News in :90 – Sept. 11, 2019

The Roman Catholic archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis says he has opened an investigation under a new Vatican protocol into allegations that the bishop of Crookston interfered with investigations into clerical sexual misconduct. Archbishop Bernard Hebda made the announcement Wednesday. His statement says the investigation targets Bishop Michael Hoeppner of the Crookston diocese in northwestern Minnesota.

Hebda says law enforcement has been informed of the allegations. The archbishop’s statement gave no details on them. The archbishop says information from the investigation will be forwarded to Pope Francis’ representative in the U.S. and to the Vatican for a determination on whether further steps are needed.

Severe weather, including a probable tornado, struck South Dakota’s largest city, leaving a trail of damaged buildings, downed power lines, fallen trees and some reports of injuries, officials said Wednesday.

Fire Chief Brad Goodroad said at an early morning news conference that at least 37 structures collapsed in Sioux Falls or have structural issues after the storm rolled through the city in the eastern part of the state just before midnight Tuesday. There were no reports of deaths. Sioux Falls, with an estimated population of 187,200, is about 240 miles (386.kilometers) southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Americans commemorated 9/11 with solemn ceremonies and vows Wednesday to “never forget” 18 years after the deadliest terror attack on American soil. Victims’ relatives assembled at ground zero, where the observance began with a moment of silence and the tolling of bells at 8:46 a.m. — the exact time a hijacked plane slammed into the World Trade Center’s north tower.

The nation is still grappling with the aftermath of 9/11. The effects are visible from airport security checkpoints to Afghanistan, where the post-9/11 U.S. invasion has become America’s longest war.

Kat Barrett can be reached at barr1289@stthomas.edu.