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The Herald Scotland
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Minnesota shooting victims offer statement detailing 'horrific night'
Her husband, shot nine times, remained in critical condition on June 19, a spokesperson for the hospital system treating him told KARE 11. She was released from the hospital on Thursday, June 19, according to the Minneapolis-based TV station. USA TODAY is not identifying the hospital for safety and privacy reasons. A reporter contacted the hospital for more information, but has not received a response. Another lawmaker in Minnesota, state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were also shot that same day at their home, Brooklyn Park Police officials said. Law enforcement discovered their bodies on Saturday, June 14. Following an intense manhunt, law enforcement on June 15 arrested Vance Luther Boelter, 57, in connection with both shootings. He faces state and federal murder charges, including multiple counts of murder and stalking. Gov. Tim Walz has publicly called the killings a political assassination. Now, days after the shootings, John and Yvette Hoffman are detailing that "horrific night." 'I'm going to be honest': North Dakota man charged with threatening official in email citing Minnesota shootings Statement from John and Yvette Hoffman According to the statement from John and Yvette Hoffman, shared with USA TODAY, the couple had attended the Humphrey Mondale dinner on Friday, June 13, and returned home that night with their adult daughter, Hope. At around 2 a.m., the couple was awakened by the "sounds of pounding on the front door and shouts of someone seeking entry," the statement reads. The individual identified himself as a police officer, and when the couple opened the door, all three of them were in the entryway, the statement continues. John Hoffman "initially lunged at the gunman as the weapon was pointed directly at him," leading to him being "struck nine times," according to the statement. As he fell, his wife reached out to push the gunman and shut the door, succeeding before she was also "hit eight times by gunfire," the statement continues. Hope Hoffman then rushed to shut the door and secure the lock before calling 911 and sharing that her dad had been shot in his home, the statement reads. "Her brave actions and quick thinking triggered the notice to public safety officials that a politically-motivated act was potentially underway," the statement says about Hope. The couple, which continues to receive medical care, said in the statement that they're "deeply grateful for those providers, for the first responders and for all those in law enforcement who worked so quickly, professionally and selflessly to safeguard others and to apprehend the shooter." The statement also mentions the murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman, saying: "We are heartbroken to know that our friends Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated. Our daughter Hope and Sophie Hortman went to school together, and we know that they - along with Colin Hortman - will have each other's support as we all work through the devastating consequences of that horrific night." The couple also thanked those at the Fernbrook Elementary School in Maple Grove, Minnesota, for the GoFundMe page that will help them "pick up the broken pieces of (their) lives." "We are uplifted by the prayers and support from so many across the state of Minnesota and the country: thank you," the statement reads. The statement also speaks on the risk of being a public servant in today's society, saying: "Choosing to work in the public sector, even in as limited a way as John's career as a senator, has always meant sacrificing a level of privacy. But now we are grappling with the reality that we live in a world where public service carries such risks as being targeted because someone disagrees with you or doesn't like what you stand for." "As a society, as a nation, as a community, we must work together to return to a level of civility that allows us all to live peacefully. The future for our children depends on that," the statement continues. "We will be praying for that work and appreciate all those who will join with us." USA TODAY contacted Hoffman's office on June 20 but has not received a response. Just received this encouraging update from Senator Hoffman's wife, Yvette, on their recovery in the hospital. Grateful for their progress and will continue to keep them in our prayers. — Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) June 15, 2025 Shooter 'meant to kill, injure, harass and intimidate' state leaders, feds say Boelter visited the homes of two other state officials the morning he launched a targeted "political assassination," Joseph Thompson, the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said. Boelter drove to the houses of the other state officials after he shot and wounded John Hoffman and his wife. Police arrested Boelter on June 15 in rural Sibley County, some 50 miles from Minneapolis, after they accused him of fatally shooting Hortman and her husband in their home. The suspect also targeted several other lawmakers in the Midwest, prosecutors said. According to a 20-page court affidavit released June 17, detailing the violent and deadly crime spree, FBI Agent Terry Getsceh wrote the suspect meant to "kill, injure, harass and intimidate'' more than 45 Minnesota state and federal officials whose names and addresses he had researched. Investigators say Boelter "extensively researched" and planned the June 14 attack. He compiled a list of mostly Democratic state lawmakers and their addresses; he fitted his SUV with lights and a fake license plate to resemble a police squad car; and he purchased a silicone mask and a cache of weapons, court documents filed in federal court show. Contributing: Rebecca Morin, Christopher Cann, Susan Miller and Jorge L. Ortiz Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
