Insight ::: 07.08.2024

A King above the law?

‘I DISSENT’ ‘I

Editor’s Note: Best takes of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor statement on SCOTUS ruling on Trump immunity. Lightly edited for clarity and published July 1 by Roxanne Szal, in Ms. Magazine.

Today’s decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency.

It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.

Relying on little more than its own misguided wisdom about the need for “bold and unhesitating action” by the President … The Court gives former President Trump all the immunity he asked for and more. Because our Constitution does not shield a former President from answering for criminal and treasonous acts, I dissent.

The indictment paints a stark portrait of a President desperate to stay in power. … That is the backdrop against which this case comes to the Court.

The Court now confronts a question it has never had to answer in the Nation’s history: Whether a former President enjoys immunity from federal criminal prosecution. The majority thinks he should, and so it invents an atextual, ahistorical, and unjustifiable immunity that puts the President above the law. …

Argument by argument, the majority invents immunity through brute force. Under scrutiny, its arguments crumble. … No matter how you look at it, the majority’s official-acts immunity is utterly indefensible.

Historical evidence reinforces that, from the very beginning, the presumption in this Nation has always been that no man is free to flout the criminal law. The majority fails to recognize or grapple with the lack of historical evidence for its new immunity. With nothing on its side of the ledger, the most the majority can do is claim that the historical evidence is a wash.

The majority today endorses an expansive vision of Presidential immunity that was never recognized by the Founders, any sitting President, the Executive Branch, or even President Trump’s lawyers, until now. Settled understandings of the Constitution are of little use to the majority in this case, and so it ignores them.

Today’s Court … has replaced a presumption of equality before the law with a presumption that the President is above the law for all of his official acts.

The majority’s dividing line between “official” and “unofficial” conduct narrows the conduct considered “unofficial” almost to a nullity. … Under that rule, any use of official power for any purpose, even the most corrupt purpose indicated by objective evidence of the most corrupt motives and intent, remains official and immune. Under the majority’s test, if it can be called a test, the category of Presidential action that can be deemed “unofficial” is destined to be vanishingly

Sonia SotomayorJoe

will be self-imposed by the president alone. This decision today has continued the Court’s attack in recent years on a wide range of long-established legal principles in our nation, from gutting voting rights and civil rights to taking away a woman’s right to choose to today’s decision that undermines the rule of law of this nation. Nearly four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power. We all saw it with our own eyes. We sat there and watched it happen that day. Attack on the police. The ransacking of the Capitol. A mob literally hunting down the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Gallows erected to hang the vice president, Mike Pence. I think it’s fair to say it was one of the darkest days in the history of America. Now the man who sent that mob to the

Court gives immunity to Trump

By Stacy M. Brown

of his conduct during his presidency in his federal election interference case.

However, other actions may not be protected. This decision adds another layer of complexity to the potential trial proceedings. In a closely watched case exploring the boundaries of presidential power, the justices voted 6-3 along ideological lines to reject Trump’s sweeping immunity claim. The ruling means that charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results will not be dismissed outright. However, the court indicated that actions closely tied to his presidential duties are off-limits to prosecutors.

Trump has already been convicted on 34 felony charges related to a hush-

money scheme to conceal an extramarital affair with an adult film star while Melania Trump was pregnant.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, emphasized the need for lower courts to examine further which actions Trump can be prosecuted for. Specifically, the court determined that Trump’s interactions with Justice Department officials and Vice President Mike Pence in the lead-up to the January 6 Capitol attack by his supporters are considered core presidential powers and thus immune from prosecution.

“The president is not above the law,” Roberts

wrote. “But Congress may not criminalize the president’s conduct in carrying out the responsibilities of the executive branch under the Constitution.” The ruling leaves the future of the case uncertain, requiring further proceedings before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan. Judge Chutkan will now review other alleged conduct by Trump, including his communications with state election officials, private parties, and members of the public, to determine if they qualify as official acts. The court’s liberal justices dissented, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor arguing that the ruling undermines a

above the law. “Trump

NNPA 2024 convention in Baltimore breaks new ground

By Stacy M. Brown

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) concluded its 2024 annual summer convention on Saturday, June 22, leaving its mark on Baltimore and making history as the first trade association with a presidential campaign as an event sponsor.

The Biden-Harris campaign also announced a groundbreaking 7-figure advertising and sponsorship deal with the NNPA, which represents 250 Black-owned newspapers and media companies comprising the Black Press of America. “In August of last

our work in meeting Black voters where they are, to underscore the stakes of this election for Black America. President Biden and Vice President Harris are responsible for creating millions of new jobs for Black workers and record low Black unemployment. Black America has far too much to lose this election.” In a letter to publishers, Vice President Harris asserted that the NNPA has remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting Black publishers. “Your work helps ensure that communities gain critical knowledge and have access to accurate information on the pertinent issues impacting our country,” Harris asserted. “As you know, the freedom of the press is essential to our democracy. I commend the efforts of the NNPA as you continue to be trusted voices

Hurricane Beryl flattens Carriacou

By Brian Tang Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science, University at Albany, State University of New York

Hurricane Beryl was the latest Atlantic storm to rapidly intensify, growing quickly from a tropical storm into the strongest June hurricane on record in the Atlantic. It hit the Grenadine Islands with 150 mph winds and a destructive storm surge on July 1, 2024, then continued to intensify into the basin’s earliest

Category 5 storm on record. The damage Beryl caused, particularly on Carriacou and Petite Martinique, was extensive, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told a news briefing. “In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened.”

Beryl’s strength and rapid intensification were unusual for a storm so early in the season. This year, that is especially alarming as forecasters expect an exceptionally active Atlantic hurricane season. Rapidly intensifying storms can put coastal communities in great danger and leave lasting scars. In 2022,

for example, Hurricane Ian devastated portions of Florida after it rapidly intensified. To this day, residents are still recovering from the effects. As Beryl continued across the Caribbean Sea on July 2, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands were under hurricane warnings. What causes hurricanes to rapidly intensify, and has climate change made rapid intensification more likely? I research hurricanes, including how they form and what causes them to intensify, and am part of an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Office of Naval Research to better understand rapid intensification.

I also work with scientists at the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration to analyze data collected by reconnaissance aircraft that fly into hurricanes. Here’s what we’re learning.

How did Hurricane Beryl intensify so quickly? Rapid intensification occurs when a hurricane’s intensity increases by at least 35 mph over a 24-hour period. Beryl far exceeded that threshold, jumping from tropical storm strength, at 70 mph, to major hurricane strength, at 130 mph, in 24 hours. A key ingredient

for rapid intensification is warm water. The ocean temperature must be greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) extending more than 150 feet below the surface. This reservoir of warm water provides the energy necessary to turbocharge a hurricane. Scientists measure this reservoir of energy as ocean heat content. The ocean heat content leading up to Beryl was already extraordinarily high compared with past years. Normally, ocean heat content in the tropical Atlantic doesn’t reach such high levels until early September, which is when hurricane season

typically peaks in activity.

Beryl is a storm more typical of the heart of hurricane season than of June, and its rapid intensification and strength have likely been driven by these unusually warm waters. In addition to the high ocean heat content, research has shown other environmental factors need to typically align for rapid intensification to occur. These include: Low vertical wind shear, where the winds steering the hurricane do not change much in strength or direction over the depth of the storm. Strong

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr., emphasized that “It is extremely important to show support of the business side

Hurricane Beryl hit the island of Carriacou, Grenada, on July 1, 2024, with 150 mph sustained winds.

$10 million in first year from hemp-derived THC sales

By Peter Callaghan

Nearly a year into tax collections on Minnesota’s new lowerpotency hemp industry shows that the sale of hemp edibles, beverages and other products is a $130 million business, at least.

According to numbers compiled by the state Department of Revenue, the 10% tax on cannabis product sales raised $1,217,450 in May from 1,873 tax paying businesses. Over the 11 months that the tax has been collected, the state took in $10,022,635 with average collections of a little more than $900,000 per month.

But tax collections have been well over $1 million a month this year which would provide annual sales in the $130 million range.

According to state law, the tax applies to sales of products made from hemp, the variety of cannabis plant that contains 0.3% of the intoxicating compound THC. Unlike morepotent cannabis plants, hemp is legal under federal law but manufacturers process the plants to make intoxicating edibles and beverages. The state caps the potency of hemp-derived products at no more than 5 milligrams of THC per serving.

Medical marijuana and marijuana sold at tribal cannabis dispensaries are not subject to the tax (four tribal dispensaries are already operating). When the state launches general recreational marijuana sales next year, the

tax will apply to it as well. One fifth of the taxes collected are distributed to local governments. Sales are also subject to the state sales tax of 6.875% and any local sales taxes. For its first year of existence, legal hemp-derived products paid no tax and businesses were not required to register. With the passage of the recreational marijuana bill in May of 2023 came the first registration, regulation and taxation of hemp-product sales. According to monthly reports from Revenue, both registrations and tax collections started slowly, with just $699,407 in July of 2023 from 685 businesses. It peaked in March with 2,043 taxpaying hemp businesses collecting $1,364,639.

