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Stories from June 15, 2020

Centennial remembrance of Duluth lynchings subdued — but hopeful

Centennial remembrance of Duluth lynchings subdued — but hopeful

There were to be speakers, music, performances and remembrances. Organizers had planned to gather 10,000 people to the streets of downtown Duluth, where on June 15, 1920, three young black men were lynched from a street light by a mob of the same size, after being falsely accused of raping a white woman.
by Dan Kraker

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City staff watching early video of George Floyd's death noticed something amiss

Meanwhile, St. Cloud is cleaning up after a night of unrest following a shooting that wounded a police officer. Also, state health officials will wait until the end of July to make recommendations on school for fall. MPR News update for June 15, 2020, hosted by Britta Greene and Tim Nelson. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
by Britta Greene and Tim Nelson

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Women's pro basketball to return in July

Women's pro basketball to return in July

The WNBA has announced plans for a shortened season to be held in Florida, a neutral site. It's the first time that all teams' players will train and play in the same location.
by Matthew S. Schwartz

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Minnesota chief justice tosses Walz recall effort

Minnesota chief justice tosses Walz recall effort

A group of voters wanted Gov. Tim Walz to face a recall election over his coronavirus restrictions. The chief justice of Minnesota’s Supreme Court said a high threshold wasn’t met.
by Brian Bakst

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Dispatcher unafraid of being 'snitch' reports Floyd arrest

Dispatcher unafraid of being 'snitch' reports Floyd arrest

A 911 dispatcher who was apparently watching in real time as a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into the neck of George Floyd called a supervisor to tell him what she saw, not caring if it made her look like a “snitch." The recording of the call was made public Monday.
by The Associated Press

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'When does it stop?': Slain man's family makes tearful plea

'When does it stop?': Slain man's family makes tearful plea

About 20 relatives of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks said at a news conference Monday that he was a loving father with a big heart. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people joined a protest outside the Georgia Capitol, where Democratic lawmakers are pushing for a slate of criminal justice reforms.
by The Associated Press

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Treasury withholding $679M in virus relief funds for tribes

The money is part of $8 billion that Congress set aside for tribes. The federal rescue package was approved in late March with a deadline for the funding to be distributed to tribes by April 26. The payments were delayed as the Treasury Department grappled with methodology.
by The Associated Press

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Oscars postponed two months because of pandemic

Oscars postponed two months because of pandemic

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has delayed the 2021 Oscar ceremony from February to April of next year because of COVID-19.
by Mandalit del Barco

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Social media rumors fuel protest after St. Cloud police officer shot in hand

Social media rumors fuel protest after St. Cloud police officer shot in hand

The incident began shortly after midnight, when two St. Cloud police officers were investigating a report of a person with a firearm outside a business. They subdued the teen and took him into custody, Chief Blair Anderson said. But rumors quickly began to circulate on social media that police had shot a black man.
by Kirsti Marohn and Tim Nelson

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FDA withdraws emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine

FDA withdraws emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine

Emergency use authorization makes it easier for doctors to use a drug in a manner not specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA granted these drugs this status in March.
by Joe Palca

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Heat builds: 90s return this week

Heat and humidity are on the way up this week.
by Paul Huttner

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In her grief, north Minneapolis organizer renews commitment to action

In her grief, north Minneapolis organizer renews commitment to action

Roxxanne O’Brien is confronting the anguish of seeing yet another black person die at the hands of police. She is now working with others on the north side of Minneapolis to make changes for greater community safety and accountability.
by Melissa Townsend

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When ‘Minnesota Nice’ … isn’t (part 2)

When ‘Minnesota Nice’ … isn’t (part 2)

Is a culture of politeness preventing us from solving Minnesota’s deep problems? This is the second half of our discussion about how Minnesota Nice might play into the stark racial disparities present in our state.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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ATF offers $70,000 in reward money for 14 arson suspects

ATF offers $70,000 in reward money for 14 arson suspects

Federal agents are offering $70,000 in reward money for information that helps catch 14 people suspected of setting fires during protests following George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.
by The Associated Press

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U.S. revokes emergency use of malaria drugs vs. coronavirus

U.S. revokes emergency use of malaria drugs vs. coronavirus

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is revoking its emergency authorization for malaria drugs promoted by President Donald Trump for treating COVID-19 amid growing evidence they don’t work and could cause deadly side effects.

