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AP-US-GEORGE-FLOYD-MINNEAPOLIS-POLICE

New challenge looms for Minneapolis ballot measure on police

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Lawyers for a former Minneapolis City Council member are objecting to new language for a ballot measure on the future of policing in the city, saying it fails to comply with a court order rejecting the old wording. The proposal would replace the Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety that “could include” police officers “if necessary.” A judge ruled Tuesday that the old language was “vague, ambiguous and incapable of implementation.” The council approved new language a few hours later. But attorneys for former member Don Samuels say the new language suffers from the same deficiencies. They want an emergency hearing.

NATIVE AMERICANS-ADOPTION CASES

Tribes, states seek review of Native child adoptions case

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to review a case that centers on whether Native American families should receive preference in adoptions of Native children. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a sharply divided ruling in April over the federal Indian Child Welfare Act. The 1978 law gives Native American families priority in foster care and adoption proceedings involving Native children. The appeals court upheld the law and Congress’ authority to enact it. But the judges invalidated some of its placement preferences and found some provisions unconstitutionally control the duties of state officials in adoption matters. Four petitions seek review from the high court.

ELECTION 2022-MINNESOTA-GOVERNOR

Sen. Gazelka joins governor’s race, attacks Walz on pandemic

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Republican state Sen. Paul Gazelka has joined the Minnesota governor’s race. He’s accusing Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of failed leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest that followed George Floyd’s death last summer. Gazelka said at the state Capitol on Wednesday that Walz’s shutdowns bankrupted many small businesses and restaurants, and failed a generation of schoolchildren who fell behind. Gazelka, of East Gull Lake, was the state’s top elected GOP official until he gave up his post as Senate majority leader last week in preparation for his campaign. Walz told reporters he’s “quite comfortable” with defending his record on the pandemic.

TRAFFIC STOPS-RAMSEY COUNTY

Ramsey County ends felony prosecutions from low-level stops

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Ramsey County Attorney John Choi says he will no longer prosecute felony charges arising from most low-level traffic stops. He said Wednesday that it’s time to change a practice that has disproportionately impacted generations of minority communities. He says the new policy does not apply to situations that create a public safety hazard or when a vehicle is stopped because of a dangerous condition. Stops for issues such as a broken tail light or expired license tabs can sometimes have fatal consequences. In 2016, Philando Castile was pulled over for a broken tail light. He was fatally shot after he told an officer he had a gun.

TEENS KILLED

Teen driver facing charges in crash that killed two friends

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (AP) — A 15-year-old boy is facing vehicular homicide charges in Ramsey County after authorities say he crashed a stolen car and killed two friends while fleeing from police. The Ramsey CountyMedical Examiner’s Office identified the boys who died in Friday’s crash in Maplewood as 15-year-old Alyjah Thomas and 14-year-old Marcoz Paramo. The teens were students at North High School in North St. Paul. Ramsey County sheriff’s officials say the driver has a “significant” history of auto theft and also faces charges of fleeing from law enforcement and criminal vehicular operation.

SANFORD HEALTH DONATION

Sanford donating $350 million toward virtual care center

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota-based Sanford Health says it is giving $350 million to a clinical initiative that aims to create a virtual care center to treat people in rural and underserved areas of the Midwest. The center will serve people from across Sanford Health’s network of hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. It will also house innovation, education and research initiatives to work on digital healthcare solutions for the future. Sanford bills itself as one of the largest rural healthcare systems in the country. It has 46 hospitals, 1,500 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and 10 countries. It is based in Sioux Falls and has major medical centers in Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota, and Bemidji, Minnesota.

GEORGE FLOYD-MINNEAPOLIS POLICE

Minneapolis scrambles to save November vote on policing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis City Council has approved new ballot language that aims to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety after a judge struck down the previous wording. Judge Jamie Anderson declared the old language was misleading and unworkable. She issued the order just hours ahead of a 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline for ballots to go to the printer. The City Council approved new language meant to address the judge’s concerns a few hours later. Mayor Jacob Frey, who had twice vetoed earlier language, says it’s now they city’s legal obligation to put the revised version on the ballot. But he says he’ll vote against it.

AP-US-SLAIN-STUDENT-APPEAL

Judge tosses death sentence in Dru Sjodin slaying

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge has thrown out the death sentence for a man convicted in the 2003 slaying of a North Dakota college student. Judge Ralph Erickson ruled Friday that misleading testimony from a medical examiner and limitations on mental health evidence violated Alfonso Rodriguez Jr.’s constitutional rights. He ordered a new sentencing phase be conducted. Rodriguez has been on death row for nearly two decades. He was convicted of killing Dru Sjodin, a Minnesota woman who was abducted from a Grand Forks mall parking lot in November 2003. Rodriguez, a sex offender, was arrested the following month. Sjodin’s body wasn’t found until the following April near Crookston, Minnesota.