Some in the new hemp industry were surprised at the tax collection numbers, thinking they undercount the size of the business. Shawn Weber, the president of the Minnesota Cannabis Growers Cooperative and an owner of Crested River Cannabis in Morgan, said he thinks the industry is much larger. Crested River sells mostly to retailers who collect and report the taxes. But his rural-area business has a dozen or so sales a day, from walk-in customers and those who order online. He said he collects around $1,500 month in cannabis taxes.

The Department of Revenue numbers show the average taxes paid of $650 per business, but the larger

hemp retailers or craft beer and cider makers who sell significant amounts at their taprooms pay significantly more than that average. Liquor stores also collect the cannabis tax when they sell THC beverages made by others. That said, “$130 million from scratch, that’s pretty good but I think it’s underrepresented,” Weber said. “To me they sound low based on what I know.” Jason Dayton is a co-founder of Minneapolis Cider Company which developed a THC beverage called Trail Magic. He agreed the tax collection numbers appear low based on his assessment of the industry, especially the beverage side.

“I think the industry is growing at a pace faster than this,” Dayton said. A recent Bloomberg News article (paywalled) estimated the THC beverage industry in Minnesota at $180 million a year. While Dayton thinks that is too high, he estimates the THC beverage market — which makes up half of hemp-derived product sales in the state — is closer to $100 million. If that is true, the taxes from beverages alone would be $10 million a year. Bob Galligan, the director of government relations for the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild, said he was “a bit underwhelmed by the data as well.” He also noted the difference between the number

of businesses paying taxes on hemp sales and the number that registered with the state. The same law that created the tax also required hemp-businesses to register with the state Department of Health’s Office of Medical Cannabis. That office was charged with temporarily regulating hemp sales and merged with the Office of Cannabis Management Monday.

The database on the department’s hempderived cannabinoids page shows there are 3,896 hemp businesses registered.

“Obviously not all of them are actually operating, but still. Quite the jump,” Galligan said of the different totals.

There are 15 Top 10 Liquor stores in Minnesota, and THC beverages already make up 10% of sales, said owner and CEO Jon Halper. He expects that share to grow to 20% by next year.

“It is a growing business,” he said. “I think we’re scratching the surface of what it could be.”

While Halper said the estimate of the industry derived from tax collections might be on the low side, he said he thinks it is close to capturing the size and growth of the industry.

“I think those look pretty accurate to me,” Halper said. “I assume there is a fair amount that is under the table that you would never be able to pick up, but I don’t know if in the low-dose market there is a lot of that happening.”

Ryan Brown, a spokesperson for the Department of Revenue, wrote this in response to questions: “Our figures are based on tax returns filed. MDH’s registrants may include wholesalers who wouldn’t be registered for the Cannabis Tax as they are selling it exempt for purposes of resale.” He also said there might be businesses that are registered but have closed or ceased selling the product and stopped filing, or businesses that aren’t selling products now but will in the future. And there is a possibility that some making sales aren’t filing. State law assesses the tax on businesses that are located out of state but sell into the state via e-commerce. The taxes collected — at least the 20% assigned to local governments — have a complex distribution structure. Counties get half the money,

Flooding devastates crops in southwestern Minnesota

By Ava Kian

Jim Joens looked across his fields with disappointment. On a hot sunny day, after nearly a week of downpour that brought the region over 11 inches of rain, he knew many of his crops wouldn’t survive.

Joens, who grows corn, soybeans and alfalfa on 1,200 acres near Wilmont in Nobles County, has been farming for 47 years and recalled just two similar floods — one in the early 1990s another five years ago.

Nobles County is part of a southwest corner of

the state that got as much as 14 inches of rain two weeks ago. “It’s just depressing and frustrating,” Joens said. “I’ve never seen it raining that much in such a short period of time.”

Joens and Ryley Thraen, a neighboring farmer, drove a reporter around Wilmont, pointing out flooded field after flooded field. Occasionally, they couldn’t continue down a road because it was covered with water. Ducks gathered in some of the pools, while other areas were darkened soil and covered in washed up corn stalks.

He estimated that planting each acre of corn requires $700 worth of “inputs”

— the cost of seed, fertilizer and other elements. Between him and his son, he said, about 150 acres of corn were underwater; that’s about a third of their corn crop, or about $105,000 in inputs.

“That’s farming,” he said. “Everybody says, ‘Well, that’s a lot of money.’ But it’s the world we live in. We try to make a profit on it. Some years, we make 1 or 2% on it, some years we’ll make a little more, some years we don’t make any.”

It’s still unknown how big the loss will be. Some areas of his fields had yellowlooking corn, meaning it lacked nutrients. Other parts were still covered in water, and still other parts were untouched. Two hundred acres of his fields he’s sure will not produce anything.

While there is no statewide tally of the financial impact of the floods, Minnesota Department of Agriculture commissioner Thom Petersen said their impact was “significant,” hitting areas of southwestern and south central Minnesota and the Iron Range, too.

The limits of crop insurance

Joens said crop insurance “won’t even begin to cover” his losses.

That’s likely true of most Minnesota farms with washed-out crops who are hoping for a federal disaster declaration to help them with losses. According to Petersen, however, there would have to be a 30% loss on a crop in a county for there to be such a declaration.

“It’s going to impact a lot of farmers, but we’re not sure that they’re going to hit that 30% threshold in a lot of counties to open up the disaster assistance that I think would be needed,” he said.

Joens has been in the business long enough to have the capital for these types of events. But some younger farmers, like Thraen, who’s in his second year of farming, don’t — especially as costs have increased and interest rates have gone up too.

“I can stomach it,” Joens said. “These guys are trying to get into the business and trying to make a living. You got a family, that’s more — it’s a lot tougher. Then on top of this thing, you compound that with interest rates.”

Thraen said he has been unable to get a traditional bank loan but has been able to farm thanks to the Farm Service

Agency, which loans him money at a lower interest rate than the bank would and gives him more time for the funds to come in, using the crop as his lien.

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to get started,” he said.

Federal funds for counties On Saturday, meanwhile, the White House approved limited help for Nobles and several other counties through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for areas most impacted by the flooding.

Gov. Tim Walz had sent President Biden a letter requesting help for individuals and businesses in the state, as well as state and local governments.

An emergency declaration was made for 22 counties: Blue Earth, Carver, Cass, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Watonwan.

The declaration makes federal funding available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding.

That means state and local governments and certain organizations can repair government buildings, roads and bridges damaged by floodwaters. The declaration did not specify how much the state and local governments would have to spend out of pocket, but it is usually 20%.

The declaration also said federal funding is also available on a costsharing basis for hazard

mitigation measures statewide.

No federal aid, however, had been authorized for individuals and families impacted by the flood.

Walz, in his letter, said “the potential small business assistance, individual assistance, and support for farmers on top of the public infrastructure assistance that comes with a federal disaster is what Minnesota needs right now.”

The emergency declaration could broaden to cover other areas — and be extended to individuals.

If approved, individual disaster relief could be modest — for example low interest loans for businesses. Or it could be more extensive, with grants to individuals and families for temporary housing and repairs of residences.

“Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed,” the White House said.

In asking the Biden administration for maximum aid, Walz told the White House tourism in the state would feel the most significant impact because of the storm-provoked closures of state parks and trails. “This impact will be a blow to summer tourism and will begin as early as the 4th of July Holiday,” the governor wrote.

The White House also said John F. Boyle of FEMA has been appointed to coordinate federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

A lot of unknowns In Wilmont, where it was also hot last week, the crops sitting in standing water in Joens’ fields were dying.

“Stuff that’s under the water with this hot sun, like today again, it’s burning up,”

he said. “It’s just too hot for it, and it’s dying. And then all the diseases that come with it.”

His township is estimating between $125,000$200,000 in damages to bridges, culverts and roads, he said. As he put it: “In the end, Mother Nature still has the last say.” The floods also impact feed for animals. The grass which typically has good nutritional value when dry now has a hard stem and fewer nutrients. Farmers will need to mix hay with crops that have more nutritional value, like Alfalfa or soybean meal. This is the “worst it’s ever been,” said Wilmont-area farmer Logan Rogers, who also experienced the 2019 flood. Rogers grows hay for his cattle’s feed. As Joens drove by those fields, he pointed out more yellow across the beans. Roger’s dad estimated that they lost 100 acres of grass hay due to the floods.

“That’s the thing that I’m most disappointed in,” he said. Petersen said there have been cattle losses, pasture losses, too, and major infrastructure losses that put stress on townships. The total impact, though, will take more time to figure out.

