans said Officer Mitchell was providing medical assistance to two people he believed were wounded when one of them shot him. Evans says a person believed to be an innocent bystander was critically injured. The second officer and the firefighter had non-life-threatening wounds. Mayor Jacob Frey called it a “devastating day,” saying Minneapolis “lost a hero” in Officer Mitchell.
>>Walz Orders Flags Lowered to Honor Fallen MPD Officer Jamal Mitchell
(St. Paul, MN) — Flags are flying at half-staff on all state buildings in Minnesota until sunset today (Fri) to honor fallen Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell. Investigators say Mitchell was fatally shot while responding to an emergency call in south Minneapolis Thursday night. The proclamation from Governor Tim Walz says, ” Minnesota mourns the loss of Officer Jamal Mitchell, a dedicated public servant and hero in his community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting his neighbors.” Walz is also encouraging businesses, organizations, and Minnesota homes to lower their flags in honor of Officer Mitchell.
>>Walz Announces Launch of Summer EBT Program
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota is providing additional funds to families to purchase groceries this summer. Governor Walz has announced the launch of the Summer E-B-T program . Eligible families will receive an extra $120 per child on their E-B-T cards in either July or August. According to the U-S-D-A, more than 400,000 children in Minnesota could benefit from this program.
>>Dedication Ceremony for new Minnesota Veterans Home in Montevideo
(Montevideo, MN) — There’s a dedication ceremony today (Fri 11am) for the new Minnesota Veterans Home in Montevideo. The state’s sixth veterans’ home opened in January after more than 16 years of planning. This skilled nursing facility is made up of four households and has the capacity to serve 72 veterans. The official dedication will include the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, elected officials, local leaders, veterans, and residents of the Montevideo area. The state also recently opened veterans’ homes in Bemidji and Preston.
>>Mitchell Won’t Resign from Minnesota Senate
(St. Paul, MN) — State Senator Nicole Mitchell of Woodbury says she has no plans to resign, despite new calls from D-F-L leaders asking her to step down. Mitchell’s lawyer issued a statement Thursday, saying she will continue to serve in the state Senate while the criminal case against her moves through the courts. Mitchell was arrested for burglary last month after allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes. Governor Walz and D-F-L Party Chair Ken Martin have both called for Mitchell to resign.
>>AG Ellison, DOJ Settle with NCAA Over Transfer Rule
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with 11 other attorneys general and the Department of Justice, have reached a settlement with the N-C-A-A to permanently ease restrictions on D-1 college athletes who transfer schools multiple times. The transfer eligibility rule required athletes transferring among Division 1 schools to wait one year before competing in games unless they were granted a waiver, with the N-C-A-A automatically exempting first-time transfers from said regulation in 2021. The proposed settlement would remove what the coalition says is an “illegal restraint on the athletes’ ability to market their labor and control their education.”
>>Nearly 90% Of Minnesota Now Drought Free
(Undated) — Nearly 90-percent of Minnesota is now drought-free. The latest U-S Drought Monitor map shows that just over two-percent of the state is in moderate drought. Another eight-percent is considered abnormally dry. Conditions could improve again next week as storms are in the forecast around the state over the next few days.
>>Bloomington Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Producing Child Pornography
(St. Paul, MN) — A Bloomington man will spend 40 years federal in prison on child pornography charges. Court documents say 31-year-old Ibrahim Sleyman used Snpachat and other apps to solicit sexually explicit material and sex acts from minors, some as young as nine years old, between October 2020 and March 2023. Prosecutors say Sleyman also groomed and enticed a minor victim to produce child porn and sexual activity with him by providing the minor drugs and gifts. Sleyman fled to Abu Dhabi September 6th, 2022 after law enforcement became aware of his crimes. He was extradited to the U-S in September.
>>Marshall-based Runnings to Acquire Home of Economy
(Marshall, MN) — Runnings, headquartered in Marshall, is acquiring Home of Economy, a long-standing family-owned company with eight stores in North Dakota. This strategic move will bolster Runnings’ presence in 90 locations across 12 states and bring a broader range of products and services to the communities they serve. The deal between Runnings and Home of Economy is scheduled to close in September. The stores will continue using the Home of Economy name for a limited time before transitioning to the Runnings brand.
>>Timberwolves Suffer Blowout Loss to Mavericks in Game 5 of West Finals
(Minneapolis, MN) — The season is over for the Timberwolves after a 124-103 blowout loss to Dallas Thursday night in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. Luke Doncic and the Mavericks used a 22-to-1 first half run to pull away and never look back. Minnesota forward Karl-Anthony Towns says what makes this so disappointing is these fans deserve a chance to see the N-B-A Finals. KAT told reporters Wolves fans have given so much this playoff run, “it hurts when you feel you let them down.” Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 28 points each as Minnesota fell to Dallas four games-to-one. The Mavs will face the Boston Celtics in the N-B-A Finals.