USA Today
a day ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Minnesota shooting victims John, Yvette Hoffman detail 'horrific night'
"We are uplifted by the prayers and support from so many across the state of Minnesota and the country: thank you," the Hoffmans' statement reads. Sen. John Hoffman, shot alongside his wife at their Minnesota home nearly a week ago, in what officials deemed as "targeted," released a statement detailing the married couple's version of what happened during the violent break-in that left them hospitalized. Under the cover of night, on the early morning of June 14, a gunman gained access to the couple's Champlin home, shot the Democratic lawmaker, and then shot his wife. Police said Yvette Hoffman survived. Her husband, shot nine times, remained in critical condition on June 19, a spokesperson for the hospital system treating him told KARE 11. She was released from the hospital on Thursday, June 19, according to the Minneapolis-based TV station. USA TODAY is not identifying the hospital for safety and privacy reasons. A reporter contacted the hospital for more information, but has not received a response. Another lawmaker in Minnesota, state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were also shot that same day at their home, Brooklyn Park Police officials said. Law enforcement discovered their bodies on Saturday, June 14. Following an intense manhunt, law enforcement on June 15 arrested Vance Luther Boelter, 57, in connection with both shootings. He faces state and federal murder charges, including multiple counts of murder and stalking. Gov. Tim Walz has publicly called the killings a political assassination. Now, days after the shootings, John and Yvette Hoffman are detailing that "horrific night." 'I'm going to be honest': North Dakota man charged with threatening official in email citing Minnesota shootings Statement from John and Yvette Hoffman According to the statement from John and Yvette Hoffman, shared with USA TODAY, the couple had attended the Humphrey Mondale dinner on Friday, June 13, and returned home that night with their adult daughter, Hope. At around 2 a.m., the couple was awakened by the "sounds of pounding on the front door and shouts of someone seeking entry," the statement reads. The individual identified himself as a police officer, and when the couple opened the door, all three of them were in the entryway, the statement continues. John Hoffman "initially lunged at the gunman as the weapon was pointed directly at him," leading to him being "struck nine times," according to the statement. As he fell, his wife reached out to push the gunman and shut the door, succeeding before she was also "hit eight times by gunfire," the statement continues. Hope Hoffman then rushed to shut the door and secure the lock before calling 911 and sharing that her dad had been shot in his home, the statement reads. "Her brave actions and quick thinking triggered the notice to public safety officials that a politically-motivated act was potentially underway," the statement says about Hope. The couple, which continues to receive medical care, said in the statement that they're "deeply grateful for those providers, for the first responders and for all those in law enforcement who worked so quickly, professionally and selflessly to safeguard others and to apprehend the shooter." The statement also mentions the murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman, saying: "We are heartbroken to know that our friends Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated. Our daughter Hope and Sophie Hortman went to school together, and we know that they - along with Colin Hortman - will have each other's support as we all work through the devastating consequences of that horrific night." The couple also thanked those at the Fernbrook Elementary School in Maple Grove, Minnesota, for the GoFundMe page that will help them "pick up the broken pieces of (their) lives." "We are uplifted by the prayers and support from so many across the state of Minnesota and the country: thank you," the statement reads. The statement also speaks on the risk of being a public servant in today's society, saying: "Choosing to work in the public sector, even in as limited a way as John's career as a senator, has always meant sacrificing a level of privacy. But now we are grappling with the reality that we live in a world where public service carries such risks as being targeted because someone disagrees with you or doesn't like what you stand for." "As a society, as a nation, as a community, we must work together to return to a level of civility that allows us all to live peacefully. The future for our children depends on that," the statement continues. "We will be praying for that work and appreciate all those who will join with us." USA TODAY contacted Hoffman's office on June 20 but has not received a response. Shooter 'meant to kill, injure, harass and intimidate' state leaders, feds say Boelter visited the homes of two other state officials the morning he launched a targeted "political assassination," Joseph Thompson, the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said. Boelter drove