“This is going to take a little bit of time to sort out, just reporting those acreages and things, but it’ll be significant,” Petersen said. “We need those dollars.” Washington, D.C., correspondent Ana Radelat

MinnPost photo by Ava Kian

Nobles County is part of a southwest corner of the state that got as much as 14 inches of rain two weeks ago.

MinnPost photo by Corey Anderson

Visioning workshop looks at future of George Floyd Square

A second Visioning Workshop June 25 was held by the Minneapolis and a community engagement team led by 4RM+ULA and the Cultural Wellness Center.

Approximately 75 people attended the event at The Square at the Chicago Ave Shops to discuss what matters most to the community, and focus on memorials and the Peoples Way at George Floyd Square (GFS).

A summary document from this session and will be presented that at Visioning Workshop #3.

The goal, the engagement team said, is to conclude a vision for GFS by the end of the year with the following objectives:

Sotomayor

The important racially and culturally centered values that should be the foundation for the future of George Floyd Square.

The criteria for the future use of the Peoples Way site and a community-centered owner.

The places to preserve for future memorial processes and clarify how the City can support this.

A concept layout for the streets and sidewalks that aligns with the future use of the Peoples Way site and accommodates memorials within the public right-of-way.

The next Visioning Workshop will be held Tuesday, July 23rd from 5:30-8pm.

given by the people under our Constitution. …

small.

I am deeply troubled by the idea, inherent in the majority’s opinion, that our Nation loses something valuable when the President is forced to operate within the confines of federal criminal law.

The public interest in the federal criminal prosecution of a former President alleged to have used the powers of his office to commit crimes may be greater still. “[T]he President … represent[s] all the voters in the Nation,” and his powers are

Biden

From 1 From

The American people must decide whether Donald Trump’s assault on our democracy on January 6th makes him unfit for public office in the highest

Trump

From 3

From 1 criminal prosecution. In every use of official power, the

From 3 From

of your communities and tell stories that too often go untold.”

NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr., emphasized that “It is extremely important to show support of the business side of the Black Press owned by Black business leaders. Verbal support is good, but financial support is better.”

The 2024 convention began with unveiling the “Marylanders Cry Freedom, Civil Rights at Home and Abroad” exhibit at Baltimore City Hall, which exhibit celebrated the 40th anniversary of Maryland’s

From 3

wind shear makes it difficult for a storm to stay organized and maintain its strength.

A moist atmosphere surrounding the storm, with heavy precipitation encircling the developing eye.

My research has shown that when this combination of factors is

When Presidents use the powers of their office for personal gain or as part of a criminal scheme, every person in the country has an interest in that criminal prosecution.

The majority overlooks that paramount interest entirely.

… Yet the majority believes that a President’s anxiety over prosecution overrides the public’s interest in accountability and negates the interests of the other branches in carrying out their constitutionally assigned functions.

If the former President cannot be held criminally liable for his official acts, those acts should still be admissible to

office in the land. The American people must decide if Trump’s embrace of violence to preserve his power is acceptable.

prove knowledge or intent in criminal prosecutions of unofficial acts. … Imagine a President states in an official speech that he intends to stop a political rival from passing legislation that he opposes, no matter what it takes to do so (official act). He then hires a private hitman to murder that political rival (unofficial act). Under the majority’s rule, the murder indictment could include no allegation of the President’s public admission of premeditated intent to support the mens rea of murder. That is a strange result, to say the least.

Today’s decision to grant former Presidents immunity for their official acts is deeply wrong. … In the hands of the majority, this new

official-acts immunity operates as a one-way ratchet. The long-term consequences of today’s decision are stark. The Court effectively creates a law-free zone around the President, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the Founding. The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majority’s reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power?

Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon?

Immune. Immune, immune, immune. Let the President violate the law, let him exploit the trappings of his office for personal gain, let him use his official power for evil ends. Because if he knew that he may one day face liability for breaking the law, he might not be as bold and fearless as we would like him to be. That is the majority’s message today. Even if these nightmare scenarios never play out, and I pray they never do, the damage has been done. The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably.

In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.

Never in the history of our Republic has a President had reason to believe that he would be immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate the criminal law. Moving forward, however, all former Presidents will be cloaked in such immunity. If the occupant of that office misuses official power for personal gain, the criminal law that the rest of us must abide will not provide a backstop. With fear for our democracy, I dissent.

Perhaps most importantly, the American people must decide if they want to entrust the president — once again, the presidency to Donald Trump, now knowing he’ll be even more emboldened to do whatever he pleases whenever he wants to do it.

President is now a king, above the law,” said Sotomayor. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in a strongly worded dissent, accused the conservative majority of creating a dangerous precedent by establishing a new model of presidential accountability that grants undue

divestment from South Africa’s apartheid regime in 1984.

The unveiling featured remarks from Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Democratic Maryland Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Dr. Chavis, Henry, AFRO Publisher Dr. Toni Draper, and other dignitaries. Distinguished guests included U.S. Black Chambers President Ron Busby and Dr. Camille Ragin of Fox Chase Cancer Center.

The convention offered a series of insightful panels and discussions. A GenZ panel on voter issues featured Journalist Ashleigh Fields, University of Maryland Student Journalist Savannah Grooms, North Carolina A&T Student Journalist Melvin Harris Jr., Huffington Post Journalist Phillip Lewis, Community Organizer Brielle Morton, and

present, a hurricane can more efficiently take advantage of the energy it gathers from the ocean to power its winds, versus having to fight off drier, cooler air being injected from around the storm. The process is called ventilation.

Simultaneously, there is an increase in air being drawn inward toward the center, which quickly increases the strength of the vortex, similar to how a figure skater pulls their arms inward to gain spin. Rapid intensification is akin to a figure skater pulling in both their arms

You know, at the outset of our nation, it was the character of George Washington, our first president, that defined the presidency. He believed power was limited, not absolute, and that power would always reside with the people — always.

immunity to the highest office.

“With that understanding of how our system of accountability for criminal acts ordinarily functions, it becomes much easier to see that the majority’s ruling in this case breaks new and dangerous ground,” Jackson wrote.

Elijah Pittman, an Anti-colonial Afro-diasporic-centered journalist from Howard University. Additional panels, hosted by Wells Fargo, Google News Initiative, General Motors, Pfizer, and Reynolds, aligned with the convention’s theme, “Empowering the Black Press, Communities, Families, and Voter Turnout.” AARP was also a sponsor of the convention. During the NNPA Fund’s Merit Awards, Baltimore Times Publisher Joy Bramble was honored as Publisher of the Year. The St. Louis American led with twelve awards, including first place in the Armstrong Ellington Entertainment category and the Robert L. Vann Layout & Design Award. Real Times Media publications, the Michigan Chronicle, and the New Pittsburgh Courier

quickly and close to their body. Has climate change affected the likelihood of rapid intensification? As oceans warm and ocean heat content gets higher with climate change, it is reasonable to hypothesize that rapid intensification might be becoming more common. Evidence does suggest that rapid intensification of storms has become more common in the Atlantic.

Additionally, the peak intensification rates of

Now, over 200 years later, with today’s Supreme Court decision, once again it will depend on the character of the men and women who hold that presidency that are going to define the limits of the power of the presidency, because the law will no longer do it.

I know I will respect the limits of the presidential power, as I have for three and a half years. But any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.

I concur with Justice Sotomayor’s dissent today. She — here’s what she said. She said, “In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law. With fear for our democracy, I dissent,” end of quote. So should the American people dissent. I dissent. May God bless you all. And may God help preserve our democracy. Thank you. And may God protect our troops.

“Departing from the traditional model of individual accountability, the majority has concocted something entirely different: A Presidential accountability model that creates immunity — an exemption from criminal law — applicable only to the most powerful official in our Government,” she added. Justice Jackson further warned of the broader implications of the ruling, suggesting that even a hypothetical president who commits grave crimes, such as ordering assassinations of political rivals or instigating a coup, could potentially claim immunity under the new model. Trump, who faces about 50 other charges related to the 2020 election, has openly discussed executing his rivals.

