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Here is your InForum Minute for Friday, July 15.
FARGO — Seven members of the Police Advisory & Oversight Board peppered Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski on Thursday, July 14, with questions about last week's police-involved fatal shooting.
Local activist Faith Dixon told the board to demand the release of body camera and in-squad car footage of the police-officer shooting of Native American Shane Netterville on Friday, July 8.
Zibolski made it clear that the prosecutor in the case, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley, made the decision to not release the video as he weighs whether to charge the officer with a crime. Full story here.
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Biden grants presidential disaster declaration for 40 North Dakota counties after spring storms, flooding
BISMARCK — Gov. Doug Burgum announced on Thursday, July 14, that President Joe Biden has granted a presidential major disaster declaration for 40 North Dakota counties affected by severe storms and subsequent flooding from April 22 to May 25 that broke precipitation records, caused power outages for more than 10,000 residents and caused more than $57 million in damage across the state.
The disaster declaration includes the northeastern North Dakota counties of Pembina, Walsh, Grand Forks, Traill, Cavalier, Ramsey, Nelson, Steele and Griggs, which saw river and overland flooding during the series of storms. Full story here.
Minnesota reports record drug overdose deaths in 2021
ST. PAUL — Minnesota saw a record number of drug overdose deaths in 2021, with most of the fatalities associated with the powerful synthetic opioid painkiller fentanyl.
With more than 1,286 overdose deaths, 2021 saw a 22% increase from 2020, the Minnesota Department of Health said in a report released Thursday, July 14. Last year had twice as many deaths as the state saw 10 years ago, and numbers have climbed significantly since 2018 when there were just over 600.
Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm called the trend alarming but said there are steps the state can take including expanding access to overdose-reversing medications such as naloxone. Full story here.
