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SUPREME COURT-ABORTION-FAITH PERSPECTIVES

After leak, religious rift over legal abortion on display

The leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion that could end or limit abortion access for millions has sent shockwaves through diverse faith communities. Opponents of abortion view it as morally wrong, and in conservative Christian corners, the draft opinion has sparked hope. However many members of minority faiths that don’t prohibit abortion fear their religious freedom will be infringed upon. Some faith leaders are preparing to support women who travel to more liberal states seeking abortions if 1973’s Roe v. Wade decision is overturned by the court. Polls show a majority of Americans support abortion rights.

DAUNTE WRIGHT-MOTHER DETAINED

Daunte Wright’s mother detained after recording traffic stop

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (AP) — The mother of Daunte Wright, who was fatally shot by a suburban Minneapolis police officer, says she was injured while she was briefly detained by one of the same department’s officers after she stopped to record the arrest of a person during a traffic stop. Katie Wright said Thursday that she was worried about what the Brooklyn Center officers might do to the person being handcuffed when she pulled over Wednesday night. She says the officer injured her wrist. Brooklyn Center police say they released body camera video of the encounter to “promote public safety and dispel widespread rumor or unrest.” In April 2021, Katie Wright’s 20-year-old son, who was Black, was killed during a traffic stop by Kim Potter, a white officer who said she confused her handgun for her Taser.

CRASH-TWO KILLED

Man sentenced to prison in high-speed crash that killed 2

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An Orono man was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for a high-speed, drunken-driving crash that killed two young men, including the son of the University of Minnesota men’s hockey coach. James Blue had been driving nearly 100 mph on a curvy road around Lake Minnetonka when he plowed into a wooded area on July 24. The crash killed 20-year-old Mack Motzko, son of Gophers coach Bob Motzko, and 24-year-old Sam Schuneman. Authorities say Blue’s blood-alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit for driving. Blue apologized in court Thursday to the family and friends of the Motzkos and Schunemans, who were not at the hearing.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS 2026

University of Minnesota to host 2026 Special Olympics USA

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will be held at the University of Minnesota. Gov. Tim Walz says he’s “incredibly proud” to have Minnesota host the seven-day event. It’s expected to draw as many as 4,000 athletes, 10,000 volunteers, 1,500 coaches and 75,000 fans from the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. The games for children and adults with intellectual disabilities will include 15 Olympic-type team and individual sports and five demonstration sports. Competitions will be held at the university and other venues. The university will offer its housing, athletic, dining and medical facilities for the athletes, coaches, families and fans.

SPRING FLOODING

Minnesota National Guard helps with flooding in North Dakota

WALHALLA, N.D. (AP) — A Minnesota Army National Guard helicopter and crew moved two 5-ton pumps in place to help lower floodwaters threatening an earthen dam in northeastern North Dakota. The move came two days after a North Dakota Guard helicopter helped stabilize the Bourbanis Dam with more than 200 sandbags weighing 1 ton each. The dam is located on the Tongue River, a tributary of the Pembina River. The Minnesota Guard used a CH-47 Chinook helicopter that has the ability to lift loads greater than 10,000 pounds. The North Dakota Guard transported and lowered the sandbags with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Flood warnings for the northeastern corner of the state as well as along the North Dakota-Minnesota border were expected to remain in effect until late Friday.

OPIOID SETTLEMENT-MINNESOTA

MN Senate passes bill to distribute $300M from opioid suit

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate voted unanimously to start disbursing about $300 million that the state is receiving as part of a settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers last year. Counties and cities across Minnesota will be receiving 75% of the $296 million settlement. The money is part of a $26 billion nationwide settlement with manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson. The bill also extends the state’s license and registration fees imposed on opioid manufacturers by the Legislature in 2019. The Senate passed the bill on a 66-0 vote. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison thanked lawmakers for moving the bill forward.

NORTH DAKOTA-LAWMAKER-INMATE TEXTS

North Dakota legislator’s home searched after inmate texts

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Grand Forks police and federal agents seized video discs and other items from the home of North Dakota’s longest-serving state senator after he had traded scores of text messages with a man jailed on child pornography charges. According to a police report, a Grand Forks police detective and two Homeland Security special agents searched Ray Holmberg’s home on Nov. 17.Holmberg would not comment on the search.It came about three months after Holmberg exchanged 72 text messages with Nicholas James Morgan-Derosier as Morgan-Derosier was held in the Grand Forks County Jail.

MINNEAPOLIS POLICE

State officers will help Minneapolis with policing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — State law enforcement officers will help Minneapolis with patrols as the city deals with a police force that has seen its ranks reduced in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. The arrangement announced Wednesday by city and state officials has state troopers patrolling city streets three nights a week beginning Thursday and agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension helping local investigators. Minneapolis will pay the State Patrol up to $400,000 and the BCA as much as $300,000 for their services. The arrangements can be canceled at any time by either side, with 30 days’ notice.