collectively garnered eight awards. The Michigan Chronicle won five awards, while the New Pittsburgh Courier earned three. The Atlanta Voice received six awards for journalistic excellence, including the Emory O. Jackson Award for health coverage and the Ada S. Franklin Award for fashion. The Sacramento Observer, whose publisher Larry Lee won the 2023 Publisher of the Year award, also secured six awards. Other recognized publications included The Washington Informer, Texas Metro News, Houston Forward Times, Houston Defender, Insight News, Minneapolis SpokesmanRecorder, Los Angeles Sentinel, New York Amsterdam News, and Seattle Medium. The NNPA’s daily

hurricanes have increased by an average of 25% to 30% when comparing hurricane data between 1971–1990 and 2001–2020. That has resulted in more rapid intensification events like Beryl. This increase in rapid intensification is due to those environmental factors –warm waters, low vertical wind shear and a moist atmosphere – aligning more frequently and giving hurricanes more opportunity to rapidly intensify. The good news for anyone living in a region prone

digital show, “Let It Be Known,” was celebrated with the Black Press of America’s “Black Excellence in Media” award. The NNPA National Legacy Awards, always among convention highlights, honored Maryland Democratic U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume. Led by producer Greer Marshall, Let It Be Known presented the show’s inaugural “Future Goes Viral” award to Erica P. Loewe, an assistant to the president and chief of staff of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and photographer Mel D. Cole for their courageous and unrelenting determination during and since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Philadelphia Tribune Publisher Robert Bogle, and Defender Network CEO Sonny Messiah Jiles were also presented with the “Future Goes Viral,” award for their tireless advocacy as publishers of Black-owned newspapers and media companies. The conference formally closed with a dinner cruise that Regi Taylor of the Baltimore Times presented, titled “From Shackles to Ownership: A Reflection of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.” “Gratitude is owed to our sponsors, speakers, awardees, and organizers for their unwavering support in making this event possible,” Henry stated. “Together, let’s harness this moment to inspire, learn, and collaborate, shaping a brighter future for all through the NNPA and its Black-owned media companies.”

to hurricanes is that hurricane prediction models are getting better at forecasting rapid intensification in advance, so they can give residents and emergency managers more of a heads-up on potential threats. NOAA’s newest hurricane model, the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System, shows promise to further improve hurricane forecasts, and artificial intelligence could provide more tools to predict rapid intensification. This article has been updated with Cayman Islands

hurricane watch upgraded to a hurricane warning. Brian Tang receives funding from the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

George Floyd Square.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Paci fic Islander economic summit in Saint Paul

Senior federal officials look to connect local community members and small businesses with critical resources and opportunities.

July 2 event draws 300+ attendees and builds on President Biden’s commitment to empower and support underserved communities.

On Wednesday, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) hosted an inperson economic summit at Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, Minnesota to connect Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) community members directly with federal resources and opportunities resulting from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, his economic plan that is fostering a historic small business boom, strengthening U.S. supply chains, creating good-paying jobs, and expanding economic opportunity across America.

The event, the seventh in a series of regional economic summits launched by the Biden-Harris Administration in January 2023, was held in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S.

Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Energy, the National Asian / Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE), and state and local leaders.

Senior White House and Biden-Harris Administration leaders addressed attendees at the convening, and representatives from federal agencies shared ways to effectively apply for federal procurement, jobs, grants, and programs –matching other summits held in Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, New York City, Honolulu, and Atlanta. The event also included a community-driven listening session with President Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

Like previous events, attendees were also able to connect directly with leaders including U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Nani Coloretti, Deputy SBA Administrator Dilawar

Syed, Deputy Assistant to the President and AA and NHPI Senior Liaison Erika L. Moritsugu, and WHIAANHPI Executive Director Krystal Ka‘ai.

“From day one, our Administration has been laserfocused on partnering with, and advocating for, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander workers, entrepreneurs, and businesses,” said U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, who also serves as WHIAANHPI Co-Chair.

“That is because President Biden and Vice President Harris understand how important our communities are to growing

Ramsey County news

Counties. The four Ramsey County programs includes Professional Elder Mentorship Program, Appropriate Responses Initiative, Food security program and Driver’s License Academy.

Counties

At the June 11 board of commissioners meeting, County Manager Berg announced Ramsey County has received four achievement awards from the National Association of

Soil testing event set for July 10 at Eastside YMCA Saint Paul — Ramsey County Public Health and the Minnesota Department of Health will hold a soilSHOP (screening, health, outreach and partnership) soil testing event on July 10 from 3-7 p.m., at the Eastside YMCA. The event will offer free lead screenings of soil samples, information

on how to lower lead exposure, best practices for gardening and other lead and health information. For more information, call the Minnesota Department of Health Site Assessment and Consultation Unit at 651201-4897 or 1-800-657-3908 or email health.hazard@state. mn.us.

You can also call Ramsey County’s Healthy Homes Program at 651-2661139 or email healthyhomes@ ramseycounty.us.

Summer activities at libraries and parks

Ramsey County

and driving our economy forward, from the bottom up and the middle out. Through the Economic Summits, we will continue to write the next chapter in our American story together—one of resilience and collective strength.”

“In this extraordinary moment for our country, it’s important we harness Asian American innovation and entrepreneurship to drive our nation forward,” said Deputy SBA Administrator Dilawar Syed. “AA and NHPI entrepreneurs are an important part of the small business boom in Minnesota and across America. President

Library’s summer reading program, Summer Break, is now underway. From family storytime to makerspace, there is an activity for kids and teens of all ages. Browse the activities on the library’s website for more information. Meanwhile, at the parks, discover a series of self-guided activities such as archery or catch-and-release fishing and be sure to sign up for Tamarack’s Frogs & Polliwogs series.

Emerging and Diverse Developer Cohort application deadline July 25 Interested in affordable housing or community development but don’t know where to start? Ramsey County has a program just for you! Check out the Emerging and Diverse Developer’s Program and

Biden is committed to ensuring entrepreneurs in all our communities have the resources they need to succeed.”

“Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders were devastated by the disproportionate economic impacts of the pandemic, and we saw how this impacted families, workers, and businesses here in Minnesota,” said Krystal Ka‘ai, Executive Director of WHIAANHPI and the President’s Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs. “Today, we are making good on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to expand economic opportunity

apply today to be a part of the 2024 learning cohort. Sessions begin this fall. The deadline to apply is July 25. Apply now to participate in the cohort.

Health and Wellness in Ramsey County Dana DeMaster, Christina Rost and Sophia Thompson were appointed to key leadership roles in the Health and Wellness Service Team

Christina Rost has been appointed Director of Ramsey County Veterans Services. She has served as interim department director since August 2022, and prior to that, was a veteran services officer with the county starting in 2016. Sophia Thompson has been named director of Ramsey County Social Services after

and provide the

community members need to recover and thrive. Because AA and NHPI small businesses are the backbone of our economy. And when they succeed, we all prosper.”

In May 2021, President Joe Biden reestablished and reinvigorated the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders through Executive Order 14031. The Initiative’s whole-ofgovernment approach engages federal agencies to improve interagency policymaking, program development, and outreach, and address barriers impacting AA and NHPIs across the country. In January 2023, WHIAANHPI launched its AA and NHPI economic summit series following the release of the Biden-Harris Administration’s first-ever national strategy to advance equity and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities. President Biden also signed an Executive Order to strengthen the federal government’s equity mandate and formalize his goal of increasing the share of federal contracting dollars awarded to Small Disadvantaged Businesses by 50% by 2025.

serving as the

Katherine Tai Dilawar Syed Krystal Ka‘ai

Commentary/Letters

Supreme Court’s ruling portends a MAGA Monarchy

Hobb servation Point

By Chuck Hobbs

In the late 18th Century, not long after the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to be exact, Philadelphia socialite Elizabeth Willing Powell posed the following question to Dr. Benjamin Franklin, a friend of hers and one of the Founding Fathers of what is now the United States: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin curtly replied, “A Republic, if we can keep it!”

During the Colonial era, just about all of the European colonists up and down the Eastern Seaboard had fled Europe to pursue life away from the control of monarchies in England and to a lesser extent, France, Spain, and Holland. Lest we forget that the Declaration of Independence, drafted by lawyer (and future president) Thomas Jefferson in 1776, was essentially a manifesto of grievances against the tyrannical control of King George III!

Eleven years later, in 1787, another lawyer and future president, James Madison, was the primary draftsman of the Constitution, a document that borrowed concepts from England’s Magna Carta that had been the codified law of the British realm since 1215, but a new one that, in theory, was broader in scope by endowing citizens, which at that time ONLY meant white men, with the power to elect leaders for the Executive and Legislative Branches—with the former endowed with the right to nominate judges who would then be confirmed following the advice and consent of the Senate chamber within the latter.

This system, by design, was to ensure “checks” and “balances” among the three branches of federal government to prevent tyranny because, once again, those early American Colonizers were very well aware of the dangers of absolute power centralized into the hands of one all powerful man or woman.

Thus, Ms. Powell’s question to Ben Franklin about the results of Constitutional Convention and, thus, his famous reply that we would have a Republic so long as we can keep it.

Alas, as of today, one could credibly argue that the Republic, at least with respect to checking the Executive Branch, is no more!

Surely, if I could resurrect Ben Franklin right this moment and invite him over for a cup of coffee, I would begin by asking whether today’s Supreme Court ruling, one which provides former President Donald Trump immunity from being prosecuted for the”official acts” that led to the MAGA

riots on January 6, 2021, means that the “Republic,” specifically its Chief Executive, is now a monarch with the unquestionable authority that vexed the Founding Fathers during their day?