to the houses of the other state officials after he shot and wounded John Hoffman and his wife. Police arrested Boelter on June 15 in rural Sibley County, some 50 miles from Minneapolis, after they accused him of fatally shooting Hortman and her husband in their home. The suspect also targeted several other lawmakers in the Midwest, prosecutors said. According to a 20-page court affidavit released June 17, detailing the violent and deadly crime spree, FBI Agent Terry Getsceh wrote the suspect meant to 'kill, injure, harass and intimidate'' more than 45 Minnesota state and federal officials whose names and addresses he had researched. Investigators say Boelter "extensively researched" and planned the June 14 attack. He compiled a list of mostly Democratic state lawmakers and their addresses; he fitted his SUV with lights and a fake license plate to resemble a police squad car; and he purchased a silicone mask and a cache of weapons, court documents filed in federal court show. Contributing: Rebecca Morin, Christopher Cann, Susan Miller and Jorge L. Ortiz Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
We visited 3 Target stores across the US for clues as to why the retail chain is struggling
Target has struggled to grow sales in recent years as competitors pull ahead. Some analysts and customers have remarked that the in-store execution is not hitting the mark. BI visited three stores across the US to try to get a sense of what the retailer is doing right — and what it could do better. On paper, Target is struggling. Shopping in some of its stores offers clues as to why. The retailer has reported lackluster financial performance over the past two years. Its sales have struggled to grow while competitors like Walmart and Costco have posted strong gains. The Minneapolis-based retailer's growth soared during the pandemic years, but it has since reported declining comparable sales in five of the last eight quarters. Visits are also down this year. Target said foot traffic fell 2.4% year over year during its first quarter. Data from the foot traffic analytics firm suggests the decline at Target has been starker than at its rivals. In each of the past four months, Target's traffic was down from the year before, while Walmart's was mixed, and Costco notched gains, according to the data. The general state of the stores has been a key issue for analysts and many customers on social media. By some accounts, Target is no longer as fun to wander around in while loading up a cart. "The traditional mantra of the Target trip is that you go in for toothpaste and you come out with many, many other things," said Global Data retail analyst Neil Saunders. "That necessitates a good, strongly executed store environment, so when that falls short, it reduces basket sizes, it reduces conversion, and it pushes down value-for-money perceptions as well." In recent weeks, BI reporters visited three locations across the US multiple times to better understand the state of its stores: Madison, Wisconsin, Ventura, California, and Washington, DC. The shopping experience varied between the locations. One seemed well-stocked and fairly busy with customers. Another showed some signs of low foot traffic. And a third — a newer format for Target — seemed to be understaffed and had lots of locked-up products. Here's what we saw: Target does get some stores mostly right The Target on Madison's Near West Side is arguably a crown jewel of the retailer's nearly 2,000 US stores. The location serves families from surrounding neighborhoods and students from the nearby University of Wisconsin — two audiences that are Target's bread and butter. If the company is going to get any store right, this should be one of them. On recent visits, BI saw that the parking lot was active and not overly full. The store appeared to be reasonably well-staffed. A group of employees gathered one morning near the entrance for a quick meeting and talked about setting up seasonal displays. During an afternoon visit, three of the eight staffed checkout lanes were open, as were all the kiosks in a self-service area. Some of the shelves in the low-priced Bullseye's Playground area were empty, though it wasn't clear whether this was due to seasonal changes in the selection or because items were sold out. Clothing displays were tidy and well-organized. The floors of the shoe aisles were clear of clutter from shoppers trying on different sizes. Several small groups of shoppers were in the store, and none seemed to be in any particular rush. It seemed like the kind of shopping experience Target's execs have said they hope will bring the "Tarzhay" effect to life. CEO Brian Cornell said on a recent earnings call that the company wants to "deliver everyday discovery and delight" and prioritize "ease, convenience, and a personal touch with every interaction." Other locations appear to be getting few in-person shoppers On three separate visits to a Target in Ventura, California, about 65 miles north of Los Angeles, BI noticed few other shoppers in the aisles. The parking lot had room to spare. At midday, there were plenty of available spaces, compared with past personal visits when it was more challenging to find a place to park. The shelves, too, hinted at low foot traffic. Many of the store's displays were full and orderly, with no evidence of being picked through the way they typically are during busy shopping seasons. The store's grabby $1/$3/$5 display near the entrance, which often features a wide and unkempt array of inexpensive seasonal tchotchkes like candles and accessories, was noticeably