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Supreme Court delivers major victory to LGBT employees

Supreme Court delivers major victory to LGBT employees

The Supreme Court says the federal ban on discrimination "based on sex" also applies to gay, lesbian and transgender employees.
by Nina Totenberg

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What zebra mussels can tell us about errors in coronavirus tests

What zebra mussels can tell us about errors in coronavirus tests

The standard test for infection with the coronavirus looks for a genetic fingerprint. Laboratory errors, including contamination, can lead to false results, a problem seen with environmental testing.
by Richard Harris

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Another hot week ahead, including more 90s

Temperatures in the 90s return for most of Minnesota over the next couple days, then storms chances increase the second half of the week.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Grim blame game over COVID-19 deaths in besieged nursing homes

Grim blame game over COVID-19 deaths in besieged nursing homes

A grim blame game with partisan overtones is breaking out over COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents. They are a tiny slice of the population but a shockingly high proportion of Americans who have perished in the pandemic.
by The Associated Press

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Monday stays windy, bringing warmer weather

Windy weather continues Monday, along with even higher temperatures and a chance for storms.
by Nicole Mitchell

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St. Cloud police officer shot in the hand

St. Cloud police officer shot in the hand

Authorities said they’re relieved the incident didn’t turn fatal when police apprehended the suspect without firing back.
by Tim Nelson

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Rethinking police: How Camden, N.J., reimagined its force

Rethinking police: How Camden, N.J., reimagined its force

It was seven years ago when civic leaders disbanded the city police department and started anew. Former Chief Scott Thomson says the focus today is on police engagement with the community, and deescalation when problems arise. Critics say the new agenda comes with more patrols and more surveillance, and that's the opposite of protesters' demand for less policing.
by The Associated Press

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June 15 update on COVID-19 in MN: 1,304 deaths; hospitalizations fall

June 15 update on COVID-19 in MN: 1,304 deaths; hospitalizations fall

The newest counts come as the pace of the outbreak continues to show signs of slowing, although state health officials in recent days warned the situation could worsen if safety measures aren’t followed.
by MPR News Staff

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‘We never solved the problem’: Echoes of 1920 Duluth lynching persist at centennial

‘We never solved the problem’: Echoes of 1920 Duluth lynching persist at centennial

To mark the 100 years that have passed since the lynching, organizers planned to bring another 10,000 people to the spot where three black men were killed — to say their names and ensure their story is not forgotten. The pandemic squelched those plans, but a tragedy in Minneapolis brought people back to the streets. 
by Dan Kraker

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‘She saw me in George Floyd’: The trauma of watching another black person die

‘She saw me in George Floyd’: The trauma of watching another black person die

The mental anguish of George Floyd’s killing doesn’t go away, even after the officers are charged and many of the protesters have gone home. One recent study said police shootings can affect people’s mental health for three months or more.
by Alisa Roth

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The Duluth lynching, 100 years later

On June 15, 1920, three black men wrongfully accused of a crime were lynched by a mob in Duluth. One hundred years later, the city's residents are remembering the killings of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie — even though a large event marking the somber anniversary had to be canceled because of the pandemic.  This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, June 15, 2020. Hosted by Phil Picardi. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Pequot Lakes man who died of COVID-19 remembered for humor, generous spirit

Pequot Lakes man who died of COVID-19 remembered for humor, generous spirit

Maury Graham’s family and friends say he was a talented salesman and a savvy real estate investor. He loved adventurous road trips and fishing, though his friends say his stories about the fish he didn't land were far more dramatic than his actual catches. 
by Kirsti Marohn

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Bryan Stevenson is hopeful for a more just society

Bryan Stevenson is hopeful for a more just society

Bryan Stevenson speaks about justice and hope, in a 2014 appearance at the Westminster Town Forum in Minneapolis.
by MPR News Staff

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Woman fatally shot early Saturday in St. Paul

St. Paul police are investigating the shooting death of a woman early Saturday morning.

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As crowds gather at Floyd memorial, Minneapolis community groups discuss next steps for public safety

As crowds gather at Floyd memorial, Minneapolis community groups discuss next steps for public safety

As crowds continued to gather in south Minneapolis on Sunday to mourn and honor George Floyd, community groups and residents assembled in a north Minneapolis park to discuss a new way forward for public safety.
by Lauren Rosenthal

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Police investigate hanging death of black man; 2nd in 2 weeks in California

Police investigate hanging death of black man; 2nd in 2 weeks in California

Authorities in the southern California city of Palmdale are investigating the death of a 24-year-old black man found hanging from a tree near City Hall. They initially described the death as an apparent suicide, prompting outrage in the community.
by The Associated Press

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