Methinks his answer would be, “yes,” the Supreme Court has created a problem that will have to be solved down the line by a successor civil court, at best, or uncivil hostilities, at worst. I will not waste precious words in today’s blog rehashing all of the events that got us to this point, but to summarize, the undisputed facts remain that then President Donald Trump knew by the second week of December in 2020 that he had lost the election to Democratic challenger Joe Biden. But the petulant former president spent the next several weeks filing lawsuits that were struck down en masse by federal and state courts across the country (totally legal), while using his voice and social media platforms to encourage Republican politicians and followers to deny Biden’s victory by any means necessary—even up to violent force (totally illegal).

The result was a quagmire of epic proportions on January 6, 2021, the date that the Electoral College results were certified, that found thousands of Trump supporters—at their leader’s behest—descending upon the Capitol Complex to, as he shouted at the rally, “Stop the Steal” of the 2020 election. In fact, from his own speech and deposition testimony from key witnesses since January 6th, it has been proven beyond all doubt that Trump had intended to lead the

MAGA mob to the Capitol that day—but was only prevented by Secret Service agents who were gravely concerned for his physical safety. Nevertheless, when the smoke cleared, five people were killed, multiple politicians, including then VP President Mike Pence, fled in fear for their lives, and over $50 million in property damage resulted from Trump›s refusal to concede that he had lost the election fair and square.

Today, the United States Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision along ideological lines has determined that presidents have absolute immunity for actions that fall within the “core responsibilities of their office— and are presumptively immune for all other official acts.”

The Court, one that has six conservative members (three of whom were appointed by Donald Trump), has remanded this case back to the U.S. District Court (led by Judge Tanya Chutkan) to determine whether Trump’s demands that VP Pence and state level Republican officials decertify the 2020 election, or “find the votes” to overturn the lawful results as he was recorded saying, was a part of his “core responsibilities of office” or official acts.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing on behalf of the conservative majority, held, “The president therefore may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled, at a minimum, to a presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts...that immunity applies equally to all occupants of the Oval Office, regardless of politics, policy or party.”

While my trained

January 6th

legal mind fully understands what the conservative majority has concluded, my trained historical mind recognizes the deep flaws in even tacitly concluding that Trump’s acts to stop the peaceful and lawful transition of power from his administration to the next one were constitutional. I mean, seriously, how in the heck can acts that contravene the Constitution be deemed constitutional?

When we think back on the past sixty years, there have been so many criminal and/or bad acts committed by sitting presidents that were not charged in courts of law, but the American people at least understood that such charges COULD be brought and serve as a deterrent to corral some of the worst instincts in later presidents and presidential aspirants.

But seriously, under today’s ruling, perhaps Richard Nixon shouldn’t have resigned for ordering the Watergate burglaries at Democratic Party headquarters? Perhaps Ronald Reagan was well within his constitutional powers to authorize illicit arms sales to the Contras in Nicaragua?

Perhaps Bill Clinton should not have been forced to testify about his extramarital dalliances, including one with Monica Lewinsky that led to perjury charges, impeachment hearings, and his disbarment, being absolutely immune and whatnot from questioning from we, the people, and whatnot?

Again, while none of the aforementioned sitting presidents were charged with crimes, the possibility that they “could” be charged separate and distinct from impeachment proceedings at least kept the

ideal of a president who was not an absolute monarch alive— per the Founding Fathers desires—even if the ideal may have been illusory all along!

Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor echoed these concerns in her dissent, warning against a “king above the law” while arguing, “Today’s decision to grant former presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the presidency.” Sotomayor added, “it makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of government, that no man is above the law…The court effectively creates a law-free zone around the president, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the founding.”

While I am disappointed in today’s ruling, I am not in the least bit surprised because throughout my life and careers, I’ve recognized that there are two sets of rules in America—one for the privileged patrician elite, and one for everyone else. It doesn’t matter whether it was Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton getting a pass from the Justice Department in 2016, or Republican nominee Donald Trump getting a pass from the Supreme Court in 2024, the RULES ARE DIFFERENT when you are a member of the club with financial projection for protection.

But the question that begs asking is when will we, the people, stop and collectively ask “why” the rich and famous get passes that everyday working folks do not? Specifically, why is Trump about to receive a pass for pushing his followers up to commit the vile and violent acts that they did on January 6th—

with some already serving long prison stretches for following their president’s demands?

In the end analysis, the rich and the famous, be they Republican or Democrat, are only one to two percent of the population, which means that the 98 percent of the rest of us have ALL of the power to demand equal accountability and equal justice under the law. And while some may suggest that my angst this day stems from my dislike of Donald Trump’s politics, I would rebut by reminding that the office of the president is far more important than the former or even the current occupant, and that it is critically important for people with sound minds and judgment to recognize grievous, criminal errors when they are committed by presidential occupants during their occupancy—and work to hold them accountable by any and all legal means necessary!

To conclude, sadly, what Ms. Powell, the 17th Century socialite, and Benjamin Franklin could not have foreseen is that a day would come when we, the people, are so enamored with the lifestyles of the rich and famous that we collectively give them passes to do whatever they like whenever they like it—even if it means that a president now has all of the privileges and protections of an absolute monarch, which runs counter to the Constitution’s original design and intent. Shame on us... Subscribe to Hobbservation Point Chuck Hobbs is a freelance journalist who won the 2010 Florida Bar Media Award and has been twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.

Senator Omar Fateh endorses Rep. Ilhan Omar re-election to Congress

By Senator Omar Fateh DFL-62

Labor unions continue to be the driving force for positive change for workers. I take pride in having Congresswoman Ilhan Omar represent us in Washington because I’ve seen her time and time again stand with labor. Whether it is standing on the picket lines with teachers or nurses, Ilhan has always had the backs of workers. In Washington, she has cosponsored the Raise the Wage Act to enact a $15 federal minimum wage, co-sponsored the PRO Act to hold employers accountable for violating workers’ rights, or championed the Family and Medical Leave Act—she fights for us every day.

Senator Omar Fateh

Rep. Ilhan Omar

Sports

St. Paul’s Suni Lee is once again an Olympian

By Pat Borzi

Sadly, the theme of the week at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials – for the women, anyway – was attrition. Not even five minutes into the first night of competition at the Target Center, three Olympic hopefuls already had been so seriously injured they ultimately withdrew.

Skye Blakely, the 19-year-old runner-up to Simone Biles in the all-around at the U.S. Championships, ruptured an Achilles tendon in training on Wednesday and never made it to Friday’s Day One. Another, two-time world championship all-around medalist Shilese Jones, injured her left knee warming up Friday and competed in only one event before bowing out. Then Pan Am Games all-around champion Kayla DiCello, the first competitor down the vault runway Friday, grabbed her left leg in midair, an in-themoment reaction to an Achilles tear. She was finished as well.

So what did all that mean for St. Paul’s Suni Lee, the defending Olympic all-around gold medalist? A slightly easier path to her second Olympics. Lee, back in form after two kidney ailments nearly ended her career, arrived in Minneapolis after strong performances on balance beam (second), uneven bars (fourth) and the all-around (fourth) at the U.S. Championships earlier this month. The smart money among gymnastics experts had her making the fiveperson Olympic team for her bars and beam prowess alone. The week’s attrition pretty much made her a lock for the all-around too, as long as she avoided any drama or mishaps.

“I think we have to be good on bars and beam, mainly,” Jess Graba, Lee’s coach, said earlier in the week. “That’s the most likely path. We’d like to

do what we did at (the U.S.) Championships. Even if you have a hiccup here and there, you’re still in the mix for the all-around and you’re in the top two or three on bars and beam. I think that’s it.”

It didn’t exactly turn out that way. But Lee, 21, who only returned to training in January, was still plenty good enough to make the team again, placing second to Simone Biles in the all-around and first on bars.

“This one feels so different,” Lee said in packed press conference room late Sunday night. “I didn’t think I would be here. Everything has been hitting me. I have not stopped crying.

“I’m just happy, and I’m so, so glad I never gave up, because there were so many times I thought about just quitting and kind of walking away from the sport because I didn’t think I would ever get to this point. I didn’t want to let myself down. I’m so glad that I had people around who kept me motivated and helped me through all the hard times, because I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Third in the all-around behind Biles and Jordan Chiles after Day One, Lee moved up one spot with a mostly terrific Day Two, marred only by shaky performance on beam.

Lee’s opening performance on uneven bars earned a 14.875 score from the judges – the best of the competition – and a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of more than 16,000.

(Lee didn’t perform the skill she’s trying to get named for her, a full-twisting layout Jaeger. Graba considered it too risky with so much at stake. Besides, for proper sanctioning she needs to do it in a major international meet, like the Olympics.) The “hiccup” Graba feared came on beam, her second event. Lee fell off early, got back on, then lost her balance twice more, barely staying on the second time. She walked off the floor

without waiting for her score, which wasn’t great – 12.825, well off her 14.400 from Day One. But Graba hardly looked worried. “Whenever things get tough, she usually gets tougher,” he said. “I don’t have much of a lack of confidence in her.”