well-organized. The clothing section was remarkably easy to sift through compared to prior personal visits, when it wouldn't be unusual to find several T-shirts hanging off of hangers or discarded items on the floor. Summer items, located toward the back of the store, appeared untouched. Of course, well-stocked shelves and tidy aisles are great from a shopper's perspective and could indicate a level of care from the workers. Some furniture displays were empty, but that may have been due to tariff-related supply chain snarls. The SKUs, or stock-keeping codes, left behind suggested the shelves had recently contained products imported from Vietnam, China, and Cambodia, which are each facing tariff increases. Another unusual clue that the store might be experiencing low traffic was the lack of a line to check out at the two available staffed lanes or the four self-checkout lanes. A Target spokesperson told BI the company's foot traffic estimates don't account for the chain's recent growth in digital sales, including delivery and pick-up orders. Drive-up orders — brought directly to a customer's car so they don't have to set foot in the store — now make up almost half of Target's digital sales, CEO Cornell said on the company's earnings call in May. Indeed, staffing levels appeared disproportionately high for the limited number of shoppers. Multiple employees were spotted on the floor during each visit, either refilling shelves, tending to displays, or engaged in casual conversation near the stock room. Saunders, the analyst, said that even though plenty of employees might be out on the sales floor, they're often occupied with fulfilling e-commerce orders under tight deadlines. "They are very, very thinly stretched," Saunders said. A visit to a small-format Target store revealed some challenges facing the chain One Target store in Washington, DC shows some of the biggest challenges the chain faces. The location is one of the small-format stores that Target started opening over the past decade. While typical suburban Targets are around 125,000 square feet, this store is about 23,000. The smaller size has allowed Target to open stores in dense cities and other areas where opening a typical big-box isn't practical, Target executives have said. Cleveland Park, the DC neighborhood home to the store BI visited, is one such dense place. On recent visits, though, BI saw issues with shopping at the mini-Target. A wide range of items, from men's socks to deodorant to laundry detergent, were locked behind glass doors. Customers could press a call button for help, though when BI tried it during multiple visits, a Target employee only showed up about half the time. The locked cases are likely an attempt to reduce theft, an issue that Target and other retailers have struggled with in the past. Yet other stores in the area, including a Giant supermarket, a local health food store, and a CVS, offered many of the same products without having to get an employee to unlock a case. At times, staffing also appeared to be an issue. While the DC Target had both self-checkout kiosks and person-powered checkouts, there were times when BI visited when no one was immediately at the register to ring customers up or assist with a pick-up order. During one visit, BI saw a customer wandering around as she looked for an employee who could help her buy a gift card — something that Target's self-checkout stations can't sell. A Target spokesperson said that the retailer has spent the last year adding more checkout stations staffed by people. At the same time, the company has added Express self-checkout lanes for customers with 10 items or fewer. When BI visited this store, most products were in stock. A few areas, such as a locked case for Apple accessories and the kitchen appliance department, had bare shelves. While a normal Target would be more likely to have a wider array of alternative products for shoppers in such a situation, in a small store with a narrow product selection, out-of-stocks increase the chance that shoppers will leave without buying anything. It's a mixed bag for Target The three visits suggest that Target is not in any sort of crisis like the ones that have wiped out many other retail brands in recent years. The stores we visited were clean, the merchandise was usually presentable, the staff were mostly available, and the shopping experience was generally pleasant. At the same time, the assortment is not especially exciting, and the prices aren't meaningfully better than those at a competitor. That might not be enough to win over shoppers in 2025, who are increasingly picky about finding good deals or at least a reason to splurge. "One of the issues with Target is it really has lost its focus, as a lot of other retailers have increased and improved their focus," Saunders said. Target recently created an Enterprise Acceleration Office to "deliver faster progress" on its growth plans, said a May announcement that Target's spokesperson referred BI to. The effort will include using technology to better manage Target's inventory, for example, CFO Michael Fiddelke said on last month's earnings call. Meanwhile, other major retailers are investing heavily in delivering the most convenience (think: Walmart), the best prices (Costco), the biggest surprises (T.J. Maxx), or a combination of those things (Amazon). Those are areas Target continues to struggle in as it looks to grow its revenue and store visits. "It's not an existential crisis for Target," Saunders said. "But they need to get out of this nosedive and at least get the plane on a level heading."
