2026.06.08
Jun. 8th, 2026 11:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lsandersonThe University of Minnesota Board of Regents this week will consider whether to sell Les Bolstad Golf Course near the St. Paul campus to a St. Michael-based developer for $30.5 million, the Pioneer Press reported. VIa MinnPost
https://www.twincities.com/2026/06/05/umn-selling-golf-course30-5m/
A whistleblower secretly recorded the driver of former Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Abdisamad Ahmed, which led to reopening an investigation against the chief, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. According to the report, the driver bragged about being “untouchable” because he had covered for O’Hara’s alleged misbehavior. VIa MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/document-details-numerous-whistleblower-allegations-against-chief-ohara-top-staff-weeks-before-resignation/601850050
The Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights plans to remove its license plate readers, known as Flock cameras, through canceling its contracts with the company that provides them, FOX 9 reported. The cameras became controversial during Operation Metro Surge. “I’m hopeful that we can balance the needs of our public safety and support our local police, and also balance privacy, civil liberties, oversight and the trust of our residents,” council member Rachel James said. VIa MinnPost
https://www.fox9.com/news/columbia-heights-poised-cancel-flock-camera-contracts
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is launching a new hunting and angling license system this week, MPR News reported. An smartphone app will allow people to purchase licenses for themselves, a friend or family member. Hunters and anglers will still be able to get licenses online or in-person if they don’t want to use the new mobile app.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/06/06/minnesota-dnr-begins-transition-to-new-licensing-system-with-anglers-and-hunters
Majority of US’s new AI datacenters to be built on drought-hit land
Guardian analysis finds facilities to be built in some of the driest areas as outcry grows over water needed to power AI
Oliver Milman with data visuals by Andrew Witherspoon
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/datacenter-ai-drought-water
Arizona lake closes indefinitely to visitors after all of its fish die
Wildlife department says drought conditions and water released from dam led to ‘major fish kill’ at San Carlos Lake
Ramon Antonio Vargas
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/san-carlos-lake-arizona-fish-kill
Six people stabbed in attack at Penn Station in New York
Suspect in custody at busy rail hub adjacent to Madison Square Garden one day before game three of NBA finals
Richard Luscombe
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/stabbing-new-york-penn-station
Truck carrying fireworks catches fire and explodes in Tennessee
No one injured in incident, volunteer fire department says, and it is not known how truck caught fire
Guardian staff
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/tennessee-truck-fireworks-explosion
Idris Elba says audiences would never accept a black actor playing James Bond: ‘That’s not what they like in their culture’
The star of Luther played down rumours that he was lined up to take over as 007, adding that he’s against making the character ‘woke’
Catherine Shoard
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jun/08/idris-elba-audiences-would-not-accept-black-actor-james-bond
The spectacular collapse of a case against ICE protesters: ‘It’s not justice, but it is a win’
Though the federal government’s prosecution fell apart, the Broadview Six of Illinois say their lives have been upended
Kim Bellware in Chicago
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/chicago-broadview-six-trump-administration
White South African refugees fall foul of Republican driving rules in US midwest
Onerous and costly restrictions aimed at immigrants cause difficulties for group prioritized by Trump for admission
Stephen Starr
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/white-south-african-refugees-driving-rules
‘I want to be other people’s cautionary tale’: how do you financially prepare for a parent’s death?
Rebecca McCray
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/08/financial-planner-preparing-parent-death
‘My life is about beauty’: Julie Newmar at 92 on shocking the world as Catwoman – and caring for her son
Steve Rose
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/08/julie-newmar-92-catwoman-caring-for-her-son
https://www.twincities.com/2026/06/05/umn-selling-golf-course30-5m/
A whistleblower secretly recorded the driver of former Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Abdisamad Ahmed, which led to reopening an investigation against the chief, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. According to the report, the driver bragged about being “untouchable” because he had covered for O’Hara’s alleged misbehavior. VIa MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/document-details-numerous-whistleblower-allegations-against-chief-ohara-top-staff-weeks-before-resignation/601850050
The Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights plans to remove its license plate readers, known as Flock cameras, through canceling its contracts with the company that provides them, FOX 9 reported. The cameras became controversial during Operation Metro Surge. “I’m hopeful that we can balance the needs of our public safety and support our local police, and also balance privacy, civil liberties, oversight and the trust of our residents,” council member Rachel James said. VIa MinnPost
https://www.fox9.com/news/columbia-heights-poised-cancel-flock-camera-contracts
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is launching a new hunting and angling license system this week, MPR News reported. An smartphone app will allow people to purchase licenses for themselves, a friend or family member. Hunters and anglers will still be able to get licenses online or in-person if they don’t want to use the new mobile app.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/06/06/minnesota-dnr-begins-transition-to-new-licensing-system-with-anglers-and-hunters
Majority of US’s new AI datacenters to be built on drought-hit land
Guardian analysis finds facilities to be built in some of the driest areas as outcry grows over water needed to power AI
Oliver Milman with data visuals by Andrew Witherspoon
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/datacenter-ai-drought-water
Arizona lake closes indefinitely to visitors after all of its fish die
Wildlife department says drought conditions and water released from dam led to ‘major fish kill’ at San Carlos Lake
Ramon Antonio Vargas
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/san-carlos-lake-arizona-fish-kill
Six people stabbed in attack at Penn Station in New York
Suspect in custody at busy rail hub adjacent to Madison Square Garden one day before game three of NBA finals
Richard Luscombe
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/stabbing-new-york-penn-station
Truck carrying fireworks catches fire and explodes in Tennessee
No one injured in incident, volunteer fire department says, and it is not known how truck caught fire
Guardian staff
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/tennessee-truck-fireworks-explosion
Idris Elba says audiences would never accept a black actor playing James Bond: ‘That’s not what they like in their culture’
The star of Luther played down rumours that he was lined up to take over as 007, adding that he’s against making the character ‘woke’
Catherine Shoard
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jun/08/idris-elba-audiences-would-not-accept-black-actor-james-bond
The spectacular collapse of a case against ICE protesters: ‘It’s not justice, but it is a win’
Though the federal government’s prosecution fell apart, the Broadview Six of Illinois say their lives have been upended
Kim Bellware in Chicago
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/chicago-broadview-six-trump-administration
White South African refugees fall foul of Republican driving rules in US midwest
Onerous and costly restrictions aimed at immigrants cause difficulties for group prioritized by Trump for admission
Stephen Starr
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/white-south-african-refugees-driving-rules
‘I want to be other people’s cautionary tale’: how do you financially prepare for a parent’s death?
Rebecca McCray
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/08/financial-planner-preparing-parent-death
‘My life is about beauty’: Julie Newmar at 92 on shocking the world as Catwoman – and caring for her son
Steve Rose
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/08/julie-newmar-92-catwoman-caring-for-her-son
