Stepdad charged with starting gunfire that killed Woodbury teen at graduation party

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Stepdad charged with starting gunfire that killed Woodbury teen at graduation party: Keith Dawson, 35, of St. Paul, was [charged Monday in Washington County District Court with drive-by shooting](, assault with a dangerous weapon and illegal possession of a gun in connection with his role in the chain of events that left his 14-year-old stepson, Demaris Nathan Hobbs-Ekdahl, shot to death Saturday night. - Minneapolis crews try again to open George Floyd Square to traffic: Minneapolis city crews returned to George Floyd Square early Tuesday to [remove debris and makeshift barriers for the second time]( in an attempt to open the intersection of 38th Street and S. Chicago Avenue to traffic. - Omar leads call for Justice Department to expand Minnesota policing probe: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and a group of nearly two dozen Democratic elected officials are asking the Justice Department to expand its review of the Minneapolis Police Department to [include seven other state and local police agencies.]( - Pandemic furloughs in Minneapolis disproportionately affected women, employees of color: When Minneapolis leaders announced plans last year for furloughs of hundreds of city workers amid a pandemic-driven financial crisis, they said they were doing all they could to spread the pain evenly. But in reality, women — especially women of color — bore the brunt of austerity measures designed to help fill an estimated $156 million budget hole, [according to a new internal report.]( - Ramsey County sheriff withdraws from federal task force after fatal shooting in Uptown: Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said Monday that he's pulling his agency from a federal task force whose members shot and killed Winston Smith Jr. during an arrest operation in Uptown Minneapolis last week, saying [they were forbidden to use body-worn cameras during the encounter]( and that the U.S. Marshals Service "has been misleading" in public comments suggesting otherwise. - Line 3 opponents turn up heat with protest, confrontation: About 2,000 people marched down a sun-soaked rural highway in western Minnesota on Monday as opposition to the half-built Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline reached a fever pitch on a sweltering day. About 20 miles away, [several hundred protesters disrupted construction at a pump station]( for the $3 billion pipeline that will carry 790,000 barrels of Canadian oil daily from Alberta to the Enbridge terminal in Superior, Wis. Dozens were arrested at the pump station, and at one point a Department of Homeland Security helicopter flew in low, blowing up dust in an apparent attempt to break up the occupation. - Science Museum of Minnesota boosts environmental efforts, cutting carbon emissions by half: Earlier this spring, [the Science Museum hit a major milestone of reducing carbon emissions by 50%](, nine years ahead of schedule thanks largely to signing onto an Xcel Energy program that powers the museum with wind energy. The next target: make the museum 100% carbon neutral by 2050, if not sooner. - Body of MMA fighter from Fargo recovered from Red River: The body of Dane Sayers, 33, [was recovered about 2:20 p.m. Saturday from the river]( near Riverside Cemetery, police said. Results from an autopsy have yet to be released,but Sayers' mother told the Forum newspaper in Fargo that he died from accidental drowning. Sayers last fought in April 2018 at the Armory in Minneapolis. - Tearful reunion after mom saw photo of daughter at U.S. border: Six years had passed since Glenda Valdez kissed her toddler goodbye and left for the United States — six years since she held Emely in her arms. But here she was, at Texas' Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, tearfully embracing the little girl she left behind. And it happened only because [she had glimpsed a televised photo of Emely](, part of an Associated Press story on young people crossing the Mexican border alone. WATCH THIS Russian sailors rescue lost dog found on floating ice in Arctic: Aika, a year-old Samoyed, was [dramatically rescued by the crew of a Russian icebreaker]( a week after the pooch ran away from her home in the coastal village of Mys Kamenniy. This video clip is in Russian but you don't really need a translator. Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - Beat the heat with these 12 recipes: From drinks and desserts to cold soups and salads, [light and easy is key when it's just too hot to cook.]( - Tired? Lack motivation? Pandemic brain fog might be to blame. The phenomenon — which is affecting those who have had COVID as well as those who haven't — is attracting attention from academics, medical researchers and mental health professionals who are [trying to understand exactly what brain fog is]( and whether it will fade as fast as toilet paper shortages or prove to be more persistent. - The new American status symbol: A backyard that's basically a fancy living room. Outdoor rugs, TVs, day beds and $5,500 lamps — [welcome to the Great Fauxdoors.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Baseball's new cheating controversy takes center stage at Target Field: Major League Baseball is set to punish pitchers who are using illegal substances to improve performance. The Yankee's Gerrit Cole, mentioned by Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson as a possible guilty party, [will pitch Wednesday against the Twins.]( - Is Rodgers vs. Hunter a battle that's gone forever? For both Aaron Rodgers and Danielle Hunter, logic would dictate that they play this season with their current teams, but logic seems to be taking the summer off, [writes Jim Souhan.]( - Dumba is one of three finalists for NHL's Masterton Award: The Wild defenseman is a finalist for the honor that [recognizes perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.]( Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK A trove of never-before-seen records reveals how the ultra-wealthy avoid income taxes: ProPublica has obtained a vast cache of IRS information showing [how billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett pay little in income tax]( compared to their massive wealth — sometimes, even nothing. The whole piece is fascinating and worth spending some time with, but if you're in a hurry you can check out [this overview of ProPublica's findings.]( FROM THE ARCHIVES June 8, 2015: Kayakers from one of the last rides through the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam on the Mississippi river waited for the water to drain in the lock, which was permanently closed the next day due to invasive carp. 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