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THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934 June 4 - 10, 2026
Vol. 92
No. 44
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
St. Paul native Winfield joins Hall of Fame plaza at Toni Stone Field By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer
Winfield statue
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald/MSR
brother Steven grew up in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, the city’s Black community bronze statue of that was virtually divided in St. Paul native half by the construction of InDavid M. Winfield terstate 94 in the 1950s. The now stands at Toni two brothers soon became Stone Field at the city’s Dun- known for their athleticism and played several sports, inning Sports Complex. Designed by Matt Glenn of cluding baseball at Oxford Big Statues in Utah, the new Playground, located just minWinfield statue joins statues utes from their home. David’s athletic skills grew of Stone, the first woman and Black female to play men’s along with his 6-foot-6 frame, professional baseball, who which he carried into high once lived in St. Paul, and school at St. Paul Central. He three fellow city natives: Jack went on to the University of Morris, Paul Molitor and Joe Minnesota to play baseball in Mauer on the field’s Hall of 1969. The Gophers won the 1972 Big Ten championship, Fame Plaza. Winfield spoke at last Sat- and he was named College urday’s statue unveiling dur- World Series MVP the following a public celebration at ing year as a pitcher. “I might have been the first Stone Field. “It’s a wonderful honor,” he African American to get a said during an MSR phone in- scholarship to play baseball at the University of Minneterview prior to the event. Born Oct. 3, 1951, David sota,” Winfield recalled. He ■ See WINFIELD on page 5 Mark Winfield and his older
Larry Fitzgerald Sr. reflection through Charles Hallman 1955 - 2026
arry and I became collegues at the MSR in 1990. Prior to that we worked together at KMOJFM for several years during the 1980s and competed against each other of sorts when I was at Insight News. We both were cut from the same cloth as strong advocates for Black athletes and coaches in that if we didn't do it, they might not get the proper attention in coverage as they should. Larry was a regular fixture at Super Bowls, including in person to watch his son Larry Jr. play for Arizona. He was extremely proud
of him and his older son Marcus, both of whom I knew since they were little. And we watched how he worked tirelessly in honoring his late wife Carol, a precious soul in her own right. He was a regular fixture at NBA All Star Games and other major sporting events over the years. Larry rightfully earned the respect of both the Twin Cities journalism community as well as nationwide for his dilligence. He will be dearly and deeply missed." Charles Hallman MInnesota Spokesman Recorder columnist.
Larry Fitzgerald Sr.
1955 - 2026
DOJ indicts 15 in Twin Cities honored with JFK Profile in Courage Award $90 million Minnesota for resisting Metro Surge Medicaid fraud case By Jasmine McBride Editor
and killed by federal agents Kennedy Profile in Courage days later. Both casualties Award on May 31 at a cerof Metro Surge, the federal emony attended by roughly hen Sheletta government's unprecedented 700 people, honored for riskB r u n d i d g e immigration enforcement op- ing their lives to protect neighwalked into eration that flooded the Twin bors and immigrant communithe John F. Cities with up to 4,000 ICE of- ty members during the surge. It is one of the most prestiKennedy Presidential Library ficers earlier this year. "They gave the ultimate sac- gious awards in American civin Boston on Sunday night, she carried two people with rifice for their courage, and ic life, first given in 1989 and they should be in the room typically reserved for elected her. On the back of a one-of-a- when that award is handed officials. Past recipients inkind jacket were the faces of out," said Brundidge, host of clude Barack Obama (2017), Renee Good and Alex Pretti, a The Sheletta Show on WCCO George H.W. Bush (2014) and U.S. citizen shot and killed by Radio and founder of Shelet- Gabrielle Giffords (2013). This year was different. an ICE agent in south Minne- taMakesMeLaugh.com. "When our politics are unThe people of the Twin Citapolis on Jan. 7, and a 37-yearold Minneapolis man shot ies received the 2026 John F. der so much pressure, we don't see as much progress in elected office, and we've needed the everyday people who are simply neighbors to stand up and defend these fundamental values of our democracy," said Rachel Flor, executive director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. The deaths of Good and Pretti cast a long shadow over the surge and the recognition that followed. Good, 37, was shot through the windshield of her purple SUV near 34th Street and Portland Avenue after an ICE agent stepped in front of her vehicle as she attempted to drive away. The Department of Homeland Security said the officer fired in self-defense, claiming Good used her vehicle as a weapon. Witnesses and video footage told a different story. State officials said federal agents blocked a doctor at the scene from performing CPR. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan called it "an unspeakable act of violence." ■ See COURAGE on page 5 Sheletta Brundidge Courtesy
Viral conservative influencer Nick Shirley with former 2010 Republican candidate for Attorney General and right-wing lobbyist David Hoch at the DOJ press conference room in Minneapolis. By Clint Combs Contributing Writer ederal prosecutors announced indictments May 21 against 15 people accused of defrauding Minnesota’s Medicaid program of $90 million, but the nation’s top law enforcement officer was absent from the Minneapolis press conference where the charges were unveiled. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche did not attend the event, instead appearing in Washington to defend a $1.776 billion fund that would compensate claims from allies of President Donald Trump, including participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Days before the press conference, the Justice Department released a memo stating the IRS is “forever barred” from investigating past tax returns of Trump and his family. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz joined DOJ officials at the Minneapolis event, where they alleged defendants billed for services never provided, exploited vulnerable children and adults, and used stolen funds to purchase luxury vehicles and real estate. “My message is this: eat, drink and be merry today, because your days of frolicking and freedom are numbered,” said Colin McDonald, assistant attorney general overseeing the Justice Department’s Fraud and Enforcement Division. Court filings describe what prosecutors characterize as a multi-year Medicaid fraud operation. In one case, defendants Muhammad Abdulqadir Omar and Ibrahim Bashir Abdi allegedly operated two home health care LLCs as fronts to submit fraudulent claims and falsified case notes, bilking $3.8 million from the state Department of Human Services. Prosecutors
allege the two used the money to invest a combined $170,000 in Kenyan real estate and purchase a $60,000 MercedesBenz. Oz referenced a 32-year-old defendant, displaying a blurry still photo of Omar, who allegedly jumped from a fourth-floor balcony before being arrested later that night. “Those people need our help because of that man,” Oz said. “This gentleman, this picture, is one of the reasons that the housing stabilization program in this fine state is shut down.” DOJ officials also announced that the Health Care Fraud Strike Force will add 11 new prosecutors nationwide to combat growing Medicaid fraud. The expansion comes amid a wave of departures from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, with prosecutors resigning in protest over the DOJ’s refusal to investigate federal agent Jonathan Ross, who shot and killed Renee ■ See DOJ on page 5