MPR’s Susan Gelbard reports that Minnesotans living with a variety of disabilities are facing a worrying future due to a wave in group home closings. This is due to a shortage of staff and low wages for direct support professionals . Advocates say this is a result of a lack of staff. More than 170 group homes across Minnesota have closed since the fall, said Sarah Abbott, a director at ACR Homes, which serves residents who need wheelchair-accessible housing and individualized medical care. Abbott joined parents, staff, and disabled residents for a protest outside the St. Paul governor’s residence to voice their concerns. Tim Walz to press for a special session to increase funding.”
FOX9 reports: ” An Oakdale man was hurt Tuesday night when shots were fired into a theater in Oakdale. Oakdale police responded to a shooting at the Marcus Oakdale Cinema on 5677 Hadley Avenue North shortly after 10 p.m. Police found a 23 year-old man inside theater 17 with gunshot wounds. He was taken to Regions Hospital. As of midnight, his condition was unknown.
Callan Gray of KSTP-TV reports. Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell calls for housing investments as a result of a state report showing that 25% of prisoners are able to go into homelessness. The report indicates that more than 1,100 people were released from Minnesota prisons in 2021 to become homeless. The report states that some individuals may have been released multiple times in one year. Therefore, the data only accounts for the number of people who were released from Minnesota prisons, but not their total exits.
In the Star Tribune, Tim Harlow & Katelyn Vuereport ” Thursday’s attempt by the Minneapolis City Council to reverse a Jacob Frey vote. The mayor had rejected the current plan to rebuild Hennepin Avenue. He also opposed a plan to allow bus lanes to operate 24 hours per day. On June 16, the City Council approved plans to rebuild Hennepin Avenue through Uptown. It voted 8-5. Frey rejected two resolutions related to the project the day after. These included reducing the busy thoroughfare to one lane per direction, adding bike lanes, bus lanes, and widening sidewalks.
Tom Olsen reportss for the Forum News Service: Tuesday’s admission by a woman that she helped a friend dispose off the remains of a victim to homicide in Lake Superior last summer. Tommi Lynn Hintz (32), of Duluth pleaded guilty to felony murder and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution of two codefendants in the case of Richard Anthony Balsimo Jr.’s killing and dismemberment.
Joe Mazan, KSTP-TV reports that some Minnesotans are having trouble putting food on the table. This is true even in areas of greater Minnesota, where food shelves have seen more demand than ever before during the pandemic. Community Pathways of Steele County, Owatonna, has seen an increase of 65% over last year. Zach Roberts from Community Pathways of Steele County stated that they have been seeing approximately 250 families per week since last year. “Over the past six weeks, we have been seeing approximately 420. Our highest week ever was 485. It’s very hectic.
Federick Melo, a Pioneer Press writer, writes: ” The University of St. Thomas is looking at land at Highland Bridge to build a series of sports facilities. In response, the St. Paul Planning Commission scheduled an August public hearing for changes to the former Ford site masterplan and zoning code. St. Thomas proposed recently the construction of a sports complex on 23 acres in the southeast corner, west of Cleveland Avenue. This was described by some as a planning snafu.
KSTP Krystal Frasier said, ” Police need your assistance in finding a vehicle stolen from the Minneapolis Fire Department. Police say the vehicle was stolen Monday afternoon at 2:30 pm near West Chestnut Avenue and Morgan Avenues. Two people fled the scene in a Ford Explorer from the department when officers arrived. It is a red 2013 Explorer with tinted windows, no roof emergency lights and black rims.
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