Morning Headlines from April 20, 2016

WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY IN A BIT. CAN'T WAIT. A FEDERAL GRAND JURY HAS CLEARED MOST CHARGES AGAINST A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF ABUSING HIS POWER. YES. MICHAEL GRIFFIN WAS ACCUSED OF OFF-DUTY ASSAULT, FILING FALSE PAPERWORK AND LYING AT TRIAL. THE JURY FOUND GRIFFIN NOT GUILTY ON SIX OF THE NINE CHARGES. THE ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL GRIFFIN SAYS HIS CLIENT IS READY TO PUT THE CASE BEHIND HIM. IT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL. HE WAS EXTREMELY RELIEVED AND HAPPY. U.S. ATTORNEY ANDY LUGER RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING WE HAD HOPED FOR A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. WE RESPECT THE VERDICT OF THE JURY AND THANK THEM IF ARE THEIR SERVICE DURING THIS LONG AND DIFFICULT TRIAL. THE U.S. ATTORNEY IS REVIEWING WHETHER TO RETRY GRIP ON ANY OF THE CHARGES WHERE THE JURY COULD NOT REACH A VERDICT. MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF CALLED THE CASE AN UNFORTUNATE DISTRACTION. SHE DECLINED TO COMMENT FURTHER BECAUSE THERE IS AN INTERIM INVESTIGATION. TWO MEN FACE CHARGE IN A DEADLY ST. PAUL SHOOTING. POLICE NOW TELL US IT APPEARS TO BE GANG RELATED. PROSECUTORS CHARGED 24-YEAR-OLD PRINCE WILLIAMS AND 18-YEAR-OLD RASHON PORTER YESTERDAY WITH COMMITTING A CRIME FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GAME. A POLICE REPORT SAYS THE MEN WERE INVOLVED IN A FIGHT THAT BROKE OUT DURING A BARBECUE SUNDAY NIGHT AND WITNESSES HEARD MORE THAN 30 GUNSHOTS FROM MULTIPLE SHOOTERS. 18-YEAR-OLD BOBBY COLLINS WAS KILLED. THE SHOOTINGS ARE ONE OF SEVERAL IN ST. PAUL IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. POLICE ARE INCREASING PATROLS IN PROBLEM AREAS AND CREATING RESPONSE TEAM TO INVESTIGATE EVERY REPORT OF GUNFIRE. THE MAYOR CHRIS COLEMAN ADDRESSED THE PROBLEMS AND VIOLENCE IN THE STATE OF THE CITY REMARKS YESTERDAY AND SAID AN EMPHASIS ON EQUITY, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT IS MORE NEEDED THAN EVER. WE ARE STRONG. WE WILL BE AT OUR STRONGEST WHEN EVERYONE IS STRONG IN THIS COMMUNITY. TODAY IS MAYOR IS PLANNING A PUBLIC MEETING TO TALK ABOUT MORE WAYS TO HELP STOP GUN VIOLENCE. TARGET TAKES A STAND ON A CONTROVERSIAL TRANSGENDER BAN. THEY RELEASED A STATEMENT WELCOMING TRANSGENDER TEAM MEMBERS OR GUESTS TO USE IT IS RESTROOM OR FITTING ROOM FACILITY THAT CORRESPONDS WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY. NOW MINNESOTA IS ONE OF 14 STATES TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE. SUPPORTERS OF THE BAN SAY IT PROTECTS WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM BATHROOMS. STATE DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO HEAR IT AND GOVERNOR MARK DAYTON PROMISED A VETO IF IT EVER REACHES HIS DESK. MnSCU IS GETTING A NEW NAME. PIONEER PRESS REPORTS THE MINNESOTA UNIVERSITY WILL NOW BE KNOWN AT MINNESOTA STATE. THE CHANCELLOR SAYS THE NAME MnSCU HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE CONFUSING IN BRAND RESEARCH. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS. THE SYSTEM PAID MORE THAN $270,000 TO A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM TO RESEARCH IT AND HAS ANOTHER $345,000 CONTRACT OUT TO HELP REBRAND THE SYSTEM. MINNESOTA STATE PLANS TO UPDATE LOGOS ONLINE IN THE COMING WEEKS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE ROLLOUT OF THE NEW BRAND IN JULY.