Daily Digest: Noor takes the stand

Good morning, and happy Friday. Here's the Digest.

1. Former police officer testifies in murder trial Speaking publicly for the first time about the night he shot 911 caller Justine Ruszczyk, ex-Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor told jurors at his trial about hearing a bang and sensing his partner's fear as he moved to shoot the figure next to the squad. The officers had come to the alley that night after Ruszczyk had called for police because of a concern that someone outside her house was being attacked. Noor told jurors that he and his partner, officer Matthew Harrity, sat in the squad in the alley and were about to clear the call when they heard a bang. After the noise, he said saw Harrity, who was in the driver's seat, reach for his weapon, that Harrity struggled to get the weapon out and had fear in his eyes. Noor, in the passenger seat, said he saw a blonde woman in a pink shirt raise her arm, and that Harrity exclaimed, "Oh, Jesus." Noor said he put his left hand on Harrity's chest and extended his right arm to fire. At the moment he said he "feared for his life and there was a threat, and my intention was to stop the threat." Prosecutor Amy Sweasy pressed Noor about the decision to fire. Noor acknowledged that he didn't see Ruszczyk's hands before shooting. Asked if he knew he was shooting a person, Noor replied, "Yes, ma'am." After Noor realized that Ruszczyk was dead, "It felt like my whole world came crashing down," he told the court. He said he felt sad and traumatized in the shooting's aftermath. "If I had known this would happen I would never have been a cop," he said. (MPR News)

2. House votes to ban conversion therapy. The Minnesota House has taken a stand against conversion therapy, a practice used to try to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Lawmakers voted 72-53 Thursday to include a statewide ban of the therapy on minors in a larger health and human services bill. Under the measure, mental health professionals in Minnesota would be prohibited from engaging in conversion therapy with clients under age 18 or with vulnerable adults. First-term Rep. Hunter Cantrell, DFL-Savage, spent much of the legislative session pushing for ban. His bill received committee attention but a Senate companion did not. Cantrell said the therapy is “roundly discredited” and harmful to those who undergo it. “This is something that we can all get behind and we can all be proud of, because I think we can all agree no therapy should harm our children, no therapy should be deceptive,” Cantrell said. The proposed ban also holds mental health professionals accountable for violations. They could be subject to disciplinary action by their professional licensing board. Cantrell said the ban is long overdue.Several Republicans spoke against the amendment. Rep. Tim Miller, R-Prinsburg, said the practice is not common in the state and is not evil. Miller tried unsuccessfully to add another ban, which would prevent gender transition services for minors. “Saying someone was born in the wrong body is just plain false. God does not make mistakes.” (MPR News)

3. Radinovich resigns from IRRR. Former DFL 8th District congressional candidate Joe Radinovich resigned from his state agency post Thursday amid lingering questions about his hiring. Radinovich went to work last month as a senior policy advisory at the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRR). But a recent report in the Timberjay raised questions about the hire and whether normal procedures were followed at the Eveleth-based economic development agency. Gov. Tim Walz’s office later confirmed the procedures were not followed. In announcing his resignation, Radinovich said his intent is to refocus the public’s attention on the agency’s important mission. He informed Commissioner Mark Phillips that his last day will be April 30. Rep. Sandy Layman, R-Cohasset, a former Commissioner of the IRRR, said it was “appropriate” that Radinovich resign to restore credibility to the agency. She also serves on the board of the IRRR in her capacity as a legislator. (MPR News)

4. Corrections chief says Senate budget bill is too lean. Minnesota Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell warned this week that the Senate’s public safety bill falls well short of targets needed to improve officer and inmate security, something prison officials deemed a top priority amid a wave of assaults that included two officer deaths last year. Lawmakers and corrections officials have called for more funding to improve staffing and to shore up safety for both state prison guards and inmates. The Senate’s bill, passed 44-23 late Wednesday, provides $9.5 million over two years to hire more corrections officers and pay for prison security upgrades. But in a letter to Sen. Warren Limmer, a Maple Grove Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, Schnell said the spending package would lead to dozens of officer cuts and an inability to provide prisoner health care because it does not cover other operational costs. “If this budget becomes a reality, the DOC is required to cut essential programming within our facilities to make up for this healthcare funding shortfall — including behavioral health and treatment programming,” Schnell wrote. “With these cuts from the Senate proposal will come increased risks to safety.” (Star Tribune)

5. Buttigieg to raise money in St. Paul. Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg will come to Minnesota next Thursday for a private fundraiser. The 37-year-old, openly gay mayor of South Bend, Ind. will speak to donors at a private residence in St. Paul. Tickets to the afternoon event start at $250 and go up to $2,800. Outside of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and President Donald Trump, Buttigieg is the first major presidential candidate to visit Minnesota. Democratic presidential hopeful and entrepreneur Andrew Yang will be in Minneapolis next Sunday for a public event at Boom Island Park — the same spot that Klobuchar launched her presidential campaign. Brian and Shawn Harrison will host the Buttigieg fundraiser at their St. Paul home. Brian Harrison is a political scientist and adjunct lecturer at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. He has donated to the presidential campaigns of Buttigieg, Klobuchar and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. “I think (Buttigieg) is authentic in a way that I haven’t really seen in any of the other candidates,” Harrison said. (Pioneer Press)

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