Boston Globe
12-06-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Health experts say a little-known form of science denial explains RFK Jr.'s views on vaccines and disease
'He believes that when those two children in Texas died of measles, it wasn't because of measles—it was because they were malnourished. He said they were Advertisement Germ theory, formalized in the 19th century by Louis Pasteur, replaced the once-dominant 'miasma theory,' which held that disease stemmed from foul-smelling air or vapors from rotting organic matter. Pasteur's contemporary and rival, Antoine Béchamp, rejected germ theory in favor of 'terrain theory' — the idea that illness arises not from outside microbes but from internal imbalances in the body. Advertisement Though discredited by modern science, terrain theory still finds adherents among germ theory denialists, including Kennedy, who in his 2021 book 'The Real Anthony Fauci' repeatedly attributes the 20th century's steep decline in infectious disease deaths to improvements in nutrition and sanitation rather than to vaccines. Dr. Kristen Panthagani, a resident physician at Yale and public health communicator, said Kennedy does not deny the existence of microbes outright but reframes their role in illness. 'Instead of saying germs don't exist, they say germs exist but aren't necessarily harmful,' said Panthagani. 'They shift the blame to poor nutrition or other co-morbidities — saying that those are the real causes of disease.' In his book, Kennedy calls for a 'marriage' between germ theory and his version of miasma theory, defined as 'preventing disease by fortifying the immune system through nutrition and by reducing exposures to environmental toxins and stresses.' HHS did not respond to multiple requests for comment about Kennedy or the department's current views on miasma theory. Panthagani said Kennedy creates a false dichotomy between germ theory and the idea that good nutrition and fitness play an important role in keeping people healthy. 'He painted germ theory as this belief that germs are the only cause of bad outcomes in infectious disease ... when there already is a nuanced understanding of how infections work in the medical community,' she said. In his book, Kennedy repeatedly mischaracterizes mainstream medicine as downplaying both the importance of nutrition and physical fitness in whether or not one contracts or survives an infectious disease as well as the positive role that many microbes play in the human body — claims that Panthagani, who wrote her PhD thesis on the human microbiome, says are categorically false. Advertisement 'Yes, good nutrition and exercise are super important and will prevent a whole bunch of diseases,' said Panthagani. 'But they are not guaranteed to stop measles. We also need vaccination.' While most medical professionals reject Kennedy's framing, terrain theory still maintains a foothold in alternative health circles — though not all who espouse it agree with the MAHA movement. Sarah Southerton, a certified 'integrative health practitioner' (but not a medical doctor) and owner of the Minneapolis-based wellness business Healing Masters LLC, which sells coaching sessions and online courses, said, in her view, illness takes hold when the body is 'weakened' — by poor nutrition, environmental toxins, stress, and other internal imbalances — rather than by germs alone. 'Germ theory is just a little too simplistic,' she said, while acknowledging it still has value, in her view. 'It doesn't account for why some people get sick and others don't, even when they're exposed to the same thing.' 'For me, terrain theory includes your thoughts and feelings,' in tandem with biology, she said. 'If you're someone who's always resonating with criticism, judgment, self-pity, jealousy…you're not likely to have good health,' because it puts stress on the body, weakening both the immune system and physical resilience, in Southerton's view. Southerton said her support for scientific research, environmental regulation, vaccine access, and public health infrastructure makes her concerned that MAHA's broad push for deregulation could leave vulnerable Americans more exposed and susceptible to illness — the opposite of the' individualized, informed, and supportive approach to health freedom' she advocates. Advertisement To Offit, Kennedy's current mishandling of this year's measles outbreaks — which have infected more than 1,000 people in 33 states and resulted in the first U.S. pediatric measles death in more than 20 years — exemplifies the dangerous consequences of the HHS Secretary's germ theory denialism. He has downplayed the importance of measles vaccination, Offit said, and repeatedly promoted vitamin A supplements and vitamin A-rich cod liver oil as measures to prevent and treat measles — a message that can be dangerously misleading in the U.S. context. 