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GEORGE FLOYD-MINNEAPOLIS

Vigil, rally planned for 2nd anniversary of Floyd killing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A candlelight vigil to honor George Floyd’s memory at the intersection where he died was among the remembrances scheduled for the second anniversary of the Black man’s killing at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. Activists planned the Wednesday vigil and a rally at the governor’s residence in St. Paul for the anniversary of Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020. Events following the anniversary include a Thursday gathering of families of loved ones who have died in interactions with police and a fundraising gala Friday to preserve offerings left at the square where Floyd was killed. An all-day festival followed by a concert at the square was also planned for Saturday.

BIDEN-POLICING

Biden signs policing order on anniversary of Floyd’s death

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to improve accountability in policing. It’s a meaningful but limited action on the second anniversary of George Floyd’s death that reflected the challenges in addressing racism, excessive use of force and public safety with a deadlocked Congress. Most of the order issued Wednesday is focused on federal law enforcement agencies — for example, requiring them to review and revise policies on use of force. It will also create a database to help track officer misconduct. The administration cannot require local police departments to participate in the database, which is intended to prevent problem officers from job-hopping. The order also restricts the flow of surplus military equipment to local police.

AMERICA PROTESTS-POLICE-EXPLOSIVE

Chicago-area man gets year in prison for throwing explosive

CHICAGO (AP) — A suburban Chicago man who admitted throwing an explosive at police during a violent demonstration in June 2020 has been sentenced to one year in federal prison. Twenty-one-year-old Christian Rea of Aurora pleaded guilty last year to obstructing law enforcement when he threw a lit incendiary device at a line of uniformed police officers, injuring several of them. The Chicago Tribune reports U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin also ordered Rea to pay $13,585 in restitution Wednesday to the city of Naperville.Officers injured by the device said they suffered from repeated headaches, ringing in the ears and vision loss, prosecutors said.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-MENTAL TOLL

Two years after Floyd murder, racial trauma permeates US

Wednesday marks the second anniversary of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked a global protest movement and calls for a racial reckoning to address structural racism that has created long-standing inequities impacting generations of Black Americans. But Floyd’s slaying, along with a series of killings of other Black Americans, also wrought a heavy emotional and mental health toll on Black communities that have been burdened and traumatized by centuries of oppressive systems and racist practices. Mental health advocates and experts say the racism that has caused much of the trauma is embedded within the fabric of the nation and can be directly linked to the mental duress experienced today.

GAS UTILITIES-RATEPAYERS-STORM DAMAGE

Judges: Utilities allowed to pass along extra storm costs

Two administrative law judges say Minnesota natural gas utilities should be allowed to pass on an extra $660 million in costs related to storm damage to their customers. The state Department of Commerce and Attorney General’s Office allege the utilities made critical mistakes in their gas procurement procedures during the February 2021 storm and because of the mismanagement, customers should not pay for the extra costs. The judges rejected the state agencies’ contentions. The judges’ decisions are not binding, but they can influence the state Public Utilities Commission which has the final say. The commission is expected to decide the matter this summer.

ELECTION 2022-MINNESOTA-HOUSE

Finstad, Ettinger head to special election for Hagedorn seat

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Republican former U.S Department of Agriculture official Brad Finstad will face Democratic former Hormel Foods chief executive Jeff Ettinger in an August special election to finish the term of the late GOP U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn. State Rep. Jeremy Munson conceded defeat Wednesday morning in the GOP special primary with Finstad ahead by a few hundred votes. The winners are expecting a bump in their chances to win a full term in November. The Aug. 9 special general election coincides with Minnesota’s statewide primary the same day. The winner of the special general election will fill out the rest of Hagedorn’s term into January.

MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE

Minnesota lawmakers get some hits, lots of misses in session

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — There were a few hits but lots of misses as the divided Minnesota Legislature blew a deadline for passing a package of tax cuts and new spending using the state’s massive budget surplus. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz met Monday afternoon with Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller and Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman. But the governor acknowledged afterward that they’re still searching for common ground, and he has no immediate plans to call a special session. Walz says the leaders indicated their members need time to decompress. He says it might do lawmakers good to go home and hear from their constituents.

WALZ-TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER

Walz names Nancy Daubenberger as transportation commissioner

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz has named Nancy Daubenberger as his new transportation commissioner. It’s a post she had filled on an interim basis since the departure of former Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Daubenberger has worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation for over 22 years, in engineering and management positions. Kelliher, a former speaker of the Minnesota House, left earlier this year to become public works director for the city of Minneapolis.