>>June 5th License Lottery Marks Major Milestone for Cannabis Industry
(St. Paul, MN) — More than 300 cannabis businesses may be getting their state licenses within the next month. Office of Cannabis Management interim director Eric Taubel says they’re holding a lottery on June 5th for four types of cannabis licenses. He says we will start to see a much bigger wave of businesses opening their cultivation facilities, manufacturing facilities and those retail dispensaries following the lottery. Taubel says the O-C-M has been working hard to get the market open after the first cannabis license lottery was cancelled in November.
>>Minnesota House Passes Environment and Natural Resources Budget Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — The Environment and Natural Resources Budget bill passed the Minnesota House Monday by a wide margin. It funds everything from parks and trails to clean water programs. D-F-L Representative Leigh Finke of St. Paul voted for the bill but still has concerns. She told members, “Climate change can’t be stopped in its tracks. It’s going to be a long, slow grueling fight. And while we may not be spending now, we may be cutting now, we know it’s going to mean more work in the future.” The bill includes $10 million total in cuts to agencies like the D-N-R and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, but fees for outdoor activities will remain the same.
>>14-Year-Old Boy Shot and Killed near Federal Reserve in Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — Police say a 14-year-old boy is the victim of a deadly shooting in downtown Minneapolis near the Federal Reserve Building. Officers found the teen lying on the ground Monday night and he later died in the hospital. Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the preliminary investigation indicates there was an altercation between about a dozen teens when a gun was fired. Authorities were called to another shooting near U-S Bank Stadium about an hour later and that victim suffered non-life threatening injuries.
>>Prosecutors in Rochester Consider Charges for Woman in Viral Racist Video
(Rochester, MN) — A woman who called a young Somali child the n-word repeatedly at a Rochester park, all of which was captured in a now-viral video, will possibly be criminally charged. Rochester police announced on Monday that they’ve wrapped their investigation into the video and are working to determine if charges will be pressed. Identifying herself as “Shiloh Hendrix” on a crowdfunding website, the woman involved has raised over $600,000, citing the need to move after “online threats.” The N-A-A-C-P Rochester branch, community members, and people worldwide online are outraged by the video. A GoFundMe page for the victim has raised more than $340,000.
>>Hennepin County Attorney’s Office Investigated for Controversial New Plea Deals Policy
(Minneapolis, MN) — The U-S Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division is investigating the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. This comes after Attorney Mary Moriarty’s recent policy announcement noting that prosecutors must consider racial identity and age when making plea deals. Her office claims the policy is legal and ensures that possible implicit bias doesn’t cloud prosecutors’ judgment. The Trump D-O-J says it will make changes if a violation is found.
>>Virginia Woman Killed in Fiery Crash near Orr in Northeastern Minnesota
(Orr, MN) — A woman from the Iron Range is dead after a fiery crash early Monday near Orr in northeastern Minnesota. The State Patrol says an S-U-V driven by 40-year-old Amy Lynn Johnson of Virginia went into the ditch on Highway 53, struck a rock wall and several trees before starting on fire. The report says Johnson died at the scene and that alcohol was not involved. The roadway was dry at the time of the crash.
>>Bike to School Day is Wednesday in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — Wednesday is Bike to School Day across Minnesota. The Department of Transportation’s Joseph Palmersheim says there are plenty of different ways for students to participate. Palmersheim says it’s a healthy way to help kids promote safe biking and walking in an academic setting. He says it’s always a great way to introduce a lifelong skill of navigating safely from one place to another at a young age. More than 160 Minnesota schools and thousands of students will be taking part in this year’s event tomorrow.
>>Updated Fundraising Totals Show Walk for Animals Exceeded Expectations
(Falcon Heights, MN) — The Animal Humane Society says this year’s edition of the Walk for Animals was a success. The A-H-S’s Brittany Baumann says they expected seven to ten thousand people, but 14 thousand showed up. Baumann says the good weather helped with turnout, but also that word continues to spread about the good work they do. The event raised at least $642,000 this year, beating last year’s fundraising total.
>>Wolves and Warriors Open Western Conference Semifinals at Target Center
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves open the Western Conference Semifinals tonight (Tues 8:30pm) against the Golden State Warriors at Target Center. The Wolves topped the Lakers 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs while the Warriors needed seven games to beat the Rockets. Coach Chris Finch says Minnesota’s bench has to be a factor for his team to win this series. Golden State took three of four from the Timberwolves during the regular season. Ex-Timberwolf Jimmy Butler makes his return to Minneapolis, but no one the Wolves current roster was here when he was on the team.
