Stories from July 10, 2023

Community groups working on public safety reform in Minneapolis say they want more transparency in the police department's process for vetting new officers after a controversial hire. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said he was unaware of video showing officer Tyler Timberlake pressing his knees into the back and neck of a Black man in 2020 while Timberlake was working as an officer in Fairfax County, Virginia. This is an MPR News evening update for July 10, 2023. Hosted by Matt Sepic. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
A key NATO summit starts Tuesday. Here's what's at stake
The war in Ukraine will be top of mind when leaders from North America and Europe meet in Lithuania. So will the makeup of the alliance itself, as Ukraine continues pushing for membership.
20 novels in 20 years: The recipe behind author David Housewright's private-eye series
David Housewright of St. Paul has received national recognition for his tales of murder and mayhem set in Minnesota. MPR News regional editor Euan Kerr talked with Housewright about his secret for keeping the same character interesting, book after book.
State Rep. Dan Wolgamott arrested for DWI
The St. Cloud DFLer was arrested by a State Patrol officer Friday and booked on suspicion of impaired driving.
Extreme heat will smother the South from Arizona to Florida
Parts of Arizona, Texas and South Florida are forecast to see dangerous temperatures again after a weekend of extreme heat. Forecasters warn against spending time outdoors.
Strong to severe storms likely later Monday in southern Minnesota
There’s plenty of heat and enough moisture in the atmosphere for scattered storms Monday afternoon and evening. That includes a slight risk for severe storms from the Twin Cities area to the south and east through the evening.
The Negro League revolutionized baseball — MLB's new rules are part of its legacy
In his film “The League,” Sam Pollard tells the story of the Negro National League: "They brought a different kind of style ... a kind of baseball which Major League Baseball is trying to bring back."
BBC suspends host accused of paying a teen $45K for sexually explicit photos
The alleged victim’s mother says for three years, a BBC star funded her teen’s drug habit in exchange for explicit photos. It’s the latest scandal to rock Britain’s beleaguered public broadcaster.
What’s next for borrowers burdened by student loans? 
MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the Supreme Court ruling that struck down President Joe Biden’s broad loan forgiveness plan and how a wave of changes to student debt repayment plans affect tens of thousands of Minnesotans looking for debt relief.
North Minneapolis community center plans to restore summer camp, collect oral histories
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center ran Camp Katharine Parsons in Watertown for more than 40 years as a place for young people to canoe, swim, build fires, and build relationships to nature. The camp closed in the early 2000s, but the community center plans to restore and reopen it by 2025.
After SCOTUS strikes down affirmative action, high school counselor shares advice for students
LaSueur Henderson Secondary School counselor Jessica Kirschner talked with MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer about the advice she plans to give students who are applying to college and the barriers some face to being admitted.
Hot Monday; late, severe storms possible south; cooler Tuesday statewide
A cold front will push hot weather ahead of it Monday with highs in the low 90s south. That front will touch off potential severe storms late Monday with cooler air behind it Tuesday.
It's hot. For farmworkers without federal heat protections, it could be life or death
Amid extreme heat, there are few federal protections for workers during hot temperatures. The Biden administration wants to change that but the rule making process is long and the heat won't wait.
The video shows an incident in 2020 where officer Tyler Timberlake, who worked for the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia, used a taser and then pressed his knees into the back and neck of a Black man, La Monta Gladney. The incident happened 11 days after George Floyd's murder. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Investigators say it appears that a man found dead in a freezer in Biwabik last month was hiding from police. The body of 34-year-old Brandon Lee Buschman of Babbitt, Minn., was found in a chest freezer in the basement of an unoccupied home in Biwabik on June 26.
Santander hits 2 of Orioles' 6 homers as Baltimore routs Minnesota 15-2
Anthony Santander hit two of Baltimore’s six homers and the Orioles completed a sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 15-2 victory. Aaron Hicks added a three-run homer against his former team in the Orioles’ seven-run fifth. 
Here's who controls the $50 billion opioid settlement funds in each state
As money is funneled to states, opioid councils wield significant power in determining how it gets spent. They face concerns about conflicts of interest and lack of representation by affected groups.
Twin Cities Chinese dance academy reconnects Hmong refugee with childhood dreams
Twin Cities-based Phoenix Chinese Dance Academy, which was founded in 2019, has become a place of self-discovery and community for Asian women and girls who want to become closer to Chinese culture.