'The World Health Organization only recommends vitamin A in countries where there's vitamin A deficiency—which is not this country,' said Offit. 'He promoted this to the point that children were 'There's only two ways to develop specific immunity: to be naturally infected or to be vaccinated,' Offit said. 'Healthy people, no matter how healthy they are, can be killed by these viruses and bacteria unless they have specific immunity beforehand.' Understanding Kennedy's germ theory denialism, Offit and Panthagani argue, helps illuminate many of his other beliefs. For example, Kennedy has long argued that vaccines pose greater risks than the diseases they are designed to prevent. After all, why expose oneself to a weakened virus — or trace amounts of heavy metals and other synthetic ingredients — if a properly maintained immune system should offer adequate protection on its own? In its most recent move, HHS Advertisement With this novel strain of germ theory denialism as the basic, false premise of his scientific worldview, Kennedy has poisoned the well of public health discourse—potentially for decades to come, experts said. 'It's bad, and it's only going to get worse. I think the question is: when do we wake up? When do we say, 'This is too much—why should children suffer like this?'' said Offit. Nathan Metcalf can be reached at
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centerspace puts Minnesota apartments on the sales block
This story was originally published on Multifamily Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Multifamily Dive newsletter. Centerspace is marketing its entire five-community portfolio in the Saint Cloud, Minnesota, region for sale, and several properties from its Minneapolis portfolio are on the block, according to a news release. The Minneapolis-based apartment REIT is also adding to its portfolio. In late May, it officially entered Salt Lake City, Utah, with the purchase of Sugarmont, a 341-unit property located in the Sugar House submarket with walkable access to multiple retail, dining and recreational offerings, for $149 million. The property was built in 2021. Centerspace also signed an agreement to acquire a 420-unit community in Fort Collins, Colorado, for $132 million, with closing anticipated in mid-June. The REIT will assume approximately $76 million of long-term, below-market-rate mortgage debt. Centerspace owns 72 properties, consisting of 13,353 homes, in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah. By moving into Salt Lake City and expanding in Fort Collins, Centerspace continues to evolve as a multifamily REIT focused on the Midwest and Mountain West. The firm is attracted to Salt Lake City's economic base of high-tech, finance, healthcare and education jobs and easy access to plentiful natural amenities, including the nearby Wasatch Mountain range. 'The expansion into the Salt Lake City market furthers our scale in our target geographic exposure while improving our portfolio quality and enhancing our growth profile,' Centerspace President and CEO Anne Olson said in the news release. Centerspace Senior Vice President of Investments and Capital Markets Grant Campbell said the REIT likes the long-term fundamentals of the Mountain West. 'We're going to continue to focus on ways where we can enhance the differentiated offering that we can provide in that region,' he said on the REIT's first-quarter earnings call in May. Campbell said Centerspace was focused on acquisitions with 'attractive embedded financing.' 'It could be potential mezz executions, harder to make development math pencil today, but we continue to have those conversations,' he said. 'We're also talking to folks about potential mezz executions on recaps of existing assets.' To increase financial flexibility, Centerspace exercised the accordion feature of its existing line of credit, expanding the borrowing capacity by $150 million to $400 million. 'We have fortified our balance sheet, enhanced our capital positioning and we'll continue evaluating a variety of new investment opportunities to advance our strategic plan,' Campbell said. Click here to sign up to receive multifamily and apartment news like this article in your inbox every weekday. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
