Dan Lackore still holds onto the last two photos ever taken of his sister Barb, before she and her husband Mike Jiminez were murdered trying hitchhike home to Mankato in April 1974. Lackore sat through two trials, one for each victim, and saw Edward Clark convicted twice of first degree murder. Clark admits picking up the couple as he drove cross-country. But he's always claimed his innocence, even writing a book from prison, despite police linking the murder weapon to him and finding several of his belongings at the crime scene. Now, at 80 years old, in poor health and eligible for parole, Clark will argue for his release. After the hearing, the decision whether to free Edward Clark will be made by one man, the Commissioner of Corrections, Paul Schnell. A decision is expected later in the day.
Jamar Clark's family members and supporters on Monday demanded a $20 million settlement from the city of Minneapolis, arguing that his death should be compensated the same as Justine Ruszczyk Damond's. On Tuesday, Clark's lawyers and the city will return to the negotiating table in a closed-door settlement conference at the federal courthouse. Ahead of that session, more than a dozen community advocates and relatives of Clark stood outside the courthouse to publicize their settlement demands. The $20 million settlement for Ruszczyk Damond's family was the largest in Minnesota history and almost as much as all Minneapolis misconduct payouts over the past 15 years combined, according to our reporting partners at MPR News. Earlier this month, the city council rejected a settlement agreement in the Clark case for unknown reasons that have not been revealed publicly.
Xcel Energy plans to retire its two remaining coal plants in the Upper Midwest by 2030, a decade earlier than scheduled.The Minneapolis-based utility also announced plans Monday to expand wind and solar, use cleaner natural gas and operate its carbon-free nuclear plant in Monticello, Minnesota, until at least 2040. Xcel reached an agreement with environmental and labor groups on key parts of the company's coal, solar and natural gas plans. The utility plans to retire the Allen S. King coal power plant in Bayport, Minnesota, by 2028 and the Sherco 3 coal-fired generator in Becker, Minnesota, by 2030. The company will submit the plan to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in July.