Back out for floor exercise, Lee landed her first big tumbling pass and smiled broadly as the crowd roared. She finished strongly to another standing ovation and headed right to Graba for a hug. Her score of 13.850 was slightly better than Day One. Crisis averted. She finished with a 14.100 on vault, also better than Day One.

“I think as an older athlete, being able to come and compete after everything she’s been through is very impressive,” said Alicia Sacramone Quinn, a former Olympian and the strategic lead for the USA Gymnastics women’s program. “Yes, she made a mistake today, but it doesn’t matter. We know what she’s capable of. What she can contribute to this team is very impactful.

“I think Suni has been

steadily progressing from when she started competing at the beginning of the season to the point she is now. I don’t want them to be at their peak right now. If there are some mistakes here, great. We still have a couple of weeks before the Games actually start to get out the kinks, fine-tune our stuff and get our execution on point. Better here than Paris.” Lee’s health issues began in February 2023 at Auburn University when she awoke one morning with swollen ankles. The next day, her face, legs and hands were swollen as well, she told SELF Magazine. The swelling persisted, preventing Lee from training. She guessed she gained 40 pounds. Lee never revealed the exact diagnosis, but Graba said she’s managing the condition with diet and medication. Lee credited USA Gymnastics team physician Marcy Faustin for guiding her through. Eventually, Lee –who left Auburn and returned to Minnesota – felt good enough to resume training with Graba at her old gym, Midwest

Gymnastics in Little Canada. “She called me in January after she started to feel a little bit more comfortable with her medications and her health issues,” Graba said. “She said, ‘I think I’ve got it a little more under control. I think we can take a run at it.’ I said, ‘OK, we’ll just take it one week at a time.’” One week turned into six months, and an unexpectedly stellar Olympic Trials. “I think that I’ve learned I’m a lot stronger than I think, and I’m capable of anything if I put my mind to it,” Lee said. “When I got sick, my mind wasn’t in it for the Olympics. I just wanted to be healthy again. I soon as I was like, OK, we’re trying for the Olympics … I can’t believe that I’m here. I don’t know. It’s insane.”

Wiskus misses the cut Lee left Target Center Sunday night much happier than Spring Park’s Shane Wiskus did the night before. Another 2021 Olympian, Wiskus will also be going to Paris, but as an alternate, not a competitor. Though he finished third in the all-around, Wiskus lost out to Paul Juda, who was fourth, for the final spot on the men’s team. Mathematics, not bias or politics, kept Wiskus off the team. The U.S. hasn’t won a men’s team Olympic medal since 2008, so the selection committee made that a priority.

To pick the best five-man team, the committee took scores from trials and the U.S. Championships and calculated which combination of five generated the highest team score – a process suggested by the athletes to eliminate subjectivity, according to USA Gymnastics high performance director Brett McClure. Wiskus, as he showed over two days at trials, is pretty good in all six men’s events, and he finished ahead of Juda at the U.S. Championships as

well. But the U.S. needed help in pommel horse, a notorious weak event for Americans. Stephen Nedoroscik, the 2021 pommel horse world champion, and Juda scored higher than Wiskus on pommel at Trials and the U.S. Championships. So by the numbers, Wiskus, 25, was out. That didn’t ease his disappointment. Wiskus walked out onto the Target Center floor for Olympic team/alternate introductions expressionless, tipping off his fate. Afterward he said he felt numb, and deserved an Olympic berth. Certainly, the crowds agreed. For two days, the University of Minnesota product owned the joint from introductions until the last skill, putting on a chest-thumping, fist-pumping, ear-cupping show. Saturday, needing his absolute best, Wiskus delivered, improving five of his six scores from Day One and matching the other. If the Timberwolves were that good, they’d be NBA champs. The best moment for Wiskus happened Saturday in the vault. A group of his old Gophers teammates in Section 114, sporting “I’m With Wiskus” t-shirts, clapped slowly as he stepped to the runway, then faster as he ran down – standard practice from Wiskus’s days at the U. Wiskus flipped, spun and stuck the landing. As the crowd roared, Wiskus pointed back at his guys and shaped a heart with his hands. Classic. But in the end, it wasn’t

The brilliance of the Minnesota Timberwolves 2024 NBA Draft

By Britt Robson

Few things are more delicious than savoring our own brilliance.

We don’t like to admit this, even to ourselves. Not only is it gauche, but it’s a dare to karma (or your Lord of choice) to smite us back down to humility.

But the savoring is also a way to sustain that brilliance, and motivate more of it.

The day after the Dallas Mavericks eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 Western Conference Finals, the Wolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly talked about the ingredients necessary in taking the team yet another step forward, to a place the franchise has never been in its 36-year existence.

“I don’t know if there is any linear path to that next step. I don’t think there is one single answer,” he said, but soon added, “The main thing is when you play this long and play this much meaningful basketball, the guys know what it is like. They feel the moments.”

Connelly’s moments happen at certain spots on the calendar, during the long sunlight of late June and early July and in the dreary chill of February. He’s been here two years and already has three bouts of brilliance.

In July of 2022 Connelly traded a fat handful of first-round draft picks (if you count the then-recently drafted Walker Kessler) and a trio of rotation players for Rudy Gobert. The deal was hooted at by a legion of skeptics and tested Connelly’s resolve by taking a full year to blossom. But it is now safely regarded as a feat of defensive upholstery that dramatically altered the team’s identity and provided the coherence that led to 56 wins and then a couple of playoff-series victories in the 2023-24 season.

In February 2023, Connelly dumped Gobert’s attitudinal nemesis, the unevenkeeled scorer D’Angelo Russell, in exchange for Mike Conley, a sage, simultaneously able to become a kindred spirit for Gobert and a mentor for Anthony Edwards; plus rubyin-the-rough combo guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (NAW), who merely needed to have his self-confidence polished in order to become an invaluable bench piece. It was, quite simply, the best trade in Timberwolves history.

In June 2024, Connelly traded Minnesota’s first-round draft pick in 2031 (plus the option of swapping first-round picks in 2030) to the San Antonio Spurs for the eighth-overall pick in the 2024 draft, Rob Dillingham.

The brilliance of the Dillingham deal has a different sparkle and tint to it than the maneuvers that brought in Gobert, Conley and NAW. The abiding purpose of those two earlier trades was to fundamentally alter the culture. This latest roster addition is brilliant (dictionary definition: “exceptionally clever or talented”) because of the audacity and innovation required to execute it – the process itself is infused with a scrappy temperament and sends a clear message that, linear path or not, the march toward a championship requires a deeper commitment than the one that took them to the conference finals.

More specifically, getting Dillingham brilliantly threaded the needle between fiscal restraint and aggressive roster construction, while ratifying and reinforcing most everything Connelly had said right after the Wolves were eliminated by Dallas more than three weeks earlier.

On that day he pledged allegiance to patience and continuity, noting that seven rotation players were still under contract. But he stipulated that, “Our guys have to come back as better players, even more hungry and more invested.”

With a payroll almost certainly headed into the luxury tax and various restrictions and (eventually) penalties imposed by the “second apron” of salary spending he also cited the need for bench players on the fringe of the rotation to step up.

“When you have this many good players who deservedly get paid good contracts, you can’t always look elsewhere,” he said. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the team’s lack of depth behind Conley at point guard was both a dilemma and a priority.

“We all wish Mike was ageless and he certainly appeared ageless for much of this year, but we understand we need to have a succession plan moving forward,” said Connelly.

As for ownership, Connelly stressed they had to understand the Wolves had made it to what he called, “the final four table,” reserved for the quartet of teams remaining in the conference finals, “which has a different price tag than teams that aren’t playing this late in the season. Whatever ownership allows, we are going to be committed and aggressive. When you get a taste of it you want more and more.”

Going into the draft, the expectation was that Connelly would try to fill out the parameters of his postelimination remarks by coupling

picks in the 27th and 37th slots for a higher slot, maybe on the fringes of the 14 places decided by the lottery. Failing that (or perhaps in addition to it), maybe he could convince ownership to weather the costs and restrictions of “second apron” by re-signing Kyle “Slo Mo” Anderson (a Chris Finch favorite) or veteran Monte Morris as the default Conley succession plan.

“We all wish Mike was ageless and he certainly appeared ageless for much of this year, but we understand we need to have a succession plan moving forward,” said Connelly.

As for ownership, Connelly stressed they had to understand the Wolves had made it to what he called, “the final four table,” reserved for the quartet of teams remaining in the conference finals, “which has a different price tag than teams that aren’t playing this late in the season. Whatever ownership allows, we are going to be committed and aggressive. When you get a taste of it you want more and more.”

