🌱 COVID Cases Triple + Timberwolves Announcer Let Go + Film Festival

Good morning, Minneapolis! Let's get to your Friday headlines.

First, today's weather: More clouds than sun. High: 69 Low: 46.

Here are the top 5 stories in Minneapolis today:

1. Minneapolis police are investigating the “suspicious death” of a 2-year-old boy. Authorities were called Wednesday to an apartment in the 2400 block of Oakland Avenue and found him unresponsive before taking him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. (BMTN)

2. COVID-19 cases in Minnesota have tripled since the middle of March, the state health department reports. Six additional deaths were reported Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 12,521 virus-related deaths in Minnesota. (CBS)

3. The Minnesota State Patrol will assist Minneapolis police in handling violent crimes this summer, the agency announced this week. The department is seeing an “unprecedented” shortage of officers as city crime rates rise. (Patch)

4. Timberwolves fans took to social media to voice their disappointment in the departure of play-by-play announcer Dave Benz. He was let go by Bally Sports North this week after 10 seasons in the broadcast booth. (Patch)

5. Minneapolis natives Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this year. The songwriting duo is also being honored with the 2022 Musical Excellence Award, the hall of fame announced. (KARE11)

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Today in Minneapolis:

• More than 20 films screen at the MSP International Film Festival. (2 p.m.)
• The Hook and Ladder Theater hosts an outdoor concert in honor of James Samuel "Cornbread" Harris Sr.’s 95th birthday. (6 p.m.)
• Ben Rector performs at the Armory. (7 p.m.)
• The Twins open a nine-game home stand at Target Field. (7:10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Minneapolis Park Board voted Wednesday to reestablish its relationship with city police. The board cut ties with the Minneapolis Police Department nine days after George Floyd was killed. (KSTP)
• The Wild head to St. Louis tonight for game three of the first round of the NHL playoffs. The series is tied 1-1. (NHL)
• Edwards Dessert Kitchen officially reopened in the North Loop neighborhood after being closed for two years due to the pandemic. (CBS)
• Five Minnesotans will play for the U.S. Men’s hockey team in the IIHF World Championship, set for next weekend in Finland. (Paid source: Star Tribune)

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That's all for today, Minneapolis. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

— Georgi Presecky

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based newsletter writer and partner content curator. She spent five years on the entertainment beat for FF2 Media covering film festivals across the U.S. Her feature articles have been recognized with awards from the Illinois Women's Press Association and National Federation of Press Women. As editor-in-chief of the Lewis University newspaper, she and her staff earned honors from the Associated Collegiate Press and American Scholastic Press Associations. She began working for Patch in 2019.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Minneapolis Daily? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com