Stories from June 17, 2024

Minnesota mom hopes federal stillbirth law will protect others from grief
A bill to designed to prevents stillbirths has now passed the U.S. Senate and House and is headed to the President Joe Biden’s desk. Amanda Duffy, a Twin Cities mother, whose daughter Reese was stillborn, has lobbied in Washington, D.C. for the measure and was key in getting a Fetal Movement Education Bill passed in Minnesota.
Family and friends of fallen Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell gathered for his funeral today in his hometown of New Haven, Connecticut. And Gov. Tim Walz says he accepts responsibility after a report says his administration failed to stop what federal prosecutors call the biggest pandemic fraud case in the nation.
Gov. Walz responds to audit critical of administration’s handling of Feeding Our Future fraud
A report from the legislative auditor said “actions and inactions” by the Department of Education opened the door for fraud in taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs.
911 call transcripts provide more insight into what happened on May 30 shooting in Minneapolis
The 911 call transcripts that were released include more details of what happened the day that Minneapolis officer Jamal Mitchell and three others were fatally shot.
What it's like living through a 121 degree day
For the most vulnerable in New Delhi, it's a struggle to survive. Ishtiyaq, 24, who sells the cooling yogurt drink lassi in a bazaar, says: “What can I say brother? The poor must endure it all.”
How Minnesota has led the way for rural community pride events despite pushback
Itasca Pride in Grand Rapids will be hosting its first ever pride event this weekend. A vocal minority has voiced opposition, but pride organizers say that isn’t new and they hope to provide representation for rural queer Minnesotans.
Tobacco-like warning label for social media sought by U.S. surgeon general who asks Congress to act
The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes.
Some TikTok influencers are maligning sunscreen. Here's what to know about the claims
Sunscreen is the best way to protect ourselves against skin cancer. But doctors are concerned by a backlash against sunscreen that is spreading on social media.
Fargo woman faces up to 30 years in prison for bong water
A Fargo woman is due back in court next month on a drug charge from leftover bong water discovered in her car after she was pulled over for speeding. She faces a hefty fine and up to 30 years in prison sentence.
‘It was life-changing:’ How new bill is helping Minnesota families eliminate medical debt
Monday afternoon Gov. Walz will ceremonially sign a bill into law what’s known as the Minnesota Debt Fairness Act. The bill will ban medical providers from withholding care from patients with unpaid medical bills. It also requires that thousands of Minnesotans be forgiven medical debt that was transferred onto a spouse after death or whose bills have errors in them.
The tech industry’s gender gap and what it means for AI
As AI becomes more accessible and widely adopted across industries, it raises questions about how these biases will play out. Will a technology written by a small group of people have the same biases as its creators?
Boys and Girls State Minnesota instills civics in students who create a government in a week
Boys State and Girls State are separate, weeklong programs run by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary, respectively and they are a crash course on the inner workings of government.
Family holds hometown funeral for fallen Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell
Mitchell’s family and friends are holding his funeral in his hometown of New Haven, Conn. Connecticut police officers joined Minneapolis officers and police Chief Brian O’Hara for a procession Monday morning.
Uber and Lyft are fighting minimum wage laws. But in this state, the drivers won
Internal emails, interviews and in-app messages show Uber and Lyft deployed a powerful lobbying playbook to stop minimum wage laws in Minnesota. But drivers had a playbook of their own.
Strong storms knock out power to thousands across Minnesota; rivers on the rise
Strong thunderstorms knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses across central and southern Minnesota early Monday — and added to concerns about river flooding in the days ahead.
Flood watches are posted and severe storms with heavy rain are adding to our already-saturated ground. And a 22-year-old inmate at the Stillwater prison died Saturday after being found unresponsive in his cell.
Miranda hits home run in 8th as Twins win 8-7 to take doubleheader from A's for four-game sweep
Jose Miranda hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Oakland Athletics 8-7 to take both games of a split doubleheader and finish a sweep of the four-game series. 
5 takeaways from the 2024 Tony Awards
There were very few surprises during Sunday's Tony Awards, except for one: best musical. The final award of the night went to “The Outsiders,” the adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s beloved book.
New 'Washington Post' chiefs can’t shake their past in London
The new CEO of The Washington Post and his hand-picked news chief come from a tradition of rough-and-tumble British journalism that plays loose with ethics, compared to U.S. media.
A retired federal judge says Judge Cannon appears to show 'favoritism' toward Trump
Some of Judge Aileen Cannon’s decisions in Trump's Florida classified documents case have baffled one former judge, who gives her assessment of the case so far.
Minnesota corrections officials investigate inmate death, possibly drug-related
The Minnesota Department of Corrections is investigating a potential drug-related death at the Stillwater prison, after a 22-year-old incarcerated man died. Both in Minnesota and nationwide, prison systems are working to stem the flow of synthetic drugs, which often slip into facilities undetected through the mail.
Wellness programs aim to support police officers through stressful work
In the last decade, officer wellness programs have spread across the country. They aim to keep officers mentally healthy and equip them to better cope with the stress of the job so they can be more effective police officers.   
Robots with hoes show farmers possible future of weed control
Weeds are becoming resistant to herbicides used by farmers, leaving few good options for controlling unwanted plants that can quickly take over a field. This summer, weed-killing robots are patrolling fields near Moorhead, offering a glimpse of a high tech future on the farm.
14 pilgrims die from sunstroke as Eid al-Adha celebrations begin for Muslims
The Saudi Health Ministry said more than 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat stress on Sunday alone and the number is likely to increase as Hajj ends.