Steven Schroeder

Melissa and Mark Hortman to lie in state at Minnesota Capitol Melissa and Mark Hortman will lie in state Friday, June 27, in the rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol, Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday. The public will be able to pay their respects from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The couple will be joined by their Golden Retriever, Gilbert. Melissa Hortman, a longtime Minnesota political leader, will be the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to lie in state in the Capitol. A private funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, at 10:30 a.m. Attendance will be limited. A livestream will be available on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's YouTube channel Melissa and Mark Hortman were fatally shot Saturday June 14th in what officials say was a politically motivated shooting. The accused suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, faces state and federal charges in the fatal shooting of the Hortmans, as well as additional attempted murder charges in the shooting of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. They both are recovering from the attack.

As contract negotiations continue between the Minnesota Nurses Union (MNA) and the local hospital systems in the Twin Ports, nurses, healthcare

Scientists discover new microbial life aboard UMD's R/V Blue Heron An expected repair on a University of Minnesota Duluth research vessel led to a surprising scientific breakthrough – the discovery of a brand-new microbial species. The find happened last fall, when the R/V Blue Heron was pulled out of Lake Erie for maintenance at the Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland. While addressing a noisy propeller shaft, crew members noticed a strange, tar-like substance oozing from the ship's rudder shaft. Doug Ricketts, Marine Superintendent for UMD's Large Lakes Observatory, brought a sample of the substance, which researchers later nicknamed “ship goo” to scientists back on campus. What started as a curiosity soon became a breakthrough. Researchers led by UMD biologist Cody Sheik discovered the thick black sludge, now temporarily labled “ShipGoo001”, contained never-before-seen microorganisms. “The biggest surprise was that the ship goo had life in it at all,” Sheik said. “We thought we'd find nothing. But surprisingly, we found DNA and it wasn't too destroyed, nor was the biomass too low.” DNA sequencing confirmed the microbes were entirely new to science. Researchers say the organisms appear to thrive in the unusual environment inside the ship's rudder shaft – a warm, oxygen free space where grease builds up and forms its own unique ecosystem.

Story Time with a Cop returns to the Miller Hill Mall Children and their families enjoyed a morning of stories and community connection during “Story Time with a Cop” at the Miller Hill Mall on Wednesday. The free event took place outside the Barnes & Noble Court, and featured Duluth Police Officers reading children's books aloud. Dana Letica, the West Community Officer for Duluth, says this event hopes to foster positive relationships between law enforcement and the community. “What I like about it is kids can see us outside of a typical 911 call. So a lot of times when you do these events, it might be to build some kind of connection with the children. Like, I've been on calls before where, it might be a scary situation for a kid. And they'll see me like, “Hey, I remember you from when you showed up at my school.” Or where maybe we were at an event like this and you read a story to us. So it kind of distracts them a little bit and puts more of like kind of a face to the police department as more maybe hopefully a calming factor for them, knowing that they were able to interact.” says Letica Young attendees also had the chance to meet K9 Kallie and explore a stationed police squad car. This is the second time the Story Time with a Cop event has been held at the Miller Hill Mall. Giveaway bags were also distributed whiule supplies last, and families also had the opportunity to enjoy special lunch discounts at participating vendors at the food court.

Charges filed in Lafayette Bluff Tunnel crash 39-year-old Patches Magickbeans of Hartland, Wisconsin, faces several criminal charges, including posession of psilocybin mushrooms, after authorities say he crashed a van into a construction zone hear the Lafayette Tunnel on Highway 61 on June 18, causing serious injuries to a worker. According to court documents, deputies responded to the scene around 3:50 p.m. They found a van, registered to Magickbeans, flipped on its side with significant damage. The crash involved a scissor lift and resulted in a construction worker suffering critical, life-threatening injuries. Another worker was on a light fixture and had “no way of getting down.” After the worker was assisted, he stated he heard cones getting hit and saw a van quickly moving in their direction. An off-duty police officer was also following behind Magickbeans, who observed the van swerving on the road, hitting the traffic cones, then ultimately hitting the scissor lift, with the van rolling several times before coming to a stop. The responding deputies report Magickbeans appeared disoriented, saying things that did not make sense, and was observed swinging his arms with abnormally wide-open eyelids. Troopers noted he had erratic movements, dazed eyes and was unable to focus. Formal blood test results are pending. During the rescue, emergency workers removed a plastic container from the van containing two large bags of suspected Psilocybin Mushrooms, weighing approximately 89.5 grams. In an interview, Magickbeans told authorities he did not recall the construction zone or the crash, and the last thing he remembered was driving in Cloquet. He stated he did not drink alcohol or consume drugs that day, but admitted to foraging the Psilocybin Mushrooms for personal use, and consuming a small amount the day before the crash, along with an edible. Magickbeans states nothing will be in his blood and does not know why he hit the construction workers. Magickbeans is charged with two counts of Criminal Vehicular Operation and one count of Controlled Substance Crime in the Second Degree.

Pet of the Week: Atlas Video Player is loading. This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color Transparency Background Color Transparency Window Color Transparency Font Size Text Edge Style Font Family End of dialog window. Atlas is Good Morning Northland's Pet of the Week with Animal Allies! He's 10 years old and looking for a loving home. More information on him can be found on the GMN page of WDIO.com Atlas is Good Morning Northland's Pet of the Week with Animal Allies! He's a lovable 10-year-old pup who's been patiently waiting for a forever home since March 20th. Atlas is a big, affectionate guy with a heart full of love and a smile that staff say is the best in the shelter. He thrives on attention and adores meeting new people. Despite his age, Atlas is strong, energetic, and always ready to explore the world around him. He especially enjoys car rides and going for walks. His absolute favorite activity? Playing fetch with a tennis ball—he'll keep going until he drops! When he's not chasing his favorite toy, Atlas loves to snuggle up and relax with his favorite humans. Atlas is looking for an active home that can offer the structure and routines he needs. He has previously lived with children and would be happy to share a home with respectful kids. However, he's not a fan of other animals and will need to be the only pet in the household. If you're looking for a loyal, playful, and cuddly companion, Atlas might just be your perfect match. If you're interested in adopting Lilly, visit Animal Allies at 4006 Airport Road, or call the Adoption Team at 218-722-5341 starting at 10:30 AM to place a nonrefundable $25 hold toward her adoption fee. This will put you first in line! The Adoption Team is available by phone Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Adoptions are on a first-come, first-served basis.

A story told from the end to the beginning

Polluters must be held accountable for their contributions to climate change and adverse health

Elizabeth Del Buono, MD, and Steven Schroeder, MD As healthcare professionals, we understand the gravity of our responsibilities.