>>DFL Majority Pushing $900 Million Bonding Bill in Final Days of Session
(St. Paul, MN) — The Democratic majority in the closing days of the legislative session is moving forward with plans for roughly a 900-million dollar bonding bill for state public works projects. But D-F-Lers need some Republican votes to pass it, which Senate G-O-P Minority Leader Mark Johnson indicates would be possible if Democrats negotiate with them on other bills. Emergency medical services are struggling, particularly Greater Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz and Democrats propose 16-million dollars as “triage” until the 2025 budget session, but Johnson says,” “To put an actual dent in this, we need more than 16 (million dollars).” Johnson says E-M-S funding is a “huge issue” across Minnesota and Republicans are “very concerned” about it.
>>Opponents of Proposed ERA/Abortion Rights Amendment Speak Out
(St. Paul, MN) — Catholic, Jewish and Evangelical Christian advocates are calling out sponsors of a proposed Equal Rights (E-R-A) and abortion rights amendment to the Minnesota Constitution because it would not prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion. Jason Adkins with the Minnesota Catholic Conference says, “Kind of a perverse idea to have a constitutional amendment that’s meant to protect abortion rights and gender ideology and gender identity, but then not protect religion.” Sponsors of the amendment declined to comment. The Minnesota Legislature’s adjournment deadline is one week from Monday.
>>Minnesota BCA Names Man with Knife Shot by Carver County Deputies
(Chanhassen, MN) — The Minnesota B-C-A says 31-year-old Derek West of Bloomington is the man with a knife who was shot multiple times by by Carver County sheriff’s deputies. West remains hospitalized in stable condition. Investigators say Deputies James Horvath and Benjamin Sinko fired their handguns at West as he charged them and refused to drop the knife. Agents recovered a ten-inch knife at the scene and cartridge casings. Both deputies were wearing body cameras during the domestic call Saturday in Chanhassen.
>>Northeast Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Couple in Babbitt
(Duluth, MN) — A northeast Minnesota man will be sentenced in August for the killings of a couple he was living with in Babbitt last October. St. Louis County prosecutors say 54-year-old Roger Beldo pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of intentional second-degree murder in the deaths of 78-year-old Clifford and 79-year-old Christine Johnson. The criminal complaint says Beldo drove to Duluth following the murders and called police to request help because he had done some “really bad” things. Beldo later confessed to the killings. He faces up to 40 years in prison at sentencing.
>>Remains Found in Arizona Identified as Minnesota Vietnam Veteran
(Flagstaff, AZ) — Authorities in Arizona say they have recently identified the remains of a Minnesota man who had been missing for more than 50 years. Farmers who were chasing after a runaway pig discovered the skeletal remains in 1975 near Flagstaff. After using D-N-A to develop a genealogical profile, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that the man has been identified as Gerald Francis Long. The Vietnam veteran left Minnesota in 1972 and was never heard from again by his family. Investigators have been unable to determine the cause of Long’s death.
>>Construction Begins on State’s First Pediatric Transplant Home in Rochester
(Rochester, MN) — Construction is underway on the Gift of Life Transplant House‘s new pediatric transplant home in Rochester. Officials say it will be the state’s first transplant home for children. Up to four families can stay in the home which will have a full kitchen, laundry room, toy library and entertainment areas. Executive director Mary Wilder says patients can bring up to two siblings and their parents which will greatly aid in recovery and help ease concerns of families. The new home is set to open in December.
>>Prince Costume on Display to Celebrate Purple Rain’s 40th Anniversary
(St. Paul, MN) — In celebration of Purple Rain’s 40th anniversary, Minnesotans can check out the costume Prince wore in the film for free at the Minnesota History Center beginning today (THURS). From now through July 27th, the iconic outfit will be on display in the lobby of the Gale Family Library, viewable during library hours. The costume was designed by Louis Wells, Vaughn Terry, and Marie France and was worn by Prince in the First Avenue stage concert performance of Purple Rain in the film.
>>Minnesota State Fair Wants You to Compete for Blue Ribbons
(Falcon Heights, MN) — The State Fair is inviting residents across the state to put their best to “Minnesota’s Blue Ribbon Test” at this year’s Great Minnesota Get-Together. Entrants can compete in hundreds of competitions for ribbons, trophies, more than $1.5 million in total prize money, and just good old-fashioned bragging rights. Anyone interested in learning what categories are open and how to enter should visit the Minnesota State Fair’s website (mnstatefair.org/competitions).
>>Plug Your Nose – Corpse Flower Set to Bloom at Como Park Zoo
(St. Paul, MN) — Get ready for a unique and pungent experience at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, as Horace – one of its most unusual residents – is all set to bloom. The corpse flower is about to bloom for the first time since arriving at Como in 2019. These flowers are well-known for their foul odor, which resembles rotting flesh. They are extremely rare, with fewer than one-thousand individual plants remaining in the wild. If you’re feeling brave, you can visit Como’s Exhibit Gallery to catch a glimpse – and a whiff – of Horace daily from 10 am to 6 pm. You can also view a live stream of the flower on the Como website.
>>Timberwolves Playoff Tickets Selling for Big Bucks
(Minneapolis, MN) — Tickets for Minnesota Timberwolves playoff games at Target Center are selling for big bucks. Ticket King in Minneapolis reports the lowest price seats are going for up to 350 dollars and some lower level tickets cost up to 25-hundred dollars on the secondary market. The Wolves host the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals tomorrow night (Fri) and Game 4 on Sunday. The Timberwolves say there’s high demand for season tickets packages for next season.
>>Minnesota Lynx Win Preseason Finale in Washington, DC
(Washington, DC) — The Minnesota Lynx topped the Washington Mystics 83-77 in D-C Wednesday afternoon to finish the preseason 2-0. Napheesa Collier led Minnesota with 15 points, Courtney Williams had 13 and six assists, and rookie Alissa Pili added ten points. The Lynx open the 2024 W-N-B-A season Tuesday at Seattle and play the Storm again next Friday night in the home opener at Target Center.