Going into the draft, the expectation was that Connelly would try to fill out the parameters of his postelimination remarks by coupling picks in the 27th and 37th slots for a higher slot, maybe on the fringes of the 14 places decided by the lottery. Failing that (or perhaps in addition to it), maybe he could convince ownership to weather the costs and restrictions of “second apron” by re-signing Kyle “Slo Mo” Anderson (a Chris Finch favorite) or veteran Monte Morris as the default Conley succession plan. Trading away a draft pick seven years in the future was never considered – in large part because a straight swap of a current pick for one so far away was unprecedented. But the circumstances for it were unique and propitious. San Antonio had drafted generational talent Victor Wembanyama the previous season, had already taken a player with the fourth slot in the 2024 draft, and decided it was better to gain another firstrounder when Wembanyama was in his prime in 2031 rather than add another rookie this season.

Meanwhile, Connelly is the beneficiary of the acrimonious battle between current majority owner Glen Taylor and the duo of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, who were denied majority ownership status via Taylor’s claim that they didn’t make a payment on time. Neither side of this fight wants to be seen as hindering the most viable quest for a championship in Timberwolves history, meaning that Connelly has enormous latitude to do what he wants.

(He shrewdly postponed the optout year of his own contract by just one year, enabling him to continue leveraging the threat of him exiting the franchise, a public relations disaster for whatever ownership holds sway.)

Connelly was clearly “feeling the moment,” properly savoring what he had wrought, when he met with the media after the first round of the draft this past Wednesday. If Dillingham lives up to half of Connelly’s effusive praise, he was an absolute steal in exchange for a player who is likely not even in his teens today.

Dillingham played both on and off the ball as a combo guard for Kentucky (a school, it should be emphasized, that has a superb track record for grooming quality NBA players), but Connelly flatly states he is the Conley succession plan. “He’s a one (the NBA parlance for the point guard position),” he replied when asked where Dillingham would play in the backcourt. “What jumped out at us is that sometimes there are going to be guys who look like him, that, at first glance, tend to play selfish basketball – over-dribble and (not make) quick decisions. He’s a quick decision-maker. I think his IQ is elite and the playmaking, not just watching the highlights but really digging into the analytics, is impressive. A guy who can balance 15 points a game in 21 minutes, six assists per 36 (minutes) and in pick and roll is more apt to pass that shoot.” At other points in the 15-minute conversation, Connelly called Dillingham “the best shot-creator in the draft,” adding that, “We challenged ourselves this offseason; how do we get more athletic? How do we have more shot creation? And to be brutally honest, we didn’t think we could achieve those things in the draft, sitting at 27. And the way the night broke and the way the calls kind of developed, we were unbelievably excited to get a guy that we think is as talented as anybody in this draft.” At the draft combine, Dillingham was measured at sixfeet, one-inch in stocking feet and 162 pounds. At just 19 years of age, there is time and room for him to grow and bulk up some. But that’s still a very slight starting point for someone in the NBA – especially regularly trying to defend opponents who will be at least 20-30 pounds heavier and often more. The most prominent NBA player with Dillingham’s current dimensions is Atlanta’s Trae Young, an extraordinary offensive player but a notorious sieve on defense. When I asked Connelly if there were plans to protect him from being overmatched

Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham driving to the basket against the Texas A&M Aggies during a March 15 game at Bridgestone Arena.

on defense, he responded, “Nah, not protect him; basically we are going to challenge him. We’re not here to hold his hand; he is a very competitive guy. There are plenty of examples of guys who are slight who are plus defenders. Certainly it is not easy when you lack leaguepositional size, but he’s an unbelievably competitive guy. That is one of his hallmarks.”

The gushing continued, much of it justified. With Conley and Ant as respective mentors for point guard play and shot creation, Dillingham is in an ideal environment. He infectious ability to play with pace, finish both at the rim and from outside, plus distribute to others, provides the offensive spark off the bench the Wolves missed last season. He can also thrive in blended lineups that feature Ant and Naz Reid, two others that crave and thrive in the up-tempo game. In other words, without diminishing his future upside, the ingenuous way Dillingham was acquired is already bankable brilliance on Connelly’s part. Assistant General Manager Matt Lloyd raved about how his leaguewide connections and creative thinking facilitated the deal. Before he sets foot on the court, Dillingham’s presence on the roster is catalytic. Longtime fans who use cynicism as a protective fallback position now have reason to believe last year’s success wasn’t a one-time occurrence and will be more willing to pay the rising ticket prices that in turn keeps ownership enthusiastic. In the same vein, players who might have paid lip service to Connelly’s call to return more hungry and invested

understand the organization has a new business-as-usual. Both Finch and Connelly want to play a crowdpleasing, up-tempo system of offense. The drafting of Dillingham, alongside Ant, Naz and KAT on the roster, among others increases the odds of that happening. Maybe the hype of Dillingham is a little over the top. If he’s the most talented and best shot-creator in the draft and has an overwhelming competitive streak that will enable even average defense at his small stature, why was he still around at the eighth slot in the draft, with the Spurs willing to let him pass for a player seven years down the road?But maybe, once again, Connelly is ahead of curve. Getting Dillingham on the Timberwolves roster without losing any of the seven core players already signed to contracts, or the first-round pick they subsequently used on talented swingman Terrence Shannon in the 27th slot, was a stroke of brilliance. How it compares with his deals for Gobert and Conley plus NAW will be determined by the length of Dillingham’s learning curve and his shelf life – and by the ability of the Wolves to exit “the final four table,” and sit down to a championship repast. Editor’s note: Assistant General Manager Matt Lloyd was incorrectly named Matt Walsh in an earlier edition. Britt Robson Britt Robson has covered the Timberwolves since 1990 for City Pages, The Rake, SportsIllustrated.com and The Athletic. He also has written about all forms and styles of music for over 30 years.

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Suni Lee competing on the beam during the U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on Sunday.

A Bright Day at the State Capitol

Sharing Our Stories

By W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor

THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW

A Bright Day at the State Capitol

By Portia Bright Pittman

and Dr. Calvin Mercer

As we all know, 2024 is an election year, where the allocation of resources is determined and who will best represent the interests of the voters, especially those of us who are part of what are considered marginalized groups in our society. When I was in 9th grade, we were taken on a field trip to the Minnesota State Capitol for a tour of the building and where we received information about the lawmaking process, augmenting our civics classes. This knowledge is expanded to include elementary school children in the activity book co-authored by Portia Bright Pittman and Dr. Calvin Mercer, There Ought to Be a Law: A Bright Day at the State Capitol.

In an interactive activity book of games, puzzles, coloring, and glossaries, Pittman and Mercer take children ages 6-9 through a journey about how a bill becomes a law and the elected public officials who are involved in the process. The children in the story, Eliza and Martin, are taken to the State Capitol by Eliza’s mother. They learn about the lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives, past and present governors, voting,

bill, getting the bill passed before the governor signs it into law, to name but a few steps in the process. This process is broken down beautifully by Pittman and Mercer. Pittman served as a legislative assistant at the North Carolina General Assembly, currently leading programs of several diverse groups about the legislative process as well as helping children understand just how government works. Mercer served on the city council in Greenville, North Carolina, and shares Pittman’s passion for engaging people in their government. I applaud Pittman and Mercer for their work. Voting and having knowledge of the lawmaking process is something we cannot take for granted. The presidential

election may take place every four years, but it doesn’t stop there. The decisions made in local and state government have a greater impact on our daily lives, and our children need to know these things in order to make informed decisions as adults.

For this achievement, Pittman and Mercer received a Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute Award for National Book of the Year.

There Ought to Be a Law is available through Bright Books (www.brightbooks. org), Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Thank you, Portia and Calvin, for showing and reminding us that we are never too young to learn that knowledge is power!

Insight 2 Health

A message of support for people in distress? It’s in the bag

By Andy Steiner

One way to have an impact is to get your message in front of as many eyeballs as possible.

When members of Fairview Health Services’ Veterans, Allies and Advocates Employee Resource Group wanted to spread the word to military veterans and their families about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, they decided that the most effective way was likely the most straightforward: printing information, including a helpful QR code with a direct link to the line, about the program on all Fairview Pharmacy’s retail prescription bags.

This might sound like a small gesture, but it’s not. “In 2023 we filled 1.5 million prescriptions,” said Lori Simpson, Fairview Health Services vice president of operations with oversight over retail and long term care community pharmacies. “Being able to have that information so easily accessible to so many people is amazing. That is a lot of opportunities to get that message out into the community.”

John Marshall, Fairview pharmacy services director of contracting and a VAA leader, said members of his group, mostly military veterans and their families and colleagues, were all-toowell aware of the suicide crisis among veterans and wanted to do something that could help as many people as possible.

“Veterans may be impacted to a disproportionate level by suicide,” Marshall said, “but it really impacts everyone. We felt that by printing this message on our prescription bags we’d be able to get the message not only to our target audience but also to so many other people.”

The prescription-bag program was launched in 2023 as part of VAA’s involvement in what was then called the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide and is now known as the Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Collaborative, Marshall explained. “We felt like this is one of those nobrainer things to do because suicide is something that effects not just veterans but people from all walks of life,” he said.

