Minnesota Semi-weekly. The University of Minnesota’s student newspaper announced some changes this morning: “The Minnesota Daily will implement a new strategy to better engage readers and reach a wider audience beginning this fall. … A new Daily website will be launched by the start of the upcoming fall semester, and the newspaper’s print publication will be cut to two issues a week. … The shift is part of a trend other college newspapers have successfully adopted in recent years.”
The Guardian’s Bryan Kay details our own Minnesota United coach Carl Craig’s activist past: “Because the end of the decade saw another policing disaster: the deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters at Hillsborough, innocent victims who were later blamed. Carl Craig, son of Newcastle, England, recognized it as another example of the worst excesses of the times, when soccer fans were ‘treated like shit,’ virtual ‘second-class citizens’. The policies of Margaret Thatcher claimed many victims. And Craig was one of its agitators: protester, advocate, and punk musician. … Today, Craig is the high functioning head coach of presumptive 2017 MLS addition Minnesota United. The now 50-year-old Craig is the man tasked with leading the Loons into the promised land from the less celebrated confines of the North American Soccer League. For a football man, he’s unorthodox – and refreshing.”
Looks like Sen. Ted Cruz owes the North Star State an apology. The Huffington Post’s Sam Stein and Jessica Schulberg report: “In explosive testimony Tuesday, a witness before a Senate panel about Islamic terrorism accused the two Muslim members of Congress of having attended an event organized by the Muslim Brotherhood. … The charge was leveled by Chris Gaubatz, a ‘national security consultant’ who has moonlighted as an undercover agitator of Muslim groups that he accuses of being terrorist outfits, and it was directed at Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and André Carson (D-Ind.). … Responsibility for this rare instance lies with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who oversaw the hearing as chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts and whose staff likely saw the testimonies of the witnesses.”
A look at a place most Minnesotans prefer to ignore. PBS NewsHour’s Mike Fritz, William Brangham and Abbey Oldham got permission to take photos inside the sex-offender lockup at Moose Lake: “PBS NewsHour was recently granted rare access to Minnesota’s Sex Offender Program in the rural town of Moose Lake, MN. It is one of two state-run facilities that house more than 700 sex offenders. … They’re all being held under what’s known as a ‘civil commitment law.’ This type of law grants Minnesota courts the ability to deem someone an ongoing threat and, even after their sentences are served, keep them locked up indefinitely. Minnesota is one of 20 states across the nation that has a civil commitment program for sex offenders.”
In other news…
A bad situation all around, but it seems like things took a particularly bad turn after the meth smoking: “Charge: Iron Range man decapitated after being accused of rape” [Star Tribune]
Beginning of a new era? “Somalia: US Senate Approves Ambassador to Somalia After 25 Years” [All Africa]
Well, it’s a novel argument: “MN Court: Promoting teens for prostitution not covered by 1st Amendment” [MPR]
Interesting question: “Post-Orlando, how diverse is Twin Cities Pride?” [Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder]
A Minnesota-based organization: “Apple to get award from local American Council for the Blind” [Pioneer Press]
Your Vernonfest musicians: “Eaux Claires announces day-by-day music lineups” [The Growler]
Props for Minneapolis’ own Milkjam Creamery: “The Best New Ice Cream Shops in the U.S.” [Bloomberg]
Good luck, gopher! “David Plummer headed to Rio Olympics in 100-meter backstroke” [Star Tribune]
