Latest Minnesota news, sports, business and entertainment at 9:20 p.m. CDT

LIVER DISEASE-CHILDREN-MINNESOTA

Mysterious pediatric liver disease found in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Department of Health said it’s investigating several severe cases of hepatitis among children and has reported the cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC continues to investigate cases of the sudden liver disease in nearly 200 children that has health authorities in several countries racing to find answers. The illness is being called hepatitis of unknown origin. The cases have no known connection, although a link with a virus that can cause colds is being investigated. M Health Fairview reported two cases to MDH, which involve an infant and a two-year-old. Hospital officials say one of the patients was treated several months ago, which included a liver transplant.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE-MINNESOTA

Minnesota lawmakers finish deal on unemployment, bonuses

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature pushed through a bill to give bonuses to workers who were on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic and to replenish the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund following months of negotiations. Legislative leaders struck a deal late Wednesday following months of negotiations. The final proposal includes $2.7 billion to refill the trust fund and $500 million in bonuses of about $750 each for people whose jobs were deemed essential and who worked in-person. Lawmakers hope to get the bill passed and signed by Gov. Tim Walz before a Saturday due date for employers who’ve received higher tax bills.

ELECTION 2022-MINNESOTA-GOVERNOR-BENSON

Republican Michelle Benson suspends campaign for governor

Republican Michelle Benson said she is suspending her campaign for governor. Benson, a state senator from Ham Lake, said Friday she was dropping out in a speech at the 7th District GOP convention. She said it was “time for Republicans to unite” behind a single candidate to defeat Democratic Gov. Tim Walz in November. Her departure leaves state Sen. Paul Gazelka and former state Sen. Scott Jensen among leading candidates in a crowded Republican field. Jensen, a doctor running as a COVID-19 skeptic, led the field in recently announced fundraising.

DEPUTY-TROOPER SHOOTING

Agents investigate fatal shooting by officers near Bowlus

BOWLUS, Minn. (AP) — State agents are investigating a fatal shooting by a sheriff’s deputy and Minnesota trooper in Morrison County. The Minnesota Department of Safety says members of the West Central Drug Task Force attempted to stop a vehicle about 13 miles south of Little Falls about 6 p.m. Thursday. Officials haven’t said what caused the trooper and a deputy from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office fire their weapons. The DPS says a man in the vehicle was killed and a second person inside was injured. That’s person’s condition was not disclosed. Agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating. Authorities say a handgun was recovered at the scene.

GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICER TRIAL

Chauvin appeals murder conviction for killing George Floyd

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is appealing his conviction for murder in the killing of George Floyd, arguing that jurors were intimidated by the protests that followed and prejudiced by heavy pretrial publicity. Chauvin asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals in a court filing this week to reverse his conviction, reverse and remand for a new trial in a new venue, or order a resentencing. Last June, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill sentenced Chauvin to 22 1/2 years in prison after jurors found him guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin pinned the Black man to the ground with his knee on his neck for 9 minutes, 29 seconds.

GEORGE FLOYD-MINNEAPOLIS POLICE

Report calls out abuse of social media by Minneapolis police

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Among the scathing findings of an investigation launched after the police killing of George Floyd is that the Minneapolis Police Department used covert or fake social media accounts to monitor Black activists and organizations. And it did so despite having no clear public safety rationale for doing so. The report released Wednesday by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights echoes past revelations of surveillance by other law enforcement agencies targeting prominent people and communities of color even though they weren’t doing anything illegal. Experts say what happened in Minnesota is also happening in many other jurisdictions because there are few rules in place and no accountability.

CARBON CAPTURE STORAGE

Groups from North Dakota, Iowa to co-develop CO2 storage

CENTER, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota-based power cooperative and an Iowa company have announced an agreement to co-develop carbon dioxide storage facilities. Minnkota Power Cooperative, which operates out of Grand Forks, and Ames, Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions say the CO2 storage facilities would be located in western North Dakota, near the town of Center. Minnkota and Summit say they have been working independently on the development of their respective carbon capture and storage projects. The groups say the partnership “will more quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively advance their projects to commercial operations.”

AP-US-ETHANOL-RULE-WAIVER

8 Midwest states seek permanent waiver to sell E15 gas

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governors from eight Midwest states asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday for a permanent waiver that will allow each state to continue selling ethanol blended gas year-round without restriction. The EPA’s decision last week to suspend restrictions of summer sales of the lower-carbon, lower-cost E15 gasoline is temporary and only applies to the 2022 summer driving season. E15 is usually prohibited between June 1 and Sept. 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures. The bipartisan group of governors from Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin sent a joint letter to EPA Administrator Michael Reagan formally requesting the waiver.