The campaign got immediate response from members of the veterans’ community, as well as consumers who picked up their prescriptions and noticed the bag’s message. “It has been a pretty positive reaction all around,” Marshall said. Since

the bags started appearing in Fairview pharmacies, he added, “I’ve had maybe half a dozen people send me a photo of the package. They didn’t know I was affiliated with the VAA group and they said, ‘Hey, this is cool,’ or ‘Wow. I had no idea. This is pretty cool.’”

Support for veterans emphasized

A third-generation military veteran, Marshall said he appreciates Fairview’s commitment to supporting employees with a history of military service.

When he and a group of colleagues decided to start an employee resource group for veterans, he said higher-ups were supportive — even enthusiastic.

“It was then known as the Veteran Employee Resource Group,” Marshall explained, though members soon heard from colleagues who had not served in the military but wanted to support their coworkers who had. Because of this interest, the group shifted its identity. “We changed our name to Veterans, Allies and Advocates Employee Resource Group because people said they wanted to support veterans but they weren’t veterans. We appreciated that and wanted to make them feel welcome.”

During his military career, Marshall had first-

hand experience with the veteran suicide crisis.

“I did two deployments with someone who did end up taking their own life,” he said. “That made a personal impression on me. It is one of the reasons I wanted to get involved with this effort in the first place.”

After he lost his friend, Marshall committed himself to suicide prevention — in the veteran community and the community at large. He likes that the prescriptionbag campaign has a wide reach.

“We all have different experiences, regardless of if we served or not. Letting people know that the 988 service is out there seems positive to me.” The group’s mission is twofold, Marshall said. “The first is focusing on how do we create positive impact and focus on hiring, retention and development of veteran employees. The second part is how do we engage with patients and community members who are veterans?”

In May, Fairview Health Services’ dedication to connecting service members, veterans and their families with vital community support, services and resources earned the nonprofit the status of a Beyond the Yellow Ribboncertified organization from the Minnesota National Guard.

Gov. Tim Walz attended the proclamation ceremony. The designation signifies, Marshall explained, “that as an employer you are committed to recognizing the positive contributions and attributes that veterans and other community members bring to your organization.” He said he and other members of VAA had been working on the certification process for “several years. Dozens of dozens of people have been involved.” Marshall said that he hopes that publicity around Fairview’s BTYR certification will encourage other staff members with a military history to come forward and get involved in VAA activities and activism. “For a number of reasons, some veterans are hesitant to self-identify, especially at work” he said. “That is the challenge we’re trying to overcome.”

‘Prime real estate’ When Marshall and his fellow VAA members first broached the idea of attaching a veteran suicideprevention message to Fairview prescriptions, they suggested the message would be attached to the monograph — the dosing and side-effect information included inside prescription bags. But after discussing the idea with pharmacy leaders,

the group switched course, Simpson said. “They thought that that information too often gets thrown away,” she said. “So they decided that from an awareness perspective it would be better if the message were on the outside of the bag. Everyone goes home with a bag.”

The VAA isn’t the first group to see the value of the blank space on the outside of prescription bags, Simpson said. “This is a place that is considered prime real estate. From time to time, we even get approached by advertisers who want to advertise their products on our bags,” she said. “So this felt like a good approach from a veteran-support perspective. We thought that this is a really good place to put that information.”

Fairview pharmacy executives supported the campaign. “Buy-in across all the pharmacy lines was strong,” Simpson said. Designing a message and having it printed on the bags was a relatively smooth process, she continued: “We just worked with our typical bag supplier. We are happy to fund the cost to have the stamp made to put the image on the bag.”

Before the new bags were put into general use in Fairview Health Services pharmacies, employees learned about healthy ways to respond to patient concerns. “We provided education to

pharmacy teams about what can they do if someone says they are experiencing suicidal thoughts,” Simpson said. Once the wheels were set in motion, the project was actually pulled off quite smoothly. The new bags were printed and rolled out in pharmacies before the end of the year. “I would credit Fairview and their senior leaders with how easily everything happened,” Marshall said. “They got behind this effort and were very supportive of the cause.” Simpson said she’s proud of the campaign’s massive reach. The simple act of putting the message and QR code on the bags could save a life — and that would make the whole effort worthwhile. “Think about the number of instances it puts this message in a home where there could be someone having a crisis,” she said. “It feels like this is a worthy thing to do. The more awareness that we’re raising for all mental health issues is definitely worthwhile.”

Andy Steiner

Andy Steiner is a Twin Cities-based writer and editor. Before becoming a fulltime freelancer, she worked as senior editor at Utne Reader and editor of the Minnesota Women’s Press. Email her at asteiner@minnpost.com.

Black owned ranches you should know

Across the country, Black owned ranches are making a significant impact. This diverse group offers a variety of experiences, from horseback riding adventures and event venues to sustainable agriculture and mental health services.

Whether you’re looking to learn, heal, or simply enjoy the beauty of nature, there’s a Black-owned ranch waiting to welcome you. Let’s explore some incredible

examples you won’t want to miss!

Black Owned Ranches Bloom Ranch is a historic 250-acre ranch nestled in the fertile heartland of California. considered the county’s largest Black owned ranch. It’s known for its commitment to sustainable farming practices and its dedication to the community. Clover Land Ranch is

a ranch located in Fayetteville, Georgia that offers horseback riding and ATV experiences. They pride themselves on providing a fun and relaxing experience for visitors.

Kings Wellness Ranch is a mental health service provider located in Palm Beach County, Florida. Their main focus

raised on pasture and grow small batch cut flowers + medicinal herbs.

Briarwood Cattle Farm is a veteran-owned ranch, that raises high-quality grass-

fed beef, free-range chicken, and heritage pork. They also go the extra mile, offering processing services and connecting local farmers and retailers with fresh, farm-to-table meats. Bella’s Barn caters to all horse lovers near Atlanta.

From beginner lessons to scenic trail rides, they offer a range of equestrian experiences. Birthday parties and photo shoots add a unique

Backpack healthcare secures $14M to address youth mental health crisis

By Tony O. Lawson

Hafeezah Muhammad, founder and CEO of health technology company Backpack Healthcare, has secured $14 million in Series A funding to revolutionize pediatric mental healthcare with a focus on Medicaid-enrolled youth.

Announced in May 2024, this investment fuels Backpack Healthcare’s mission to address the escalating youth mental health crisis in the United States.

Backpack Healthcare tackles a critical gap in mental healthcare access. Over 40 million children rely on Medicaid or CHIP for coverage, yet only 14% of mental health professionals accept Medicaid. With its AI-powered app and

teletherapy services, Backpack Healthcare offers a solution. Their inclusive approach ensures all young people facing mental health challenges receive the support they need, regardless of socioeconomic background. The company strategically partners with Medicaid-accepting insurance providers, effectively bridging the gap between limited provider availability and those seeking care.

“The funding underscores the need for more inclusive, tech-enabled solutions in the U.S. healthcare system to address the growing pediatric mental health crisis,” said Muhammad. “This milestone allows us to break down barriers and deliver equitable access to mental health support for all children.”

Backpack Healthcare’s AI-powered app goes beyond functionality. It utilizes advanced algorithms to monitor user emotions and match them with specialized therapists for tailored treatment plans. The app creates an engaging experience with interactive tools and activities, making therapy enjoyable and encouraging participation. The company’s offerings extend beyond the app. Backpack Healthcare provides individual pediatric and family therapy, medication management through telemedicine, and even live parent training sessions on relevant topics like cyberbullying and substance abuse. This comprehensive approach ensures children receive support both within

therapy sessions and at home. The funding will be used to enhance Backpack Healthcare’s technology platform, expand its reach to serve more communities, and further develop its teletherapy services. Currently operating in Maryland and Virginia, with national expansion planned, Backpack Healthcare is committed to making its innovative solutions accessible to a wider audience. Additionally, they plan to continue research and development efforts to stay at the forefront of AI innovation, while forging partnerships with healthcare companies, government agencies, and schools to deliver high-quality care to those in need.

Amid this revival, Black owned bourbon and whiskey brands have carved out a distinctive niche, bringing unique flavors, rich histories, and innovative techniques to the forefront.

These brands are not only contributing to the diversity of the spirits industry but are also reclaiming a heritage deeply intertwined with the history of whiskey itself.

Black Owned Bourbon & Whiskey Brands

Abisola Whiskey is a blend of Bourbon whiskey and Malt whiskey, with notes of vanilla and waffle cone to complement the caramel and spice in the blended base.

Alexander James Whiskey was founded in 2021 by Jesse Steward Jr. Named after his son, it aims to continue a family tradition of sharing stories over good whiskey.

Den of Thieves is a whiskey brand known for its smooth, 5-year aged straight bourbon. Made in New Mexico and matured in charred oak barrels, it offers a taste of caramel, citrus, and spice. They also create flavored